Shared Word Translation
Romans 11
The Remnant of Israel
I say then, has God rejected his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the 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 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 seek 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.”
So then also in the present time there has come to be a remnant according to the election of grace. But if by grace, it is no longer from works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Israel’s Rejection Is Not Final
What then? Israel did not obtain what it seeks, but the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened,
just as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes not to see and ears not to hear,
to this very day.”
And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap
and a stumbling block and a recompense to them;
let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see,
and bend their backs continually.”
The Salvation of the Gentiles
I say then, did they stumble so that they might fall? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
But I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh 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?
The Olive Tree
And if the firstfruit is holy, so also the whole; and if the root is holy, so also 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 fellow-partaker of the root of the rich olive tree, do not boast against the branches; but if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” True; 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.
Behold then the kindness and severity of God: toward those who have fallen, severity; but toward you, kindness, if you continue in that kindness; 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 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, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation
For I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers, lest you be wise in yourselves: that a partial hardening has come upon 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.”
According to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but according to election 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 received mercy because of their disobedience, so also these now have been disobedient, so that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has shut up all into disobedience so that he may show mercy to all.
Doxology
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and untraceable his ways! For “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become his counselor?” “Or who has given to him first, and it will be repaid to him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.