The Letter to the Romans

Romans 11

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ROMANS 11:1

TWMC

So I ask, has God rejected His own people, Israel? Absolutely not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.¹

KJV

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Greek

Λέγω οὖν, μὴ ἀπώσατο ὁ θεὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ; Μὴ γένοιτο. Καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ Ἰσραηλίτης εἰμί, ἐκ σπέρματος Ἀβραάμ, φυλῆς Βενιαμίν.

Romanized Greek

Legō oun, mē apōsato ho theos ton laon autou? Mē genoito. Kai gar egō Israēlitēs eimi, ek spermatos Abraam, phylēs Beniamin.

ROMANS 11:2

TWMC

God has not rejected the people He knew beforehand. Remember what Scripture tells us about Elijah, when he appealed to God against Israel?

KJV

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

Greek

Οὐκ ἀπώσατο ὁ θεὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ὃν προέγνω. Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ἐν Ἠλίᾳ τί λέγει ἡ γραφή; Ὡς ἐντυγχάνει τῷ θεῷ κατὰ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, λέγων,

Romanized Greek

Ouk apōsato ho theos ton laon autou hon proegnō. Ē ouk oidate en Ēlia ti legei hē graphē? Hōs entynchanei tō theō kata tou Israēl, legōn,

ROMANS 11:3

TWMC

“Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars! I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me!”²

KJV

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

Greek

Κύριε, τοὺς προφήτας σου ἀπέκτειναν, καὶ τὰ θυσιαστήριά σου κατέσκαψαν· κἀγὼ ὑπελείφθην μόνος, καὶ ζητοῦσιν τὴν ψυχήν μου.

Romanized Greek

Kyrie, tous prophētas sou apekteinan, kai ta thysiastēria sou kateskapsan; kagō hypeleiphthēn monos, kai zētousin tēn psychēn mou.

ROMANS 11:4

TWMC

But how did God answer him? “I have preserved for Myself seven thousand who have not bowed down in worship to Baal.”

KJV

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

Greek

Ἀλλὰ τί λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ χρηματισμός; Κατέλιπον ἐμαυτῷ ἑπτακισχιλίους ἄνδρας, οἵτινες οὐκ ἔκαμψαν γόνυ τῇ Βάαλ.

Romanized Greek

Alla ti legei autō ho chrēmatismos? Katelipon emautō heptakischilious andras, hoitines ouk ekampsan gony tē Baal.

ROMANS 11:5

TWMC

In the same way, even now, God has preserved a faithful remnant of Israel, chosen according to His grace.³

KJV

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Greek

Οὕτως οὖν καὶ ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ λεῖμμα κατ’ ἐκλογὴν χάριτος γέγονεν.

Romanized Greek

Houtōs oun kai en tō nyn kairō leimma kat’ eklogēn charitos gegonen.

ROMANS 11:6

TWMC

And if God chose them by grace, it could not have been because of their works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. And if they were chosen by their works, then it would not be grace at all.

KJV

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Greek

Εἰ δὲ χάριτι, οὐκέτι ἐξ ἔργων· ἐπεὶ ἡ χάρις οὐκέτι γίνεται χάρις. Εἰ δὲ ἐξ ἔργων, οὐκέτι ἐστὶν χάρις· ἐπεὶ τὸ ἔργον οὐκέτι ἐστὶν ἔργον.

Romanized Greek

Ei de chariti, ouketi ex ergōn; epei hē charis ouketi ginetai charis. Ei de ex ergōn, ouketi estin charis; epei to ergon ouketi estin ergon.

ROMANS 11:7

TWMC

So what does this mean? Israel as a whole did not obtain the righteousness it was seeking. Those whom God chose received it, but the rest became hardened.⁴

KJV

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

Greek

Τί οὖν; Ὃ ἐπιζητεῖ Ἰσραήλ, τοῦτο οὐκ ἐπέτυχεν, ἡ δὲ ἐκλογὴ ἐπέτυχεν, οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ ἐπωρώθησαν·

Romanized Greek

Ti oun? Ho epizētei Israēl, touto ouk epetychen, hē de eklogē epetychen, hoi de loipoi epōrōthēsan;

ROMANS 11:8

TWMC

Just as Scripture says, “God gave them a spirit of spiritual numbness—eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear.” And that condition continues to this very day.⁵

KJV

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Greek

καθὼς γέγραπται, Ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ὁ θεὸς πνεῦμα κατανύξεως, ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν, καὶ ὦτα τοῦ μὴ ἀκούειν, ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας.

Romanized Greek

kathōs gegraptai, Edōken autois ho theos pneuma katanyxeōs, ophthalmous tou mē blepein, kai ōta tou mē akouein, heōs tēs sēmeron hēmeras.

