The Remnant of Israel
I ask, then, ahas God rejected his people? By no means! For bI myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 aGod has not rejected his people whom he bforeknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 a“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God’s reply to him? a“I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is aa remnant, chosen by grace. 6 aBut if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? aIsrael failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest bwere hardened, 8 as it is written,
a“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
beyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
9 And David says,
a“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”
Gentiles Grafted In
11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass asalvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as aI am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and athus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means athe reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 aIf the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 But if asome of the branches were broken off, and you, balthough a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you astand fast through faith. So bdo not become proud, but cfear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, aprovided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise byou too will be cut off. 23 And aeven they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
The Mystery of Israel’s Salvation
25 aLest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: ba partial hardening has come upon Israel, cuntil the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
a“The Deliverer will come bfrom Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my acovenant with them
bwhen I take away their sins.”
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are abeloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and athe calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as ayou were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God ahas consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and awisdom and knowledge of God! bHow unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For awho has known the mind of the Lord,
or bwho has been his counselor?”
35 “Or awho has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For afrom him and through him and to him are all things. bTo him be glory forever. Amen.