上帝不放棄以色列人

11 這樣,難道上帝放棄了祂的子民嗎?當然沒有!因我自己也是以色列人,是亞伯拉罕的後裔,屬於便雅憫支派。 上帝並沒有放棄祂預先揀選的子民。你們不知道聖經上有關以利亞先知的記載嗎?他在上帝面前控告以色列人,說: 「主啊!他們殘殺你的先知,拆毀你的祭壇,只剩下我一個人,他們還要殺我。」 上帝怎樣回答呢?祂說:「我為自己留下七千人,他們未曾跪拜巴力。」

現在的情況也是一樣,上帝按照揀選的恩典留下了少數人。 既然說是出於恩典,就不再基於行為,不然恩典就不再是恩典了。 這該怎麼說呢?以色列人努力追求,卻一無所得,只有蒙揀選的人得到了,其他的人都變得頑固不化。 正如聖經上說:

「上帝使他們至今心智昏迷,
眼睛看不見,耳朵聽不到。」

大衛也說:

「願他們的宴席成為網羅、
陷阱、絆腳石,
給他們帶來報應;
10 願他們眼目昏暗,
無法看見,
永遠彎腰駝背。」

11 那麼,以色列人一失足就再也爬不起來了嗎?當然不是!恰好相反,因他們的過犯,救恩臨到了外族人,使他們心生嫉妒。 12 如果他們的過犯給世界帶來了富足,他們的失敗給外族人帶來了富足,那麼,他們發憤回頭的時候豈不要帶來更大的祝福嗎?

外族人得救

13 我有話要對你們外族人說,因為我是外族人的使徒,我尊重自己的職分, 14 希望使我的骨肉同胞心生嫉妒,好使他們當中的一些人得救。 15 如果他們被拋棄,人類便有機會與上帝和好,那麼,當他們被接納的時候,又將怎樣呢?豈不是要死而復生嗎? 16 獻祭時所獻的那部分麵團如果聖潔,整團麵也聖潔;樹根如果聖潔,樹枝也聖潔。

17 如果橄欖樹上有幾條枝子被折了下來,你這野橄欖枝被接了上去,得以汲取橄欖樹根供應的汁漿,你就不可向折下來的枝子誇口。 18 你怎能誇口呢?要知道:不是你托住樹根,而是樹根托住你。 19 你也許會說:「原來的枝子被折下來,是為了把我接上去。」 20 不錯,他們因為不信被折了下來,而你因為信被接了上去,然而不要自高,要敬畏上帝。 21 上帝既然沒有留下原來的枝子,也可以不留下你。 22 可見,上帝既慈愛又嚴厲。祂對墮落的人是嚴厲的,對你卻是慈愛的。你要常常活在祂的愛中,不然你也會被砍下來。 23 當然,如果以色列人不再頑固不信,必會重新被接上去,因為上帝能把他們重新接上。 24 你這從野生的橄欖樹上砍下來的枝子,尚且可以違反自然,被接到好橄欖樹上,何況原來的枝子被接回到原來的樹上呢?

全以色列都要得救

25 弟兄姊妹,我不願意你們對以下這奧祕一無所知,還自以為聰明。這奧祕就是:雖然有些以色列人的心剛硬,但等到外族人得救的數目滿了以後, 26 全以色列都要得救。正如聖經上說:「救主必從錫安出來,祂將除去雅各子孫的罪惡。 27 那時我要除去他們的罪,這是我與他們所立的約。」

28 就福音而論,他們成為上帝的仇敵是為了使你們得到福音;就上帝的揀選而論,因為他們祖先的緣故,他們仍是上帝所愛的。 29 因為上帝絕不會收回祂的恩賜和呼召。 30 你們從前不順服上帝,然而因為他們的不順服,你們現在反蒙了憐憫。 31 同樣,他們現在不順服是為了使你們蒙憐憫,好使他們也蒙憐憫。 32 因為上帝把世人都歸在不順服之列,是為了要憐憫世人。

頌讚上帝

33 啊,上帝的智慧和知識多麼博大精深!
祂的判斷多麼難測!
祂的蹤跡多麼難尋!
34 誰曾知道主的心意?
誰曾做過祂的謀士?
35 誰曾給過祂,
等祂償還呢?
36 因為萬物都源於祂,
倚靠祂,歸於祂。
願榮耀歸給祂,
直到永遠。阿們!

11 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Il resto di Israele

11 Io domando dunque: Dio avrebbe forse ripudiato il suo popolo? Impossibile! Anch'io infatti sono Israelita, della discendenza di Abramo, della tribù di Beniamino. Dio non ha ripudiato il suo popolo, che egli ha scelto fin da principio. O non sapete forse ciò che dice la Scrittura, nel passo in cui Elia ricorre a Dio contro Israele?

Signore, hanno ucciso i tuoi profeti,
hanno rovesciato i tuoi altari
e io sono rimasto solo e ora vogliono la mia vita.

Cosa gli risponde però la voce divina?

Mi sono riservato settemila uomini, quelli che non hanno piegato il ginocchio davanti a Baal.

Così anche al presente c'è un resto, conforme a un'elezione per grazia. E se lo è per grazia, non lo è per le opere; altrimenti la grazia non sarebbe più grazia.

Che dire dunque? Israele non ha ottenuto quello che cercava; lo hanno ottenuto invece gli eletti; gli altri sono stati induriti, come sta scritto:

Dio ha dato loro uno spirito di torpore,
occhi per non vedere e orecchi per non sentire,
fino al giorno d'oggi.

E Davide dice:

Diventi la lor mensa un laccio, un tranello
e un inciampo e serva loro di giusto castigo!
10 Siano oscurati i loro occhi sì da non vedere,
e fà loro curvare la schiena per sempre!

