Rămăşiţa lui Israel

11 Atunci întreb: Şi-a respins Dumnezeu poporul? În nici un caz! Căci şi eu sunt israelit, din sămânţa lui Avraam, din seminţia lui Beniamin. Dumnezeu nu Şi-a respins poporul pe care l-a cunoscut mai dinainte. Nu ştiţi ce spune Scriptura despre Ilie? Cum I-a vorbit lui Dumnezeu împotriva lui Israel? „Doamne, Ţi-au omorât profeţii şi Ţi-au dărâmat altarele. Numai eu singur am mai rămas, iar ei încearcă să-mi ia şi mie viaţa!“[a] Însă ce i-a răspuns Dumnezeu[b]? „Mi-am păstrat şapte mii de bărbaţi care nu şi-au plecat genunchiul înaintea lui Baal[c].“[d] Tot aşa este şi acum: există o rămăşiţă care a fost aleasă prin har, iar dacă este prin har, atunci nu mai este prin fapte, pentru că altfel harul n-ar mai fi har. Şi atunci? Israel n-a obţinut ceea ce căuta, dar cei aleşi au obţinut; iar ceilalţi au fost împietriţi, aşa cum este scris:

„Dumnezeu le-a dat un duh de amorţeală,
    ochi să nu vadă
şi urechi să nu audă,
    până în ziua de astăzi.“[e]

Iar David spune:

„Să li se prefacă masa într-o cursă, într-un laţ,
    într-o pricină de cădere şi într-o dreaptă răsplătire!
10 Să li se întunece ochii ca să nu mai vadă!
    Fă să li se încovoaie mereu spinarea!“[f]

Mântuirea neamurilor

11 Atunci întreb: s-au împiedicat ei ca să cadă pentru totdeauna? În nici un caz, ci, datorită greşelii lor, mântuirea a ajuns la neamuri, pentru a-i face pe israeliţi geloşi. 12 Deci dacă greşeala lor a fost bogăţie pentru lume, iar eşecul lor a fost bogăţie pentru neamuri, cu cât mai mult va fi plinătatea întoarcerii lor?!

13 Acum vă vorbesc vouă, neamurilor: având în vedere că sunt un apostol al neamurilor, eu îmi glorific slujirea 14 încercând, cumva, să stârnesc gelozia celor din neamul meu şi să-i salvez astfel pe unii dintre ei. 15 Căci dacă respingerea lor a adus împăcarea lumii, ce va aduce atunci primirea lor, dacă nu viaţă din morţi?! 16 Iar dacă partea din aluat, oferită ca cel dintâi rod, este sfântă, atunci tot aluatul este sfânt[g]; şi dacă rădăcina este sfântă, atunci şi ramurile sunt sfinte.

17 Dar dacă unele ramuri au fost rupte, şi tu, care eşti o ramură de măslin sălbatic, ai fost altoită în locul lor şi ai devenit părtaşă la rădăcina[h] bogată a măslinului, 18 nu te lăuda faţă de ramuri! Însă, dacă te lauzi, aminteşte-ţi: nu tu susţii rădăcina, ci rădăcina te susţine pe tine! 19 Vei spune: „Ramurile au fost rupte ca să fiu altoit eu!“ 20 Aşa este. Ele au fost rupte pentru că n-au crezut, iar tu stai numai prin credinţă! Deci nu fi mândru, ci teme-te! 21 Căci dacă n-a cruţat Dumnezeu ramurile naturale, nu te va cruţa nici pe tine! 22 Uită-te deci la bunătatea şi la severitatea lui Dumnezeu: El este sever cu cei care au căzut, iar cu tine este bun, dacă rămâi în bunătatea Lui. Altfel, şi tu vei fi tăiat. 23 Şi chiar ei, dacă nu persistă în necredinţă, vor fi altoiţi, pentru că Dumnezeu are putere să-i altoiască din nou. 24 Dacă tu ai fost tăiat din ceea ce, prin natură, este un măslin sălbatic şi ai fost altoit, împotriva naturii, într-un măslin bun, cu cât mai mult aceste ramuri naturale vor fi altoite înapoi, în propriul lor măslin?

