The Remnant of Israel

1I ask then, did God reject ʜɪꜱ people? Absolutely not! For I, too, am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God didn’t reject ʜɪꜱ people, whom ʜᴇ foreknew. Or don’t y’all know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel: 3“Lord [YHWH], they have killed your prophets. They have torn down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life.”+1 Kin 19:14 4But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”+1 Kin 19:18 5So too, at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.

7What then? What Israel seeks for, it didn’t obtain, but the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened. 8According as it is written,

9and David says,

Gentiles Grafted In

11I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the ethnic groups, to make them jealous. 12Now if their transgression is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the ethnic groups, how much more their fulfillment be!

13For I speak to y’all, the ethnic groups. Insofar as I am an apostle to the ethnic groups, I magnify my deacon-work, 14if somehow I might stimulate rivalry among those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15For if their rejection brings the reconciliation of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead?

16If the first piece of the dough offering 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 you, a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and became co-participant of the root and the richness of the olive tree, 18you must not boast toward the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20Beautiful! By their unbelief they were broken off, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear, 21because if God didn’t spare the natural branches, ʜᴇ will not spare you either.

22Consider then the goodness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but kindness toward you, if you continue in ʜɪꜱ kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off. 23And if they do not remain in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

The Salvation of Israel

25For I don’t want y’all to be ignorant, siblings, of this mystery, so that y’all won’t be conceited, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the ethnic groups has come in, 26and so all Israel will be saved. As it is written,

28Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for y’all’s sake. But regarding election, they are beloved for the sake of the patriarchs, 29since God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable. 30Just as y’all were disobedient to God in time past, but now y’all have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they too have now become disobedient, so that by the mercy shown to y’all they may also receive mercy. 32For God has bound everyone to disobedience, so that ʜᴇ might have mercy on all.

33Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are ʜɪꜱ judgments, and untraceable ʜɪꜱ ways!

36For of ʜɪᴍ and through him and to ʜɪᴍ are all things. To ʜɪᴍ be the glory forever! Amen.