Romans 11:1-12
11:2 a chose from the very beginning: Before the people of Israel could do anything to earn their status, God selected them to be his people based on his grace alone.• Elijah the prophet: In 1 Kgs 19:1-18 b, the apostate King Ahab had slaughtered many of the Lord’s prophets, and Ahab’s wife Jezebel threatened Elijah with the same fate. Elijah fled to the wilderness, where he bemoaned his fate. God responded with the assurance that many faithful people remained. Paul found the present situation to be somewhat parallel. While many Jews did not believe, and some were even hostile, God was (and is) still working to preserve a believing remnant.
11:5 c a few of the people of Israel (literally a remnant): Paul returns to the Old Testament concept of the remnant that he used in 9:27-29 d. This solid core of godly Israelites represents God’s pledge of his continuing faithfulness to his promises and to his people.
Summary for Rom 11:7-8: 11:7-8 e the hearts of the rest were hardened: This is God’s own work; God has put them into a deep sleep and shut their eyes. See Acts 13:46-48 f; 18:6 g.
11:11 h so God made salvation available to the Gentiles: The offer of salvation to the Gentiles is the purpose, not just the result, of Israel’s disobedience. Paul emphasizes that God had the salvation of Gentiles in view all along, and, ultimately, the salvation of many Jews as well.
• he wanted his own people to become jealous: The theme of jealousy comes from Deut 32:21 i, which Paul quoted in Rom 10:19 j. The sight of Gentiles enjoying the blessings of salvation that God had promised to Israel would spur Jews to desire salvation so they could participate in those blessings as well.
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