Romans 11
International Standard Version
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. 2 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? 3 “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] 4 But what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for myself 7,000 people who have not knelt to worship Baal.”[d] 5 So it is at the present time: there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if this is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of actions. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
7 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. 8 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]
9 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
- Romans 11:2 Lit. knew
- Romans 11:2 The Gk. lacks the story about
- Romans 11:3 Cf. 1 Kings 19:10, 14
- Romans 11:4 Cf. 1 Kings 19:18
- Romans 11:7 The Gk. lacks does this mean
- Romans 11:8 Lit. has given them a spirit of
- Romans 11:8 Cf. Deut 29:4; Isa 29:10
- Romans 11:10 Cf. Ps 69:22-23; 35:8
- Romans 11:11 Lit. them
- Romans 11:14 Lit. flesh
- Romans 11:18 The Gk. lacks being better than
- Romans 11:18 The Gk. lacks other
- Romans 11:20 Or be reverent
- Romans 11:23 Lit. they
- Romans 11:25 The Gk. lacks to faith
- Romans 11:27 Cf. Isa 59:20-21
- Romans 11:31 Other mss. read may now
- Romans 11:34 Cf. Isa 40:13 (LXX)
- Romans 11:35 Cf. Job 41:11
Romans 11
Revised Geneva Translation
11 I say then, has not God thrust away His people? Absolutely not! For I am also an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God has not thrust away His people, whom He knew before. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah; how he intercedes with God against Israel, saying,
3 “Lord, they have killed your Prophets, and dug down Your altars. And I am left alone. And they seek my life”?
4 But what does God say in response to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal”.
5 Even so then, at this present time, there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if it is of grace, it is no more of works. Or else grace would no longer be grace. And if it is of works, it is no longer grace. Or else work would no longer be work.
7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it sought. But the Elect have obtained it. And the rest have been hardened.
8 Just as it is written, “God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear until this day”.
9 And David says, “Let their table be made a snare, and a net, and a stumbling block, and a recompense to them.
10 “Let their eyes be darkened that they do not see and bow down their back continually.”
11 I say then, have they stumbled so that they should fall? Absolutely not! But through their fall, salvation comes to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Yet, if their fall is the riches of the world - and their diminishing the riches of the Gentiles - how much more shall their fulfillment be?
13 For in speaking to you Gentiles (inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles) I magnify my office,
14 if, somehow, I might provoke those of my flesh to follow them and save some of them.
15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what shall their acceptance be if not life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole lump. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 And though some of the branches are broken off, and you (being a wild olive tree) were grafted in among them, and made a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,
18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “The branches have been broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
20 Well said. Through unbelief they have been broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be high-minded, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
22 Behold, therefore, the kindness and severity of God - severity toward those who have fallen, but kindness toward you - if you continue in His kindness. Or else you shall also be cut off.
23 And they also, if they do not still remain in unbelief, shall be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree (which is wild by nature) and were grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall those who are natural be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this secret, brothers (lest you be wise in your own eyes), that partial blindness has come to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion, and shall turn away the ungodliness from Jacob.
27 And this is My covenant to them, When I shall take away their sins.”
28 Concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the Fathers’ sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.
30 For even as you, in times past, had not believed God and yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief,
31 so now have they not believed by the mercy shown to you, so that they may also obtain mercy.
32 For God has shut up all in unbelief, so that He might have mercy on all.
33 O the depth of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who was His counselor?
35 Or who has given to Him first, that he shall be recompensed?
36 For of Him, and through Him, and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.
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