A Remnant Chosen by Grace

1I say then, Hath God cast off his people? God forbid! for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God hath not cast off his people, whom He foreknew. Do ye not know what the scripture saith of Elias? how he complains to God against Israel, 3saying, "Lord, they have slain thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." 4But what saith the oracle of God to him? "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5And so in the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6And if by grace, it is no more of works: for then grace is no longer grace. But if of works, it is no more grace: for then work is no longer work.

7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he sought: but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded,

8(according as it is written, God hath given them a spirit of slumber, that their eyes could not see and their ears could not hear,) even unto this day.

9And David saith, Let their table become a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompence unto them.

10Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and always bow down their back.

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles

11Say I then, Have they stumbled, that they should fall irrecoverably? God forbid! but this I say, that by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles to excite them to emulation. 12Now if their fall be the riches of the world, and their diminution be the riches of the Gentiles, how much more will their fulness be? 13For I speak to you Gentiles: inasmuch indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, 14I extol my office, that if possible I may excite to emulation my brethren according to the flesh, and may save some of them: 15for if the rejecting of them be the reconciling of the world, what will the receiving them again be but life from the dead? 16Now if the first-fruits be holy, so is the whole heap: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou a wild-olive wert grafted in among them, and art made a partaker together with them of the root and fatness of the olive; boast not against the branches: 18and if thou boastest, remember thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Wilt thou say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in? 20Well; they were broken off for their infidelity, and thou standest by faith: therefore be not high-minded but fear. 21For if God spared not the natural branches, neither would He spare thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: towards them that fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness; if thou continue in his goodness: for else thou also shalt be cut off. 23And they, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able again to graft them in. 24For if thou wert cut out of the wild olive, which was natural to thee, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive; how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?

All Israel Will Be Saved

25For I would not have you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery, (least ye should be wise in your own eyes) that blindness in part is befallen Israel, till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, "The deliverer shall come out of Sion, and shall turn away impiety from Jacob:

27and this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins."

28As to the gospel indeed they are enemies on your account, but as to the election they are beloved on account of the fathers. 29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30For as ye were heretofore disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy in their disobedience: 31so these also in your mercy have now been disobedient, that they themselves might be the objects of mercy. 32For God hath included them all in the charge of disobedience, that He might have mercy upon all.

A Hymn of Praise

33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways not to be traced out! 34For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor? 35Or who hath first given to Him? and it shall be returned. 36For of Him, and through Him, and for Him, are all things. To Him be glory for ever. Amen.