Romans,
Chapter 11
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
Romans 11:1-3
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
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I
am left alone, and they seek my life.
"His people" refers to Jews, those
physically born Israelites.
"Cast away" (Gr. apoosato-apwsato) speaks of rejection.
If some think that God has totally rejected
the Jews, they are mistaken!
Verse two points out that God has not
fully cast away (Gr. Ouk apoosato-Ouk apwsato) His people.
God not only has not cast away those whom He has chosen, but He will not cast them away.
As we shall see, their blindness is
temporary!
Acts
13:8-11
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood
them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his
eyes on him,
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil,
thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways
of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind,
not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a
darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
The action in Acts 13 is prophetic!
To this day the vast majority of Jews are
completely self-deceived and blind to God’s plan and goodness!
That will change.
They shall acknowledge Christ.
Jewish blindness is for a season, a limited
time.
Paul states unequivocally that God has not
cast away "His" people that He foreknew (Gr. proegnoo-proegnw).
The word "foreknew" comes from the
same root word as Paul used in Romans 8:29.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren.
With all the killing of the prophets and
defiling of the holy places, God still loves
1 Corinthians 13:7---[Love] "bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things" (NASB).
God is Love (1 John 4:8)!
Romans 11:4 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.
Even at the time of Elijah’s trials, God had
reserved (Gr. katelipon- katelipon) some among
We can see this same power today as we more
and more Jews come to Christ.
Paul reminds us that he is an Israelite, of
the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
His love for his native people is strong.
For a more complete pedigree listing, read
the third chapter of Philippians.
Have you ever experienced the Elijah
syndrome?
"I am the only one left."
Poor, poor pitiful me--gloom, despair and
agony on me--if it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all--gloom, despair
and agony on me.
God told Elijah that he had 7,000 men in
1 Kings 19:18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-- all whose
knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed
him." (NIV)
The same is true today.
No matter how bad things look, God retains
His chosen and elect.
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present
time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
This speaks of believers, Christians among
the Jewish population.
A remnant (Gr. leimma-leimma), or small group among the majority of Jews has been
protected against apostasy.
Romans 11:6 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.
Paul goes on saying that if their retention
is by grace (Gr. chariti-cariti) then it is not
because of works.
If God considers works as a means of
salvation, He nullifies grace and there "is no more grace."
Ephesians 2:8---"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God". That is not a Gentile only
verse. It is applicable to all that shall be saved.
Romans 11:7-8
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.
Obtained (Gr. epetuchen-epetucen) means to acquire.
"Were blinded" (Gr. epoorootheesan-epwrwqhsan) speaks of being petrified.
Read verse 7 and understand the power of God.
Paul writes that those known as "the
election" (Gr. eklogee-eklogh) have acquired
the light of salvation, and the rest were hardened.
They did not choose to be hardened due to
their "freewill."
God imposed on them the spirit of
slumber.
Romans 11:9-10
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.
Table (Gr. trapeza-trapeza) has a few definitions.
Some may teach that this indicates a
moneychangers’ tables, however that is a different word.
This speaks of a table representing success,
a table filled with food.
Certain Jews have had a degree success is
certain areas.
That success has led to many misconceptions.
"Bow down" (Gr. sungkampson-sungkampson) indicates submission to error.
All that do not acknowledge
Christ are submitted to error.
Romans 11:11 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.
The Jews have stumbled (Gr. eptaisan-eptaisan) because of their rejection of Christ Jesus.
The Greek speaks of falling into misery and
becoming wretched.
In Revelation, the
And found itself to be wretched.
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with
goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Christians should never think that we are
"better" than non-messianic Jews.
It is only by the grace of God that we have
been found by Christ.
They are what they are for our benefit.
It is difficult to understand, but it was due
to Christ’s rejection by the Jews of His day that we, Gentiles, have become
eligible for salvation.
"Provoke to jealousy" (Gr.
parazeeloosai-parazhlwsai) indicates that we are to provoke Jews to come to
Christ due to the positive benefits of a personal relationship with Him.
We are not to taunt Jews, and thereby provoke
them to anger.
