I ask 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 whom He foreknew. Know ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

“Lord, they have killed Thy prophets and torn 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 it is no longer by works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it be by works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer 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, a stumbling block and a recompense unto them.

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their backs alway.”

I say then: Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid! But rather, through their fall salvation has come unto the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy.

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 fullness?

For I speak to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my office,

that by any means I may provoke to emulation those who are my flesh, and might save some of them.

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?

For if the firstfruit be holy, the whole lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

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,

boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, “The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.”

Thou sayest well! Because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear;

for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness. Otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off.

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

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 are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I, brethren, would not have you be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits: that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: “There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

For this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.”

Concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake; but concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

For as in times past ye have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief,

even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.

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!

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor?”

Or, “who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?”

For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel:

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have 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 left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

What then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:

according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.

I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;

if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.

For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

And if the first-fruit is holy, so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;

glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.

Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God’s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;

and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

And this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins.

As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.

For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of.

For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,

even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.

For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.

I say then, has God rejected and disowned His people? Certainly not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected His [chosen] people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

“Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left [of the prophets], and they are seeking my life.”

But what is God’s response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

So too then, at the present time there has come to be a remnant [a small believing minority] according to God’s gracious choice.

But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works].

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking [that is, God’s favor by obedience to the Law], but the elect [those chosen few] obtained it, while the rest of them became hardened and callously indifferent;

just as it is written [in Scripture], “God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, [a spiritual apathy that has continued] to this very day.”

And David says, “Let their table (abundance) become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a retribution to them.

“Let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see, And make their backs bend [under their burden] forever.”

So I say, have they stumbled so as to fall [to spiritual ruin]? Certainly not! But by their transgression [their rejection of the Messiah] salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous [when they realize what they have forfeited].

Now if Israel’s transgression means riches for the world [at large] and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment and reinstatement be!

But now I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

in the hope of somehow making my fellow countrymen jealous [by stirring them up so that they will seek the truth] and perhaps save some of them.

For if their [present] rejection [of salvation] is for the reconciliation of the world [to God], what will their acceptance [of salvation] be but [nothing less than] life from the dead?

If the first portion [of dough offered as the first fruits] is holy, so is the whole batch; and if the root (Abraham, the patriarchs) is holy, so are the branches (the Israelites).

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you [Gentiles], being like a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them to share with them the rich root of the olive tree,

do not boast over the [broken] branches and exalt yourself at their expense. If you do boast and feel superior, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by your faith [as believers understanding the truth of Christ’s deity]. Do not be conceited, but [rather stand in great awe of God and] fear [Him];

for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], He will not spare you either.

Then appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: to those who fell [into spiritual ruin], severity, but to you, God’s gracious kindness—if you continue in His kindness [by faith and obedience to Him]; otherwise you too will be cut off.

And even they [the unbelieving Jews], if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God has the power to graft them in again.

For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these who are the natural branches back into [the original parent stock of] their own olive tree?

I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]—so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;

and so [at that time] all Israel [that is, all Jews who have a personal faith in Jesus as Messiah] will be saved; just as it is written [in Scripture], “The Deliverer (Messiah) will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

“This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

From the standpoint of the gospel, the Jews [at present] are enemies [of God] for your sake [which is for your benefit], but from the standpoint of God’s choice [of the Jews as His people], they are still loved by Him for the sake of the fathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].

Just as you once were disobedient and failed to listen to God, but have now obtained mercy because of their disobedience,

so they too have now become disobedient so that they too may one day receive mercy because of the mercy shown to you.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all [Jew and Gentile alike].

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?

Or who has first given to Him that it would be paid back to him?

For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen.

I ask then: Has God totally rejected and disowned His people? Of course not! Why, I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin!

No, God has not rejected and disowned His people [whose destiny] He had marked out and appointed and foreknown from the beginning. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Lord, they have killed Your prophets; they have demolished Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.

But what is God’s reply to him? I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal!

So too at the present time there is a remnant (a small believing minority), selected (chosen) by grace (by God’s unmerited favor and graciousness).

But if it is by grace (His unmerited favor and graciousness), it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace [it would be meaningless].

What then [shall we conclude]? Israel failed to obtain what it sought [God’s favor by obedience to the Law]. Only the elect (those chosen few) obtained it, while the rest of them became callously indifferent (blinded, hardened, and made insensible to it).

As it is written, God gave them a spirit (an attitude) of stupor, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, [that has continued] down to this very day.

And David says, Let their table (their feasting, banqueting) become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a just retribution [rebounding like a boomerang upon them];

Let their eyes be darkened (dimmed) so that they cannot see, and make them bend their back [stooping beneath their burden] forever.

So I ask, Have they stumbled so as to fall [to their utter spiritual ruin, irretrievably]? By no means! But through their false step and transgression salvation [has come] to the Gentiles, so as to arouse Israel [to see and feel what they forfeited] and so to make them jealous.

Now if their stumbling (their lapse, their transgression) has so enriched the world [at large], and if [Israel’s] failure means such riches for the Gentiles, think what an enrichment and greater advantage will follow their full reinstatement!

But now I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I lay great stress on my ministry and magnify my office,

In the hope of making my fellow Jews jealous [in order to stir them up to imitate, copy, and appropriate], and thus managing to save some of them.

For if their rejection and exclusion from the benefits of salvation were [overruled] for the reconciliation of a world to God, what will their acceptance and admission mean? [It will be nothing short of] life from the dead!

Now if the first handful of dough offered as the firstfruits [Abraham and the patriarchs] is consecrated (holy), so is the whole mass [the nation of Israel]; and if the root [Abraham] is consecrated (holy), so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, while you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them to share the richness [of the root and sap] of the olive tree,

Do not boast over the branches and pride yourself at their expense. If you do boast and feel superior, remember it is not you that support the root, but the root [that supports] you.

You will say then, Branches were broken (pruned) off so that I might be grafted in!

That is true. But they were broken (pruned) off because of their unbelief (their lack of real faith), and you are established through faith [because you do believe]. So do not become proud and conceited, but rather stand in awe and be reverently afraid.

For if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], neither will He spare you [if you are guilty of the same offense].

Then note and appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s gracious kindness to you—provided you continue in His grace and abide in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off (pruned away).

And even those others [the fallen branches, Jews], if they do not persist in [clinging to] their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these natural [branches] back on [the original parent stock of] their own olive tree.

Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has [temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [to last] until the full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has come in,

And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.

And this will be My covenant (My agreement) with them when I shall take away their sins.

From the point of view of the Gospel (good news), they [the Jews, at present] are enemies [of God], which is for your advantage and benefit. But from the point of view of God’s choice (of election, of divine selection), they are still the beloved (dear to Him) for the sake of their forefathers.

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]

Just as you were once disobedient and rebellious toward God but now have obtained [His] mercy, through their disobedience,

So they also now are being disobedient [when you are receiving mercy], that they in turn may one day, through the mercy you are enjoying, also receive mercy [that they may share the mercy which has been shown to you—through you as messengers of the Gospel to them].

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike].

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!

For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood His thoughts, or who has [ever] been His counselor?

Or who has first given God anything that he might be paid back or that he could claim a recompense?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).

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 is it 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:

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

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.

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?

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

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?

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

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.

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

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.

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:

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

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!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel?

But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.

Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.

What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,

as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.

And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually.

I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them.

For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree,

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.

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware,

because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.

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?

I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.

Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,

since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.

As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience,

so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?

And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah – how he pleads with God against Israel?

But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.

Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.

What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,

as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.

And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually.

I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

if I might somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them.

For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree,

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.

Then you will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’

True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware,

because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity towards those who have fallen but God’s kindness towards you – if you remain in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.

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?

I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.

Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,

since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.

As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience,

so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgements and untraceable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?

And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid?

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.

So I ask you, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! I’m an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God hasn’t rejected his people, whom he knew in advance. Or don’t you know what the scripture says in the case of Elijah, when he pleads with God against Israel?

Lord, they have killed your prophets, and they have torn down your altars. I’m the only one left, and they are trying to take my life.

But what is God’s reply to him? I have kept for myself seven thousand people who haven’t bowed their knees to Baal.

So also in the present time there is a remaining group by the choice of God’s grace.

But if it is by grace, it isn’t by what’s done anymore. If it were, God’s grace wouldn’t be grace.

So what? Israel didn’t find what it was looking for. Those who were chosen found it, but the others were resistant.

As it is written, God gave them a dull spirit, so that their eyes would not see and their ears not hear, right up until the present day.

And David says, Their table should become a pitfall and a trap, a stumbling block and payback to them for what they have done.

Their eyes should be darkened so they can’t see, and their backs always bent.

So I’m asking you: They haven’t stumbled so that they’ve fallen permanently, have they? Absolutely not! But salvation has come to the Gentiles by their failure, in order to make Israel jealous.

But if their failure brings riches to the world, and their defeat brings riches to the Gentiles, how much more will come from the completion of their number!

I’m speaking to you Gentiles. Considering that I’m an apostle to the Gentiles, I publicize my own ministry

in the hope that somehow I might make my own people jealous and save some of them.

If their rejection has brought about a close relationship between God and the world, how can their acceptance mean anything less than life from the dead?

But if part of a batch of dough is offered to God as holy, the whole batch of dough is holy too. If a root is holy, the branches will be holy too.

If some of the branches were broken off, and you were a wild olive branch, and you were grafted in among the other branches and shared the root that produces the rich oil of the olive tree,

then don’t brag like you’re better than the other branches. If you do brag, be careful: it’s not you that sustains the root, but it’s the root that sustains you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”

Fine. They were broken off because they weren’t faithful, but you stand only by your faithfulness. So don’t think in a proud way; instead be afraid.

If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you either.

So look at God’s kindness and harshness. It’s harshness toward those who fell, but it’s God’s kindness for you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise, you could be cut off too.

And even those who were cut off will be grafted back in if they don’t continue to be unfaithful, because God is able to graft them in again.

If you were naturally part of a wild olive tree and you were cut off from it, and then, contrary to nature, you were grafted into the cultivated olive tree, won’t these natural branches stand an even better chance of being grafted back onto their own olive tree?

I don’t want you to be unaware of this secret, brothers and sisters. That way you won’t think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has become resistant until the full number of the Gentiles comes in.

In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodly behavior from Jacob.

This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.

According to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but according to God’s choice, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors.

God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back.

Once you were disobedient to God, but now you have mercy because they were disobedient.

In the same way, they have also been disobedient because of the mercy that you received, so now they can receive mercy too.

God has locked up all people in disobedience, in order to have mercy on all of them.

God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep! They are as mysterious as his judgments, and they are as hard to track as his paths!

Who has known the Lord’s mind? Or who has been his mentor?

Or who has given him a gift and has been paid back by him?

All things are from him and through him and for him. May the glory be to him forever. Amen.

“In that case, I say, isn’t it that God has repudiated his people?” Heaven forbid! For I myself am a son of Isra’el, from the seed of Avraham, of the tribe of Binyamin.

God has not repudiated his people, whom he chose in advance. Or don’t you know what the Tanakh says about Eliyahu? He pleads with God against Isra’el,

But what is God’s answer to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt down to Ba‘al.”

It’s the same way in the present age: there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

(Now if it is by grace, it is accordingly not based on legalistic works; if it were otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.)

What follows is that Isra’el has not attained the goal for which she is striving. The ones chosen have obtained it, but the rest have been made stonelike,

just as the Tanakh says, “God has given them a spirit of dullness — eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, right down to the present day.”

And David says, “Let their dining table become for them a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a punishment.

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see, with their backs bent continually.”

“In that case, I say, isn’t it that they have stumbled with the result that they have permanently fallen away?” Heaven forbid! Quite the contrary, it is by means of their stumbling that the deliverance has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy.

Moreover, if their stumbling is bringing riches to the world — that is, if Isra’el’s being placed temporarily in a condition less favored than that of the Gentiles is bringing riches to the latter — how much greater riches will Isra’el in its fullness bring them!

However, to those of you who are Gentiles I say this: since I myself am an emissary sent to the Gentiles, I make known the importance of my work

in the hope that somehow I may provoke some of my own people to jealousy and save some of them!

For if their casting Yeshua aside means reconciliation for the world, what will their accepting him mean? It will be life from the dead!

Now if the hallah offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole loaf. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you — a wild olive — were grafted in among them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree,

then don’t boast as if you were better than the branches! However, if you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, the root is supporting you.

