The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 11 -

I say then, did God reject his people? May it never be. For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleaded with God against Israel?

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.”

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

Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant because of the choice of grace.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer by works. Otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

What then? The thing that Israel was seeking, it did not obtain, but the chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

It is just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of dullness, eyes so that they should not see, and ears so that they should not hear, to this very day.”

And David says, “Let their table be made a net, a trap, a stumbling block, and retaliation against them.

Let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see. Always keep their backs bent.”

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles

I say then, “Did they stumble so as to fall?” May it never be. Instead, by their failure, salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy.

Now if their failure is the riches of the world, and if their loss is the riches of the Gentiles, how much greater will their completion be?

And now I am speaking to you Gentiles. As long as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I honor my ministry.

Perhaps I will provoke to jealousy those who are of my own flesh. Perhaps we will save some of them.

For if the rejection of those is the reconciliation of the world, what will their reception be but life from the dead?

If the firstfruits are reserved, so is the lump of dough. If the root is reserved, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, if you, a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them, and if you shared with them in the rich root of the olive tree,

do not boast over the branches. But if you do boast, 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. Because of their unbelief they were broken off, but you stand firm because of your faith. Do not think too highly of yourself, but fear.

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

Look at, then, the kind actions and the severity of God. On the one hand, severity came on the Jews who fell. But on the other hand, God’s kindness comes on you, if you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

And also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted back in. For God is able to graft them in again.

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

All Israel Will Be Saved

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of this mystery, in order that you will not be wise in your own thinking. This mystery is that a partial hardening has occurred in Israel, until the completion of the Gentiles come in.

Thus in this manner (through faith in Christ) all Israel will be saved, just 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 will take away their sins.”

On the one hand concerning the gospel, they are enemies on your behalf. On the other hand according to God’s choice, they are beloved because of the ancestors.

For the gifts and the call of God are unchangeable.

For you were formerly disobedient to God, but now you have received mercy because of their disobedience.

In the same way, now these Jews have been disobedient. The result was that by the mercy shown to you they may also now receive mercy.

For God has shut up all into disobedience, in order that he might show mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise

(Isaiah 40:9–31)

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways beyond discovering!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his adviser?

Or who has first given anything to God, so it will 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 ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God didn’t reject his people, whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:

“Lord, they have killed your prophets. They have broken down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life.”(a)

But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”(b)

Even so too at this present time also 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? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones 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, to this very day.” (c)

David says, “Let their table be made a snare, a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Always keep their backs bent.”(d)

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles

I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to 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 fullness!

For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry,

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

For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead?

If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

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 root and of the richness of the olive tree,

don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.

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

True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear;

for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

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

All Israel Will Be Saved

For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers,(e) of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,

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

This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.”(f)

Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

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

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

For God has bound all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise

(Isaiah 40:9–31)

Oh 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 has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”(g)

“Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?”(h)

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

Footnotes

(a)11:3 ℘ 1Kings 19:10,14

(b)11:4 ℘ 1Kings 19:18

(d)11:10 ℘ Psalms 69:22,23

(e)11:25 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(f)11:27 ℘ Isaiah 59:20-21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34

(g)11:34 ℘ Isaiah 40:13

(h)11:35 ℘ Job 41:11