Întregul Israel va fi mântuit

25 Fraţilor, nu vreau să nu ştiţi această taină[i], ca să nu pretindeţi că aţi fi mai înţelepţi decât sunteţi: o parte din Israel a experimentat împietrirea, până când va intra numărul complet al neamurilor. 26 Şi astfel[j] tot Israelul va fi mântuit[k], după cum este scris:

„Eliberatorul va veni din Sion;
    El va îndepărta nelegiuirile de la Iacov.
27 Acesta este legământul Meu cu ei,
    când le voi şterge păcatele.“[l]

28 În ce priveşte Evanghelia, ei sunt duşmani, spre binele vostru, însă, în ce priveşte alegerea, ei sunt iubiţi, datorită patriarhilor lor. 29 Căci darurile şi chemarea lui Dumnezeu sunt definitive. 30 Aşa cum voi aţi fost cândva neascultători faţă de Dumnezeu, dar acum aţi primit îndurare datorită neascultării lor, 31 la fel sunt şi ei acum neascultători, pentru ca, prin îndurarea arătată vouă, să poată primi şi ei (acum)[m] îndurare. 32 Fiindcă Dumnezeu i-a închis pe toţi în neascultare, ca să-Şi arate îndurarea faţă de toţi.

Laudă lui Dumnezeu

33 O, adâncul bogăţiei înţelepciunii şi[n] cunoaşterii lui Dumnezeu! Cât de nepătrunse sunt judecăţile Lui şi cât de neînţelese sunt căile Lui!

34 „Căci cine a cunoscut gândul Domnului?
    Sau cine a fost sfătuitorul Lui?[o]

35 Cine I-a dat vreodată ceva,
    ca El să trebuiască să-i dea înapoi?“[p]

36 Din El, prin El şi pentru El sunt toate lucrurile. A Lui să fie slava în veci! Amin.

Footnotes

  1. Romani 11:3 Vezi 1 Regi 19:10, 14
  2. Romani 11:4 Lit.: oracolul divin
  3. Romani 11:4 Zeul canaanit al fertilităţii
  4. Romani 11:4 Vezi 1 Regi 19:18
  5. Romani 11:8 Vezi Deut. 29:4; Is. 29:10
  6. Romani 11:10 Vezi LXX, Ps. 69:22, 23
  7. Romani 11:16 Vezi Num. 15:17-21; partea din aluat oferită drept cel dintâi rod sunt Avraam şi patriarhii, iar tot aluatul sunt urmaşii lor, israeliţii
  8. Romani 11:17 Patriarhii
  9. Romani 11:25 În NT, prin taină se înţelege ceva ce înainte nu fusese cunoscut, dar care acum este descoperit de Dumnezeu poporului Său; taina este descoperită tuturor, însă numai cei ce au credinţă o înţeleg; contrar religiilor misterelor, foarte răspândite în acea vreme în lumea greco-romană, care susţineau că tainele erau cunoscute numai de către cei iniţiaţi
  10. Romani 11:26 Sau: atunci
  11. Romani 11:26 Propoziţia aceasta a fost interpretată în două direcţii majore: (1) numărul total al evreilor care au fost mântuiţi în toate generaţiile (tot Israelul fiind echivalent cu numărul complet al neamurilor din v. 25); (2) cea mai mare parte a evreilor din ultima generaţie. Un lucru este clar, anume că nimeni, atât dintre evrei, cât şi neamuri, nu va fi mântuit într-un mod colectiv, ci numai pe baza credinţei în Isus Cristos cel înviat; vezi v. 23
  12. Romani 11:27 Vezi Is. 59:20, 21; 27:9; Ier. 31:33, 34
  13. Romani 11:31 Cele mai multe mss importante nu conţin acest cuvânt; câteva mss importante conţin în cele din urmă
  14. Romani 11:33 Sau: O, adâncul bogăţiei, înţelepciunii şi
  15. Romani 11:34 Vezi LXX, Is. 40:13
  16. Romani 11:35 Vezi Iov 41:11

11 λεγω ουν μη απωσατο ο θεος τον λαον αυτου μη γενοιτο και γαρ εγω ισραηλιτης ειμι εκ σπερματος αβρααμ φυλης βενιαμιν

ουκ απωσατο ο θεος τον λαον αυτου ον προεγνω η ουκ οιδατε εν ηλια τι λεγει η γραφη ως εντυγχανει τω θεω κατα του ισραηλ

κυριε τους προφητας σου απεκτειναν τα θυσιαστηρια σου κατεσκαψαν καγω υπελειφθην μονος και ζητουσιν την ψυχην μου

αλλα τι λεγει αυτω ο χρηματισμος κατελιπον εμαυτω επτακισχιλιους ανδρας οιτινες ουκ εκαμψαν γονυ τη βααλ

ουτως ουν και εν τω νυν καιρω λειμμα κατ εκλογην χαριτος γεγονεν

ει δε χαριτι ουκετι εξ εργων επει η χαρις ουκετι γινεται χαρις

τι ουν ο επιζητει ισραηλ τουτο ουκ επετυχεν η δε εκλογη επετυχεν οι δε λοιποι επωρωθησαν

