Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

3 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner^(A) of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. ³ The mystery was made known to me by revelation,^(B) as I have briefly written above. ⁴ By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.^{(C) 5} This was not made known to people^[a] in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets^(D) by the Spirit: ⁶ The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise^(E) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ⁷ I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.^(F)

⁸ This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches^(G) of Christ, ⁹ and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created^(H) all things. ¹⁰ This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom^(I) may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.^{(J) 11} This is according to his eternal purpose^(K) accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him we have boldness and confident access^(L) through faith in him.^{[b] 13} So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged^(M) over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.^(N)

Israel’s Rejection Not Total

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his people?^(A) Absolutely not!^(B) For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,^(C) from the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.^(D) Or don’t you know^(E) what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? 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!^{[a](F) 4} But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.^{[b](G) 5} In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.^{(H) 6} Now if by grace,^(I) then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.^[c]

⁷ What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for,^(J) but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,^{(K) 8} as it is written,

⁹ And David says,

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

¹¹ I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^(N) to make Israel jealous. ¹² Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!^(O)

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,^(P) I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if I might somehow make my own people^[f](Q) jealous and save some of them.^{(R) 15} For if their rejection brings reconciliation^(S) to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?^{(T) 16} Now if the firstfruits are holy,^(U) so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ Now if some of the branches were broken off,^(V) and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them^(W) and have come to share in the rich root^[g] of the cultivated olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.^{(X) 19} Then you will say,^(Y) “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.^(Z) Do not be arrogant, but beware,^{[h](AA) 21} because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. ²² Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness^(AB) toward you—if you remain in his kindness.^(AC) Otherwise you too will be cut off.^{(AD) 23} And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,^(AE) will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵ I don’t want you to be ignorant^(AF) of this mystery,^(AG) brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited:^(AH) A partial hardening has come upon Israel^(AI) until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.^{(AJ) 26} And in this way all^[i] Israel will be saved, as it is written,

²⁸ Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage,^(AM) but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,^{(AN) 29} since God’s gracious gifts and calling^(AO) are irrevocable.^{[l](AP) 30} As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now^[m] receive mercy. ³² For God has imprisoned all in disobedience^(AQ) so that he may have mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise

Paul’s Ministry

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings^(A) for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body,^(B) that is, the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ^(C) in you, the hope^(D) of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ I labor for this, striving^(E) with his strength that works powerfully in me.^(F)