Romans 11:16–24

11:16 If the first portion11 of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches.12

11:17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in13 the richness of the olive root, 11:18 do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 11:19 Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 11:20 Granted!14 They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. 11:22 Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God—harshness toward those who have fallen, but15 God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness;16 otherwise you also will be cut off. 11:23 And even they—if they do not continue in their unbelief—will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 11:24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

11	tn Grk “firstfruits,” a term for the first part of something that has been set aside and offered to God before the remainder can be used.
12	sn Most interpreters see Paul as making use of a long-standing metaphor of the olive tree (the root … the branches) as a symbol for Israel. See, in this regard, Jer 11:16, 19. A. T. Hanson, Studies in Paul’s Technique and Theology, 121–24, cites rabbinic use of the figure of the olive tree, and goes so far as to argue that Rom 11:17–24 is a midrash on Jer 11:16–19.
13	tn Grk “became a participant of.”
14	tn Grk “well!“, an adverb used to affirm a statement. It means “very well,” “you are correct.”
15	tn Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two clauses more than can be easily expressed in English.
16	tn Grk “if you continue in (the) kindness.”