Chapter 11.
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.
God hath not cast away his people, which he foreknew.
Watch ye not what the scripture saith of Elias, how he maketh intercession to God
against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine
altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
But 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 Beal.
Even so then, at this present time, also, there is a remnant according to the
election of grace.
And 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.
What then?
Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath
obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
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.
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block,
and a recompense unto them.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.
I 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.
Now, 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 fullness.
For I speak to you, Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,
I magnify mine office.
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save
some of them.
For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the
receiving of them be?
But life from the dead.
For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy.
And if the root be holy, so are the branches.
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree,
wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the
olive tree, boast not against the branches.
But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.
Be not high-minded, but fear.
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed, lest he also spare
not thee.
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 shall be cut off.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in.
For God is able to graft them in again.
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature,
and wert grafted contrary to nature, into a good olive tree, how much more
shall these which be the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
For 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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written.
There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness
from Jacob.
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes.
But as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father's sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through
their unbelief, even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy
they also may obtain mercy.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon
all.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
For who hath known the mind of the Lord?
Or who hath been his counselor?
Or who hath first given to him?
And it shall be recompensed unto him again.
For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever.
Amen.