Study Desk

I ask, then, has God rejected His people?^(a) Absolutely not!^(b) For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,^(c) from the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.^(d) Or don't you know^(e) what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with 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 take my life! ^(f)[a]

But what was God's reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal. ^(g)[b]

In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.^(h)

Now if by grace,⁽ⁱ⁾ then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.^[c]

What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for,^(j) but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,^(k)

as it is written: God gave them a spirit of insensitivity, ^[d] eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day .^(l)[e]

And David says: Let their feasting ^[f] become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually. ^(m)[g]

I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling,^[h] salvation has come to the Gentiles⁽ⁿ⁾ to make Israel jealous.

Now if their stumbling^[i] brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring!^(o)

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles,^(p) I magnify my ministry,

if I can somehow make my own people^[j](q) jealous and save some of them.^(r)

For if their rejection brings reconciliation^(s) to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?^(t)

Now if the firstfruits offered up are holy,^(u) so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Now if some of the branches were broken off,^(v) and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them^(w) and have come to share in the rich root^[k] of the cultivated olive tree,

do not brag that you are better than those branches. But if you do brag—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.^(x)

Then you will say,^(y) "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."

True enough; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith.^(z) Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.^(aa)

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

Therefore, consider God's kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God's kindness^(ab) toward you—if you remain in His kindness.^(ac) Otherwise you too will be cut off.^(ad)

And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,^(ae) will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.

For if you were cut off from your native wild olive and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

So that you will not be conceited,^(af) brothers, I do not want you to be unaware^(ag) of this mystery:^(ah) A partial hardening has come to Israel^(ai) until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.^(aj)

And in this way all^[l] Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Liberator will come from Zion; He will turn away godlessness from Jacob.

And this will be My covenant with them ^(ak)[m] when I take away their sins. ^(al)[n]

Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage,^(am) but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,^(an)

since God's gracious gifts and calling^(ao) are irrevocable.^[o](ap)

As you once disobeyed God, but now have received mercy through their disobedience,

so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also now^[p] may receive mercy.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience,^(aq) so that He may have mercy on all.

Oh, the depth of the riches^(ar) both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!^(as) How unsearchable His judgments^(at) and untraceable His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord? ^(au) Or who has been His counselor?

Or who has ever first given to Him, and has to be repaid? ^(av)[q]

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.^(aw) To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you^(a) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(b) holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.^[a]

Do not be conformed^(c) to this age,^(d) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,^(e) so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will^(f) of God.

For by the grace^(g) given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.^(h) Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith⁽ⁱ⁾ to each one.

Now as we have many parts in one body,^(j) and all the parts do not have the same function,

in the same way we who are many^(k) are one body in Christ^(l) and individually members of one another.

According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:^(m) If prophecy,⁽ⁿ⁾ use it according to the standard of one's^[b] faith;

if service,^(o) in service; if teaching,^(p) in teaching;

if exhorting,^(q) in exhortation; giving, with generosity;^(r) leading,^(s) with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.^(t)

Love must be without hypocrisy.^(u) Detest evil;^(v) cling to what is good.

Show family affection to one another with brotherly love.^(w) Outdo one another in showing honor.^(x)

Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit;^(y) serve the Lord.^(z)

Rejoice in hope;^(aa) be patient in affliction;^(ab) be persistent in prayer.^(ac)

Share with the saints in their needs;^(ad) pursue hospitality.^(ae)

Bless those who persecute you;^(af) bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice;^(ag) weep with those who weep.

Be in agreement with one another.^(ah) Do not be proud;^(ai) instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.^(aj)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(ak) Try to do what is honorable^(al) in everyone's eyes.

If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.^(am)

Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His^[c] wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, ^(an)[d] says the Lord.

But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. ^(ao) If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. ^(ap)[e]

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities,^(a) for there is no authority except from God,^(b) and those that exist are instituted by God.

So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers are not a terror^(c) to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.

For government is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God's servant, an avenger^(d) that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.

Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience.^(e)

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God's public servants, continually attending to these tasks.^[a]

Pay your obligations^(f) to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes,^(g) tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect,^(h) and honor to those you owe honor.

Do not owe anyone anything,^[b] except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.⁽ⁱ⁾

The commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; ^[c] do not covet; ^(j)[d] and whatever other commandment—all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself. ^(k)[e]

Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour^(l) for you^[f] to wake up from sleep,^(m) for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.⁽ⁿ⁾

The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near,^(o) so let us discard the deeds of darkness^(p) and put on the armor of light.^(q)

Let us walk with decency,^(r) as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness;^(s) not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,^(t) and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.^(u)