神沒有完全棄絕以色列人

11 那麼,我要問,難道神棄絕了他的子民嗎?絕對沒有!其實我也是以色列人,亞伯拉罕的後裔,屬於便雅憫支派。 神並沒有棄絕自己預先所知道的子民。難道你們不知道那有關以利亞的經文怎麼說嗎?他怎樣向神抱怨以色列人呢?

「主啊,他們殺了你的先知們,拆毀了你的祭壇,
只剩下我一個人,他們還要追索我的命。」[a]

但神對他的答覆是怎麼說的呢?「我為自己保留了七千人,他們是沒有向巴力屈膝的。」[b] 照樣,在現今的時刻也有剩餘的少數,就是藉著恩典蒙揀選的人。 既然藉著恩典,就不再本於行為了;否則,恩典就不再是恩典了。[c]

所以怎麼樣呢?以色列人並沒有獲得他們所尋求的,蒙揀選的人卻獲得了,而其餘的人都成了剛硬的, 正如經上所記:

「神給了他們昏迷的心靈、
看不見的眼睛、聽不見的耳朵,
直到今天。」[d]

大衛也說:

「讓他們的筵席成為網羅、陷阱、絆腳石,
又成為他們的報應。
10 讓他們的眼睛昏暗不能看。
讓他們的腰背永遠彎曲。」[e]

神沒有最終棄絕以色列人

11 所以我要問,難道以色列人跌倒了,是要他們敗落嗎?絕對不是!相反,因他們的過犯,救恩就臨到了外邦人,為要激起以色列人的嫉妒之心。 12 既然他們的過犯能使世人富足,他們的失敗能使外邦人富足,更何況他們的全數滿足呢!

13 現在我向你們外邦人說話:既然我確實是外邦人的使徒,我就以我的服事工作為榮耀, 14 或許激起我同胞[f]的嫉妒之心,好拯救他們中的一些人。 15 實際上,如果他們被丟棄,使世人與神[g]和好了,那麼他們蒙接納,如果不是從死人中復生,又是什麼呢? 16 如果初熟的麥子[h]是聖潔的,那麵團也就聖潔了;如果樹根是聖潔的,那樹枝也就聖潔了。

17 但如果有些樹枝被折下來,而你這野橄欖枝被接在其上,並且一同有份於那橄欖樹根的豐富養分, 18 那麼你就不應該向那些樹枝自誇了。而就算你自誇,也不是你托著樹根,而是樹根托著你。 19 這樣,你會說:「那些樹枝被折下來,就是要我能被接上去。」 20 不錯!他們因不信被折了下來,而你因信已經站立得住;你不可心高氣傲,反要懼怕; 21 因為神如果沒有顧惜原生的樹枝,恐怕也不會顧惜你。 22 所以看哪!神的仁慈和嚴厲——對墮落的人,神一定是嚴厲的,但是對你,如果你留在他的仁慈中,神就是仁慈的;否則,你也將被砍下來。 23 而且,那些被折下來的樹枝[i]如果不再堅持不信,也將被接上,因為神能夠把他們重新接上。 24 要知道,如果你從天然的野橄欖樹上被砍下來,尚且能違反自然、被接在栽培的橄欖樹上,何況那些原生的樹枝[j],難道不更能接在自己的橄欖樹上嗎?

25 弟兄們,我不願意你們不明白這奧祕,免得你們自以為聰明。這奧祕就是:以色列人中的部分人變得剛硬,直到外邦人的全數滿足了, 26 以色列全家才會得救,正如經上所記:

「一位拯救者將從錫安而來,
他要從雅各除去不敬神的心,
27 這就是我的約——
當我除去他們罪孽的時候,所給他們的約。」[k][l]

28 就福音而言,他們因你們的緣故,固然是神的[m]敵人[n];但就揀選而言,他們因祖先的緣故,卻是蒙愛的, 29 因為神的恩賜和召喚是不撤回的[o] 30 正如你們以前不肯信從神而現在卻因他們的不信從反而蒙了憐憫; 31 照樣,他們如今也不肯信從,為要藉著你們所蒙的憐憫,讓他們現在[p]也可以蒙憐憫, 32 因為神把所有的人都圈在不信從之中,是為了要憐憫所有的人。

讚美之歌

33 哦,深奧啊!神的智慧和知識的財富!
他的判斷是多麼地無法探究,
他的道[q]是多麼地無法測度!
34 「到底是誰知道主的心意?
是誰做過他的謀士?[r]
35 又是誰首先給了主,
使自己將來得到回報呢?[s]
36 因為萬有都是出於他、藉著他、歸於他。
願榮耀歸於他,直到永遠!阿們。

