Romans 11:1-27 ▼

1 I ask then, did God {Theos} reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant (seed) of Abraham (father of many), from the tribe of Benjamin (son of the right hand).

2 God {Theos} did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you⁺ not know what the Scripture says about Elijah (my God is YHWH), how he appealed to God {Theō} against Israel (He wrestles with God):

3 “Lord {Kyrie}, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well <1Ki 19:10, 14>”

4 And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal <1Ki 19:18>.”

5 In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

6 And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works (acts). Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. [But if it is by works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.]

7 What then? What Israel (He wrestles with God) was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

8 as it is written: “God {Theos} gave them a spirit {pneuma} of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day .”

9 And David (beloved) says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever .”

11 I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery (did they stumble so as to lose their share?)? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles {ethnesin} to make Israel jealous.

12 But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles {ethnōn}, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

13 I am speaking to you⁺ Gentiles {ethnesin}. Inasmuch as I am the apostle (sent one) to the Gentiles {ethnōn}, I magnify my ministry {diakonian}

14 in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.

15 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 dough is holy (set apart), so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 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 do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.

20 That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

21 For if God {Theos} did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not (He will perhaps not) spare you either.

22 Take notice (behold), therefore, of the kindness and severity of God {Theou}: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God {Theos} is able to graft them in again.

24 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 do not want you⁺ to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers (and sisters), so that you⁺ will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel (He wrestles with God), until the full number of the Gentiles {ethnōn} has come in.

26 And so all Israel (He wrestles with God) will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob (he grasps the heel).

27 And this is My covenant {diathēkē} with them when I take away their sins .”