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?

⁴ But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal.^{(G)[b] 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 in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling,^[h] salvation has come to the Gentiles^(N) to make Israel jealous. ¹² Now if their stumbling^[i] brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring!^(O)

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles,^(P) I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if I can somehow make my own people^[j](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 offered up 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^[k] of the cultivated olive tree, ¹⁸ do not brag that you are better than those branches. But if you do brag—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 by unbelief, but you stand by faith.^(Z) Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.^{(AA) 21} For 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 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 So that you will not be conceited,^(AF) brothers, I do not want you to be unaware^(AG) of this mystery:^(AH) A partial hardening has come to Israel^(AI) until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.^{(AJ) 26} And in this way all^[l] 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.^{[o](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 now^[p] may receive mercy. ³² For God has imprisoned all in disobedience,^(AQ) so that He may have mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise