Romans 11:2

Israel’s Rejection Not Total

1 I say then, ^ahas God cast away His people? ^bCertainly not! For ^cI also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God has not cast away His people whom ^aHe foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

3 ^a“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

4 But what does the divine response say to him? ^a“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

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

6 And ^aif by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.¹ But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

7 What then? ^aIsrael has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were ^bblinded.

8 Just as it is written:
^a“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
^bEyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”

9 And David says:
^a“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
A stumbling block and a recompense to them.

10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always.”

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But ^athrough their fall, to provoke them to ^bjealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

12 Now if their¹ fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as ^aI am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and ^asave some of them.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Romans 11:2 Mean?

Romans 11:2-5

What is important to us here is the principle Paul extracts from the incident. The words "even so then" draw our attention to God's calling and election.

In Elijah's day, Israel was almost totally idolatrous. The prophet challenged Israel, saying "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but Baal, then follow him" (I Kings 18:21). He contested the 450 priests of Baal, and he counted Jezebel, Israel's queen, as a personal enemy. Elijah became discouraged, feeling totally alone in fighting these battles. To encourage him, God tells him He had divinely preserved seven thousand men from idolatry, bringing them to the knowledge of the true God. He had done this, not because they were special, but solely by His influence and agency. Elijah was not even aware of them!

In like manner—even so—there is today a remnant according to the election of grace that God has reserved for Himself, not because they are special, but solely by His influence and agency. There is no indication anywhere that God chose us because we already had faith or any other redeeming quality that forced His hand to call us.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Sovereignty of God: Part Seven

Romans 11:2-3

God Himself has kept Israel from seeing and hearing (understanding and applying) His truth, giving Israel a spirit of slumber to make possible the salvation of the Gentiles. He has determined to call and choose only a limited number from Israel in this age, allowing the rest to remain blinded. With the rest of humanity, they will rise in the second resurrection and have the opportunity for salvation.

Martin G. Collins
Basic Doctrines: The Second Resurrection

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Israel’s Rejection Not Total

Israel’s Rejection Not Final

What Does Romans 11:2 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning