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romans 11:13-31

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Romans 11:13-31

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”

— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

13. For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14. If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them. 15. For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead? 16. For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches. 17. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21. For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee. 22. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree? 25. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27. For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28. As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29. For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. 30. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31. Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Romans 11:13-31 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 11:13

Theological / Devotional

For. Textual evidence is divided (cf. p. 10) between this and the reading “and” or “but.” Paul has reached a place where his argument concerning the state of the Jews is also touching the position of the Gentiles (vs. 11, 12). Therefore he pauses to explain, parenthetically, that his love for his own countrymen and his zeal to carry out his commission to the Gentiles are both working toward the same end. His desire to save his fellow Jews makes him all the more zealous to work for the salvation of the Gentiles, for this will bring good to his countrymen. And this in turn will bring greater good to the Gentiles.

You Gentiles. Paul has been referring to the Jews in the third person, “they” (see v. 11; etc.), but he addresses the Gentiles in the second person, “you” (vs. 13-31). This verse provides further evidence that the church at Rome may have been made up largely of Gentiles (see on ch. 1:13).

Inasmuch as. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the addition of the word “therefore” after “inasmuch as.” The inclusion of this word separates this clause from the preceding clause, “for I speak to you Gentiles,” and connects the second clause more closely with the following, “I magnify mine office.” Consequently, a number of versions punctuate with a period after “you Gentiles” (RSV; RV; ASV; etc.).

Magnify. Gr. doxazd, “to glorify,” “to extol.”

Office. Gr. diakonia, “ministry,” as the word is translated in ch. 12:7. Paul magnified his ministry to the Gentiles by doing everything possible to bring the gospel to them. He is expressing the hope that the success of his ministry among the Gentiles will result in a favorable influence on the Jews (see on ch. 11:11). He glorified his ministry in order to make his fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them (v. 14).

By SdaBc

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