La restaurazione futura

11 Ora io domando: Forse inciamparono per cadere per sempre? Certamente no. Ma a causa della loro caduta la salvezza è giunta ai pagani, per suscitare la loro gelosia. 12 Se pertanto la loro caduta è stata ricchezza del mondo e il loro fallimento ricchezza dei pagani, che cosa non sarà la loro partecipazione totale!

13 Pertanto, ecco che cosa dico a voi, Gentili: come apostolo dei Gentili, io faccio onore al mio ministero, 14 nella speranza di suscitare la gelosia di quelli del mio sangue e di salvarne alcuni. 15 Se infatti il loro rifiuto ha segnato la riconciliazione del mondo, quale potrà mai essere la loro riammissione, se non una risurrezione dai morti?

L'oleastro e l'olivo buono

16 Se le primizie sono sante, lo sarà anche tutta la pasta; se è santa la radice, lo saranno anche i rami. 17 Se però alcuni rami sono stati tagliati e tu, essendo oleastro, sei stato innestato al loro posto, diventando così partecipe della radice e della linfa dell'olivo, 18 non menar tanto vanto contro i rami! Se ti vuoi proprio vantare, sappi che non sei tu che porti la radice, ma è la radice che porta te.

19 Dirai certamente: Ma i rami sono stati tagliati perché vi fossi innestato io! 20 Bene; essi però sono stati tagliati a causa dell'infedeltà, mentre tu resti lì in ragione della fede. Non montare dunque in superbia, ma temi! 21 Se infatti Dio non ha risparmiato quelli che erano rami naturali, tanto meno risparmierà te!

22 Considera dunque la bontà e la severità di Dio: severità verso quelli che sono caduti; bontà di Dio invece verso di te, a condizione però che tu sia fedele a questa bontà. Altrimenti anche tu verrai reciso. 23 Quanto a loro, se non persevereranno nell'infedeltà, saranno anch'essi innestati; Dio infatti ha la potenza di innestarli di nuovo! 24 Se tu infatti sei stato reciso dall'oleastro che eri secondo la tua natura e contro natura sei stato innestato su un olivo buono, quanto più essi, che sono della medesima natura, potranno venire di nuovo innestati sul proprio olivo!

La conversione di Israele

25 Non voglio infatti che ignoriate, fratelli, questo mistero, perché non siate presuntuosi: l'indurimento di una parte di Israele è in atto fino a che saranno entrate tutte le genti. 26 Allora tutto Israele sarà salvato come sta scritto:

Da Sion uscirà il liberatore,
egli toglierà le empietà da Giacobbe.
27 Sarà questa la mia alleanza con loro
quando distruggerò i loro peccati.

28 Quanto al vangelo, essi sono nemici, per vostro vantaggio; ma quanto alla elezione, sono amati, a causa dei padri, 29 perché i doni e la chiamata di Dio sono irrevocabili! 30 Come voi un tempo siete stati disobbedienti a Dio e ora avete ottenuto misericordia per la loro disobbedienza, 31 così anch'essi ora sono diventati disobbedienti in vista della misericordia usata verso di voi, perché anch'essi ottengano misericordia. 32 Dio infatti ha rinchiuso tutti nella disobbedienza, per usare a tutti misericordia!

Inno alla sapienza misericordiosa

33 O profondità della ricchezza, della sapienza e della scienza di Dio! Quanto sono imperscrutabili i suoi giudizi e inaccessibili le sue vie!

34 Infatti, chi mai ha potuto conoscere il pensiero
del Signore?
O chi mai è stato suo consigliere?
35 O chi gli ha dato qualcosa per primo,
sì che abbia a riceverne il contraccambio?

36 Poiché da lui, grazie a lui e per lui sono tutte le cose. A lui la gloria nei secoli. Amen.

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!(A) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,(B) from the tribe of Benjamin.(C) God did not reject his people,(D) whom he foreknew.(E) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[a]?(F) And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b](G) So too, at the present time there is a remnant(H) chosen by grace.(I) And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;(J) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.(K) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,(L) as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that could not see
    and ears that could not hear,(M)
to this very day.”[c](N)

And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,(O)
    and their backs be bent forever.”[d](P)

Ingrafted Branches

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!(Q) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles(R) to make Israel envious.(S) 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,(T) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,(U) I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy(V) and save(W) some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation(X) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?(Y) 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits(Z) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 If some of the branches have been broken off,(AA) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others(AB) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.(AC) 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.(AD) Do not be arrogant,(AE) but tremble.(AF) 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22 Consider therefore the kindness(AG) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue(AH) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.(AI) 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.(AJ) 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,(AK) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

25 I do not want you to be ignorant(AL) of this mystery,(AM) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:(AN) Israel has experienced a hardening(AO) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,(AP) 26 and in this way[e] all Israel will be saved.(AQ) As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[f] my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”[g](AR)

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies(AS) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,(AT) 29 for God’s gifts and his call(AU) are irrevocable.(AV) 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient(AW) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience(AX) so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

33 Oh, the depth of the riches(AY) of the wisdom and[i] knowledge of God!(AZ)
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!(BA)
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”[j](BB)
35 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”[k](BC)
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.(BD)
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.(BE)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:3 1 Kings 19:10,14
  2. Romans 11:4 1 Kings 19:18
  3. Romans 11:8 Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10
  4. Romans 11:10 Psalm 69:22,23
  5. Romans 11:26 Or and so
  6. Romans 11:27 Or will be
  7. Romans 11:27 Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jer. 31:33,34
  8. Romans 11:31 Some manuscripts do not have now.
  9. Romans 11:33 Or riches and the wisdom and the
  10. Romans 11:34 Isaiah 40:13
  11. Romans 11:35 Job 41:11