Romans · chapter 11 of 16
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Romans 11 answers that God has not rejected his people Israel: there has always been a remnant chosen by grace, and Israel's stumbling opened the door to the Gentiles. With the image of the olive tree, Paul warns Gentiles against arrogance, announces a mystery about Israel's salvation and ends with a doxology to the God whose judgments are unsearchable and from whom, through whom and to whom are all things.
This chapter ends the long argument of Romans 9 to 11 about Israel and God's plans. After seeing God's sovereignty and human responsibility, Paul asks the final question: if Israel has largely rejected Christ, is God finished with his people? His answer leads to an outburst of praise.
Paul asks whether God has rejected his people and answers by no means: he himself is an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. He recalls Elijah, who thought he was alone and to whom God said he had kept seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. So too now there is a remnant chosen by grace, and if it is by grace it is no longer by works. What Israel sought it did not obtain, but the elect did; the rest were hardened, as the Scriptures say.
Paul asks whether they stumbled so as to fall beyond recovery and answers no: through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous. If their failure means riches for the world, how much more their full inclusion! Paul, an apostle to the Gentiles, magnifies his ministry in the hope of making his fellow Jews jealous and saving some. If the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole lump.
With the image of the olive tree, he explains that some branches were broken off and the Gentiles, as branches of a wild olive, were grafted in among the others to share the richness of the root. They must not boast over the branches, for they do not support the root, but the root supports them. They must consider the kindness and severity of God; if they do not continue in his kindness, they too will be cut off, and the natural branches, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in again.
Paul reveals a mystery: a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. The chapter ends with a doxology: oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
As in the time of Elijah, so too now there is a remnant chosen by grace. Paul shows that God has never left his people without faithful believers, and that this remnant exists by his grace, not by merit.
The natural branches were broken off because of unbelief, and the Gentiles stand through faith. The warning is clear: do not become proud, but fear, because the believer's position depends on faith and on God's kindness.
The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Even though Israel has stumbled, God does not withdraw what he promised to the patriarchs, and that faithfulness is also a comfort to every believer.
Paul exclaims at the depth of the riches, wisdom and knowledge of God, whose judgments are unsearchable. When the argument reaches the limit of what we can understand, the right response is worship.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: That he himself is an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. — Romans 11:1
Answer: Seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. — Romans 11:2-4
Answer: Salvation, to make Israel jealous. — Romans 11:11
Answer: A cultivated olive tree: some natural branches were broken off and branches of a wild olive were grafted in. — Romans 11:17-24
Answer: That a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. — Romans 11:25-26
Answer: With praise to God, from whom, through whom and to whom are all things. — Romans 11:36
Romans 11 protects us from two errors: thinking God abandoned Israel and thinking we Gentiles are better. Paul asks humility of believers of Gentile origin: we are grafted in by grace. In a class you can reflect on how we treat those outside the faith and pray for their salvation without arrogance.
The chapter also ends as the study of theology should end: with worship. We do not understand everything about God's plan, and we do not have to. We can trust that his ways are wise and praise him.
Romans 11 closes the great doctrinal section of the letter with a doxology. From Romans 12 on, Paul turns to practical life: in view of God's mercies, believers are to offer themselves to him and live in community.
Christians understand it in different ways: some believe it refers to a large-scale conversion of Israelites before the end; others, that it refers to the whole people of God, Jews and Gentiles; and others, that it speaks of Israel's salvation throughout history. All agree that salvation comes through faith in Christ and that God is faithful to his promises.
Paul warns that those who do not continue in God's kindness by faith can be cut off. Christians understand this text in different ways: some take it as a warning to take perseverance seriously, others see it as referring to those with only an appearance of faith. In any case the warning aims at humility, not fear.
Paul does not define it in detail. It is understood as the full number of Gentiles God will bring to faith during this time. When that happens, God's plan for Israel reaches its final moment, according to the mystery Paul describes.