1Now then I say, did God Himself repudiate His people? MAY IT NEVER BE! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not repudiate His people whom He foreknew. Don't you know what the scripture says in the account of Elijah? How he was pleading with God against Israel, saying, 3"Lord, they have killed your prophets, and they have torn down your altars; and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life." 4But what did the answer from God say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed a knee to Baal." 5Now then, in the same way, at the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6But if the election is by grace, it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. 7What then? What Israel was seeking through works, this it did not obtain. But the election obtained it through grace, and the rest were hardened, 8(According as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of slumber, eyes that are not able to see, and ears that are not able to hear,") unto this day. 9David also says, "Let their table be for a snare and for a trap, and for a stumbling block, and for a recompense to them; 10Let their eyes be darkened so that they are not able to see, and bow down their backs continually." 11Therefore I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? MAY IT NEVER BE! But by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles for the purpose of provoking them to jealousy. 12Now if their transgression be the riches of the world, and their failure be the wealth of the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness be? 13I am speaking to you, the Gentiles, inasmuch as I am an apostle of the Gentiles-- I magnify my service, 14If by any means I might provoke to jealousy those of my flesh, and might save some among them. 15For if their casting away be the reconciliation of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, except life from the dead? 16Now if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, the branches are also holy. 17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and you became a fellow partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree, 18Do not boast against the branches; but if you are boasting against them, remember that you do not bear the root; rather, the root bears you. 19Will you then say, "The branches were broken off in order that I might be grafted in"? 20That is true! Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be high-minded, but fear; 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He not spare you either. 22Therefore, behold the graciousness and the severity of God: upon those who fell, severity; and upon you, graciousness, if you continue in His graciousness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in because God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut off from an olive tree which by nature is wild, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive tree, how much more shall those who according to nature were from the good olive tree be grafted back into their own olive tree? 25For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this mystery, brethren, in order that you may not be wise in your own conceits: that a partial hardening of the heart has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in; 26And so all Israel shall be saved, according as it is written: "Out of Sion shall come the Deliverer, and He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27For this is My covenant, which I will make with them when I have taken away their sins." 28On the one hand, concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but on the other hand, concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes; 29Because the gifts and the calling of God are never revoked. 30For just as you once did not believe God, but have now been shown mercy through their unbelief, 31In the same way also, they have not believed at this time in order that through the mercy shown to you, they also may have mercy shown to them. 32For God has given them all over to unbelief in order that He might show mercy to all. 33O the depth of the riches of both the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgments and unsearchable are His ways! 34For who did know the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35Or who first gave to Him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? 36For from Him, and through Him, and unto Him are all things; to Him be the glory into the ages of eternity. Amen. A Faithful Version Copyright © 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 York Publishing Company Post Office Box 1038 Hollister, California 95024-1038 All rights reserved. All Scripture may be freely quoted except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means--electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or information storage and retrieval systems, or use of hermeneutical conclusions of copyright owner. Bible Hub |