So you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

True, but so what? They were broken off because of their lack of trust. However, you keep your place only because of your trust. So don’t be arrogant; on the contrary, be terrified!

For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly won’t spare you!

So take a good look at God’s kindness and his severity: on the one hand, severity toward those who fell off; but, on the other hand, God’s kindness toward you — provided you maintain yourself in that kindness! Otherwise, you too will be cut off!

Moreover, the others, if they do not persist in their lack of trust, will be grafted in; because God is able to graft them back in.

For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!

For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won’t imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Isra’el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness;

and that it is in this way that all Isra’el will be saved. As the Tanakh says, “Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Ya‘akov

and this will be my covenant with them, . . . when I take away their sins.”

With respect to the Good News they are hated for your sake. But with respect to being chosen they are loved for the Patriarchs’ sake,

for God’s free gifts and his calling are irrevocable.

Just as you yourselves were disobedient to God before but have received mercy now because of Isra’el’s disobedience;

so also Isra’el has been disobedient now, so that by your showing them the same mercy that God has shown you, they too may now receive God’s mercy.

For God has shut up all mankind together in disobedience, in order that he might show mercy to all.

O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments! How unsearchable are his ways!

For, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has been his counselor?’

Or, ‘Who has given him anything and made him pay it back?’

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Am I saying that God has turned his back on his people? Certainly not! I am one of the people of Israel, and I myself am a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not turn his back on his chosen people. Don't you remember reading in the Scriptures how Elijah complained to God about the people of Israel?

He said, “Lord, they killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I am the only one left, and now they want to kill me.”

But the Lord told Elijah, “I still have 7,000 followers who have not worshiped Baal.”

It is the same way now. God treated the people of Israel with undeserved grace, and so a few of them are still his followers.

This happened because of God's undeserved kindness and not because of anything they have done. It could not have happened except for God's gift of undeserved grace.

This means that only a chosen few of the people of Israel found what all of them were searching for. And the rest of them were stubborn,

just as the Scriptures say, “God made them so stupid that their eyes are blind, and their ears are still deaf.”

Then David said, “Turn their meals into bait for a trap, so that they will stumble and be given what they deserve.

Blindfold their eyes! Don't let them see. Bend their backs beneath a burden that will never be lifted.”

Do I mean that the people of Israel fell, never to get up again? Certainly not! Their failure made it possible for the Gentiles to be saved, and this will make the people of Israel jealous.

But if the rest of the world's people were helped so much by their sin and loss, they will be helped even more by their full return.

I am now speaking to you Gentiles, and as long as I am an apostle to you, I will take pride in my work.

I hope in this way to make some of my own people jealous enough to be saved.

When Israel rejected God, the rest of the people in the world were able to turn to him. So when God makes friends with Israel, it will be like bringing the dead back to life.

If part of a batch of dough is made holy by being offered to God, then all of the dough is holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, the rest of the tree is holy too.

You Gentiles are like branches of a wild olive tree made to be part of a cultivated olive tree. You have taken the place of some branches that were cut away from it. And because of this, you enjoy the blessings that come from being part of that cultivated tree.

But don't think you are better than the branches that were cut away. Just remember you are not supporting the roots of this tree. Its roots are supporting you.

Maybe you think those branches were cut away, so you could be put in their place.

That's true enough. But they were cut away because they did not have faith, and you are where you are because you do have faith. So don't be proud, but be afraid.

If God cut away those natural branches, couldn't he do the same to you?

Now you see both how kind and how hard God can be. He was hard on those who fell, but he was kind to you. And he will keep on being kind to you, if you keep on trusting in his kindness. Otherwise, you will be cut away too.

If those other branches will start having faith, they will be made a part of that tree again. God has the power to put them back.

After all, it wasn't natural for branches to be cut from a wild olive tree and to be made part of a cultivated olive tree. So it is much more likely that God will join the natural branches back to the cultivated olive tree.

My friends, I don't want you Gentiles to be too proud of yourselves. So I will explain the mystery of what has happened to the people of Israel. Some of them have become stubborn, and they will stay like that until the complete number of you Gentiles has come in.

In this way all of Israel will be saved, as the Scriptures say, “From Zion someone will come to rescue us. Then Jacob's descendants will stop being evil.

This is what the Lord has promised to do when he forgives their sins.”

The people of Israel are treated as God's enemies, so the good news can come to you Gentiles. But they are still the chosen ones, and God loves them because of their famous ancestors.

God doesn't take back the gifts he has given or disown the people he has chosen.

At one time you Gentiles rejected God. But now Israel has rejected God, and you have been shown mercy.

And because of the mercy shown to you, they will also be shown mercy.

All people have disobeyed God, and that's why he treats them as prisoners. But he does this, so that he can have mercy on all of them.

Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does?

“Has anyone known the thoughts of the Lord or given him advice?

Has anyone loaned something to the Lord that must be repaid?”

Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever! Amen.

I say then, Has God cast away his people? Far be the thought. For *I* also am an Israelite, of [the] seed of Abraham, of [the] tribe of Benjamin.

God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture says in [the history of] Elias, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thine altars; and *I* have been left alone, and they seek my life.

But what says the divine answer to him? I have left to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed knee to Baal.

Thus, then, in the present time also there has been a remnant according to election of grace.

But if by grace, no longer of works: since [otherwise] grace is no more grace.

What [is it] then? What Israel seeks for, that he has not obtained; but the election has obtained, and the rest have been blinded,

according as it is written, God has given to them a spirit of slumber, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear, unto this day.

And David says, Let their table be for a snare, and for a gin, and for a fall-trap, and for a recompense to them:

let their eyes be darkened not to see, and bow down their back alway.

I say then, Have they stumbled in order that they might fall? Far be the thought: but by their fall [there is] salvation to the nations to provoke them to jealousy.

But if their fall [be the] world's wealth, and their loss [the] wealth of [the] nations, how much rather their fulness?

For I speak to you, the nations, inasmuch as *I* am apostle of nations, I glorify my ministry;

if by any means I shall provoke to jealousy [them which are] my flesh, and shall save some from among them.

For if their casting away [be the] world's reconciliation, what [their] reception but life from among [the] dead?

Now if the first-fruit [be] holy, the lump also; and if the root [be] holy, the branches also.

Now if some of the branches have been broken out, and *thou*, being a wild olive tree, hast been grafted in amongst them, and hast become a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree,

boast not against the branches; but if thou boast, [it is] not *thou* bearest the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, The branches have been broken out in order that *I* might be grafted in.

Right: they have been broken out through unbelief, and *thou* standest through faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:

if God indeed has not spared the natural branches; lest it might be he spare not thee either.

Behold then [the] goodness and severity of God: upon them who have fallen, severity; upon thee goodness of God, if thou shalt abide in goodness, since [otherwise] *thou* also wilt be cut away.

And *they* too, if they abide not in unbelief, shall be grafted in; for God is able again to graft them in.

For if *thou* hast been cut out of the olive tree wild by nature, and, contrary to nature, hast been grafted into the good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who are according to nature be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this mystery, that ye may not be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the nations be come in;

and so all Israel shall be saved. According as it is written, The deliverer shall come out of Zion; he shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

And this is the covenant from me to them, when I shall have taken away their sins.

As regards the glad tidings, [they are] enemies on your account; but as regards election, beloved on account of the fathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God [are] not subject to repentance.

For as indeed *ye* [also] once have not believed in God, but now have been objects of mercy through the unbelief of *these*;

so these also have now not believed in your mercy, in order that *they* also may be objects of mercy.

For God hath shut up together all in unbelief, in order that he might shew mercy to all.

O depth of riches both of [the] wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable his judgments, and untraceable his ways!

For who has known [the] mind of [the] Lord, or who has been his counsellor?

or who has first given to him, and it shall be rendered to him?

For of him, and through him, and for him [are] all things: to him be glory for ever. Amen.

Therefore I say, God did not reject His people, did He? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the seed of Abraham, the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not reject His people whom He foreknew! Or do you not know what the Scripture says in-connection-with Elijah [in 1 Kings 19:14], how he appeals to God against Israel?—

“Lord, they killed Your prophets, they tore-down Your altars, and I alone was left, and they are seeking my life”.

But what does the divine-response say to him [in 1 Kings 19:18]?— “I left-remaining for Myself seven-thousand men who did not bow a knee to Baal”.

In this manner then, there has come-to-be a remnant also at the present time, according-to the choosing of grace.

And if it  is by grace, it is no longer by works. Otherwise the grace becomes grace no longer.

Therefore what? This which Israel is seeking-for, it did not obtain. But the chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened,

just as it has been written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor [Isa 29:10], eyes that they may not see and ears that they may not hear, until this very day” [Deut 29:4].

And David says [in Ps 69:22-23], “Let their table become a snare and a trap and a cause-of-falling and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see. And bend their back continually”.

Therefore I say, they did not stumble in order that they might fall, did they? May it never be! On-the-contrary, by their trespass salvation came to the Gentiles, so as to provoke them to jealousy.

But if their trespass is riches for the world and their defeat is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness be!

And I am speaking to you, the Gentiles. So indeed to the extent I am an apostle of the Gentiles I glorify my ministry—

if somehow I might provoke my flesh to jealousy and save some of them.

For if their rejection is reconciliation for the world, what will their acceptance be if not life from the dead?

But if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also. And if the root is holy, the branches are also.

Now if some of the branches were broken-off  and you, being a wild-olive-tree, were grafted-in among them and became a co-partner of the root, of the fatness of the olive tree,

do not be vaunting over the branches. But if you vaunt, [remember] you are not carrying the root, but the root you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off in order that I might be grafted-in”.

Well said! They were broken off by their unbelief, and you stand by your faith. Do not be thinking lofty things, but be fearing—

for if God did not spare the branches in accordance with nature, perhaps neither will He spare you.

Therefore behold the kindness and severity of God— severity upon the ones having fallen, but the kindness of God upon you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

But those ones also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted-in. For God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut off from the wild-olive-tree according to nature and were grafted-in contrary to nature into a cultivated-olive-tree, how much more will these, the ones in accordance with nature, be grafted-in their own olive tree!

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, as to this mystery— in order that you not be wise among yourselves— that a hardness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.

And so all Israel will be saved, just as it has been written: “The One delivering will come from Zion, He will turn-away ungodliness from Jacob.

And this is the covenant from Me with them, when I take-away their sins” [Isa 59:20-21].

In relation to the good-news they are enemies [of God] for your sake— but in relation to the choosing of God they are beloved ones [of God] for the sake of the fathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God are without-regret.

For just as you once disobeyed God, but now were shown-mercy in the disobedience of these Jews,

so also these Jews now disobeyed in the mercy belonging to you, in order that they also now may be shown-mercy.

For God confined all in disobedience in order that He may show-mercy to all.

O the depth of riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and untraceable His ways!

“For who knew the mind of the Lord? Or who became His counselor?” [Isa 40:13].

“Or who previously-gave to Him and it will be repaid to him?” [Job 41:11].

Because all things are from Him and through Him and for Him. To Him be the glory forever, amen.

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. Know you not what the scripture saith of Elias; how he calleth on God against Israel?

Lord, they have slain thy prophets, they have dug down thy altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

But what saith the divine answer to him? I have left me seven thousand men, that have not bowed their knees to Baal.

Even so then at this present time also, there is a remnant saved according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, it is not now by works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

What then? That which Israel sought, he hath not obtained: but the election hath obtained it; and the rest have been blinded.

As it is written: God hath given them the spirit of insensibility; eyes that they should not see; and ears that they should not hear, until this present day.

And David saith: Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them.

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see: and bow down their back always.

I say then, have they so stumbled, that they should fall? God forbid. But by their offence, salvation is come to the Gentiles, that they may be emulous of them.

Now if the offence of them be the riches of the world, and the diminution of them, the riches of the Gentiles; how much more the fulness of them?

For I say to you, Gentiles: as long indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I will honour my ministry,

If, by any means, I may provoke to emulation them who are my flesh, and may save some of them.

For if the loss of them be the reconciliation of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

For if the firstfruit be holy, so is the lump also: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches be broken, and thou, being a wild olive, art ingrafted in them, and art made partaker of the root, and of the fatness of the olive tree,

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then: The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Well: because of unbelief they were broken off. But thou standest by faith: be not highminded, but fear.

