Romans 11
1 I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
So now I say, God did not reject His people, did He? Of course not! Why I myself am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin!
2 God didn’t reject his people, whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:
God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel saying:
3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets. They have broken down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life.”
“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!”
4 But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
5 Even so too at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Even so then at this present time, there is a remnant according to an election by grace.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Now if by grace, it is no longer from works; otherwise the grace is no longer grace. But if from works, it is no longer grace; otherwise the work is no longer work.
7 What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
What then? What Israel is seeking, this it did not obtain; but the election did obtain it, while the rest were dulled.
8 According as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.”
Just as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that were not to see and ears that were not to hear, to this very day.”
9 David says, “Let their table be made a snare, a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them.
And David says: “Let their table be made into a snare and into a trap, into a stumbling block and into a retribution to them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Always keep their backs bent.”
Let their eyes be darkened so as not to see, and their back always be bowed down.”
11 I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
So now I say, surely they have not stumbled so as to fall [and stay fallen]? Of course not! Rather, through their transgression the salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Now if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss riches for the nations, how much more their fulfillment!
13 For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry,
So I am speaking to you Gentiles (inasmuch as I am ‘apostle to the Gentiles’, I magnify my ministry),
14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.
if somehow I can provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
15 For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead?
For if their being rejected means reconciliation for the world, what will their restoration be but life from the dead?
16 If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches.
Now if the ‘firstfruit’ is holy, so is the whole batch; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in amongst them and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree,
Now if some of the branches were broken off, while you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them, and with them have become a partaker of the root and the rich sap of the cultivated olive,
18 don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
do not boast against those branches (since if you do boast—it is not you who support the root but the root you).
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.”
You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
20 True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear;
Granted. Because of unbelief they were broken off, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear!
21 for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Because if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps He will not spare you either!
22 See then the goodness and severity of God. Towards those who fell, severity; but towards you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
So consider the kindness and severity of God: upon those who fell, severity; but toward you, kindness, if you continue in that kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.
23 They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
And even they, if they do not persist in the unbelief, will be grafted back in, because God has the power to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
For if you were cut out of a wild by nature olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant of this ‘mystery’ (so that you not be conceited): hardening has come upon Israel in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
26 and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
And so all Israel will be saved, just as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn ungodliness away from Jacob;
27 This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.”
this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
28 Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
On the one hand, regarding the Gospel, they are enemies because of you; on the other, regarding the election, they are beloved on account of the forefathers.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Because God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
30 For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
For just as you also were once disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy through their disobedience,
31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.
so also these have now been disobedient that through the mercy shown to you they also may be shown mercy.
Yes, God has given everyone over to disobedience so that He might show mercy to all. (eleēsē g1653)
33 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past tracing out!
Oh, the depth of the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?”
Because “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
35 “Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?”
Or “Who has ever given to Him and has to be repaid?”
