Rom 11:11-24 | NETfull | STEP | I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.

Romans 11:11-24

11 I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, ^{▼▼ Grk “that they might fall.”} did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel ^{▼▼ Grk “them”; the referent (Israel, cf. 11:7) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} jealous. 12 Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration ^{▼▼ Or “full inclusion”; Grk “their fullness.”} bring?

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first portion ^{▼▼ Grk “firstfruits,” a term for the first part of something that has been set aside and offered to God before the remainder can be used.} of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches. ^{▼▼ Most interpreters see Paul as making use of a long-standing metaphor of the olive tree (the root…the branches) as a symbol for Israel. See, in this regard, Jer 11:16, 19. A. T. Hanson, Studies in Paul’s Technique and Theology, 121–24, cites rabbinic use of the figure of the olive tree, and goes so far as to argue that Rom 11:17–24 is a midrash on Jer 11:16–19.}

17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in ^{▼▼ Grk “became a participant of.”} the richness of the olive root, 18 do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted! ^{▼▼ Grk “well!“, an adverb used to affirm a statement. It means “very well,” “you are correct.”} They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. 22 Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God – harshness toward those who have fallen, but ^{▼▼ Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two clauses more than can be easily expressed in English.} God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; ^{▼▼ Grk “if you continue in (the) kindness.”} otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And even they – if they do not continue in their unbelief – will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?