Romans 11 — TNTC

The remnant

11Verse 1So 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!^{+Verse 2}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:^{Verse 3}“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!”^{+Verse 4}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.”^{+Verse 5}Even so then at this present time, there is a remnant according to an election by grace.^{Verse 6}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.^{+Verse 7}What then? What Israel is seeking, this it did not obtain; but the election⁺did obtain it, while the rest were dulled.^{Verse 8}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.”^{+Verse 9}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.^{Verse 10}Let their eyes be darkened so as not to see,and their back always be bowed down.”⁺

The restoration

^{Verse 11}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.^{Verse 12}Now if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss riches for the nations, how much more their fulfillment!^{Verse 13}So I am speaking to you Gentiles (inasmuch as I am ‘apostle to the Gentiles’, I magnify my ministry),^{Verse 14}if somehow I can provoke my own people⁺to jealousy and save some of them.^{Verse 15}For if their being rejected means reconciliation for the world, what will their restoration be but life from the dead?^{Verse 16}Now if the ‘firstfruit’ is holy, so is the whole batch; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Grafted olive branches

^{Verse 17}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,^{Verse 18}do not boast against those branches (since if you do boast—it is not you who support the root but the root you).^{Verse 19}You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”^{Verse 20}Granted. Because of unbelief they were broken off, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear!^{Verse 21}Because if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps He will not spare you either!^{Verse 22}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.^{+Verse 23}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.^{Verse 24}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?⁺

Hardening

^{Verse 25}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.^{Verse 26}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;^{+Verse 27}this is my covenant with them,when I take away their sins.”^{+Verse 28}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.^{Verse 29}Because God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.^{+Verse 30}For just as you also were once disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy through their disobedience,^{Verse 31}so also these have now been disobedient that through the mercy shown to you they also may be shown mercy.^{Verse 32}Yes, God has given everyone over to disobedience so that He might show mercy to all.⁺

Doxology

^{Verse 33}Oh, the depth of the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge!How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!^{+Verse 34}Because “Who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been His counselor?”^{+Verse 35}Or “Who has ever given to Him and has to be repaid?”^{+
Verse 36}Because from Him and through Him and to Himare all things.⁺To Him be the glory forever! Amen.