11:1 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. |
11:2 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? |
11:3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE." |
11:4 But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL." |
11:5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to {God's} gracious choice. |
11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. |
11:7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; |
11:8 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." |
11:9 And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. |
11:10 "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER." |
11:11 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. |
11:12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! |
11:13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, |
11:14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. |
11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will {their} acceptance be but life from the dead? |
11:16 If the first piece {of dough} is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. |
11:17 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, |
11:18 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. |
11:19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." |
11:20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; |
11:21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. |
11:22 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. |
11:23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. |
11:24 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? |
11:25 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; |
11:26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." |
11:27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS." |
11:28 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; |
11:29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. |
11:30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, |
11:31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. |
11:32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. |
11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! |
11:34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? |
11:35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? |
11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him {be} the glory forever. Amen. |