For if God hath not spared the natural branches, fear lest perhaps he also spare not thee.

See then the goodness and the severity of God: towards them indeed that are fallen, the severity; but towards thee, the goodness of God, if thou abide in goodness, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

For if thou wert cut out of the wild olive tree, which is natural to thee; and, contrary to nature, were grafted into the good olive tree; how much more shall they that are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, of this mystery, (lest you should be wise in your own conceits), that blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles should come in.

And so all Israel should be saved, as it is written: There shall come out of Sion, he that shall deliver, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

And this is to them my covenant: when I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the gospel, indeed, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are most dear for the sake of the fathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.

For as you also in times past did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy, through their unbelief;

So these also now have not believed, for your mercy, that they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded all in unbelief, that he may have mercy on all.

O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?

Or who hath first given to him, and recompense shall be made him?

For of him, and by him, and in him, are all things: to him be glory for ever. Amen.

So I ask, “Did God force his people to leave him?” Of course not. I myself am an Israelite. I am from the family of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God chose the Israelites to be his people before they were born. And he did not force them to leave. Surely you know what the Scriptures say about Elijah. The Scriptures tell about Elijah praying to God against the people of Israel. He said,

“Lord, they have killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I am the only prophet still living, and they are trying to kill me now.”

But what answer did God give to Elijah? God said, “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have never given worship to Baal.”

It is the same now. God has chosen a few people by his grace.

And if he chose them by grace, then it is not what they have done that made them his people. If they could be made his people by what they did, his gift of grace would not really be a gift.

So this is what has happened: The people of Israel wanted God’s blessing, but they did not all get it. The people he chose did get his blessing, but the others became hard and refused to listen to him.

As the Scriptures say, “God caused the people to fall asleep.” “God closed their eyes so that they could not see, and he closed their ears so that they could not hear. This continues until now.”

And David says, “Let those people be caught and trapped at their own feasts. Let them fall and be punished.

Let their eyes be closed so that they cannot see. And let them be troubled forever.”

So I ask: When the Jews fell, did that fall destroy them? No! But their mistake brought salvation to those who are not Jews. The purpose of this was to make the Jews jealous.

Their mistake brought rich blessings to the world. And what they lost brought rich blessings to the non-Jewish people. So surely the world will get much richer blessings when enough Jews become the kind of people God wants.

Now I am speaking to you people who are not Jews. I am an apostle to the non-Jewish people. So while I have that work, I will do the best I can.

I hope I can make my own people jealous. That way, maybe I can help some of them to be saved.

God turned away from the Jews. When that happened, he became friends with the other people in the world. So when he accepts the Jews, it will be like bringing people to life after death.

If the first piece of bread is offered to God, then the whole loaf is made holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, the tree’s branches are holy too.

It is as if some of the branches from an olive tree have been broken off, and the branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to that first tree. If you are not a Jew, you are the same as that wild branch, and you now share the strength and life of the first tree.

But don’t act as if you are better than those branches that were broken off. You have no reason to be proud of yourself, because you don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you.

You might say, “Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree.”

That is true. But those branches were broken off because they did not believe. And you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Don’t be proud, but be afraid.

If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, he will not let you stay if you stop believing.

So you see that God is kind, but he can also be very strict. He punishes those who stop following him. But he is kind to you, if you continue trusting in his kindness. If you don’t continue depending on him, you will be cut off from the tree.

And if the Jews will believe in God again, he will accept them back. He is able to put them back where they were.

It is not natural for a wild branch to become part of a good tree. But you non-Jewish people are like a branch cut from a wild olive tree. And you were joined to a good olive tree. But those Jews are like a branch that grew from the good tree. So surely they can be joined to their own tree again.

I want you to understand this secret truth, brothers and sisters. This truth will help you understand that you don’t know everything. The truth is this: Part of Israel has been made stubborn, but that will change when enough non-Jewish people have come to God.

And that is how all Israel will be saved. The Scriptures say, “The Savior will come from Zion; he will take away all evil from the family of Jacob.

And I will make this agreement with those people when I take away their sins.”

The Jews refuse to accept the Good News, so they are God’s enemies. This has happened to help you who are not Jews. But they are still God’s chosen people, and he loves them because of the promises he made to their ancestors.

God never changes his mind about the people he calls. He never decides to take back the blessings he has given them.

At one time you refused to obey God. But now you have received mercy, because the Jews refused to obey.

And now they are the ones who refuse to obey, because God showed mercy to you. But this happened so that they can also receive mercy from him.

All people have refused to obey God. And he has put them all together as people who don’t obey him so that he can show mercy to everyone.

Yes, God’s riches are very great! His wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain what God decides. No one can understand his ways.

As the Scriptures say, “Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?”

“Who has ever given God anything? God owes nothing to anyone.”

Yes, God made all things. And everything continues through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.

So I ask this: ‘Has God turned away from his people?’ No, certainly, he has not done that! I myself belong to Israel's people. I am a descendant of Abraham and I belong to Benjamin's tribe.

God chose who would be his people from the beginning. He has not turned against them now. Remember what the Bible tells us about Elijah. He wanted God to punish Israel's people. Elijah said:

‘Lord God, they have killed your prophets. They have destroyed the altars where people offered sacrifices to you. I am the only person alive who still serves you. And they are trying to kill me.’

This was God's answer to Elijah: ‘There are still 7,000 men that I have kept for myself. Those men have not worshipped the false god Baal.’

It is the same at this time too. There is a small number of Israel's people that God has chosen to trust him. He has chosen them because he is very kind.

This shows that God has not chosen them because of any good things that they have done. If that was true, we could not say that God was really being kind to them. It would not be his gift.

So we can say this: Israel's people did not all find what they were looking for. Only those people that God had chosen received it. But the other people of Israel became unable to understand God's message.

It says this in the Bible: ‘God caused them to be like people who are sleeping. Even until this day, their eyes cannot really see, and their ears cannot really hear.’

King David says this: ‘They enjoy eating lots of good food together. I pray that God will catch them while they are eating! I want those good things to lead them into trouble. I want God to punish them because of what they have done.

I want their eyes to become dark so that they cannot see. I want their bodies always to be in pain, like slaves.’

So now I ask this: ‘When Israel's people failed to accept Jesus as God's Messiah, did they make themselves separate from God for ever?’ No, certainly that is not true! Because of their mistake, God is now saving Gentiles. God is doing that so that Israel's people would become jealous.

Because of their mistake, God has done good things for everyone in the world. Israel's people failed to receive what God wanted to give them. As a result, the Gentiles have received very many good things from God. That was the good result when Israel's people failed. So, when the complete number of Israel's people do turn to God, the result will be even better!

Now I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. God has sent me to be his apostle to the Gentiles. I thank him that he has given this important work to me.

I hope that my work among you Gentiles will cause my own people to be jealous. As a result, some of them may turn to God, so that he saves them.

When God turned away from Israel's people, he then accepted other people in the world as his friends. So, when God does accept Israel's people, the result will be even better! It will be like dead people who have become alive again!

If you offer the first piece of bread to God, then all the bread will belong to God. If the roots of a tree belong to God, then the branches will also be his.

Israel's people are like an olive tree that a farmer has planted. But God has broken off some of that tree's branches. Then he has taken a branch from a wild olive tree. He has put that wild branch into the farmer's tree, to become part of that tree. You Gentiles are like the wild branch. Now you receive food from the root of the farmer's tree, to make you strong.

Israel's people are like the branches that God broke off. But you must not think that you are better than those branches. Remember that you are still only a branch. You do not make the root strong. No, it is the root that holds you up and makes you strong.

You might say, ‘God broke off the branches so that I could become part of the tree.’

That is true. God broke them off because they did not believe in Christ. God has accepted you as part of the tree because you do believe in Christ. So do not become proud. Instead, be afraid.

God broke off the proper branches and he did not let them stay in the tree. So, if you no longer trust him, he will not let you stay either.

So you should think about what God is like. He is kind, but he also punishes people. He has punished Israel's people, because they turned away from him. He has been kind to you. But you must continue to accept his kind gift. If you do not do that, he will break you off from his tree as well.

God is able to accept Israel's people back again. If they come to believe in Christ, God will put them back as part of the tree. He is able to make them become branches of the tree again.

God cut you like branches from a wild olive tree. Then he put you into the farmer's olive tree so that you became part of it. He could do that even though that was not your own tree before. So God will be able to do that for Israel's people. He can easily put them back into their own tree, that they were part of before.

My Christian friends, I want to help you to understand about Israel's people. It is a secret that God has shown to us. If you really understand it, you will not be proud that you are so clever. Many of Israel's people have refused to believe in Christ. They will continue to refuse him until the complete number of Gentiles have believed.

When that has happened, God will save all Israel's people. This is written in the Bible: ‘The one who rescues will come from Zion. He will turn Jacob's people away from their sins.

And I will make this agreement with them. I will forgive them for their sins.’

Israel's people have become God's enemies, because they have refused to believe the good news about Christ. This has happened to help you Gentiles. But God still loves Israel's people, because he has chosen them as his own people. That is what he promised to their ancestors.

God's thoughts about his people cannot change. He has blessed them with gifts and he has chosen them to belong to him.

In past times, you Gentiles did not obey God. But now God has been very kind to you, because Israel's people refused to obey him.

They do not obey God now. As a result God has been very kind to you. That has happened so that God may now be very kind to them too.

God says that everyone is guilty because they do not obey him. He says that so that he can be kind and he can forgive everyone.

Yes! God is very great! He has everything! He knows and he understands all things! Nobody can completely understand the things that he decides. Nobody can explain the ways in which he works.

The Bible says this: ‘Nobody knows the thoughts of the Lord God. Nobody is able to tell him what he should do.’

‘Nobody has ever given anything to God, so that God had a debt to pay back to them.’

It is God who made all things. He also causes all things to continue. And all things are there to show how great he is. We praise him! He is great for ever! Amen. This is true!

So I say, did God reject his people? Absolutely not! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not reject his people whom he foreknew—or don’t you know what Scripture says about Elijah, how he was pleading with 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 take my life.”

But what did God’s answer tell him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

Now if it is by grace, then it is not the result of works—otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel did not receive what it was striving to get. The elect did, but 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, right up to the present day.

And David says: Let their table be a trap and a net, and a snare and a retribution for them.

Let their eyes be darkened so they do not see, and let their backs be always bent.

So I ask, “Did they stumble in order to fall permanently?” Absolutely not! Rather, by their trespass, salvation came to the Gentiles to make the Israelites jealous.

Now if their trespass meant riches for the world, and their failure meant riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean!

I am speaking to you Gentiles. For as long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I am going to speak highly of my ministry.

Perhaps I may make my own people jealous, and so save some of them.

For if their rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, what does their acceptance mean other than the dead coming to life?

If the part offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you—a wild olive branch—were grafted in among them and share in the rich sap from the root of the olive tree,

do not boast that you are better than the branches. If you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, but the root is supporting you.

Then you will say: “Branches were broken off so that I am grafted in.”

That is true—but remember that they were broken off because of unbelief, and you remain in place by faith. Do not be conceited, but stand in awe.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you.

So take note of God’s kindness and his severity: severity on those who have fallen, but God’s kindness on you—if you remain in his kindness; otherwise, you also will be cut off.

And if they do not remain in unbelief, those branches will be grafted in again, because God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut off from a wild olive tree and, contrary to nature, were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more easily will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you to be uninformed about this mystery, brothers, so that you are not conceited in your opinion of yourselves. There has been a hardening of part of Israel until the full number of Gentiles has come in.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.

In regard to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But, in regard to election, they are especially dear for the sake of the patriarchs,

because God’s gracious gifts and call are not regretted.

For just as you were once disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy due to their disobedience,

so also now they have become disobedient, so that by the mercy shown to you they may be shown mercy too.

For God imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may show mercy to all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how untraceable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his adviser?”

“Or who has first given to God that he will be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”

But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,

as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;

let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.

For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

“and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”

But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,

as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;

let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs for ever.”

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.

For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

do not be arrogant towards the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

“and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.

So I ask: Did God ·throw out [cast away; reject] his people? ·No [Absolutely not; May it never be; 9:14]! I myself am an Israelite from the ·family [descendants; ^Lseed] of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not ·thrown out [cast away; rejected] his people, whom he ·chose [or knew] ·long ago [from the beginning; ^Lbeforehand]. ·Surely you know [^LDo you not know…?] what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he ·prayed [appealed; complained] to God against the people of Israel.