ROMANS 11:9

TWMC

And David declared, “May their own table become a trap and a snare, a stumbling block that brings judgment upon them.⁶

KJV

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

Greek

Καὶ Δαυὶδ λέγει, Γενηθήτω ἡ τράπεζα αὐτῶν εἰς παγίδα καὶ εἰς θήραν, καὶ εἰς σκάνδαλον, καὶ εἰς ἀνταπόδομα αὐτοῖς·

Romanized Greek

Kai Dauid legei, Genēthētō hē trapeza autōn eis pagida kai eis thēran, kai eis skandalon, kai eis antapodoma autois;

ROMANS 11:10

TWMC

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and may their backs remain bent beneath the burden.”

KJV

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

Greek

σκοτισθήτωσαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν, καὶ τὸν νῶτον αὐτῶν διὰ παντὸς σύγκαμψον.

Romanized Greek

skotisthētōsan hoi ophthalmoi autōn tou mē blepein, kai ton nōton autōn dia pantos synkampson.

ROMANS 11:11

TWMC

So I ask again, did Israel stumble so badly that they could never recover? Absolutely not! Rather, their rejection of Christ brought salvation to the Gentiles, with the purpose of stirring Israel to jealousy.⁷

KJV

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Greek

Λέγω οὖν, μὴ ἔπταισαν ἵνα πέσωσιν; Μὴ γένοιτο· ἀλλὰ τῷ αὐτῶν παραπτώματι ἡ σωτηρία τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, εἰς τὸ παραζηλῶσαι αὐτούς.

Romanized Greek

Legō oun, mē eptaisan hina pesōsin? Mē genoito; alla tō autōn paraptōmati hē sōtēria tois ethnesin, eis to parazēlōsai autous.

ROMANS 11:12

TWMC

Now if Israel's transgression has brought riches to the world, and her loss has brought riches to the Gentiles, how much greater will the blessing be when Israel comes into her fullness!⁸

KJV

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

Greek

Εἰ δὲ τὸ παράπτωμα αὐτῶν πλοῦτος κόσμου, καὶ τὸ ἥττημα αὐτῶν πλοῦτος ἐθνῶν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῶν;

Romanized Greek

Ei de to paraptōma autōn ploutos kosmou, kai to hēttēma autōn ploutos ethnōn, posō mallon to plērōma autōn?

ROMANS 11:13

TWMC

I am speaking especially to you Gentiles. Since I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I honor the ministry God has entrusted to me,⁹

KJV

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Greek

Ὑμῖν γὰρ λέγω τοῖς ἔθνεσιν. Ἐφ’ ὅσον μέν εἰμι ἐγὼ ἐθνῶν ἀπόστολος, τὴν διακονίαν μου δοξάζω·

Romanized Greek

Hymin gar legō tois ethnesin. Eph’ hoson men eimi egō ethnōn apostolos, tēn diakonian mou doxazō;

ROMANS 11:14

TWMC

hoping that somehow I might stir in my own people a passionate desire for what the Gentiles have received, and save some of them.

KJV

If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

Greek

εἴ πως παραζηλώσω μου τὴν σάρκα, καὶ σώσω τινὰς ἐξ αὐτῶν.

Romanized Greek

ei pōs parazēlōsō mou tēn sarka, kai sōsō tinas ex autōn.

ROMANS 11:15

TWMC

For if Israel's rejection has brought reconciliation with God to the whole world, what will their acceptance mean except life from the dead?¹⁰

KJV

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Greek

Εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἀποβολὴ αὐτῶν καταλλαγὴ κόσμου, τίς ἡ πρόσληψις, εἰ μὴ ζωὴ ἐκ νεκρῶν;

Romanized Greek

Ei gar hē apobolē autōn katallagē kosmou, tis hē proslēpsis, ei mē zōē ek nekrōn?

ROMANS 11:16

TWMC

If the first portion of dough is dedicated to God, then the whole batch is set apart for Him. And if the root of a tree is holy, so are its branches.¹¹

KJV

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Greek

Εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀπαρχὴ ἁγία, καὶ τὸ φύραμα· καὶ εἰ ἡ ῥίζα ἁγία, καὶ οἱ κλάδοι.

Romanized Greek

Ei de hē aparchē hagia, kai to phyrama; kai ei hē rhiza hagia, kai hoi kladoi.

ROMANS 11:17

TWMC

But if some of the natural branches were broken off, and you Gentiles, like branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted in among the others, you now share in the nourishment that comes from the rich root of the olive tree.¹²

KJV

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Greek

Εἰ δέ τινες τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ ἀγριέλαιος ὢν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ συγκοινωνὸς τῆς ῥίζης καὶ τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου,

Romanized Greek

Ei de tines tōn kladōn exeklasthēsan, sy de agrielaios ōn enekentristhēs en autois, kai synkoinōnos tēs rhizēs kai tēs piotētos tēs elaias egenou,

ROMANS 11:18

TWMC

So do not boast that you are better than the branches that were broken off. Remember, you do not support the root—the root supports you!

KJV

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Greek

μὴ κατακαυχῶ τῶν κλάδων· εἰ δὲ κατακαυχᾶσαι, οὐ σὺ τὴν ῥίζαν βαστάζεις, ἀλλ’ ἡ ῥίζα σέ.