The blessing that God bestows on us is a
tool, by which the Jews are provoked to yield to Christ.
How can we do that when seemingly terrible
things happen to Christians just as it does to all people?
It is a matter of love and peace.
The greatest measure of Christianity is
Christ’s loving peace.
Unfortunately, many Church attendees are not
Christians and their lack of love and peace indicates that they do not have a
precious relationship with Christ.
There are those who consider themselves to
have a Bible-based theology, and yet they despise modern
Some consider all the promises to
One such writing professes to tell us that
God fulfilled all His promises to
Amos
3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do
nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Just in case you don’t have a calendar
nearby, the quote from Amos 3:7 was written some 700 years after Joshua.
The theory that God fulfilled all His
promises to
The men who follow that apostasy call
themselves Christian, but they have no knowledge of the plan or purposes of
God.
Romans 11:12 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?
There is a big difference between stumbling
and falling down. Paul understood that.
The fall (Gr. paraptooma-paraptwma) of the Jews came about to provide a means of
salvation for Gentiles that is based on grace.
Our admission to the family of God is not
meant to supplant Jews, but to provoke them.
You will notice that the Bible uses the word
"diminishing" (Gr. heetteema-htthma) of the
Jews and not a complete destruction.
Romans 11:13-14
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.
In this section, Paul reaffirms his position
as an apostle.
Then he reaffirms his love for those born
Israelites.
His intention is to provoke them "to
emulation."
Although Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles,
he also wishes to bring some Jews to the knowledge of Christ.
Romans 11:15 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?
This verse is controversial in that it speaks
bluntly of their casting away (Gr. apobolee-apobolh) will bring "the reconciling" (Gr.
katallagee-katallagh) "of the world" (Gr. kosmou-kosmou).
Do you believe that God in Christ will accomplish
that?
Most Christians deny Romans 11:15!
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit be
holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
This is simple logic.
If the firstfruit is holy, the lump (Gr.
phurama-furama) is holy.
If the Producer is holy, that which He
produces is holy.
If the Root (Christ Jesus) is holy, that which
springs forth from the Root is holy.
Orange trees beget oranges!
Christ begets children of God!
Christ is the Firstfruit (Gr. aparchee-aparch) (1 Corinthians 15:23).
Christ is the Root (Gr. riza-riza) of Jesse (Romans 15:12), the Root of David (Revelation
5:5)
Romans 11:17-24
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?
This section is a warning against
self-glorification.
This comes down to one truth that we cannot
ignore.
Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will
have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
God determines whom He saves.
We do not!
Some people are arrogant about their
"salvation."
God’s choosing humbles true Christians.
Arrogance is based is self-glorification.
Christianity is based in humility.
Romans 11:25 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.
Paul did not what Christians to be ignorant
concerning God’s plan.
And yet, there are far too many Christians
who don’t have a clue, or have an incorrect view of the plan God set in motion
in the beginning.
He cautions us against being wise within
ourselves.
Self-glorification is self-deception.
Notice that there is a time limit on
Many Christians have never been told about
that time limit.
In this verse we also encounter the English
word "until" (Gr. achris-acriV).
Luke 21:24b and
Does that mean that since the Jews now
control
Absolutely not!
Let me be a bit more controversial.
The Jews do not now “control”
The
The “fullness of the Gentiles” has not yet
come in.
But, I believe that we are close to that
moment.
The “fullness of the gentiles” does not speak
of the last Gentile to be saved.
That is the common misconception.
Instead, it refers to the focus of God’s plan
away from Gentile nations and back onto Physical Israel.
At the fullness of the Gentiles, we will see
blindness come off the Jews and they will begin to turn to Christ.
A major clue is found in Paul’s name.
Paul may mean small or little as is normally
assumed, but it may also come from the Greek word for pause, pauw-pauw.
Acts
13:8-11
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood
them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his
eyes on him,
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil,
thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways
of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind,
not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a
darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Elymas’ blindness was “for a season.”
The Jews blindness “is for a season.”
Acts
18:5-6
5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in
the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and
said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the
Gentiles.
