Romans 11

King James Version

Full text for Romans Chapter 11

1¶ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.

2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal.

5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

12Now if the fall of them [be] the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them.

15For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead?

16For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches.

17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.

22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?

25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes.

29For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul asserts that God has not cast away Israel, highlighting a faithful remnant chosen by grace. He explains that Israel's partial blindness and stumbling led to salvation for the Gentiles, intended to provoke Israel to jealousy. Ultimately, this partial blindness is temporary, and "all Israel shall be saved" through God's unchangeable mercy, demonstrating His profound wisdom and sovereignty.

Medium Summary

Romans 11 addresses the question of whether God has rejected Israel, with Paul emphatically stating "God forbid," citing his own Israelite heritage and the existence of a faithful remnant chosen by grace, not works. He explains that Israel's partial hardening and stumbling were not a final rejection but served a divine purpose: to bring salvation to the Gentiles and provoke Israel to jealousy. Using the analogy of an olive tree, Paul illustrates how Gentile believers, like wild branches, were grafted into the spiritual root, while some natural branches (Israel) were broken off due to unbelief. He warns Gentiles against boasting, reminding them of God's severity and goodness, and the possibility of Israel being grafted back in. The chapter reveals a "mystery": Israel's blindness is partial and temporary, lasting until the "fulness of the Gentiles" comes in, after which "all Israel shall be saved" according to God's irrevocable covenant and mercy upon all.

Long Summary

In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul vehemently denies that God has cast away His people, Israel, asserting his own identity as an Israelite and pointing to a faithful "remnant according to the election of grace," much like the seven thousand reserved in Elijah's time. He clarifies that salvation is purely by grace, not works, and that the rest of Israel, having not obtained righteousness by their own seeking, were blinded as prophesied in scripture. Paul then explains that Israel's stumbling was not a final fall, but rather a divinely orchestrated event that brought salvation to the Gentiles, with the ultimate aim of provoking Israel to jealousy and emulation. He emphasizes that if Israel's temporary "fall" brought riches to the world, their eventual "fulness" and restoration will bring even greater blessings, likened to "life from the dead." Through the powerful analogy of an olive tree, Paul illustrates the relationship between Israel and Gentile believers. The natural branches, representing Israel, were broken off due to unbelief, while wild branches, symbolizing the Gentiles, were grafted into the rich root of God's covenant promises. He sternly warns Gentile believers against arrogance or boasting over the natural branches, reminding them that they do not support the root, but the root supports them. Paul stresses the importance of humility and fear, cautioning that if God did not spare the natural branches, He would not spare the grafted-in Gentiles if they do not continue in His goodness. Importantly, he declares that the natural branches, if they do not persist in unbelief, can and will be grafted back into their own olive tree, for God is able to do so. Paul unveils a profound "mystery": a partial hardening has come upon Israel, which will last only "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Following this, he proclaims that "all Israel shall be saved," fulfilling ancient prophecies of a Deliverer who will turn away ungodliness from Jacob, based on God's unchangeable covenant. He concludes by stating that while Israel is currently "enemies" concerning the Gospel for the Gentiles' sake, they remain "beloved" concerning election for the fathers' sake, because God's gifts and calling are irrevocable. God has sovereignly "concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all," leading Paul to a doxology praising the unfathomable depth of God's wisdom, knowledge, judgments, and ways, acknowledging Him as the source and end of all things.

Core Concepts

  • Remnant of IsraelGod has not completely rejected Israel, but maintains a faithful "remnant according to the election of grace," chosen not by works but by His sovereign mercy, demonstrating His continued covenant faithfulness.
  • Israel's Partial BlindnessA temporary and partial hardening has come upon Israel, causing them to stumble and not obtain righteousness, which serves a divine purpose in the broader plan of salvation.
  • Salvation for GentilesIsrael's stumbling and partial blindness led to the extension of salvation to the Gentiles, intended to provoke Israel to jealousy and ultimately draw them back to God.
  • The Olive Tree AnalogyThis metaphor illustrates the relationship between Israel (natural branches) and Gentile believers (wild branches), showing how Gentiles are grafted into the spiritual heritage of Israel through faith, and warning against pride.
  • God's Goodness and SeverityGod demonstrates both severity towards those who fell due to unbelief (Israel) and goodness towards those who stand by faith (Gentiles), with the understanding that both can be cut off or grafted in based on their faith.
  • Future Salvation of All IsraelA divine mystery is revealed: Israel's partial blindness will end when the "fulness of the Gentiles" has come in, after which "all Israel shall be saved" according to God's irrevocable promises and mercy.
  • God's Unsearchable WisdomThe chapter concludes with a doxology praising the profound, unsearchable wisdom, knowledge, and judgments of God, who orchestrates all things for His purposes and mercy upon all.