The Epistles · Chapter 11 of 16

Romans 11

Paul asks whether God has cast away His people and answers firmly no. A remnant remains by grace, chosen as in Elijah's day. Israel's stumbling opened salvation to the Gentiles, who are warned not to boast, being wild branches grafted into a cultivated olive tree. God is able to graft Israel back in, and one day all Israel will be saved. Paul closes in wonder at God's unsearchable wisdom.

What happens in Romans 11

Paul denies that God has rejected His people, pointing to himself as an Israelite and to the remnant preserved in Elijah's day. This remnant exists by grace, not works. The rest were hardened, yet their fall brought salvation to the Gentiles, meant to provoke Israel to jealousy. Paul magnifies his office hoping to save some of his own people. He turns to the Gentile believers with the image of an olive tree: natural branches broken off, a wild branch grafted in, sharing the root's richness.

He warns them not to boast, for they stand by faith and can be cut off, while broken branches can be grafted back. God has concluded all in unbelief that He might have mercy on all. Paul reveals the mystery that hardening is partial and temporary, and that all Israel will be saved when the Deliverer comes from Zion. He ends with a doxology to the depth of God's wisdom.

Romans 11 in context

Chapter eleven completes Paul's three-chapter answer to the question of Israel's unbelief. Having established God's sovereign election in chapter nine and Israel's responsible rejection in chapter ten, Paul now shows that Israel's fall is neither complete nor permanent.

He writes largely to Gentile believers who might presume upon their inclusion, tempering their pride with both a warning and a lasting hope.

Main themes of Romans 11

Romans 11 (KJV)

1I 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. 33O 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.

Verses to carry from Romans 11

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”Romans 11:5

“Behold 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.”Romans 11:22

“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!”Romans 11:33

Reflection

It is tempting to feel secure because of where we stand rather than by the faith that holds us there. Paul's warning against boasting applies to anyone who forgets they were grafted in by grace. Consider the humility this asks of you, and let God's mercy toward others enlarge rather than shrink your gratitude.

A prayer from Romans 11