With those few words, “from henceforth I will
go unto the Gentiles,” the Gentile Church began.
Notice (Acts 18:6) that the Jews “opposed
themselves.”
They did something contrary to their own well
being.
They rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That rejection was not permanent.
It was “for a season.”
The blindness was not universal, in
accordance with grace, some Jews did believe.
How will the “fullness of the gentiles affect
the Gentiles?
We are now seeing some of the effect in the
rise of Messianic Synagogues.
Romans 11:26 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:
This verse begins with a very controversial
statement, "all Israel shall be saved" (Gr. pas Israeel sootheesetai-paV Israhl swqhsetai).
Now, we must ask, what constitutes "all
Israel?"
"All Jews" is not "all
Romans 9:6b For they are not all
The truth is that ALL
Of that there can be no doubt.
God has not abandoned
But, He also has not abandoned His plan.
In the same manner, all Church attendees are
not Christians!
Many within and without the Church have incorrectly
assumed that just because a person shows up at Church on Sunday that he or she
is a Christian.
Paul told us to beware of Satan’s henchmen
coming into the Church.
Gal
2:4 And that because of false
brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which
we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
As we read in this chapter, Christians have
been grafted into the Root, and have become part of
And, the blindness of the Jews is temporary.
We also see that God in Christ "shall
turn away ungodliness from Jacob."
In the Old Testament, the name Jacob often
refers to the lost northern tribes.
There is also no spiritual reason why those
within that group that died without knowing Christ cannot be included among the
saved.
As you can see, many discussions may be based
on this one verse.
Romans 11:27 For this is my covenant unto
them, when I shall take away their sins.
God says that He made a covenant and shall
take away the sins of
The mainstream Church shouts, “It will not
happen!”
Isaiah 59:20-21
20 And the Redeemer shall come to
21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is
upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of
thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's
seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
The covenant (Gr. diatheekee-diaqhkh) God has with the Jews necessitates His coming again
to them to receive them back into fellowship.
That restoration is base on what Jesus
accomplished on the cross.
Did Christ die for Jew and Gentile?
Absolutely!
Doesn’t the Bible tell us that Jesus is the
"Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)?
Yes it does!
And, Abraham was the Gentile Abram when the
promise was made to Him (Genesis 12:3).
Physically Gentile Christians are the
children of the promise.
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel,
they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved
for the fathers' sakes.
The Jews that rejected Christ were enemies
(Gr. echthroi-ecqroi) of Christ for our sakes.
And yet, they are beloved (Gr. agapeetoi-agaphtoi) for the Father’s sake.
There can be but one logical conclusion, the
Jews of Jesus’ day shall be reconciled!
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of
God are without repentance.
Try reading Romans
11:28 through 11:29 without a break, “As concerning the gospel, the Jews are
enemies for your sakes, but as touching the election, they are beloved for the
Fathers' sake, because the gifts and calling of God are permanent.”
That may add some
understanding.
I walked into a pastor’s office.
We sat down.
He was excited about a Bible verse he just
found.
This man had been a Pastor for decades.
He was a successful Pastor in what I consider
to be a successful denomination.
He had graduated from a seminary (M.Th.), and
(no doubt) had taken many post-grad courses.
With joy he pointed out Romans 11:29!
He is not lacking in study, but he is
Arminianist and they are not very strong in the area of God’s power to keep His
children.
If a person is called by God to fulfill a
certain work, he/she will seemingly fulfill that work.
There are many that teach that is one does
not fulfill another will be called to fulfill.
That teaching has no biblical proof!
The gifts (Gr. charismata-carismata) and the calling (Gr. kleesis-klhsiV) of God are "without repentance" (Gr.
ametameleeta- ametamelhta), irrevocable, immovable, and absolutely firm!
I realize that is repetitious, but in this
case we cannot repeat it often enough!
When you are saved---you are saved!
Christ’s work on the cross was complete,
final, and absolute!
If someone wants to debate the "once
saved always saved" doctrine.
Take him/her to Romans 11:29. That verse ends
the debate!
Romans 11:30 For as ye in times past have
not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
None of us were born believing in Christ!
