Study Desk

The Remnant of Israel

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!^(a) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,^(b) from the tribe of Benjamin.^(c)

God did not reject his people,^(d) whom he foreknew.^(e) Don't you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel:

"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"^[a]?^(f)

And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."^[b](g)

So too, at the present time there is a remnant^(h) chosen by grace.⁽ⁱ⁾

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(j) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^(k) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^(l)

as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear,^(m) to this very day."^[c](n)

And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,^(o) and their backs be bent forever."^[d](p)

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!^(q) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^(r) to make Israel envious.^(s)

But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,^(t) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^(u) I take pride in my ministry

in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(v) and save^(w) some of them.

For if their rejection brought reconciliation^(x) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^(y)

If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits^(z) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

If some of the branches have been broken off,^(aa) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others^(ab) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.^(ac)

You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."

Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^(ad) Do not be arrogant,^(ae) but tremble.^(af)

For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Consider therefore the kindness^(ag) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(ah) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^(ai)

And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^(aj)

After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^(ak) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

I do not want you to be ignorant^(al) of this mystery,^(am) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:^(an) Israel has experienced a hardening^(ao) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,^(ap)

and in this way^[e] all Israel will be saved.^(aq) As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

And this is^[f] my covenant with them when I take away their sins."^[g](ar)

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies^(as) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,^(at)

for God's gifts and his call^(au) are irrevocable.^(av)

Just as you who were at one time disobedient^(aw) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[h] receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

For God has bound everyone over to disobedience^(ax) so that he may have mercy on them all.

Oh, the depth of the riches^(ay) of the wisdom and^[i] knowledge of God!^(az) How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!^(ba)

"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"^[j](bb)

"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?"^[k](bc)

For from him and through him and for him are all things.^(bd) To him be the glory forever! Amen.^(be)