I say then, did God reject his people? Not at all! For indeed I am an Israelite, from the seed of Abraham, the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people whom he foreknew. Or do you not know what the scripture says in Elijah, as he pleads with God against Israel. 3 “Lord, your prophets they killed, your altars they demolished, and I alone was left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what does the revealed-answer say to him? “I have left behind for myself seven thousand men, who did not bend the knee to the Baal.” 5 So then also in the now time there has come into being a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 But if by grace, no longer from works, since the grace becomes no longer grace.
7 What then? What Israel is seeking after, this it did not obtain, but the election obtained it; but the rest were hardened, 8 as it has been written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes not to see and ears not to hear, until this very day.” 9 And David says: “Let their table become as a snare and as a trap and as a stumbling block and as a retribution for them; 10 let their eyes be darkened not to see and their back be bent permanently.”
11 So I say, did they stumble in order that they might fall? Let it not be! But by their trespass salvation to the nations in order to make them jealous. 12 But if their trespass riches of the world and their defeat riches of the nations, how much more their fulness!
13 I speak to you, the peoples of the nations.The aim here is to preserve the association between “Gentiles” and the “nations.” Inasmuch as indeed, then, I am an apostle of nations, I glorify my service, 14 if somehow I might make jealous my flesh and might save some from among them. 15 For if their rejection reconciliation of the world, what the acceptance if not life from the dead?
16 If the first-fruits is holy, also the lump; and if the root is holy, also the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and became a sharer in the root of fatness of the olive tree,[fn]The “root of fatness” of the olive tree is the (promises made to) the patriarchs.[/fn] 18 do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you that support the root, but the root you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Very well. For un-faith they were broken off, but you through faith stand. Do not set your mind on high things, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the branches according to nature, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but to you the kindness of God, if you continue in the kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And those, if they do not continue in un-faith, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft in again. 24 For if you were cut from the wild olive tree according to nature and against nature grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these which are according to nature be grafted into their own olive tree.
(25 For I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning this mystery—that you may not be wise in yourselves—that hardness in part has come upon Israel until the fulness of the nations should come in.)By marking this verse as a parenthetic explanation of the “mystery” we make it clear that the salvation of “all Israel” remains dependent on the severed branches of apostate Israel not continuing in their disbelief and being grafted back into the root of the patriarchs.
26 And in this way all Israel shall be saved, as it has been written: “The deliverer will come from Zion, he will turn away impiety from Jacob; 27 and this to them is the covenant from me, whenever I may take away their sins.”[fn]The context of the quotation from Isaiah suggests that what Paul has in mind is the repentance and salvation of Israel as a nation in the immediate aftermath of the coming judgment.[/fn]
28 According to the gospel (they are) enemies because of you; according to the election beloved because of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are without regret.[fn]Perhaps the point here is not that the “gifts and call” are “irrevocable” (ESV) but that God does not “regret” (ametamelēta) having bestowed them on Israel.[/fn] 30 For just as you once disobeyed God and now were shown mercy for the disobedience of those, 31 so also these now disobeyed for your mercy in order that they might [now] be shown mercy. 32 For God imprisoned all to disobedience in order that he might show mercy to all.
33 O the depth of wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his paths. 34 For who knew the mind of the Lord, or who was his counsellor? 35 Or who gave-beforehand to him and it will be repaid to him? 36 Because from him and through him and to him (are) all things; to him the glory for the ages, amen.
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