Romans 11–12

ISRAEL’S REJECTION NOT TOTAL

11I ask, then, has God rejected his people?^am Absolutely not!^an For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,^ao from the tribe of Benjamin. ²God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.^ap Or don’t you know^aq what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? ³Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!^{Car 4}But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.^{Das 5}In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.^{a 6}Now if by grace,^b then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.^E

⁷What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for,^c but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,^{d 8}as it is written,

God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that cannot see

and ears that cannot hear,

to this day.^Fe

⁹And David says,

Let their table become a snare and a trap,

a pitfall and a retribution to them.

¹⁰Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,

and their backs be bent continually.^Gf

ISRAEL’S REJECTION NOT FINAL

¹¹I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^g to make Israel jealous. ¹²Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring!^h

¹³Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,ⁱ I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴if I might somehow make my own people^Hj jealous and save some of them.^{k 15}For if their rejection brings reconciliation^l to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?^{m 16}Now if the firstfruits are holy,ⁿ so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷Now if some of the branches were broken off,^o and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them^p and have come to share in the rich root^I of the cultivated olive tree, ¹⁸do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.^{q 19}Then you will say,^r “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.^s Do not be arrogant, but beware,^{Jt 21}because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. ²²Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness^u toward you—if you remain in his kindness.^v Otherwise you too will be cut off.^{w 23}And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,^x will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵I don’t want you to be ignorant^y of this mystery,^z brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited:^aa A partial hardening has come upon Israel^ab until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.^{ac 26}And in this way all^A Israel will be saved, as it is written,

The Deliverer will come from Zion;

he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

²⁷And this will be my covenant with them^Bad

when I take away their sins.^Cae

²⁸Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage,^af but regarding election, they are loved because of the patriarchs,^{ag 29}since God’s gracious gifts and calling^ah are irrevocable.^{Dai 30}As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience, ³¹so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now^E receive mercy. ³²For God has imprisoned all in disobedience^aj so that he may have mercy on all.

A HYMN OF PRAISE

³³Oh, the depth of the riches^ak

and the wisdom and the knowledge of God!^al

How unsearchable his judgments^am

and untraceable his ways!

³⁴For who has known the mind of the Lord?^an

Or who has been his counselor?

³⁵And who has ever given to God,

that he should be repaid?^Fao

³⁶For from him and through him

and to him are all things.^ap

To him be the glory forever. Amen.

A LIVING SACRIFICE

12Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you^aq to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,^ar holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.^{G 2}Do not be conformed^a to this age,^b but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,^c so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will^d of God.

MANY GIFTS BUT ONE BODY

³For by the grace^e given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.^f Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith^g to each one. ⁴Now as we have many parts in one body,^h and all the parts do not have the same function, ⁵in the same way we who are manyⁱ are one body in Christ^j and individually members of one another. ⁶According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:^k If prophecy,^l use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; ⁷if service,^m use it in service; if teaching,ⁿ in teaching; ⁸if exhorting,^o in exhortation; giving, with generosity;^p leading,^q with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.^r

CHRISTIAN ETHICS

⁹Let love be without hypocrisy.^s Detest evil;^t cling to what is good. ¹⁰Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters.^u Take the lead in honoring one another.^{v 11}Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit;^Bw serve the Lord.^{x 12}Rejoice in hope;^y be patient in affliction;^z be persistent in prayer.^{aa 13}Share with the saints in their needs;^ab pursue hospitality.^{ac 14}Bless those who persecute you;^ad bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice;^ae weep with those who weep. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another.^af Do not be proud;^ag instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.^{ah 17}Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^ai Give careful thought to do what is honorable^aj in everyone’s eyes. ¹⁸If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^{ak 19}Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,^Cal says the Lord. ²⁰But

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.^am

If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

For in so doing

you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.^Dan

²¹Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.