καθαπερ γεγραπται εδωκεν αυτοις ο θεος πνευμα κατανυξεως οφθαλμους του μη βλεπειν και ωτα του μη ακουειν εως της σημερον ημερας

και δαυιδ λεγει γενηθητω η τραπεζα αυτων εις παγιδα και εις θηραν και εις σκανδαλον και εις ανταποδομα αυτοις

10 σκοτισθητωσαν οι οφθαλμοι αυτων του μη βλεπειν και τον νωτον αυτων δια παντος συγκαμψον

11 λεγω ουν μη επταισαν ινα πεσωσιν μη γενοιτο αλλα τω αυτων παραπτωματι η σωτηρια τοις εθνεσιν εις το παραζηλωσαι αυτους

12 ει δε το παραπτωμα αυτων πλουτος κοσμου και το ηττημα αυτων πλουτος εθνων ποσω μαλλον το πληρωμα αυτων

13 υμιν δε λεγω τοις εθνεσιν εφ οσον μεν ουν ειμι εγω εθνων αποστολος την διακονιαν μου δοξαζω

14 ει πως παραζηλωσω μου την σαρκα και σωσω τινας εξ αυτων

15 ει γαρ η αποβολη αυτων καταλλαγη κοσμου τις η προσλημψις ει μη ζωη εκ νεκρων

16 ει δε η απαρχη αγια και το φυραμα και ει η ριζα αγια και οι κλαδοι

17 ει δε τινες των κλαδων εξεκλασθησαν συ δε αγριελαιος ων ενεκεντρισθης εν αυτοις και συγκοινωνος της ριζης της πιοτητος της ελαιας εγενου

18 μη κατακαυχω των κλαδων ει δε κατακαυχασαι ου συ την ριζαν βασταζεις αλλα η ριζα σε

19 ερεις ουν εξεκλασθησαν κλαδοι ινα εγω εγκεντρισθω

20 καλως τη απιστια εξεκλασθησαν συ δε τη πιστει εστηκας μη υψηλα φρονει αλλα φοβου

21 ει γαρ ο θεος των κατα φυσιν κλαδων ουκ εφεισατο ουδε σου φεισεται

22 ιδε ουν χρηστοτητα και αποτομιαν θεου επι μεν τους πεσοντας αποτομια επι δε σε χρηστοτης θεου εαν επιμενης τη χρηστοτητι επει και συ εκκοπηση

23 κακεινοι δε εαν μη επιμενωσιν τη απιστια εγκεντρισθησονται δυνατος γαρ εστιν ο θεος παλιν εγκεντρισαι αυτους

24 ει γαρ συ εκ της κατα φυσιν εξεκοπης αγριελαιου και παρα φυσιν ενεκεντρισθης εις καλλιελαιον ποσω μαλλον ουτοι οι κατα φυσιν εγκεντρισθησονται τη ιδια ελαια

25 ου γαρ θελω υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι το μυστηριον τουτο ινα μη ητε εν εαυτοις φρονιμοι οτι πωρωσις απο μερους τω ισραηλ γεγονεν αχρις ου το πληρωμα των εθνων εισελθη

26 και ουτως πας ισραηλ σωθησεται καθως γεγραπται ηξει εκ σιων ο ρυομενος αποστρεψει ασεβειας απο ιακωβ

27 και αυτη αυτοις η παρ εμου διαθηκη οταν αφελωμαι τας αμαρτιας αυτων

28 κατα μεν το ευαγγελιον εχθροι δι υμας κατα δε την εκλογην αγαπητοι δια τους πατερας

29 αμεταμελητα γαρ τα χαρισματα και η κλησις του θεου

30 ωσπερ γαρ υμεις ποτε ηπειθησατε τω θεω νυν δε ηλεηθητε τη τουτων απειθεια

31 ουτως και ουτοι νυν ηπειθησαν τω υμετερω ελεει ινα και αυτοι νυν ελεηθωσιν

32 συνεκλεισεν γαρ ο θεος τους παντας εις απειθειαν ινα τους παντας ελεηση

33 ω βαθος πλουτου και σοφιας και γνωσεως θεου ως ανεξεραυνητα τα κριματα αυτου και ανεξιχνιαστοι αι οδοι αυτου

34 τις γαρ εγνω νουν κυριου η τις συμβουλος αυτου εγενετο

35 η τις προεδωκεν αυτω και ανταποδοθησεται αυτω

36 οτι εξ αυτου και δι αυτου και εις αυτον τα παντα αυτω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην

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.