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

All the Jews are not cast away. Therefore Paul warns the Gentiles who are called not to be high-minded or despise the Jews. For the judgments of God are deep and secret.

11 I say then, has God cast away his people? God forbid. For even I, of course, am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham and of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the scripture says by the mouth of Elijah, how he makes intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed your prophets and dug down your altars, and only I am left, and they seek my life? But what is the answer of God to him in response? – I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Likewise also, there is at this time a remnant left through the election of grace. If it is by grace, then it is not by works, for then grace would not be grace any more. And if it is by works, then it is not grace any more, for then deserving would no longer be deserving.  

What then? Israel has not obtained what it sought. No, but yet the chosen ones have obtained it. The rest are blinded, as it is written: God has given them the spirit of unquietness: eyes so that they cannot see, and ears so that they cannot hear, until this day. And David says, Let their table be made a snare to take them with, and an occasion to fall, and a reward to them. 10 Let their eyes be blinded so that they do not see, and ever bow down their backs.

11 I say then, have they therefore stumbled, only but to fall? God forbid. But through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to rally them at the same time. 12 And so if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminishment the riches of the Gentiles, how much greater the riches if they all believed? 13 I preach to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles. I will magnify my office, 14 so that I might rally those who are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what is the receiving of them but life again from death? 16 For if one piece is holy, the whole lump is holy. And if the root is holy, the branches are holy also.

17 Though some of the branches are broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, are grafted in among them and made partaker of the root and sap of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. For if you boast, remember that you do not bear the root, but the root bears you. 19 You will say then that the branches are broken off so that you may be grafted in. 20 Well said: because of unbelief they are broken off, and you stand steadfast in faith. Be not high-minded, but fear, 21 seeing that God spared not the natural branches, lest perhaps he also not spare you.

22 Behold the kindness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity, but towards you, kindness – if you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you will be hewn off. 23 And they, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in again. For God is of power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of a natural, wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a true olive tree, how much more may the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree again?

25 I would not that this mystery be hid from you my brethren (lest you be wise in your own estimations), that with respect to a part, blindness is upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in; 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: There will come out of Zion he who does deliver, and who will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27 And: This is my covenant to them, when I take away their sins. 28 Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but as for the chosen ones, these are loved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For indeed, the gifts and calling of God are such that he cannot change his mind about them.

30 For look, just as you in time past did not believe God, and yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief, 31 in the same way now they have not believed the mercy that has come to you so that they also may obtain mercy. 32 God has wrapped all nations in unbelief in order that he may have mercy on all.

33 O the deepness of the riches of 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 has been his counsellor? 35 Or who has given to him first, that he should be recompensed? 36 For from him, and through him, and for him, are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

A Remnant of Israel Remains

11 Therefore I say, God has not rejected his people, has he?[a] May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the descendants of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people, whom he foreknew! Or do you not know, in the passage about[b] Elijah, what the scripture says—how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life!”[c] But what does the divine response say to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand people[d] who have not bent the knee to Baal.”[e] So in this way also at the present time, there is a remnant selected by grace[f]. But if by grace, it is no longer by works, for otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What Israel was searching for, this it did not obtain. But the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened, just as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear,
    until this very day.”[g]

And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
    and a cause for stumbling and a retribution to them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see,
    and cause their backs to bend continually[h].”[i]

11 I say then, they did not stumble so that they fell, did they?[j] May it never be! But by their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy.[k] 12 And if their trespass means riches for the world and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean?

Gentile Branches Grafted in

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Therefore, inasmuch as I am apostle to the Gentiles, I promote my ministry, 14 if somehow I may provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean except life from the dead? 16 Now if the first fruits are holy, so also is the whole batch of dough, and if the root is holy, so also are the branches.

17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although you[l] were a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the root of the olive tree’s richness, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you boast against them, you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off in order that I could be grafted in.” 20 Well said! They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand firm because of faith. Do not think arrogant thoughts, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural[m] branches, neither will he spare you.[n] 22 See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity upon those who have fallen, but upon you the kindness of God—if you continue in his kindness, for otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And those also, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches[o] be grafted into their own olive tree?

All Israel to be Saved

25 For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you will not be wise in your own sight,[p] that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and so all Israel will be saved, just as it is written,

“The deliverer will come out of Zion;
    he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
27 And this is the covenant from me with them[q]
    when I take away their sins.”[r]