“Lord,” he said, “they have killed your prophets, and they have ·destroyed [torn/burned down] your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are ·trying to kill me, too [seeking my life; 1 Kin. 19:10, 14].”

But what ·answer did God give Elijah [^Lwas the divine response]? He said, “But I have ·left [kept for myself] seven thousand ·people [or men] in Israel who have not bowed ·down [^Lthe knee] before Baal [1 Kin. 19:18].”

It is the same now. There ·are a few people [is a remnant] that God has chosen by his grace.

And if he chose them by grace, it is not ·for the things they have done [by works]. If they could be made God’s people by ·what they did [works], God’s gift of grace would ·not really [or no longer] be a gift.

·So this is what has happened [What follows from this? ^LWhat then?]: ·The people of Israel [^LIsrael] did not ·succeed in [attain; obtain; find] what they were ·striving [looking; seeking] for, but the ·ones God chose [elect] did ·succeed [attain/obtain/find it]. The ·others [rest] were ·made stubborn and refused to listen to God [^Lhardened].

As it is written in the Scriptures: “God gave the people a ·dull mind [^Lspirit of stupor/insensitivity] so they could not understand [Is. 29:10].” “He ·closed their eyes so they [or gave them eyes that] could not see and ·their ears so they [or gave them ears that] could not hear. This continues until today [Deut. 29:4].”

And David says: “Let their ·own feasts [^Ltable] ·trap them and cause their ruin [^Lbecome a snare and a trap], becoming a ·stumbling block [pitfall] and ·paying them back [their retribution].

Let their eyes be ·closed [^Ldarkened] so they cannot see and their backs be ·forever [or continually] ·weak from troubles [^Lbent over; Ps. 69:22–23].”

So I ask: When ·the Jews [^Lthey] fell, did ·that fall destroy them [or they fall beyond recovery]? ·No [Absolutely not; May it never be; 11:1]! But their ·failure [transgression; violation] brought salvation to the Gentiles, in order to make ·the Jews [^Lthem] jealous.

[^LBut if…] Their ·failure [transgression/violation] brought ·rich blessings [^Lriches] for the world, and their ·loss [defeat; failure] brought ·rich blessings [^Lriches] for the Gentiles. ·So surely the world will receive much richer blessings [^LHow much more…!] ·when enough Jews become the kind of people God wants [or when the appointed number of Jews is saved; or when the nation as a whole is restored; ^Lat their fullness].

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. ·Since [or As long as] I am an apostle to the Gentiles [Acts 9:15; 22:21; Gal. 2:8], I ·will make the most of [glory in; take pride in; magnify] my ministry.

·I hope […if somehow] I can make my own ·people [flesh] jealous and, in that way, help some of them to be saved.

[^LFor] If ·God’s rejection of Israel [^Ltheir loss/rejection] meant he ·became friends with [was reconciled to] the world, what will Israel’s acceptance mean? It will be like ·bringing the dead back to life [life from the dead].

If the ·first piece of bread is offered to God [^Lfirstfruits are holy; ^Cthe dough made from the first crops harvested], then the whole ·loaf [batch; ^Llump of dough] is made holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, then the tree’s branches are holy too [^Csince Abraham and the patriarchs were God’s chosen people, so were their Jewish descendants].

It is as if some of the branches from an olive tree [^Csymbolizing Israel] have been broken off. You Gentiles are like the branch of a wild olive tree that has been ·joined [grafted] to that first tree. You now share the ·strength and life [nourishment; ^Lrich/fat root] of the first tree [^Cthe Gentiles now share in the rich blessings promised to Israel through their “root,” Abraham and the patriarchs].

So do not ·brag about [boast over; consider yourselves superior to] those branches that were broken off. If you ·brag [boast], remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

[^LThen] You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I could be ·joined to their tree [grafted in].”

That is true. But those branches were broken off because they ·did not believe [were unfaithful], and you ·continue to be part of the tree only because you believe [^Lstand by faith]. Do not be ·proud [arrogant], but be ·afraid [in awe].

[^LFor] If God did not spare the natural branches, then he will not spare you either.

·So you see [Notice; Consider] that God is kind and also ·very strict [stern; severe; harsh]. He ·punishes [is strict/severe/harsh toward] those who ·stop following him [have fallen]. But God is kind to you, if you continue ·following in [trusting in; ^Lin] his kindness. If you do not, you will also be cut off from the tree.

And if ·the Jews [^Lthey] ·will believe in God again [^Ldo not continue in unbelief], ·he will accept them back [^Lthey will be grafted in]. [^LFor] God is able to ·put them back where they were [graft them in again].

[^LFor] If ·you Gentiles [you] were cut off from a wild olive tree and, contrary to nature, ·joined to [grafted into] a ·good [cultivated] olive tree, how much more will these natural branches [^CJews presently rejecting the gospel] be ·joined to [grafted into] their own olive tree again.

I ·want you to understand [^Ldo not want you to be ignorant of] this ·secret [mystery; ^Csomething God had not previously disclosed; Eph. 1:9], brothers and sisters, so you will ·understand that you do not know everything [not become conceited/arrogant/superior-minded]: ·Part of Israel has been made stubborn [or A partial hardening has happened to Israel], ·but that will change when [^Luntil] the ·complete number [or appointed number; ^Lfullness] of the Gentiles have come ·to God [or into the kingdom; ^Lin].

And ·that is how [in this way; or so it will be that; or so in the end] all Israel will be saved. [^LAs; Just as] It is written in the Scriptures: “The ·Savior [Rescuer; Deliverer] will come from ·Jerusalem [^LZion; ^Ca poetic term for Jerusalem symbolizing the nation Israel]; he will take away ·all evil [wickedness; godlessness] from ·the family of Jacob [^LJacob; ^CAbraham’s grandson (renamed “Israel”), whose sons became the twelve tribes of Israel; Is. 59:20–21].

And I will make this ·agreement [covenant] with those people when I take away their sins [Is. 27:9].”

·The Jews refuse to accept the Good News, so [^LWith regard to the Gospel,] they are God’s enemies. ·This has happened to help you who are not Jews [^L…for your sake; ^CIsrael’s rejection resulted in the proclamation of the Good News to the Gentiles; vv. 11, 12]. But ·the Jews are still God’s chosen people, and he loves them very much [^Lwith regard to election, they are beloved] because of ·the promises he made to their ancestors [^Lthe ancestors/fathers/patriarchs].

·God never changes his mind about the people he calls and the things he gives them [^LFor God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable].

[^LFor] At one time you refused to obey God. But now you have received mercy, because those people refused to obey.

And now the Jews refuse to obey, ·because God showed mercy to you. But this happened so that they also can receive mercy from him [or but this happened so that they also can receive mercy from him, because of the mercy God showed to you].

God has ·given [imprisoned] all people ·over to their stubborn ways [^Lto/in disobedience] so that he can show mercy to all.

·Yes [^LO], ·how great are [^Lthe depth of] ·God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge [or the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge]! ·No one can explain [^LHow unsearchable are…] ·the things God decides [God’s judgments] ·or understand [^L…and untraceable…!] his ·ways [paths].

As the Scripture says, “[^LFor] Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been ·able to give him advice [his counselor; Is. 40:13]?”

“·No one [^LOr who…?] has ever given God anything that he must pay back [Job 41:11].”

·Yes, God made all things, and everything continues through him and for him [^LBecause all things come from him, through him and for him]. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

1 Lest the casting off of the Jews should be limited according to the outward appearance, 4 he showeth that Elijah was in times past decieved: 16 and that, seeing they have an holy root, 23 many of them likewise shall be holy. 18, 24 He exhorteth the Gentiles to be humble, 33 and crieth out, that God’s judgments are unsearchable. I Demand 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 knew before. Know ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah, how he communeth with God against Israel, saying,

Lord, they have killed thy Prophets, and dug down thine Altars: and I am left alone, and they seek my life?

But what saith the answer of God to him? I have reserved unto myself seven thousand men, which have not bowed the knee to Baal.

Even so then, at this present time is there a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if it be of grace, it is no more of works: or else were grace no more grace: but if it be of works, it is no more grace: or else were work no more work.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that he sought: but the election hath obtained it, and the rest have been hardened,

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 net, and a stumbling block, even for a recompense unto them.

Let their eyes be darkened that they see not, and bow down their back always.

I demand then, Have they stumbled, that they should fall? God forbid: but through their fall, salvation cometh unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to follow them.

Wherefore if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more shall their abundance be?

For in that I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office,

To try if by any means I might provoke them of my flesh to follow them, and might save some of them.

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving be, but life from the dead?

For if the firstfruits be holy, so is the whole lump: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And though some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild Olive tree, wast grafted in for them, and made partaker of the root and fatness of the Olive tree:

Boast not thyself against the branches: and if thou boast thyself, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, The branches are broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Well: through unbelief they are broken off, and thou standest by faith: be not high-minded, but fear.

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed, lest he also spare not thee.

Behold therefore the bountifulness, and severity of God: toward them which have fallen, severity: but toward thee, bountifulness, if thou continue in his bountifulness: or else thou shalt also be cut off.

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

For if thou wast cut out of the Olive tree, which was wild by nature, and was grafted contrary to nature in a right Olive tree, how much more shall they that are by nature, be grafted in their own Olive tree?

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this secret (lest ye should be arrogant in yourselves) that partly obstinacy is come to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

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.

And this is my covenant to them, When I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

For even as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Even so now have they not believed by the mercy showed unto you, that they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath shut up all in unbelief, that he might have mercy on all.

O the deepness of the riches, both of the wisdom, and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who was his counselor?

Or who hath given unto him first, and he shall be recompensed?

For of him, and through him, and for him are all things: to him be glory forever. Amen.

So I ask, “Has God rejected his people Israel?” That’s unthinkable! Consider this. I’m an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he knew long ago. Don’t you know what Elijah says in the Scripture passage when he complains to God about Israel? He says,

“Lord, they’ve killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”

But what was God’s reply? God said, “I’ve kept 7,000 people for myself who have not knelt to worship Baal.”

So, as there were then, there are now a few left that God has chosen by his kindness.

If they were chosen by God’s kindness, they weren’t chosen because of anything they did. Otherwise, God’s kindness wouldn’t be kindness.

So what does all this mean? It means that Israel has never achieved what it has been striving for. However, those whom God has chosen have achieved it. The minds of the rest of Israel were closed,

as Scripture says, “To this day God has given them a spirit of deep sleep. Their eyes don’t see, and their ears don’t hear!”

And David says, “Let the table set for them become a trap and a net, a snare and a punishment for them.

Let their vision become clouded so that they cannot see. Let them carry back-breaking burdens forever.”

So I ask, “Has Israel stumbled so badly that it can’t get up again?” That’s unthinkable! By Israel’s failure, salvation has come to people who are not Jewish to make the Jewish people jealous.

The fall of the Jewish people made the world spiritually rich. Their failure made people who are not Jewish spiritually rich. So the inclusion of Jewish people will make the world even richer.

Now, I speak to you who are not Jewish. As long as I am an apostle sent to people who are not Jewish, I bring honor to my ministry.

Perhaps I can make my people jealous and save some of them.

If Israel’s rejection means that the world has been brought back to God, what does Israel’s acceptance mean? It means that Israel has come back to life.

If the first handful of dough is holy, the whole batch of dough is holy. If the root is holy, the branches are holy.

But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree.

So don’t brag about being better than the other branches. If you brag, remember that you don’t support the root, the root supports you.

“Well,” you say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted onto the tree.”

That’s right! They were broken off because they didn’t believe, but you remain on the tree because you do believe. Don’t feel arrogant, but be afraid.

If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you, either.

Look at how kind and how severe God can be. He is severe to those who fell, but kind to you if you continue to hold on to his kindness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off ⌞from the tree⌟.

If Jewish people do not continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted onto the tree again, because God is able to do that.

In spite of the fact that you have been cut from a wild olive tree, you have been grafted onto a cultivated one. So wouldn’t it be easier for these natural branches to be grafted onto the olive tree they belong to?

Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won’t become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God’s non-Jewish people are included.

In this way Israel as a whole will be saved, as Scripture says, “The Savior will come from Zion. He will remove godlessness from Jacob.

My promise  to them will be fulfilled when I take away their sins.”

The Good News made the Jewish people enemies because of you. But by God’s choice they are loved because of their ancestors.

