Romans 11–12

The Remnant of Israel

11I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!^a I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,^b from the tribe of Benjamin.^{c 2}God did not reject his people,^d whom he foreknew.^e Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ³“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”^a?^{f 4}And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^{bg 5}So too, at the present time there is a remnant^h chosen by grace.^{i 6}And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^j if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁷What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^k The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^{l 8}as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that could not see

and ears that could not hear,^m

to this very day.”^cn

⁹And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

¹⁰May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,^o

and their backs be bent forever.”^dp

Ingrafted Branches

¹¹Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!^q Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^r to make Israel envious.^{s 12}But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,^t how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

¹³I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^u I take pride in my ministry ¹⁴in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^v and save^w some of them. ¹⁵For if their rejection brought reconciliation^x to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^{y 16}If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits^z is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷If some of the branches have been broken off,^a and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others^b and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.^{c 19}You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^d Do not be arrogant,^e but tremble.^{f 21}For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²²Consider therefore the kindness^g and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^h in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^{i 23}And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^{j 24}After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^k how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵I do not want you to be ignorant^l of this mystery,^m brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:ⁿ Israel has experienced a hardening^o in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,^{p 26}and in this way^e all Israel will be saved.^q As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;

he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

²⁷And this is^f my covenant with them

when I take away their sins.”^gr

²⁸As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies^s for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,^{t 29}for God’s gifts and his call^u are irrevocable.^{v 30}Just as you who were at one time disobedient^w to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^h receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³²For God has bound everyone over to disobedience^x so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

³³Oh, the depth of the riches^y of the wisdom andⁱ knowledge of God!^z

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!^a

³⁴“Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?”^jb

³⁵“Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay them?”^kc

³⁶For from him and through him and for him are all things.^d

To him be the glory forever! Amen.^e

A Living Sacrifice

12Therefore, I urge you,^f brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^g holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform^h to the pattern of this world,ⁱ but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^j Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^k—his good, pleasing^l and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³For by the grace given me^m I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,^{n 5}so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^o and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts,^p according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^q then prophesy in accordance with your^a faith;^{r 7}if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^{s 8}if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^t if it is giving, then give generously;^u if it is to lead,^b do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹Love must be sincere.^v Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^{w 10}Be devoted to one another in love.^x Honor one another above yourselves.^{y 11}Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^z serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope,^a patient in affliction,^b faithful in prayer.^{c 13}Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.^d Practice hospitality.^e

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you;^f bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^{g 16}Live in harmony with one another.^h Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^c Do not be conceited.ⁱ

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^j Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.^{k 18}If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^{l 19}Do not take revenge,^m my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^dn says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^eo

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.