But through Him, we obtained mercy.
Paul says that the mercy we received was due,
at least in part, to the Jews rejection.
Romans 11:31 Even so have these also now
not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Do you see the word "now (Gr. nun-nun)?"
It means "at this present time."
Because Gentiles believed in Paul’s day and
received God’s mercy, the Jews of Paul’s day may also receive His mercy.
This extends to our day.
In Christ, God’s mercy shall be extended to
all!
This seems to run in a circle, because it
does.
Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them [the] all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon
[the] all.
This verse is where many commentators start meandering
around the Bible looking for an out.
However, the language is plain and it is
correct.
This verse cannot be explained using
mainstream theology.
It must be explained the counsel of the
Bible, not tradition.
It is sad that the definite article is often
missing in the English.
The use of the definite article (the) points
to one group, mankind!
Notice that God does the work.
God has not concluded all in unbelief just to
leave them there.
“Concluded” (Gr. sunekleisen-sunekleisen) expresses the picture of fish caught in a net.
The net entraps all the fish.
All have been caught in the net of sin.
Why are all unbelieving?
Because, God made us unbelievers!
Why shall all be the recipients of God’s
mercy?
Because God gives us mercy!
While the word "all" (Gr. pantas-pantaV) may be used to indicate a lesser amount than the
total, but in this case, it obviously means "all." All have
sinned!
All have been placed in disbelief.
Therefore, God is now able have mercy on ALL.
The same "all" that sinned shall be
shown mercy.
If we limit the first "all," we
must also limit the second "all."
If the first indicates the whole of mankind,
the second must also indicate the whole of mankind.
You will also notice that the actions are
pointing to God, and not to our free will.
We cannot overcome our sin.
A blind man cannot gain or regain his sight
without some outside intervention.
He may invoke his free will as much as
possible, but until someone form outside himself intervenes, he will remain
blind.
Christ paid the full and complete price for
our sins.
That is mainstream theology.
If He paid the price, why do some insist that
we must also pay that price?
Romans 11:33 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!
Our finite minds cannot comprehend the
infinite.
Romans 11:34-35
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?
These questions are rhetorical.
Romans 11:36 For of him (Gr. ex auto), and through
him (Gr. di auto), and to him (Gr. eiV auton), are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
This verse has so much.
It deserves a book.
If you believe in Eternal Torment, or
Annihilation, you must also believe that Eternal Torment and Annihilation are
part of God.
But, how can Eternal Torment and Annihilation
exist within Life?
Eternal Torment and Annihilation cause more
questions than they answer.
How many sermons have you heard in which the
Preacher told the congregation that "all things" come from God, and
shall return to God.
"Of Him" shows that God is the
originating point creation.
This refers to Jesus Christ’s work. Have you
ever read the first verse in the Bible?
The first verse in the Bible is so simple and
straightforward, or is it?
Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth."
That is an accurate translation.
However, it may be translated in another
fashion without abusing the Hebrew text.
Personal translation: Genesis 1:1 In (by) the Firstfruits God created the
heaven and the earth.
Who is the “Firstfruits?” Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."
All things were created in Him, through Him and to Him.
Colossians 1:16-17
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
"Through Him" indicates that
He [Jesus Christ] is the means of creation.
John 1:10 "He was in the world, and the world was made by
him, and the world knew him not."
"To Him" means that Jesus is the
purpose for creation and the final point, or result of creation.
Do you understand that Christ is your origin
and destiny?
What is going on down here?
Ephesians 1:10---"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times
he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth; even in him."
2
Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was
in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
All things began in Christ, move through
Christ and will find fulfillment in Christ.
Romans 5:18-19
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all
men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience
of one shall many be made righteous.
All things are out of God, through God’s
plan, and back into God.
One day when the plan has reached
consummation God shall be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Why is God doing all this?
It may sound flip or odd, but He is God, and
He wanted to do it.
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour
and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and
were created.
We were created for God’s pleasure, and His
pleasure is to "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which
are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him" (Ephesians 1:10).
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him [Christ Jesus] are
yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (KJV)