1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people?
God forbid.
For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.
Wot
ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to
God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and
digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself
seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to
the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of
works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is
it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the
election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it
is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they
should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
9
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a
stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be
darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall?
God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing
of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
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 grafted 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 grafted 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 grafted
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 grafted contrary to
nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the
natural branches, be grafted 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. 32 For God hath concluded them
all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how
unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For
who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him
again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.