The concept of being "grafted" is a significant metaphor found in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. This term is primarily used in the context of explaining the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles within the plan of salvation. The imagery of grafting, a horticultural practice where a branch from one tree is inserted into another tree, is employed to illustrate the inclusion of Gentiles into the spiritual blessings and promises originally given to Israel.

Biblical References:

The primary biblical passage that discusses the concept of grafting is found in Romans 11. In this chapter, Paul addresses the Gentile believers in Rome, explaining their relationship to the Jewish people and the promises of God. He uses the metaphor of an olive tree to describe this relationship:

· Romans 11:17-18 : "But if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you."

In this passage, Paul explains that some of the natural branches (unbelieving Israel) have been broken off due to unbelief, and the Gentiles, likened to a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in to share in the rich nourishment of the olive root, which represents the patriarchs and the promises of God. This grafting is not a cause for boasting but a call to humility and gratitude, recognizing that the root supports the branches.

Theological Significance:

The metaphor of grafting carries profound theological implications. It underscores the unity and continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout history. The inclusion of the Gentiles does not replace Israel but rather expands the scope of God's covenantal promises. This grafting signifies the breaking down of barriers between Jew and Gentile, creating one new humanity in Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16).

Furthermore, the grafting metaphor emphasizes the grace of God in salvation. Just as a wild olive shoot does not naturally belong to the cultivated olive tree, Gentiles do not naturally belong to the covenant community of Israel. Their inclusion is solely by the grace and mercy of God, highlighting the unmerited favor extended to all who believe in Christ.

Practical Implications:

For believers, the concept of being grafted serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and unity within the body of Christ. It calls for an attitude of gratitude and reverence towards the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, recognizing the shared spiritual heritage. Additionally, it encourages believers to remain faithful and steadfast, as Paul warns in Romans 11:20-21 : "Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either."

The grafting metaphor also serves as a call to evangelism and the proclamation of the gospel to all nations. It reflects God's heart for all people to be included in His redemptive plan, urging believers to share the message of salvation with both Jews and Gentiles alike.

In summary, the concept of being grafted into the olive tree is a powerful illustration of God's inclusive and redemptive work through Jesus Christ, uniting believers from all backgrounds into one family of faith.(imp. & p. p.) of Graft.OLIVE, GRAFTED

See OLIVE TREE.

1461b. egkentrizo -- to ingraft, graft in
... 1461a, 1461b. egkentrizo. 1462 . to ingraft, graft in. Transliteration:
egkentrizo Short Definition: grafted. Word Origin from en ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1461b.htm - 5k

Faustus Argues that if the Apostles Born under the Old Covenant ...
... apostle himself says that the Jews, who would not believe in Christ, were branches
broken off, and that the Gentiles, a wild olive tree, were grafted into the ...
/.../faustus argues that if the.htm

Implanting in Christ.
... Being exceedingly sober and choice in His metaphorical speech, the Lord Jesus does
not say that a branch is grafted into the vine, simply because this is not ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxiv implanting in christ.htm

By a Comparison Drawn from the Wild Olive-Tree, Whose Quality but ...
... "But thou, being a wild olive-tree," he says, "hast been grafted into the good
olive-tree, and been made a partaker of the fatness of the olive-tree." [4512] As ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter x by a comparison drawn.htm

The vine and the Branches
... The manner of the induction of the branches into the vine is illustrated by the
process of grafting. We are not grown into Christ, but grafted into him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/byers/sanctification/chapter x the vine and.htm

Salvation to the Jews
... He compares the Gentiles to branches from a wild olive tree, grafted into
the parent stock. "If some of the branches be broken off ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 35 salvation to the.htm

The Work of Regeneration.
... The cultivated can be grafted upon the wild. ... Generally, however, no difference
is noticed at first, no more than in the grafted tree. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxii the work of regeneration.htm

Of the Active Life
... And for this reason such trees are pruned, and shoots of fruitful trees are grafted
into them, so that they may bear good fruits, savoury and useful to man. ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter i of the active.htm

How Love Spreads Its Excellence Over the Other virtues, Perfecting ...
... I Have seen, says Pliny, a tree at Tivoli grafted in all the fashions that one can
graft, and bearing all sorts of fruit; for upon one branch there were ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v how love spreads.htm

Psalm CXXXV.
... So with all the Gentiles; for how did the wild-olive deserve, that it should be
grafted in, from the bitterness of its berries, the barrenness of its wildness? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxv.htm

Its Course.
... Our people did not see in their children offshoots of the wild vine, to be grafted
perhaps later on, with whom little could be done until converted after the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xx its course.htm

Grafted (4 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Graft. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. OLIVE, GRAFTED. See
OLIVE TREE. Multi-Version Concordance Grafted (4 Occurrences). ...
/g/grafted.htm - 8k

Graft (1 Occurrence)
... Wild olives cannot be made cultivated olives by engrafting, as Paul implies (Romans
11:24), but a wild olive branch thus grafted would thrive. ...
/g/graft.htm - 9k

Branches (103 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild
olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root ...
/b/branches.htm - 39k

Olive (61 Occurrences)
... When the young trees are 3 years old they are grafted from a choice stock and after
another three or four years they may commence to bear fruit, but they take ...
/o/olive.htm - 37k

Wast (84 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild
olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the ...
/w/wast.htm - 33k

Wild (147 Occurrences)
... OLIVE, WILD. Figuratively used in Romans 11:17, 24 for the Gentiles, grafted into
"the good olive tree" of Israel. See OLIVE TREE. WILD BEAST. ...
/w/wild.htm - 50k

Readily (22 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:24 For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree,
and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more ...
/r/readily.htm - 13k

Cultivated (8 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:24 For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree,
and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more ...
/c/cultivated.htm - 8k

Contrary (77 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:24 For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree,
and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more ...
/c/contrary.htm - 31k

Nature (80 Occurrences)
... Romans 11:24 For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree,
and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more ...
/n/nature.htm - 35k

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