Footnotes

  1. 羅馬書 11:3 《列王紀上》19:10,14。
  2. 羅馬書 11:4 《列王紀上》19:18。
  3. 羅馬書 11:6 有古抄本附「但如果是本於行為,就不再是恩典了;否則,行為就不再是行為了。」
  4. 羅馬書 11:8 《申命記》29:4;《以賽亞書》29:10。
  5. 羅馬書 11:10 《詩篇》69:22-23。
  6. 羅馬書 11:14 同胞——原文直譯「肉體」。
  7. 羅馬書 11:15 與神——輔助詞語。
  8. 羅馬書 11:16 初熟的麥子——原文直譯「初熟的果子」。
  9. 羅馬書 11:23 那些被折下來的樹枝——原文直譯「他們」。
  10. 羅馬書 11:24 樹枝——輔助詞語。
  11. 羅馬書 11:27 《耶利米書》31:31-34。
  12. 羅馬書 11:27 《以賽亞書》59:20-21;《詩篇》14:7。
  13. 羅馬書 11:28 神的——輔助詞語。
  14. 羅馬書 11:28 敵人——或譯作「反對者」。
  15. 羅馬書 11:29 不撤回的——或譯作「不反悔的」。
  16. 羅馬書 11:31 有古抄本沒有「現在」。
  17. 羅馬書 11:33 道——或譯作「路」。
  18. 羅馬書 11:34 《以賽亞書》40:13;《耶利米書》23:18。
  19. 羅馬書 11:35 《約伯記》41:11。

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

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 it is 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 grafted 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 grafted 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 grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted 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 father's 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.

God’s Love for His People

11 So I ask, “God has not rejected his people, has he?” Of course not! I am an Israeli myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he chose[a] long ago. Do you not know what the Scripture says in the story about Elijah,[b] when he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets and demolished your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life.”[c] But what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for myself 7,000 people who have not knelt to worship Baal.”[d] So it is at the present time: there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if this is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of actions. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.

What, then, does this mean?[e] It means that Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking, but the selected group obtained it while the rest were hardened. As it is written,

“To this day God has put them into[f] deep sleep.
    Their eyes do not see, and their ears do not hear.”[g]

And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a punishment for them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
    and keep their backs forever bent.”[h]

The Salvation of the Gentiles

11 And so I ask, “They have not stumbled so as to fall, have they?” Of course not! On the contrary, because of their stumbling, salvation has come to the gentiles to make the Jews[i] jealous. 12 Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their fall means riches for the gentiles, how much more will their full participation mean!

13 I am speaking to you gentiles. Because I am an apostle to the gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in the hope that I can make my people[j] jealous and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection results in reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance bring but life from the dead? 16 If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not boast about being better than[k] the other[l] branches. If you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 That’s right! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you remain only because of faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid![m] 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly will not spare you, either.

22 Consider, then, the kindness and severity of God: his severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness toward you—if you continue receiving his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off. 23 If the Jews[n] do not persist in their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, because God is able to graft them in. 24 After all, if you were cut off from what is naturally a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier it will be for these natural branches to be grafted back into their own olive tree!

The Restoration of Israel

25 For I want to let you know about this secret, brothers, so that you will not claim to be wiser than you are: Stubbornness has come to part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles comes to faith.[o] 26 In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
27 This is my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”[p]

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake, but as far as election is concerned, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors. 29 For God’s gifts and calling never change. 30 For just as you disobeyed God in the past but now have received his mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they, too, have now disobeyed. As a result, they may[q] receive mercy because of the mercy shown to you. 32 For God has locked all people in the prison of their own disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

In Praise of God’s Ways

33 O how deep are God’s riches,
    and wisdom, and knowledge!
How unfathomable are his decisions
    and unexplainable are his ways!
34 Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has become his advisor?[r]
35 Or who has given him something
    only to have him pay it back?”[s]
36 For all things are from him, by him, and for him.
    Glory belongs to him forever! Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:2 Lit. knew
  2. Romans 11:2 The Gk. lacks the story about
  3. Romans 11:3 Cf. 1 Kings 19:10, 14
  4. Romans 11:4 Cf. 1 Kings 19:18
  5. Romans 11:7 The Gk. lacks does this mean
  6. Romans 11:8 Lit. has given them a spirit of
  7. Romans 11:8 Cf. Deut 29:4; Isa 29:10
  8. Romans 11:10 Cf. Ps 69:22-23; 35:8
  9. Romans 11:11 Lit. them
  10. Romans 11:14 Lit. flesh
  11. Romans 11:18 The Gk. lacks being better than
  12. Romans 11:18 The Gk. lacks other
  13. Romans 11:20 Or be reverent
  14. Romans 11:23 Lit. they
  15. Romans 11:25 The Gk. lacks to faith
  16. Romans 11:27 Cf. Isa 59:20-21
  17. Romans 11:31 Other mss. read may now
  18. Romans 11:34 Cf. Isa 40:13 (LXX)
  19. Romans 11:35 Cf. Job 41:11