God never changes his mind when he gives gifts or when he calls someone.

In the past, you disobeyed God. But now God has been merciful to you because of the disobedience of the Jewish people.

In the same way, the Jewish people have also disobeyed so that God may be merciful to them as he was to you.

God has placed all people into the prison of their own disobedience so that he could be merciful to all people.

God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways.

“Who knows how the Lord thinks? Who can become his adviser?”

Who gave the Lord something which the Lord must pay back?

Everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

I ask, then: Did God reject his own people? Certainly not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people, whom he chose from the beginning. You know what the scripture says in the passage where Elijah pleads with 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.”

What answer did God give him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not worshiped the false god Baal.”

It is the same way now: there is a small number left of those whom God has chosen because of his grace.

His choice is based on his grace, not on what they have done. For if God's choice were based on what people do, then his grace would not be real grace.

What then? The people of Israel did not find what they were looking for. It was only the small group that God chose who found it; the rest grew deaf to God's call.

As the scripture says, “God made their minds and hearts dull; to this very day they cannot see or hear.”

And David says, “May they be caught and trapped at their feasts; may they fall, may they be punished!

May their eyes be blinded so that they cannot see; and make them bend under their troubles at all times.”

I ask, then: When the Jews stumbled, did they fall to their ruin? By no means! Because they sinned, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make the Jews jealous of them.

The sin of the Jews brought rich blessings to the world, and their spiritual poverty brought rich blessings to the Gentiles. Then, how much greater the blessings will be when the complete number of Jews is included!

I am speaking now to you Gentiles: As long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I will take pride in my work.

Perhaps I can make the people of my own race jealous, and so be able to save some of them.

For when they were rejected, all other people were changed from God's enemies into his friends. What will it be, then, when they are accepted? It will be life for the dead!

If the first piece of bread is given to God, then the whole loaf is his also; and if the roots of a tree are offered to God, the branches are his also.

Some of the branches of the cultivated olive tree have been broken off, and a branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to it. You Gentiles are like that wild olive tree, and now you share the strong spiritual life of the Jews.

So then, you must not despise those who were broken off like branches. How can you be proud? You are just a branch; you don't support the roots—the roots support you.

But you will say, “Yes, but the branches were broken off to make room for me.”

That is true. They were broken off because they did not believe, while you remain in place because you do believe. But do not be proud of it; instead, be afraid.

God did not spare the Jews, who are like natural branches; do you think he will spare you?

Here we see how kind and how severe God is. He is severe toward those who have fallen, but kind to you—if you continue in his kindness. But if you do not, you too will be broken off.

And if the Jews abandon their unbelief, they will be put back in the place where they were; for God is able to do that.

You Gentiles are like the branch of a wild olive tree that is broken off and then, contrary to nature, is joined to a cultivated olive tree. The Jews are like this cultivated tree; and it will be much easier for God to join these broken-off branches to their own tree again.

There is a secret truth, my friends, which I want you to know, for it will keep you from thinking how wise you are. It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God.

And this is how all Israel will be saved. As the scripture says, “The Savior will come from Zion and remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob.

I will make this covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

Because they reject the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for the sake of you Gentiles. But because of God's choice, they are his friends because of their ancestors.

For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses.

As for you Gentiles, you disobeyed God in the past; but now you have received God's mercy because the Jews were disobedient.

In the same way, because of the mercy that you have received, the Jews now disobey God, in order that they also may now receive God's mercy.

For God has made all people prisoners of disobedience, so that he might show mercy to them all.

How great are God's riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways?

As the scripture says, “Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice?

Who has ever given him anything, so that he had to pay it back?”

For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.

I ask, then, has God rejected His people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with 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 take my life!

But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.

Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.

What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,

as it is written: God gave them a spirit of insensitivity, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.

And David says: Let their feasting become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually.

I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

Now if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

if I can somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them.

For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

Now if the firstfruits offered up are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree,

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.

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

True enough; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.

Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.

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?

So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: A partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Liberator will come from Zion; He will turn away godlessness from Jacob.

And this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins.

Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,

since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.

As you once disobeyed God, but now have received mercy through their disobedience,

so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also now may receive mercy.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience, so that He may have mercy on all.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?

Or who has ever first given to Him, and has to be repaid?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

So I ask: Did God throw out his people? No! I myself am an Israelite. I am from the family of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God chose the Israelites to be his people before they were born. And God did not leave his people. Surely you know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he prayed to God against the people of Israel. Elijah said,

“They have killed your prophets, and they have destroyed your altars. I am the only prophet left. And now they are trying to kill me too.”

But what answer did God give Elijah? He said, “But I have left 7,000 people in Israel. Those 7,000 have never bowed down before Baal.”

It is the same now. There are a few people that God has chosen by his grace.

And if God chose them by grace, then it is not for the things they have done. If they could be made God’s people by what they did, then God’s gift of grace would not really be a gift.

So this is what has happened: The people of Israel tried to be right with God. But they did not succeed. But the ones God chose did become right with him. The others became hard and refused to listen to God.

As it is written in the Scriptures: “God gave the people a dull mind so they could not understand.” Isaiah 29:10 “God closed their eyes so they could not see, and God closed their ears so they could not hear. This continues until today.” Deuteronomy 29:4

And David says: “Let their own feasts trap them and cause their ruin. Let their feasts cause them to sin and be paid back.

Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see. Let their backs be forever weak from troubles.” Psalm 69:22–23

So I ask: When the Jews fell, did that fall destroy them? No! But their failure brought salvation to the non-Jews. This took place to cause the Jews to be jealous.

The Jews’ failure brought rich blessings for the world. And what the Jews lost brought rich blessings for the non-Jewish people. So surely the world will get much richer blessings when enough Jews become the kind of people God wants.

Now I am speaking to you who are not Jews. I am an apostle to the non-Jews. So while I have that work, I will do the best I can.

I hope I can make my own people jealous. That way, maybe I can help some of them to be saved.

God turned away from the Jews. When that happened, God became friends with the other people in the world. So when God accepts the Jews, then surely that will bring to them life after death.

If the first piece of bread is offered to God, then the whole loaf is made holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, then the tree’s branches are holy too.

Some of the branches from an olive tree have been broken off, and the branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to that first tree. You non-Jews are the same as that wild branch, and you now share the strength and life of the first tree, the Jews.

So do not brag about those branches that were broken off. You have no reason to brag. Why? You do not give life to the root. The root gives life to you.

You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree.”

That is true. But those branches were broken off because they did not believe. And you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Do not be proud, but be afraid.

If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, then he will not let you stay if you don’t believe.

So you see that God is kind, but he can also be very strict. God punishes those who stop following him. But God is kind to you, if you continue following in his kindness. If you do not continue following him, you will be cut off from the tree.

And if the Jews will believe in God again, then God will accept the Jews back again. God is able to put them back where they were.

It is not natural for a wild branch to be part of a good tree. But you non-Jews are like a branch cut from a wild olive tree. And you were joined to a good olive tree. But those Jews are like a branch that grew from the good tree. So surely they can be joined to their own tree again.

I want you to understand this secret truth, brothers. This truth will help you understand that you do not know everything. The truth is this: Part of Israel has been made stubborn. But that will change when many non-Jews have come to God.

And that is how all Israel will be saved. It is written in the Scriptures: “The Savior will come from Jerusalem; he will take away all evil from the family of Jacob.

And I will make this agreement with those people when I take away their sins.” Isaiah 59:20–21; 27:9

The Jews refuse to accept the Good News, so they are God’s enemies. This has happened to help you non-Jews. But the Jews are still God’s chosen people, and God loves them very much. He loves them because of the promises he made to their ancestors.

God never changes his mind about the people he calls and the things he gives them.

At one time you refused to obey God. But now you have received mercy, because those people refused to obey.

And now the Jews refuse to obey, because God showed mercy to you. But this happened so that they also can receive mercy from God.

All people have refused to obey God. God has given them all over to their stubborn ways, so that God can show mercy to all.

Yes, God’s riches are very great! God’s wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain the things God decides. No one can understand God’s ways.

As the Scripture says, “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has been able to give the Lord advice?” Isaiah 40:13

“No one has ever given God anything that he must pay back.” Job 41:11

Yes, God made all things. And everything continues through God and for God. To God be the glory forever! Amen.

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.

God has not rejected his people whom he chose long ago. Do you not know what the Scripture says in the story about Elijah, when he pleads with God against Israel?

“Lord, they have killed your prophets and demolished your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life.”

But what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for myself 7,000 people who have not knelt to worship Baal.”

So it is at the present time: there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

But if this is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of actions. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.

What, then, does this mean? It means that Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking, but the selected group obtained it while the rest were hardened.

As it is written, “To this day God has put them into deep sleep. Their eyes do not see, and their ears do not hear.”

And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a punishment for them.

Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and keep their backs forever bent.”

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 jealous.

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!

I am speaking to you gentiles. Because I am an apostle to the gentiles, I magnify my ministry

in the hope that I can make my people jealous and save some of them.

For if their rejection results in reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance bring but life from the dead?

If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

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,

do not boast about being better than the other branches. If you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Then you will say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted in.”

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!

For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly will not spare you, either.

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.

If the Jews do not persist in their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, because God is able to graft them in.

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!

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.

In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

This is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

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.

For God’s gifts and calling never change.

For just as you disobeyed God in the past but now have received his mercy because of their disobedience,

so they, too, have now disobeyed. As a result, they may receive mercy because of the mercy shown to you.

For God has locked all people in the prison of their own disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

O how deep are God’s riches, and wisdom, and knowledge! How unfathomable are his decisions and unexplainable are his ways!

Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his advisor?

Or who has given him something only to have him pay it back?”

For all things are from him, by him, and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen.

This leads naturally to the question, “Has God then totally repudiated his people?” Certainly not! I myself, for one, am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and of the tribe of Benjamin.

It is unthinkable that God should have repudiated his own people, the people whose destiny he himself appointed. Don’t you remember what the scripture says in the story of Elijah? How he pleaded with God on Israel’s behalf: ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, and torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life’.

And do you remember God’s reply? ‘I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal’.

In just the same way, there is at the present time a minority chosen by the grace of God. And if it is a matter of the grace of God, it cannot be a question of their actions especially deserving God’s favour, for that would make grace meaningless.

What conclusion do we reach now? That Israel did not, on the whole, obtain the object of his striving, but a chosen few “got there”, while the remainder became more and more insensitive to the righteousness of God. This is borne out by the scripture: ‘God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day’.

And David says of them: ‘Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them; let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always’.

Now I ask myself, “Was this fall of theirs an utter disaster? It was not! For through their failure the benefit of salvation has passed to the Gentiles with the result that Israel is made to see and feel what is has missed. For if their failure has so enriched the world, and their defection proved such a benefit to the Gentiles, think what tremendous advantage their fulfilling of God’s plan could mean.

Now a word to you who are Gentiles. I should like you to know that I make as much as I can of my ministry as “God’s messenger to the Gentiles” so as to make my kinsfolk jealous and thus save some of them.

For if their exclusion from the pale of salvation has meant the reconciliation of the rest of mankind to God, what would their inclusion mean? It would be nothing less than life from the dead! If the flour is consecrated to God so is the whole loaf, and if the roots of a tree are dedicated to God every branch will belong to him also.

But if some of the branches of the tree have been broken off, while you, like shoots of wild-olive, have been grafted in, and don’t share like a natural branch the rich nourishment of the root, don’t let yourself feel superior to those former branches. (If you feel inclined that way, remind yourself that you do not support the root, the root supports you.) You may make the natural retort, “But the branches were broken off to make room for my grafting!” It wasn’t quite like that. They lost their position because they failed to believe; you only maintain yours because you do believe. The situation does not call for conceit but for a certain wholesome fear. If God removed the natural branches for a good reason, take care that you don’t give him the same reason for removing you.

You must try to appreciate both the kindness and the strict justice of God. Those who fell experienced his justice, while you are experiencing his kindness, and will continue to do so as long as you do not abuse that kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off from the tree. And as for the fallen branches, unless they are obstinate in their unbelief, they will be grafted in again. Such a restoration is by no means beyond the power of God. And, in any case, if you who were, so to speak, cuttings from a wild-olive, were grafted in, is it not a far simpler matter for the natural branches to be grafted back onto the parent stem?

