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 it is 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 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 father's
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.
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