The Remnant of Israel

1I ask, then did God reject His people? Never may it be! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel: 3“Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone have been left, and they are seeking my life”a?

4But what was the divine answer spoken to him? “I have left to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”b

5So then also, in the present time, there has been a remnant according to the election of grace. 6And if by grace, it is no longer from works; otherwise grace no longer would be grace.c

7What then? What Israel is seeking, this it has not obtained, but the elect obtained it. And the rest were hardened, 8as it has been written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes not to see,

and ears not to hear,

unto this very day.”d

9And David says:

“Let their table be for a snare and for a trap,

and for a stumbling block and for a retribution to them.

10Let their eyes be darkened not to see,

and their backs bent over forever.”e

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles

11I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? Never may it be! But in their trespass is salvation to the Gentiles, so as to provoke them to jealousy. 12But if their trespass is the riches of the world, and their failure is the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13Now I am speaking to you the Gentiles. Therefore indeed inasmuch as I am apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14if at all I shall provoke to jealousy my own flesh, and shall save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be if not life out from the dead? 16Now if the firstfruit is holy, also the lump; and if the root is holy, also the branches.

17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and have become a fellow-partaker of the fatness of the root of the olive tree, 18do not boast over the branches. And if you boast against them, you do not support the root, but the root you.

19You will say, then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” 20Rightly so: They were broken off by the unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be high minded, but be afraid. 21For if God did not at all spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.

22Behold therefore the kindness and severity of God: severity indeed upon those having fallen, but kindness of God toward you, if you continue in the kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And even they, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut off out of the naturally wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural, be grafted into the own olive tree!

All Israel Shall Be Saved

25For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you may not be wise in yourselves: A hardening in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles may come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it has been written:

“The One Delivering will come out of Zion,

He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

27And this is the covenant from Me to them,

when I shall take away their sins.”f

28For as regards the gospel, they are enemies on account of you; but as regards election, beloved on account of the patriarchs. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

30For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy by the disobedience of these, 31so these also now have been disobedient for your mercy, so that they also now may have mercy shown them. 32For God has bound up all in disobedience, that He may show mercy to all.

A Hymn of Praise
(Romans 16:25-27; Jude 1:24-25)

33O, the depth of riches,

both of wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable His judgments,

and untraceable His ways!

34“For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been His counselor?”g

35“Or who has first given to Him,

and it will be recompensed to him?”h

36For from Him and through Him and unto Him are all things.

To Him be the glory to the ages! Amen.