Now I don’t want you, my brothers, to start imagining things, and I must therefore share with you my knowledge of God’s secret plan. It is this, that the partial insensibility which has come to Israel is only to last until the full number of the Gentiles has been called in. Once this has happened, all Israel will be saved, as the scripture says: ‘The deliverer will come out of Zion, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins’.

As far as the Gospel goes, they are at present God’s enemies—which is to your advantage. But as far as God’s purpose in choosing is concerned, they are still beloved for their fathers’ sakes. For once they are made, God does not withdraw his gifts of his calling.

Just as in the past you were disobedient to God but have found that mercy which might have been theirs but for their disobedience, so they, who at the present moment are disobedient, will eventually share the mercy which has been extended to you. God has all men penned together in the prison of disobedience, that he may have mercy upon them all.

Frankly, I stand amazed at the unfathomable complexity of God’s wisdom and God’s knowledge. How could man ever understand his reasons for action, or explain his methods of working? For: ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his counsellor?’ ‘Or who has first given to him and it shall be repaid to him?’

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever, amen.

¶ I say then, Has God cast away his people? No, in no wise. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not cast away his people whom he knew beforehand. Know ye not what the scripture says of Elijah? how speaking to God against Israel, he said,

Lord, they have killed thy prophets and ruined thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

But what did the answer of God say unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee before Baal.

Even so then at this present time also, there is a remnant by the gracious election of God.

And if by grace, then is it not by works; otherwise, the grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise, the work is no longer work.

What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks after; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded

(according as it is written, God has given them the spirit of anguish, eyes with which they do not see and ears with which they do not hear) unto this day.

And David says, Let their table be turned into a snare and a net and a stumblingblock and a recompense unto them;

Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back always.

I say then, Have they stumbled in such a manner that they should fall completely? No, in no wise; but rather through their fall, saving health is come unto the Gentiles to provoke them unto jealousy.

And if the fall of them is the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more shall their fullness be?

For (I call you Gentiles) inasmuch as I am truly the apostle of the Gentiles, my honorable ministry,

if in any manner I may provoke my nation to jealousy and cause some of them to be saved.

For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

For if the firstfruit is holy, so shall the rest be; and if the root is holy, so shall be the branches.

And if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them and hath been made participant of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree,

do not boast against the branches. But if thou boast, know that thou dost not bear the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.

Good; because of their unbelief they were broken off, but thou by faith art standing. Do not be highminded, but fear

that if God did not forgive the natural branches, neither shall he forgive thee.

Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity, but toward thee, goodness if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

And even them, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for God is powerful enough to graft them in again.

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature and wert grafted contrary to nature into the good olive tree, how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I would not, brethren, that ye ignore this mystery, that ye not be arrogant regarding yourselves: that blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles are come in.

And even if all Israel were saved, as it is written: There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall take away the ungodliness from Jacob;

and this shall be my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.

So that, as concerning the gospel, I have them for enemies for your sakes; but as touching the election of God, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

For as ye in time past have not obeyed God, yet have now obtained mercy through the occasion of their disobedience,

likewise these also have not believed now that through the mercy shown unto you they also may obtain mercy.

For God enclosed everyone in disobedience, that he might have mercy upon everyone.

¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments and his ways past finding out!

For who has understood the intent of the Lord? or who has been his counsellor?

Or who has first given unto him, that it be recompensed unto him again?

For of him and by him and in him are all things. To him be the glory for the ages. Amen.

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:

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

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.

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?

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

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?

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

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;

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

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.

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

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?

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.

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:

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

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!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

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 is it 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:

let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

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.

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?

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

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?

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

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.

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

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.

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:

for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

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!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

I say then, has God rejected His people? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, 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.”

But what does the divine response say to him? “I have left for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

In this way then, at the present time, a remnant according to God’s gracious choice has also come to be.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but the chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

just as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day.”

And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened to see not, And bend their backs forever.”

I say then, did they stumble so as to fall? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.

Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness be!

But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

And if the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,

do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast against them, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

Quite right! They were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be haughty, but fear,

for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you, brothers, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

“And this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,

so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.

For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?

Or who has first given to Him that it might be repaid to him?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Therefore I say, God has not rejected his people, has he? 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 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!”

But what does the divine response say to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal.”

So in this way also at the present time, there is a remnant selected by grace.

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.”

And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a cause for stumbling and a retribution to them;

let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see, and cause their backs to bend continually.”

I say then, they did not stumble so that they fell, did they? May it never be! But by their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy.

And if their trespass means riches for the world and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean?

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Therefore, inasmuch as I am apostle to the Gentiles, I promote my ministry,

if somehow I may provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.

For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean except life from the dead?

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.

Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although you were a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the root of the olive tree’s richness,

do not boast against the branches. But if you boast against them, you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off in order that I could be grafted in.”

Well said! They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand firm because of faith. Do not think arrogant thoughts, but be afraid.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

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.

And those also, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God is able to graft them in again.

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 be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you will not be wise in your own sight, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,

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.

And this is the covenant from me with them when I take away their sins.”

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.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you formerly were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of the disobedience of these,

so also these have now been disobedient for your mercy, in order that they also may now be shown mercy.

For God confined them all in disobedience, in order that he could have mercy on them all.

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!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

Or who has given in advance to him, and it will be paid back to him?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for eternity! Amen.

I ask then, has God rejected and deserted his people the Jews? Oh no, not at all. Remember that I myself am a Jew, a descendant of Abraham and a member of Benjamin’s family.

No, God has not discarded his own people whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet was complaining to God about the Jews, telling God how they had killed the prophets and torn down God’s altars; Elijah claimed that he was the only one left in all the land who still loved God, and now they were trying to kill him too.

And do you remember how God replied? God said, “No, you are not the only one left. I have seven thousand others besides you who still love me and have not bowed down to idols!”

It is the same today. Not all the Jews have turned away from God; there are a few being saved as a result of God’s kindness in choosing them.

And if it is by God’s kindness, then it is not by their being good enough. For in that case the free gift would no longer be free—it isn’t free when it is earned.

So this is the situation: Most of the Jews have not found the favor of God they are looking for. A few have—the ones God has picked out—but the eyes of the others have been blinded.

This is what our Scriptures refer to when they say that God has put them to sleep, shutting their eyes and ears so that they do not understand what we are talking about when we tell them of Christ. And so it is to this very day.

King David spoke of this same thing when he said, “Let their good food and other blessings trap them into thinking all is well between themselves and God. Let these good things boomerang on them and fall back upon their heads to justly crush them.

Let their eyes be dim,” he said, “so that they cannot see, and let them walk bent-backed forever with a heavy load.”

Does this mean that God has rejected his Jewish people forever? Of course not! His purpose was to make his salvation available to the Gentiles, and then the Jews would be jealous and begin to want God’s salvation for themselves.

Now if the whole world became rich as a result of God’s offer of salvation, when the Jews stumbled over it and turned it down, think how much greater a blessing the world will share in later on when the Jews, too, come to Christ.

As you know, God has appointed me as a special messenger to you Gentiles. I lay great stress on this and remind the Jews about it as often as I can,

so that if possible I can make them want what you Gentiles have and in that way save some of them.

And how wonderful it will be when they become Christians! When God turned away from them it meant that he turned to the rest of the world to offer his salvation; and now it is even more wonderful when the Jews come to Christ. It will be like dead people coming back to life.

And since Abraham and the prophets are God’s people, their children will be too. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be too.

But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off. And you Gentiles who were branches from, we might say, a wild olive tree, were grafted in. So now you, too, receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God’s rich nourishment of his own special olive tree.

But you must be careful not to brag about being put in to replace the branches that were broken off. Remember that you are important only because you are now a part of God’s tree; you are just a branch, not a root.

“Well,” you may be saying, “those branches were broken off to make room for me, so I must be pretty good.”

Watch out! Remember that those branches, the Jews, were broken off because they didn’t believe God, and you are there only because you do. Do not be proud; be humble and grateful—and careful.

For if God did not spare the branches he put there in the first place, he won’t spare you either.

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is very hard on those who disobey, but very good to you if you continue to love and trust him. But if you don’t, you too will be cut off.

On the other hand, if the Jews leave their unbelief behind them and come back to God, God will graft them back into the tree again. He has the power to do it.

For if God was willing to take you who were so far away from him—being part of a wild olive tree—and graft you into his own good tree—a very unusual thing to do—don’t you see that he will be far more ready to put the Jews back again, who were there in the first place?

I want you to know about this truth from God, dear brothers, so that you will not feel proud and start bragging. Yes, it is true that some of the Jews have set themselves against the Gospel now, but this will last only until all of you Gentiles have come to Christ—those of you who will.

And then all Israel will be saved. Do you remember what the prophets said about this? “There shall come out of Zion a Deliverer, and he shall turn the Jews from all ungodliness.

At that time I will take away their sins, just as I promised.”

Now many of the Jews are enemies of the Gospel. They hate it. But this has been a benefit to you, for it has resulted in God’s giving his gifts to you Gentiles. Yet the Jews are still beloved of God because of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn; he will never go back on his promises.

Once you were rebels against God, but when the Jews refused his gifts God was merciful to you instead.

And now the Jews are the rebels, but some day they, too, will share in God’s mercy upon you.

For God has given them all up to sin so that he could have mercy upon all alike.

Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his wisdom and knowledge and riches! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods!

For who among us can know the mind of the Lord? Who knows enough to be his counselor and guide?

And who could ever offer to the Lord enough to induce him to act?

For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory. To him be glory evermore.

Does this mean, then, that God is so fed up with Israel that he’ll have nothing more to do with them? Hardly. Remember that I, the one writing these things, am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham out of the tribe of Benjamin. You can’t get much more Semitic than that! So we’re not talking about repudiation. God has been too long involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of them. Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer? God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your altars; I’m the only one left and now they’re after me! And do you remember God’s answer? I still have seven thousand who haven’t quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. It’s the same today. There’s a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They’re holding on, not because of what they think they’re going to get out of it, but because they’re convinced of God’s grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago.

And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn’t succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The “self-interest Israel” became thick-skinned toward God. Moses and Isaiah both commented on this: Fed up with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways, God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears, Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors, and they’re there to this day. David was upset about the same thing: I hope they get sick eating self-serving meals, break a leg walking their self-serving ways. I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors, get ulcers from playing at god.

The next question is, “Are they down for the count? Are they out of this for good?” And the answer is a clear-cut No. Ironically when they walked out, they left the door open and the outsiders walked in. But the next thing you know, the Jews were starting to wonder if perhaps they had walked out on a good thing. Now, if their leaving triggered this worldwide coming of non-Jewish outsiders to God’s kingdom, just imagine the effect of their coming back! What a homecoming!

But I don’t want to go on about them. It’s you, the outsiders, that I’m concerned with now. Because my personal assignment is focused on the so-called outsiders, I make as much of this as I can when I’m among my Israelite kin, the so-called insiders, hoping they’ll realize what they’re missing and want to get in on what God is doing. If their falling out initiated this worldwide coming together, their recovery is going to set off something even better: mass homecoming! If the first thing the Jews did, even though it was wrong for them, turned out for your good, just think what’s going to happen when they get it right!

Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy, there’s bound to be some holy fruit. Some of the tree’s branches were pruned and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by that rich and holy root gives you no cause to gloat over the pruned branches. Remember, you aren’t feeding the root; the root is feeding you.

It’s certainly possible to say, “Other branches were pruned so that I could be grafted in!” Well and good. But they were pruned because they were deadwood, no longer connected by belief and commitment to the root. The only reason you’re on the tree is because your graft “took” when you believed, and because you’re connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don’t get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and green.

If God didn’t think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural branches, why would he hesitate over you? He wouldn’t give it a second thought. Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God—ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don’t presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, it’s game over.

And don’t get to feeling superior to those pruned branches down on the ground. If they don’t persist in remaining deadwood, they could very well get grafted back in. God can do that. He can perform miracle grafts. Why, if he could graft you—branches cut from a tree out in the wild—into an orchard tree, he certainly isn’t going to have any trouble grafting branches back into the tree they grew from in the first place. Just be glad you’re in the tree, and hope for the best for the others.

