Romans 11 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 57-58
Location
Written to the church in Rome; Paul likely writing from Corinth during his third missionary journey
Audience
Mixed congregation of Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome
Situation
Paul addresses the theological question of Israel's partial rejection of Christ and the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers. This is part of a larger section (Romans 9-11) responding to concerns about whether God's promises to Israel had failed.
Key Background
Emperor Claudius had expelled Jews from Rome around AD 49, and their recent return created tensions with Gentile Christians who had led the church in their absence. Many Jews had not accepted Jesus as Messiah, raising questions about God's faithfulness to His covenant people. Paul, himself a Jewish believer, argues that God has not rejected Israel but has a continuing plan that includes both Jews and Gentiles in His redemptive purposes.
So I'm asking: did God his people? Absolutely not! I myself am an a descendant of Abraham, from the of
God hasn't rejected his people — the ones he and from the very Don't you remember what the Scripture says in the story of He pleaded with God against Israel:
they've killed your torn down your and I'm the only one left — and now they're trying to kill me too."
But what did God say back to him? "I've seven thousand people for who haven't kneeled down to
It's the same way right now — there's a that exists because of God's
And if it's because of his then it's no longer based on what has Otherwise, his generosity wouldn't really be generosity at all.
So what happened? Israel as a whole didn't get what they were for, but the ones God chose did get it. The rest had their
just as it's written: "God gave them a of — eyes that can't see and ears that can't hear — and it continues to this very day."
And David says: "Let their become a trap and a snare, a stumbling block and for them.
Let their go so they can't see, and keep their down
So I'm asking: when they did they fall beyond recovery? Absolutely not! Instead, because of their failure, has come to — and that's meant to make Israel
Now if their failure means incredible for the world, and their loss means incredible for non-Jewish people, just imagine how much more their will mean!
Now I'm speaking directly to you non-Jewish people. As an to non-Jewish people, I take my role seriously —
hoping that I can somehow make my own people jealous enough to bring some of them to be
Because if their rejection meant that the world could be with what will their acceptance mean? Nothing less than from the
If the of is for so is the whole batch. And if the is for so are the branches.
Now some of the branches have been broken off, and you — a — have been in among the remaining branches and now share in the from the root.
But don't down on those broken-off branches. If you're tempted to feel superior, remember: you don't sustain the root — the root sustains you.
You might say, "Those branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."
Fair enough — they were broken off because they didn't and you stand firm only because you do him. So don't be about it. Be humbled by it.
After all, if God didn't spare the he certainly won't spare you either.
Look at both sides of God's character: he is toward those who fell away, but toward you — as long as you continue living in his kindness. Otherwise, you'll be cut off too.
And if they don't persist in their they'll be grafted back in — because God has the power to graft them in again.
Think about it: if you were cut from a wild olive tree and grafted — — into a one, how much easier will it be for the natural branches to be grafted back into their own olive tree!
I don't want you to miss this brothers and sisters — otherwise you might start thinking too highly of yourselves: a has come over Israel, and it will last until the of non-Jewish people has come in.
And then all will be As it's written: "The will come from he will turn away from Jacob.
And this is my with them: when I take away their
When it comes to the they're currently opposed to God — which has actually benefited you. But when it comes to God's choice, they are deeply loved because of the
Because God's and his be
There was a time when you didn't trust God, but now you've received because of their distrust.
In the same way, they are currently living in distrust, so that through the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.
Because God has up in their so that he can show mercy to
How deep is the of God's wisdom and knowledge! His decisions are to and his paths are to
"Who has ever understood the of the Or who has ever been his advisor?"
"Or who has ever given God first, so that God would them
Because from and is All the belongs to forever.