28 With respect to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but with respect to election, they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you formerly were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of the disobedience of these, 31 so also these have now been disobedient for your mercy, in order that they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God confined them all in disobedience, in order that he could have mercy on them all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches
    and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments
    and how incomprehensible are his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?[s]
35 Or who has given in advance to him,
    and it will be paid back to him?”[t]
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.
    To him be glory for eternity! Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:1 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here
  2. Romans 11:2 The words “the passage about” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied for clarity
  3. Romans 11:3 A quotation from 1 Kgs 19:10, 14
  4. Romans 11:4 Or perhaps “males,” referring to men only
  5. Romans 11:4 A quotation from 1 Kgs 19:18
  6. Romans 11:5 Literally “according to selection of grace”
  7. Romans 11:8 A quotation from Deut 29:4; Isa 29:10
  8. Romans 11:10 Literally “throughout everything”
  9. Romans 11:10 A quotation from Ps 69:22–23
  10. Romans 11:11 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here
  11. Romans 11:11 *The words “to jealousy” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied for clarity
  12. Romans 11:17 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were”) which is understood as concessive
  13. Romans 11:21 Literally “according to nature”
  14. Romans 11:21 Some manuscripts have “perhaps he will not spare you either”
  15. Romans 11:24 Literally “by nature”
  16. Romans 11:25 Literally “in yourselves”
  17. Romans 11:27 A quotation from Isa 59:20–21
  18. Romans 11:27 A quotation from Isa 27:9; Jer 31:33–34
  19. Romans 11:34 A quotation from Isa 40:13
  20. Romans 11:35 A quotation from Job 41:11

 神并没有丢弃以色列人

11 那么我要说,难道 神丢弃了他的子民吗?绝对没有!因为我自己也是以色列人,是亚伯拉罕的后裔,属于便雅悯支派的。  神并没有丢弃他预先知道的子民。难道你们不知道在经上以利亚的话是怎样说的吗?他向 神控诉以色列人: “主啊,他们杀了你的众先知,拆毁了你的祭坛,只剩下我一个人,他们还在寻索我的性命。” 但 神怎样回答他呢?“我为自己留下了七千人,是没有向巴力屈膝的。” 因此,现在也是这样,按着恩典的拣选,还有剩下的余数。 既然是靠着恩典,就不再是由于行为了;不然的话,恩典就不再是恩典了。 那又怎么样呢?以色列人恳切寻找的,他们没有得到,蒙拣选的人倒得着了。其余的人都成了顽固的, 正如经上所记:

“ 神给了他们麻木的灵,

有眼睛却看不见,

有耳朵却听不到,

直到今日。”

大卫也说:

“愿他们的筵席成为他们的网罗、陷阱、

绊脚石和报应;

10 愿他们的眼睛昏暗,不能看见;

愿他们的背脊常常弯曲。”

外族人因信得到救恩

11 那么我要说,他们失足是要倒下去吗?绝对不是!反而因为他们的过犯,救恩就临到外族人,为了要激起他们奋发。 12 既然他们的过犯可以使世人富足,他们的失败可以使外族人富足,何况他们的丰盛呢?

13 我现在对你们外族人说话,因为我是外族人的使徒,所以尊重我的职分, 14 这样也许可以激起我骨肉之亲奋发,使他们中间有一些人得救。 15 如果他们被舍弃,世人就可以与 神复和;他们蒙接纳,不就等于从死人中复活吗? 16 如果首先献上的生面是圣的,整团面也是圣的;如果树根是圣的,树枝也是圣的。

17 如果把几根树枝折下来,让你这野橄榄可以接上去,一同分享那橄榄树根的汁浆, 18 你就不可向那些树枝夸口。你若要夸口,就应当想想:不是你支持着树根,而是树根支持着你。 19 那么你会说,那些树枝被折下来,就是要把我接上去。 20 不错,他们因为不信而被折下来,你因着信才站立得住。只是不可心高气傲,倒要存畏惧的心。 21  神既然不顾惜那本来的树枝,也不会顾惜你。 22 所以要留意 神的恩慈和严厉:对跌倒的人,他是严厉的;对你,只要你继续在他的恩慈里,他是恩慈的;不然的话,你也会被砍下来。 23 至于他们,如果不是继续不信,他们仍然会被接上去,因为 神能够把他们再接上去。 24 你这从野生的橄榄树上砍下来的,尚且可以不自然地接在栽种的橄榄树上,那些本来就有的树枝,不是更能够接在原来的橄榄树上吗?

全以色列都要得救

25 弟兄们,我不愿意你们对这奥秘一无所知,免得你们自以为聪明。这奥秘就是以色列人当中有一部分是硬心的,直到外族人的全数满了; 26 这样,全以色列都要得救,如经上所记:

“拯救者必从锡安出来,

除掉雅各家的不敬虔的心;

27 我除去他们罪恶的时候,

就与他们立这样的约。”

28 就福音来说,因你们的缘故,他们是仇敌;就拣选来说,因祖宗的缘故,他们是蒙爱的。 29 因为 神的恩赏和呼召是决不会反悔的。 30 正如你们从前不顺服 神,现在却因着他们的不顺服,你们倒蒙了怜悯; 31 照样,他们因着你们所蒙的怜悯,现在也不顺服,使他们现在也可以蒙怜悯。 32 因为 神把所有的人都圈在不顺服之中,为了要怜悯所有的人。

颂赞 神

33  神的丰富、智慧和知识,是多么高深啊!他的判断是多么难测,他的道路是多么难寻!

34 “谁知道主的心意,

谁作过他的参谋?”

35 “谁先给了他,

以致他要偿还呢?”

36 因为万有都是本于他,倚靠他,归于他。愿荣耀归给他,直到永远。阿们。