Rom 11 | Anderson | STEP | I say, then, Has God rejected his people? It can not be. For I am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

‏ Romans 11

1 I say, then, Has God rejected his people? It can not be. For I am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture says, in regard to Elijah? how he intercedes with God against Israel, saying: 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thy altars, and I am left alone, and they seek: my life. 4 But what says the answer of God to him? I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 5 Thus, then, at the present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if the election is by grace, it is no longer by works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.

7 What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks; but the chosen have obtained it, and the rest have been hardened to this day, 8 as it is written: God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes with which they can not see, and ears with which they can not hear. 9 And David says: Let their table become a trap, and a net, and a snare, and a recompense to them; 10 let their eyes be darkened, so that they may not see, and let them bow down their back always.

11 I say, then, Have they stumbled, in order that they may fall? It can not be. But rather, through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to excite them to jealousy. 12 Now, if their fall be the riches of the world, and their loss be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more shall their full acceptance be the riches of the world? 13 For I speak to you, Gentiles; inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I do honor to my ministry, 14 if, by any means, I may excite to jealousy those who are my flesh, and save some of them. 15 For, if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the reception of them be, but life from the dead?

16 Now, if the first fruit is holy, the mass is holy also: and if the root is holy, the branches are holy also. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, have been grafted in among them, and partake with them of the root and fatness of the olive, 18 boast not against the branches; but if you boast, boast not that you bear the root, but that the root bears you. 19 You will say then: The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20 Well; on account of unbelief they were broken off; but you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed, lest he spare not you.

22 Behold, then, the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell; severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise, you also shall be cut off. 23 And they, also, if they continue not in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out from an olive-tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted, against nature, into a good olive, how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive?

25 For I do not wish you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery―lest you be wise in your own conceit―that blindness has happened to Israel in part, till the full number of the Gentiles shall have come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As it respects the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sakes; but as it respects their election, they are beloved for the fathers sakes: 29 for God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable. 30 For as you formerly did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy through their unbelief; 31 so, also, these have not now believed, that through the mercy shown to you, they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has delivered them all over to unbelief, that he may have mercy on them all.

33 O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or, who has been his counsellor? 35 Or, who has first given to him, and received from him a recompense? 36 For from him, and by him, and for him, are all things. To him be glory through the ages! Amen.