(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Israel’s Remnant
- Therefore I say: “Didn’t God reject His people?” May it never be! For I’m also an Israelite of Abraham’s seed, of Benjamin’s tribe.
- God didn’t reject His people whom He knew beforehand. Or haven’t you known what the scripture says in Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel:
- “Lord, they killed your prophets, they tore down your altars, and I alone am1“am” is literally “was” left, and they are seeking my life.”2quotation/allusion to 1 Kings 19:10
- But what does the divine response tell him? “I reserved seven thousand men for Myself who didn’t bow the knee to Baal.” 3quotation/allusion to 1 Kings 19:18
- Then in this way also, there *is a remnant in the present season according to the election of grace.
- And if it’s by grace, it’s no longer from works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. [And if its from works, it’s no longer grace; otherwise, work is no longer work.]
- What then? What Israel is seeking, they didn’t obtain it; but the elect obtained it and the rest were hardened,
- just as it is *written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor; to not see with the eyes, and to not hear with the ears, until the present day.”4quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 29:4, and Isaiah 29:10
- And David says: “Let their table be for a snare, and for a trap, and for a stumbling block, and for a recompense to them.
- “Let their eyes be darkened to not see, and oppressively bend their back through all time.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm 69:22-23
- Therefore I say: “Didn’t they stumble so they might fall?” May it never be! But by their misstep,6 “misstep”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. salvation came to the gentiles in order to make them jealous.
- But if their misstep brought richness for the world, and their loss brought richness for the gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring?
- But I speak to you, the gentiles. In as much as I’m indeed an apostle of the gentiles, I magnify my ministry
- if somehow I will make my kinsmen of flesh jealous and will save some of them.
- For if their rejection brought the world’s reconciliation, what could their acceptance bring except life from the dead?
Grafting in
- And if the firstfruit is holy, the whole lump is also. And if the root is holy, the branches are also.
- But if some of the branches were broken off and you – though being a wild olive tree – were grafted in among them, and became a fellow partaker of the richness of the olive tree’s root,
- don’t boast over the branches. But if you exalt yourself over them, remember that you don’t sustain the root, but the root sustains you.
- Then you will say: “Branches were broken off so I might be grafted in.”
- Rightly so; they were broken off by unbelief but you *stand by faith. Don’t be high-minded but fear,
- for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.
- Therefore, behold the benevolence and severity of God. Indeed, severity upon the men who fell; but the benevolence of God to you if you remain in His benevolence, otherwise you also will be cut off.
- And if they also don’t continue in unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God is able to graft them in again.
- For if you were cut off from a wild olive tree by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
All Israel will be saved
- For brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery so you won’t be wise in your own estimation; that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the gentiles might come in.
- And all Israel will be saved in this way, just as it is *written: “He will come from Zion, the One delivering by drawing to Himself.7“delivering by drawing to Himself” is one word in Greek. It properly means to rescue or deliver someone by pulling them out of danger toward yourself. He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”8quotation/allusion to Isaiah 59:20
- And “This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”9quotation/allusion to Jeremiah 31:33-34
- As it concerns the gospel, they are indeed enemies because of you. But as it concerns the election, they are beloved because of the forefathers.
- For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
- For just as you were once disobedient to God, but now were shown mercy because of the disobedience of these men,
- in this way also, these men were now disobedient for your mercy, so now they also might be shown mercy.
- For God enclosed all in disobedience so He might show mercy to all.
- O, the depth of the richness, and wisdom, and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable are His ways!
- For who knew the mind of the Lord, or who became His advisor?
- Or “Who gave to Him first and it will be repaid to him?”10quotation/allusion to Job 41:11
- Because all things are from Him, and through Him, and for Him. To Him be the glory through the ages! Amen.
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