1I say then , Did God cast off his people ? God forbid . For I also am an Israelite , of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not cast off his people which he foreknew . Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah ? how he pleadeth with God against Israel : 3Lord , they have killed thy prophets , they have 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 left for myself seven thousand men , who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace . 6But if it is by grace , it is no more of works : otherwise grace is no more grace . 7What then ? That which Israel seeketh for , that he obtained not ; but the election obtained it , and the rest were hardened : 8according as it is written , God gave them a spirit of stupor , eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day . 9And David saith , Let their table be made a snare , and a trap , And a stumblingblock , and a recompense unto them : 10Let their eyes be darkened , that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always .
The Mystery of Israel's Hardening
11I say then , Did they stumble that they might fall ? God forbid : but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles , to provoke them to jealousy . 12Now if their fall is the riches of the world , and their loss the riches of the Gentiles ; how much more their fulness ? 13But I speak to you that are Gentiles . Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles , I glorify my ministry ; 14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh , and may save some of them . 15For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world , what shall the receiving of them be , but life from the dead ? 16And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump : and if the root is holy, so are the branches . 17But if some of the branches were broken off , and thou , being a wild olive , wast grafted in among them , and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree ; 18glory not over the branches : but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root , but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then , Branches were broken off , that I might be grafted in . 20Well ; by their unbelief they were broken off , and thou standest by thy faith . Be not highminded, but fear : 21for if God spared not the natural branches , neither will he spare thee. 22Behold then the goodness and severity of God : toward them that fell , severity; but toward thee, God ’s goodness , if thou continue in his goodness : otherwise thou also shalt be cut off . 23And they also , if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in : for God is able to graft them in again . 24For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree , and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree ; how much more shall these , which are the natural branches , be grafted into their own olive tree ?
The Olive Tree Metaphor
25For I would not , brethren , have you ignorant of this mystery , lest ye be wise in your own conceits , that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel , until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in ; 26and so all Israel shall be saved : even as it is written , There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer ; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob : 27And this is my covenant unto them , When I shall take away their sins. 28As touching the gospel , they are enemies for your sake : but as touching the election , they are beloved for the fathers ’ sake . 29For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of . 30For as ye in time past were disobedient to God , but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, 31even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy . 32For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all .
Doxology and Praise
33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God ! how unsearchable are his judgments , and his ways past tracing 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 unto him , are all things . To him be the glory for ever . Amen.