ROMANS 11 COMMENTARY

1. The example of Elijah and the 7,000 men who had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. See 1 Kings 19;10. Elijah believed he was alone. Even then God retained a remnant of Israel, 1 Kings 19:18. Paul seems to be indicating that there has always been some of Israel willing to obey Jehovah.

2. In like manner at the present there is a remnant. This refers to those Jews who had obeyed the gospel. No amount of works can blot out sin already committed. Forgiveness is a matter of grace, no matter how many conditions one must fulfill in order to attain forgiveness. Works to merit forgiveness are distinct from commands to be obeyed. Was Naaman's healing a matter of merit or grace? Yet he was required to dip seven times in the River Jordan.

3. As foretold by Isaiah and David those who would rebel would be "hardened." Some of Israel received God's message, others rejected it. In the new dispensation some received Christ, some rejected Him. Compare verse 8 to Mt. 13:14,15. Because Jesus did not offer what the Jews wanted, they would not hear, see, or understand. Also, see Deut. 29:4; Isa. 29:10. Instead of being led to Christ, by the Law, they were entrapped by their blind adherence to it. (Ps. 69:22f; Acts 13:46; 15:10) Their stubbornness was their downfall.


II. PARTIAL HARDENING OF ISRAEL TO BENEFIT THE GENTILES AND ISRAEL (11-32)


A. The benefit of Israel's hardening and result if they should soften. (11-16)

1. Through Israel's fall salvation has come to the Gentiles. When the Jews stumbled on Christ, it was not to make them fall, but many would. Some would be able to " regain their balance." However the Law had to fall and in its falling its own fulfillment. See Eph. 2;13-18; Heb. 8:7-9. God's original plan called for salvation to come to the Gentiles (Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3;16). See also "the Great Commission." The Jews were indeed provoked to jealousy - for the Law (Acts 22:17-23; Rom. 10:19)).

2. But if through their fall salvation has come to others, how much more if they were obedient? Other commentators feel that "fullness" here is the total degradation of the Jewish nation. Perhaps nothing enhanced the spread of the gospel in the late first century more than the destruction of the Jewish nation.

3. For this reason Paul preached to the Gentiles, that he might provoke his Jewish brethren to emulation and save some. He was specifically chosen by Christ as His minister to the Gentiles and had been glorified in that work. He hoped that through his Gentile ministry some Jews would be saved. The pattern of gospel preaching and a Godly life is further illustrated by Paul to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:16).

4. That they could still be saved after being cast away is seen in two illustrations made by Paul. Reconciliation was offered to the entire world, but all would not receive it. The Jews as a nation were condemned, but some would attain reconciliation. All men are dead in their trespasses until they are made alive in Christ. For God's attitude towards first-fruits let us examine Ex. 23;19; Lev. 23:9-14. The Jewish race was holy and acceptable in the sight of God upon the conversion of the "first" Jew to Christianity. Acceptable of course depends upon their individual obedience to the gospel.

B. Gentiles warned against being high-minded towards Jews. (17-27)

1. The Gentiles are a wild branch grafted into an olive tree. This passage does not teach that the unbelieving Jews were still grafted into the olive tree. It is more an illustration for the Gentiles to see how they fit into God's scheme.

2. They are not to boast against the other branches (Jews). No Christian is better than any other Christian. The "root" here seems to signify early Israel's glory or perhaps Abraham.

3. Not even against the branches that have been removed, lest they too be removed. The Jews had not been arbitrarily rejected just so the Gentiles could be saved. However, their rejection hastened the spread of the gospel. The sin and rebellion of the Jews is what cut them from the olive tree. The Gentiles could also be cut off for the same reasons. These verses confirm that there is the possibility of falling away from God (apostasy). God is good, but He is also severe, as these verses illustrate (1 Jn. 4:8; Heb. 12:29).

4. The natural branches that were first removed can easily be grafted in if they would only believe. That is, believe in Christ. Their unbelief was their only hindrance. If God can graft the wild olive branches, obviously he can graft the natural branches. Look at the olive tree as representing God's goodness, grace and favor. As a branch of this tree a Christian is under the protection of the tree. If a Christian falls back into unbelief he is cut off.

5. The partial hardening is what makes it possible for the Gentiles to be among the saved. History becomes our best commentator as to what Paul means by "the fulness of the Gentiles." As time passed, the church became made up more and more of Gentiles. The completion of the hardening of the Jews would occur when the Gentiles attained this majority in the church. Those who advocate a "future kingdom on this earth" like to interpret this verse in light of their peculiar beliefs as opposed to what history has already revealed. Paul says, "so all Israel shall be saved." He did not mean every Jew in fleshly Israel, nor was he predicting a restoration of fleshly Israel. What Paul meant was that those of Israel would be saved in the same manner as everyone else. The Deliverer here is Christ, who took away the sins of all Israel who accepted Him (Is. 59:20f; 27:9). All of the activity described by Paul occurred in Paul's time. These verses are not prophecy of a future earth kingdom.

C. The Jews relationship to the gospel and election. (28-32)

1. Concerning the gospel they are enemies for the Gentiles sake, but touching election they were beloved for the father's sake. From the beginning the Jews had opposed the gospel because it did not meet their expectations, but when they found out it was being offered to the Gentiles, well that was just too much for them to deal with (Acts 22:17-22). No card carrying Pharisee would consider joining himself to a group that accepted Gentiles at all, much less on equal terms. Because of the Gentile Christians, the Jews were enemies of the gospel. However, the Jews were still loved by God on account of their forefathers.

2. This does not cause God to change His mind for this how God is able to include all in disbelief and then have mercy to all. In the past the Gentiles had been disobedient, but it was the disobedience of the Jews that sent salvation to the Gentiles. The opportunity to repent and be saved was a guarantee to both Jew and Gentile. People are not made sinners by hearing the gospel, but the gospel is preached to them because they are sinners. With this verse Paul ends his argument on the theme that the gospel is God's power for salvation.


III. PAUL PRAISES THE WISDOM OF GOD FOR ITS GREAT DEPTH OF RICHES (33-36)

* Here Paul refers to the provisions for salvation as revealed in the gospel.

* The phrase "knowledge of God" refers to what is or may be known about God. (See: Prov. 2:5; Hosea 4:1; 1 Cor. 15:34; Col. 1:9-10; 2 Pet. 3:18) None of these passages refer to what God knows. No uninspired man can discern God's judgments or follow step by step the process and procedures that God has used in bringing His plan to fruition.

* However, through His inspired word we do have an inkling to what is going on (1 Cor. 2:9-13).

* Only as God chooses to reveal Himself, may we know His mind.

* We have no power to enrich God or provide Him with anything, as He lacks nothing.

* TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER, AMEN!