Romans 11:1-22 ▼

1 You will say then, hath God discarded his people? by no means, for I my self am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not discarded his people whom he formerly approv'd, don't you know what the scripture says of Elias? how he complain'd to God against Israel,

3 in these words, "Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I alone am left, and they seek my life also."

4 but what said the oracle to him? "I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

5 in like manner at this time there is also a remnant chosen by the divine favour;

6 and if it be by favour, it is not upon the account of merit, for then mercy would not be mercy.

7 "What then, hath not Israel obtained what he sought for?" no, but the chosen remnant have obtained it, and the rest are obdurate to this day,

8 as it is written, "God hath given them up to a state of insensibility, so that their eyes could not see, and their ears could not hear."

9 and David says, "let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a gin, and a recompence for their iniquity.

10 let their eyes be darkned, so as not to see, and let their back be continually bowed down."

11 You will say then, "were they suffer'd to stumble meerly for their ruin?" no: but that thro' their fall, salvation might be offer'd to the Gentiles, in order to provoke their emulation.

12 now if their fall be to the advancement of the world, and the few converts among them bring in whole numbers of the Gentiles: how much more so will it be, when the Jewish body recover?

13 this concerns you Gentiles, for as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I should do honour to my character,

14 if I could by any means excite the emulation of my dear countrymen, in order to save some.

15 for, if by rejecting them, the world may be reconciled; what shall their restoration be, but a general resurrection?

16 Now if the first-fruits be holy, so is the whole product: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17 if then, some of the branches are broken off, and thou like a wild olive, were grafted in their place to partake of the root and sap of the olivestock;

18 don't triumph over the branches: or if you do, remember the root is not dependent upon you, but you upon the root.

19 you will say then, "the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in."

20 well, be it so, for their incredulity they were broken off, and you by faith stand firm: be not then elated, but let this be your fear,

21 lest God should not spare you, since he did not spare even the natural branches.

22 consider then the divine benignity, and his severity: his severity to those who fell, and his benignity to you, provided you adhere thereto; otherwise you likewise will be lopt off.