Israel’s Rejection Not Total
1I ask, then, has God rejected his people?11:1 1Sm 12:22; Jr 33:24–26 Absolutely not!11:1 Lk 20:16 For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,11:1 2Co 11:22; Php 3:5 from the tribe of Benjamin.
2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.11:2 1Sm 12:22; Ps 94:14; Rm 8:29; 1Pt 1:2 Or don’t you know11:2 Rm 6:16 what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah — how he pleads with God against Israel?
3Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!11:31Kg 19:10,1411:3 1Kg 19:10,14; 1Th 2:14
4But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.11:41Kg 19:1811:4 1Kg 19:18
7What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for,11:7 Rm 9:31 but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,11:7 Mk 6:52; Rm 9:18; 11:25; 2Co 2:14
8as it is written,
God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that cannot see
and ears that cannot hear,
9And David says,
Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a pitfall and a retribution to them.
10
Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
Israel’s Rejection Not Final
13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,11:13 Ac 9:15 I magnify my ministry,
14if I might somehow make my own people11:14 Lit flesh11:14 Gn 29:14; 2Sm 19:12–13; Rm 9:3 jealous and save some of them.11:14 1Co 1:21; 7:16; 9:22; 1Tm 1:15; 2:4; 2Tm 1:9; Ti 3:5
15For if their rejection brings reconciliation11:15 Rm 5:11 to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?11:15 Lk 15:24,32
16Now if the firstfruits are holy,11:16 Nm 15:17–21; Neh 10:37; Ezk 44:30 so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17Now if some of the branches were broken off,11:17 Jr 11:16; Jn 15:2 and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them11:17 Eph 2:12–13 and have come to share in the rich root11:17 Other mss read the root and the richness of the cultivated olive tree,
18do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast — you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.11:18 Jn 4:22
20True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.11:20 Rm 5:2; 1Co 10:12; 2Co 1:24 Do not be arrogant, but beware,11:20 Lit fear11:20 Rm 12:16; 1Tm 6:17; 1Pt 1:17
21because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness11:22 Rm 2:4 toward you — if you remain in his kindness.11:22 1Co 15:2; Heb 3:6,14 Otherwise you too will be cut off.11:22 Jn 15:2
23And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,11:23 2Co 3:16 will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.
24For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these — the natural branches — be grafted into their own olive tree?
25I don’t want you to be ignorant11:25 Rm 1:13 of this mystery,11:25 Mt 13:11; Rm 16:25; 1Co 2:7–10; Eph 3:3–5,9 brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited:11:25 Rm 12:16 A partial hardening has come upon Israel11:25 Rm 11:7 until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.11:25 Lk 21:24; Jn 10:16
26And in this way all11:26 Or And then all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
The Deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
28Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage,11:28 Rm 5:10 but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,11:28 Dt 7:8; 10:15; Rm 9:5
29since God’s gracious gifts and calling11:29 Rm 8:28; 1Co 1:26; Eph 1:18; 4:1,4; Php 3:14; 2Th 1:11; 2Tm 1:9; Heb 3:1; 2Pt 1:10 are irrevocable.11:29 Or are not taken back11:29 Heb 7:21
30As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience,
31so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now11:31 Other mss omit now receive mercy.
32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience11:32 Rm 3:9; Gl 3:22–23 so that he may have mercy on all.
A Hymn of Praise
and untraceable his ways!
Or who has been his counselor?
35
And who has ever given to God,
that he should be repaid?
11:34–35
Jb 41:11; Is 40:13; Jr 23:18
11:34–35
Jb 35:7; 41:11; Is 40:13; Jr 23:18
36For from him and through him
To him be the glory forever. Amen.
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