I want to lay all this out on the table as clearly as I can, friends. This is complicated. It would be easy to misinterpret what’s going on and arrogantly assume that you’re royalty and they’re just rabble, out on their ears for good. But that’s not it at all. This hardness on the part of insider Israel toward God is temporary. Its effect is to open things up to all the outsiders so that we end up with a full house. Before it’s all over, there will be a complete Israel. As it is written, A champion will stride down from the mountain of Zion; he’ll clean house in Jacob. And this is my commitment to my people: removal of their sins. From your point of view as you hear and embrace the good news of the Message, it looks like the Jews are God’s enemies. But looked at from the long-range perspective of God’s overall purpose, they remain God’s oldest friends. God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded.

There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. But then the Jews slammed the door on him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. But with the door held wide open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in.

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.

I say then, has God rejected His people? God forbid! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and destroyed Your altars. I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

So then at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. But if it is by works, then is it no longer by grace; otherwise work would no longer be work.

What then? Israel has not obtained what it was seeking. But the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

As it is written: “God has given them a spirit of slumber, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day.”

And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they may not see, and always bow down their backs.”

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid! But through their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.

Now if their transgression means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean?

For I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

if somehow I may make my kinsmen jealous and may save some of them.

For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

If the first portion of the dough is holy, the batch is also holy. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the root and richness of the olive tree,

do not boast against the branches. If you boast, remember you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.

You will say then, “The branches were broken off, so that I might be grafted in.”

This is correct. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God—severity toward those who fell, but goodness toward you, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

And these also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

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 will these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, lest you be wise in your own estimation, for a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will remove ungodliness from Jacob”;

“for this is My covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins.”

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but as regarding the election, they are beloved for the sake of the patriarchs.

For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you once were disobedient to God, but have now received mercy through their disobedience,

so these also have now been disobedient, that they also may receive mercy by the mercy shown to you.

For God has imprisoned them all in disobedience, so that He might be merciful to all.

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable are His ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”

“Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid to him?”

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever! Amen.

So I ask, has God repudiated · · his people? By no means! · For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not repudiated · · his people whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with 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.”

But what was the divine reply saying to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

And if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise · grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking, but the elect obtained it. The · rest were hardened,

as it is written, “God gave them · a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day.”

And David says, “May their table become · a snare and a trap, · a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

May their eyes be darkened · so they cannot see, and keep · their backs constantly bent.”

So I ask, did they stumble so as to fall? By no means! But because of their transgression · salvation has come to the Gentiles so as to make Israel jealous.

Now if · their transgression means riches for the world and · their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will · their full inclusion mean!

I am speaking to you · · Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in · my ministry,

if somehow I could provoke my own · countrymen to jealousy and save some of them.

For if · their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

If · the dough offered as first fruits is holy, so also is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so also are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and you now share in the nourishing root · of the olive tree,

do not become arrogant toward the branches. But if you do, consider this: it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so I could be grafted in.”

That is true. They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be proud, but stand in awe.

For if · God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you either.

Consider therefore the kindness and the severity of God—severity to those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able · to graft them in again.

For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into · their own olive tree?

For I do not want you to be uninformed, my brothers, of · this mystery—so that you may not be wise in your own conceits—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

And in this way all Israel will be saved: as it is written, “Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

“And this will be my covenant with them, · when I take away · their sins.”

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to · election they are dearly loved for the sake of their forefathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

so · they at the present time have been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

For God has consigned · · all to disobedience so that he may show mercy to · all.

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are · his judgments and how inscrutable · his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

Or who has given to God that God must pay him back?

For from him and through him and to him are · all things. To him be · glory for all time! Amen.

So I ask, “Has God rejected his people Israel?” That’s unthinkable! Consider this. I’m an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he knew long ago. Don’t you know what Elijah says in the Scripture passage when he complains to God about Israel? He says,

“Lord, they’ve killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”

But what was God’s reply? God said, “I’ve kept 7,000 people for myself who have not knelt to worship Baal.”

So, as there were then, there are now a few left that God has chosen by his kindness.

If they were chosen by God’s kindness, they weren’t chosen because of anything they did. Otherwise, God’s kindness wouldn’t be kindness.

So what does all this mean? It means that Israel has never achieved what it has been striving for. However, those whom God has chosen have achieved it. The minds of the rest of Israel were closed,

as Scripture says, “To this day God has given them a spirit of deep sleep. Their eyes don’t see, and their ears don’t hear!”

And David says, “Let the table set for them become a trap and a net, a snare and a punishment for them.

Let their vision become clouded so that they cannot see. Let them carry back-breaking burdens forever.”

So I ask, “Has Israel stumbled so badly that it can’t get up again?” That’s unthinkable! By Israel’s failure, salvation has come to people who are not Jewish to make the Jewish people jealous.

The fall of the Jewish people made the world spiritually rich. Their failure made people who are not Jewish spiritually rich. So the inclusion of Jewish people will make the world even richer.

Now, I speak to you who are not Jewish. As long as I am an apostle sent to people who are not Jewish, I bring honor to my ministry.

Perhaps I can make my people jealous and save some of them.

If Israel’s rejection means that the world has been brought back to God, what does Israel’s acceptance mean? It means that Israel has come back to life.

If the first handful of dough is holy, the whole batch of dough is holy. If the root is holy, the branches are holy.

But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree.

So don’t brag about being better than the other branches. If you brag, remember that you don’t support the root, the root supports you.

“Well,” you say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted onto the tree.”

That’s right! They were broken off because they didn’t believe, but you remain on the tree because you do believe. Don’t feel arrogant, but be afraid.

If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you, either.

Look at how kind and how severe God can be. He is severe to those who fell, but kind to you if you continue to hold on to his kindness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off from the tree.

If Jewish people do not continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted onto the tree again, because God is able to do that.

In spite of the fact that you have been cut from a wild olive tree, you have been grafted onto a cultivated one. So wouldn’t it be easier for these natural branches to be grafted onto the olive tree they belong to?

Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won’t become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God’s non-Jewish people are included.

In this way Israel as a whole will be saved, as Scripture says, “The Savior will come from Zion. He will remove godlessness from Jacob.

My promise to them will be fulfilled when I take away their sins.”

The Good News made the Jewish people enemies because of you. But by God’s choice they are loved because of their ancestors.

God never changes his mind when he gives gifts or when he calls someone.

In the past, you disobeyed God. But now God has been merciful to you because of the disobedience of the Jewish people.

In the same way, the Jewish people have also disobeyed so that God may be merciful to them as he was to you.

God has placed all people into the prison of their own disobedience so that he could be merciful to all people.

God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways.

“Who knows how the Lord thinks? Who can become his adviser?”

Who gave the Lord something which the Lord must pay back?

Everything is from him and by him and for him. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen!

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Of course not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with 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.”

But what is God’s response to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt to Baal.”

So also at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

But if by grace, it is no longer because of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What Israel was seeking it did not attain, but the elect attained it; the rest were hardened,

as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day.”

And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;

let their eyes grow dim so that they may not see, and keep their backs bent forever.”

Hence I ask, did they stumble so as to fall? Of course not! But through their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make them jealous.

Now if their transgression is enrichment for the world, and if their diminished number is enrichment for the Gentiles, how much more their full number.

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry

in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

If the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch of dough; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and have come to share in the rich root of the olive tree,

do not boast against the branches. If you do boast, consider that you do not support the root; the root supports you.

Indeed you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

That is so. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you are there because of faith. So do not become haughty, but stand in awe.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, [perhaps] he will not spare you either.

See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.

And they also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated one, how much more will they who belong to it by nature be grafted back into their own olive tree.

I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not become wise [in] your own estimation: a hardening has come upon Israel in part, until the full number of the Gentiles comes in,

and thus all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come out of Zion, he will turn away godlessness from Jacob;

and this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

In respect to the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but in respect to election, they are beloved because of the patriarchs.

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,

so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may [now] receive mercy.

For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid?”

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? Far from it! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with 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.”

But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.

What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

just as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day.”

And David says, “May their table become a snare and a trap, And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

May their eyes be darkened to see not, And bend their backs continually.”

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.

Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

if somehow I may move my own people to jealousy and save some of them.

For if their rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,

do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;

for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off.

And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.

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 the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

“This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

In relation to the gospel they are enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved on account of the fathers;

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,

so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.

For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.

Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?

Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him?

For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with 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.”

But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

just as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day.”

And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

“Let their eyes be darkened to see not, And bend their backs forever.”

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.

Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,

do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;

for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

“This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,

so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.

For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?

Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

I ask, then: Has God rejected his people? Of course not! I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. You surely must know what Scripture asserts in the passage about Elijah where he pleads with God against Israel:

“Lord, they have killed your Prophets, they have torn down your altars. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.”

What was God’s response to him? “I have spared for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt before Baal.”

So too, at the present time, there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

But if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What follows, then? Israel was unable to attain what it was seeking. The elect attained it, but the rest were hardened,

as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of lethargy: eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, down to this very day.”

And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”

And so I ask: Have they stumbled so that they might fall? By no means! However, through their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, and this has stirred them to envy.

Now if their transgression results in riches for the world, and their loss results in riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full participation bring!

Now I am addressing you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry

in the hope that it will arouse the jealousy of those who are of my flesh so that some might be saved.

For if their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

If the firstfruits are holy, then so is the whole lump of dough. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in their place to share in the rich root of the olive tree,

do not boast over against the branches! If you start to boast, remember that it is not you who support the root but the root that supports you.

You will assert, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you hold your place only because of your faith. Therefore, do not rise up in pride but be filled with awe.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, he might not spare you either.

Therefore, keep in mind the kindness and the severity of God: his severity toward those who fell, but his kindness to you provided that you remain deserving of that kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off,

while those who do not persist in their unbelief will be grafted in, since God has the power to do so again.

For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated one, how much more easily will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brethren, lest you think yourselves too wise: this hardening that has afflicted Israel will continue only until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

This is how all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will banish godlessness from Jacob

And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake. However, as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of the patriarchs.

For the gifts of God and his calling are irrevocable.

Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

so they too have now become disobedient in order that, through the mercy shown to you, they too may receive mercy.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may show mercy to all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

Or who has given him anything in order to receive something in return?”

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

So I ask: Did God throw out his people? No! I myself am an Israelite from the family of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God chose the Israelites to be his people before they were born, and he has not thrown his people out. Surely you know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he prayed to God against the people of Israel.

“Lord,” he said, “they have killed your prophets, and they have destroyed your altars. I am the only prophet left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

But what answer did God give Elijah? He said, “But I have left seven thousand people in Israel who have never bowed down before Baal.”

It is the same now. There are a few people that God has chosen by his grace.

And if he chose them by grace, it is not for the things they have done. If they could be made God’s people by what they did, God’s gift of grace would not really be a gift.

So this is what has happened: Although the Israelites tried to be right with God, they did not succeed, but the ones God chose did become right with him. The others were made stubborn and refused to listen to God.

As it is written in the Scriptures: “God gave the people a dull mind so they could not understand.” Isaiah 29:10 “He closed their eyes so they could not see and their ears so they could not hear. This continues until today.” Deuteronomy 29:4

And David says: “Let their own feasts trap them and cause their ruin; let their feasts cause them to stumble and be paid back.

Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see and their backs be forever weak from troubles.” Psalm 69:22–23

So I ask: When the Jews fell, did that fall destroy them? No! But their failure brought salvation to those who are not Jews, in order to make the Jews jealous.

The Jews’ failure brought rich blessings for the world, and the Jews’ loss brought rich blessings for the non-Jewish people. So surely the world will receive much richer blessings when enough Jews become the kind of people God wants.

Now I am speaking to you who are not Jews. I am an apostle to those who are not Jews, and since I have that work, I will make the most of it.

I hope I can make my own people jealous and, in that way, help some of them to be saved.

When God turned away from the Jews, he became friends with other people in the world. So when God accepts the Jews, surely that will bring them life after death.

If the first piece of bread is offered to God, then the whole loaf is made holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, then the tree’s branches are holy too.

It is as if some of the branches from an olive tree have been broken off. You non-Jewish people are like the branch of a wild olive tree that has been joined to that first tree. You now share the strength and life of the first tree, the Jews.

So do not brag about those branches that were broken off. If you brag, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree.”

That is true. But those branches were broken off because they did not believe, and you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Do not be proud, but be afraid.

If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, then he will not let you stay if you don’t believe.

So you see that God is kind and also very strict. He punishes those who stop following him. But God is kind to you, if you continue following in his kindness. If you do not, you will be cut off from the tree.

And if the Jews will believe in God again, he will accept them back. God is able to put them back where they were.

