Romans 11
1 But then I ask, “Has God rejected his people?” Of course not! I'm an Israelite myself, from the tribe of Benjamin.
I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God has not rejected his chosen people. Don't you recall what Scripture says about Elijah? How he complained about Israel to God, saying,
God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel:
3 “Lord they've killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I'm the only one left, and they're trying to kill me too!”
“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”?
4 How did God answer him? “I still have seven thousand left who have not worshiped Baal.”
And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
5 Today it's just the same: there are still some faithful people left, chosen by God's grace.
In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
6 And since it's through grace, then clearly it's not based on what people do, otherwise grace wouldn't be grace!
And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
7 So what do we conclude? That the people of Israel didn't achieve what they were striving for—only the chosen, while the rest became hard-hearted.
What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
8 As Scripture says, “God dulled their minds so their eyes could not see and their ears could not hear, to this very day.”
as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
9 David adds, “May their feasts become a trap for them, a net that catches them, a temptation that brings punishment.
And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 May their eyes become blind so they cannot see, and may their backs always be bent low in dejection.”
May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”
11 So am I saying that they stumbled and consequently failed completely? Not at all! But as a result of their mistakes, salvation came to other nations, to “make them jealous.”
I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
12 Now if even their failure benefits the world, and their loss profits the foreigners, how much more beneficial it would be if they were to completely fulfill what they were meant to be.
But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
13 Now let me speak to you foreigners. Insofar as I'm a missionary to foreigners, I promote what I'm doing
I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
14 that somehow I might make my people jealous and save some of them.
in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
15 If the result of God's rejection of them is that the world becomes God's friends, the result of God's acceptance of them would be like the dead coming back to life!
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 If the first part of the bread dough given as an offering is holy, then so is all the rest; if the roots of a tree are holy, then so are the branches.
If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and you—a wild olive shoot—have been grafted in, and have shared with them the benefit of nourishment from the olive tree's roots,
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,
18 then you shouldn't look down on the other branches. If you're tempted to boast, remember it's not you who are supporting the roots, but the roots that are supporting you.
do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You could make the claim, “Branches were broken off so I could be grafted in.”
You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”
20 All well and good—but they were broken off because of their failure to trust in God, and you stay there because you trust in God. So don't think highly of yourselves, but be respectful,
That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
21 because if God didn't spare the original branches, he won't spare you either.
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.
22 You should recognize both God's kindness and toughness—he was tough on the fallen, but God is kind to you so long as you trust in his kindness—otherwise you'll be removed too.
Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
23 If they no longer refuse to trust in God, they can be grafted in as well, for God is able to graft them back in again.
And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 If you could be cut from a wild olive tree, and then be grafted artificially onto a cultivated olive tree, how much more easily they could be grafted back naturally to their own tree.
For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
25 I don't want you, my brothers and sisters to miss this previously-hidden truth, for otherwise you could become conceited. The people of Israel have become hard-hearted in part, until the process of the foreigners coming in is complete.
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
26 This is how all Israel will be saved. As Scripture says, “The Savior will come from Zion, and he will turn Jacob away from his opposition to God.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob.
27 My promise to them is that I'll take away their sins.”
And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
28 Though they are enemies of the good news—and this is to your benefit—they are still the chosen people, and loved because of their forefathers.
Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
29 God's gifts and his calling can't be withdrawn.
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
30 At one time you disobeyed God, but now God has shown you mercy as a result of their disobedience.
Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience,
31 In just the same way that they're now disobedient as you were, they will also be shown mercy like you received.
so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you.
32 For God treated everyone as prisoners because of their disobedience so that he could be merciful to everyone. (eleēsē g1653)
For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone. (eleēsē g1653)
33 Oh how deep are God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge! How incredible his decisions, how unimaginable his methods!
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
34 Who can know God's thoughts? Who can give him advice?
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
35 Who has ever given anything to God that God would be obliged to repay?
“Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?”