It is not natural for a wild branch to be part of a good tree. And you who are not Jews are like a branch cut from a wild olive tree and joined to a good olive tree. But since those Jews are like a branch that grew from the good tree, surely they can be joined to their own tree again.

I want you to understand this secret, brothers and sisters, so you will understand that you do not know everything: Part of Israel has been made stubborn, but that will change when many who are not Jews have come to God.

And that is how all Israel will be saved. It is written in the Scriptures: “The Savior will come from Jerusalem; he will take away all evil from the family of Jacob.

And I will make this agreement with those people when I take away their sins.” Isaiah 59:20–21; 27:9

The Jews refuse to accept the Good News, so they are God’s enemies. This has happened to help you who are not Jews. But the Jews are still God’s chosen people, and he loves them very much because of the promises he made to their ancestors.

God never changes his mind about the people he calls and the things he gives them.

At one time you refused to obey God. But now you have received mercy, because those people refused to obey.

And now the Jews refuse to obey, because God showed mercy to you. But this happened so that they also can receive mercy from him.

God has given all people over to their stubborn ways so that he can show mercy to all.

Yes, God’s riches are very great, and his wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain the things God decides or understand his ways.

As the Scripture says, “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been able to give him advice?” Isaiah 40:13

“No one has ever given God anything that he must pay back.” Job 41:11

Yes, God made all things, and everything continues through him and for him. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life!”

But what was the divine response to him? “I have kept for myself 7,000 people who have not bent the knee to Baal.”

So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened,

as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day.”

And David says, “Let their table become a snare and trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;

let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, and make their backs bend continually.”

I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.

Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches.

Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root,

do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”

Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear!

For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God—harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

And even they—if they do not continue in their unbelief—will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience,

so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.

For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him?

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.

So here is what I ask. Did God turn his back on his people? Not at all! I myself belong to Israel. I am one of Abraham’s children. I am from the tribe of Benjamin.

God didn’t turn his back on his people. After all, he chose them. Don’t you know what Scripture says about Elijah? He complained to God about Israel.

He said, “Lord, they have killed your prophets. They have torn down your altars. I’m the only one left. And they are trying to kill me.” (1 Kings 19:10,14)

How did God answer him? God said, “I have kept 7,000 people for myself. They have not bowed down to Baal.” (1 Kings 19:18)

Some are also faithful today. They have been chosen by God’s grace.

And if they are chosen by grace, then they can’t work for it. If that were true, grace wouldn’t be grace anymore.

What should we say then? The people of Israel did not receive what they wanted so badly. Those Israelites who were chosen did receive it. But the rest of the people were made stubborn.

It is written, “God made it hard for them to understand. He gave them eyes that could not see. He gave them ears that could not hear. And they are still like that today.” (Deuteronomy 29:4; Isaiah 29:10)

David says, “Let their feast be a trap and a snare. Let them trip and fall. Let them get what’s coming to them.

Let their eyes grow dark so they can’t see. Let their backs be bent forever.” (Psalm 69:22,23)

Again, here is what I ask. The Israelites didn’t trip and fall once and for all time, did they? Not at all! Because Israel sinned, the Gentiles can be saved. That will make Israel jealous of them.

Israel’s sin brought riches to the world. Their loss brings riches to the Gentiles. So then what greater riches will come when all Israel turns to God!

I am talking to you who are not Jews. I am the apostle to the Gentiles. So I take pride in the work I do for God and others.

I hope somehow to stir up my own people to want what you have. Perhaps I can save some of them.

When they were not accepted, it became possible for the whole world to be brought back to God. So what will happen when they are accepted? It will be like life from the dead.

The first handful of dough that is offered is holy. This makes all of the dough holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life-giving sap of the olive tree root.

So don’t think you are better than the other branches. Remember, you don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you.

You will say, “Some branches were broken off so that I could be joined to the tree.”

That’s true. But they were broken off because they didn’t believe. You stand only because you do believe. So don’t be proud, but tremble.

God didn’t spare the natural branches. He won’t spare you either.

Think about how kind God is! Also think about how firm he is! He was hard on those who stopped following him. But he is kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don’t, you also will be cut off.

If the people of Israel do not continue in their unbelief, they will again be joined to the tree. God is able to join them to the tree again.

After all, weren’t you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren’t you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn’t that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree!

Brothers and sisters, here is a mystery I want you to understand. It will keep you from being proud. Part of Israel has refused to obey God. That will continue until the full number of Gentiles has entered God’s kingdom.

In this way all Israel will be saved. It is written, “The God who saves will come from Mount Zion. He will remove sin from Jacob’s family.

Here is my covenant with them. I will take away their sins.” (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33,34)

As far as the good news is concerned, the people of Israel are enemies. This is for your good. But as far as God’s choice is concerned, the people of Israel are loved. This is because of God’s promises to the founders of our nation.

God does not take back his gifts. He does not change his mind about those he has chosen.

At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because Israel did not obey.

In the same way, Israel has not been obeying God. But now they receive mercy because of God’s mercy to you.

God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him. So now he can have mercy on everyone.

How very rich are God’s wisdom and knowledge! How he judges is more than we can understand! The way he deals with people is more than we can know!

“Who can ever know what the Lord is thinking? Or who can ever give him advice?” (Isaiah 40:13)

“Has anyone ever given anything to God, so that God has to pay them back?” (Job 41:11)

All things come from him. All things are directed by him. All things are for his praise. May God be given the glory forever! Amen.

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. 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”?

And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,

as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”

And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.

But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry

in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

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.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”

Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

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, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,

and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,

for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”

“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

I ask then: did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. 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’?

And what was God’s answer to him? ‘I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’

So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,

as it is written: ‘God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.’

And David says: ‘May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling-block and a retribution for them.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent for ever.’

Again I ask: did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.

But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry

in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

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.

You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’

Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

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, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,

and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,

for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?’

‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?’

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”

And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them.

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.

For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”

Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

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 will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,

even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.

For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”

“Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

I ask then, “Has God put His people, the Jews, aside?” No, not at all! I myself am a Jew. Abraham was my early father. I am from the family group of Benjamin.

God has not put His people aside. He chose them from the beginning. Do you know what the Holy Writings say about Elijah? Do you know what Elijah said to God against the Jews?

He said, “Lord, they have killed Your early preachers. They have destroyed the places where You are worshiped. I am the only one left. They are trying to kill me.”

But what did God say to him? God said, “I still have 7,000 men. None of them have worshiped the false god Baal.”

It is the same now. A few of the Jews are being chosen because of God’s loving-favor.

If they are saved from the punishment of sin because of God’s loving-favor, it is nothing men have done to earn it. If men had earned it, then His loving-favor would not be a free gift.

This is the way it was. Many Jews did not get what they were looking for. Only those God chose received it. The hearts of the others were made hard. They could not understand it.

The Holy Writings say this about them, “God gave them hearts and minds that want to sleep. He gave them eyes that could not see. To this very day He gave them ears that could not hear.”

David said, “Let their table of food become a trap to hold them. Let it be a hole into which they fall and will suffer.

Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see. Keep their backs from being straight always because of their troubles.”

I ask then, “Did the Jews fall so they would be lost forever?” No, not at all! It means the people who are not Jews are able to be saved from the punishment of sin because the Jews sinned by not putting their trust in Christ. This made the Jews jealous of those who are not Jews.

The world received good things from God because of the sin of the Jews. Because the Jews did not receive God’s free gift, the people who are not Jews received good things from Him. Think how much more the world will receive when the Jews finish God’s plan by putting their trust in Christ!

I am speaking to you people who are not Jews. As long as I am a missionary to you, I want you to know how important my job is.

I do this so it will make my own people, the Jews, jealous. Then it may be that some will be saved from the punishment of sin.

Because the Jews have been put aside, many other people in the world have been saved from the punishment of sin. Think what it will be like when they are also gathered in. It will be like the dead coming back to life!

If the first loaf is holy, all the bread is holy. If the root is holy, all the branches are holy.

But some of the branches (who are the Jews) were broken off. You who are not Jews were put in the place where the branches had been broken off. Now you are sharing the rich root of the olive tree.

Do not be proud. Do not think you are better than the branches that were broken off. If you are proud, remember that you do not hold the root. It is the root that holds you.

You may say, “Branches were broken off to make room for me.”

It is true. They were broken off because they did not put their trust in Christ. And you are there only because of your faith. Do not be proud. Instead, be afraid.

God did not keep the first branches (who are the Jews) on the tree. Then watch, or He will not keep you on the tree.

We see how kind God is. It shows how hard He is also. He is hard on those who fall away. But He is kind to you if you keep on trusting Him. If you do not, He will cut you off.

If the Jews would put their trust in Christ, God would put them back into the tree. He has power to do that.

You people who are not Jews were cut off from a wild olive tree. Instead of being there, you were put into a garden olive tree which is not the right place for you to grow. It would be easy for God to put the Jews back onto their own olive tree because they are the branches that belong there.

Christian brothers, I want you to understand this truth which is no longer a secret. It will keep you from thinking you are so wise. Some Jews have become hard until the right amount of people who are not Jews come to God.

Then all the Jews will be saved, as the Holy Writings say, “The One Who saves from the punishment of sin will come out of Jerusalem. He will turn the Jews from doing sinful things.”

“And this is My promise to them when I take away their sins.”

The Jews are fighting against the Good News. Because they hate the Good News, it has helped you who are not Jews. But God still loves the Jews because He has chosen them and because of His promise to their early fathers.

God does not change His mind when He chooses men and gives them His gifts.

At one time you did not obey God. But when the Jews did not receive God’s gift, you did. It was because they did not obey.

The Jews will not obey now. God’s loving-kindness to you will some day turn them to Him. Then the Jews may have His loving-kindness also.

God has said that all men have broken His Law. But He will show loving-kindness on all of them.

God’s riches are so great! The things He knows and His wisdom are so deep! No one can understand His thoughts. No one can understand His ways.

The Holy Writings say, “Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to tell Him what to do?”

“Who has given first to God, that God should pay him back?”

Everything comes from Him. His power keeps all things together. All things are made for Him. May He be honored forever. Let it be so.

I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said,

“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them.

And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.

As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.”

Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve.

Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”

Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.

Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this,

for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.

For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!

And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.

But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.”

Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.

For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.

And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.

You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.

I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.

And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.

And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.”

Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead.

Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.

For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?

And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

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.

Let their eyes be blinded so that they do not see, and ever bow down their backs.

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.

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?

I preach to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles. I will magnify my office,

so that I might rally those who are my flesh, and might save some of them.

For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what is the receiving of them but life again from death?

For if one piece is holy, the whole lump is holy. And if the root is holy, the branches are holy also.

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,

do not boast against the branches. For if you boast, remember that you do not bear the root, but the root bears you.

You will say then that the branches are broken off so that you may be grafted in.

Well said: because of unbelief they are broken off, and you stand steadfast in faith. Be not high-minded, but fear,

seeing that God spared not the natural branches, lest perhaps he also not spare you.

Behold the kindness and the severity of God: on those who fell, severity, but towards you, kindness – if you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you will be hewn off.

And they, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in again. For God is of power to graft them in again.

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?

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;

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.

And: This is my covenant to them, when I take away their sins.

Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but as for the chosen ones, these are loved for the fathers’ sakes.

For indeed, the gifts and calling of God are such that he cannot change his mind about them.

For look, just as you in time past did not believe God, and yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief,

in the same way now they have not believed the mercy that has come to you, so that they also may obtain mercy.

God has wrapped all nations in unbelief in order that he may have mercy on all.

O, the deepness of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.

For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?

Or who has given to him first, that he should be recompensed?

For from him, and through him, and for him, are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.’

But what is the divine reply to him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,

as it is written, ‘God gave them a sluggish spirit, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.’

And David says, ‘Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling-block and a retribution for them;

let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and keep their backs for ever bent.’

So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry

in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead!

If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree,

do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.

You will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but God’s kindness towards you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, ‘Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.’

‘And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’

As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors;

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,

so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!

‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?’

‘Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?’

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.’

But what is the divine reply to him? ‘I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,

as it is written, ‘God gave them a sluggish spirit, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.’

And David says, ‘Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling-block and a retribution for them;

let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and keep their backs for ever bent.’

So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry

in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead!

If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree,

do not vaunt yourselves over the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.

You will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but God’s kindness towards you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.

For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, ‘Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.’

‘And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’

As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors;

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,

so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!

‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?’

‘Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?’

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.”

But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,