Romanized Greek

mē katakauchō tōn kladōn; ei de katakauchasai, ou sy tēn rhizan bastazeis, all’ hē rhiza se.

ROMANS 11:19

TWMC

You may say, “But those branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”¹³

KJV

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

Greek

Ἐρεῖς οὖν, Ἐξεκλάσθησαν κλάδοι, ἵνα ἐγὼ ἐγκεντρισθῶ.

Romanized Greek

Ereis oun, Exeklasthēsan kladoi, hina egō enkentristhō.

ROMANS 11:20

TWMC

That is true. But they were broken off because of unbelief, while you remain connected through faith. So do not become arrogant. Instead, stand in reverent fear before God.

KJV

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Greek

Καλῶς· τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ τῇ πίστει ἕστηκας. Μὴ ὑψηλοφρόνει, ἀλλὰ φοβοῦ·

Romanized Greek

Kalōs; tē apistia exeklasthēsan, sy de tē pistei hestēkas. Mē hypsēlophronei, alla phobou;

ROMANS 11:21

TWMC

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither should you presume that He will spare you.

KJV

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Greek

εἰ γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τῶν κατὰ φύσιν κλάδων οὐκ ἐφείσατο, μήπως οὐδέ σου φείσεται.

Romanized Greek

ei gar ho theos tōn kata physin kladōn ouk epheisato, mēpōs oude sou pheisetai.

ROMANS 11:22

TWMC

Consider both the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but kindness toward you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off.

KJV

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Greek

Ἴδε οὖν χρηστότητα καὶ ἀποτομίαν θεοῦ· ἐπὶ μὲν τοὺς πεσόντας, ἀποτομίαν· ἐπὶ δέ σε, χρηστότητα, ἐὰν ἐπιμείνῃς τῇ χρηστότητι· ἐπεὶ καὶ σὺ ἐκκοπήσῃ.

Romanized Greek

Ide oun chrēstotēta kai apotomian theou; epi men tous pesontas, apotomian; epi de se, chrēstotēta, ean epimeinēs tē chrēstotēti; epei kai sy ekkopēsē.

ROMANS 11:23

TWMC

And if those who were broken off do not continue in unbelief, God is able to graft them back into their own tree.¹⁴

KJV

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

Greek

Καὶ ἐκεῖνοι δέ, ἐὰν μὴ ἐπιμείνωσιν τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ, ἐγκεντρισθήσονται· δυνατὸς γὰρ ὁ θεός ἐστιν πάλιν ἐγκεντρίσαι αὐτούς.

Romanized Greek

Kai ekeinoi de, ean mē epimeinōsin tē apistia, enkentristhēsontai; dynatos gar ho theos estin palin enkentrisai autous.

ROMANS 11:24

TWMC

After all, if you were cut from a wild olive tree and, contrary to nature, grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily can the natural branches be grafted back into the tree to which they originally belonged!

KJV

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

Greek

Εἰ γὰρ σὺ ἐκ τῆς κατὰ φύσιν ἐξεκόπης ἀγριελαίου, καὶ παρὰ φύσιν ἐνεκεντρίσθης εἰς καλλιέλαιον, πόσῳ μᾶλλον οὗτοι, οἱ κατὰ φύσιν, ἐγκεντρισθήσονται τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐλαίᾳ;

Romanized Greek

Ei gar sy ek tēs kata physin exekopēs agrielaiou, kai para physin enekentristhēs eis kallielaion, posō mallon houtoi, hoi kata physin, enkentristhēsontai tē idia elaia?

ROMANS 11:25

TWMC

Brothers and sisters, I do not want you to misunderstand this mystery of God's plan, or become wise in your own eyes. A part of Israel has become spiritually hardened, and this condition will continue until God's purpose for the Gentiles has reached its fullness.¹⁵

KJV

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Greek

Οὐ γὰρ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο, ἵνα μὴ ἦτε παρ’ ἑαυτοῖς φρόνιμοι, ὅτι πώρωσις ἀπὸ μέρους τῷ Ἰσραὴλ γέγονεν, ἄχρι οὗ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰσέλθῃ·

Romanized Greek

Ou gar thelō hymas agnoein, adelphoi, to mystērion touto, hina mē ēte par’ heautois phronimoi, hoti pōrōsis apo merous tō Israēl gegonen, achri hou to plērōma tōn ethnōn eiselthē;

ROMANS 11:26

TWMC

And in this way, all Israel will be saved, just as Scripture declares: “The Deliverer will come from Zion, and He will turn ungodliness away from Jacob.¹⁶

KJV

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Greek

καὶ οὕτως πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ σωθήσεται· καθὼς γέγραπται, Ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος, καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ·

Romanized Greek

kai houtōs pas Israēl sōthēsetai; kathōs gegraptai, Hēxei ek Siōn ho rhyomenos, kai apostrepsei asebeias apo Iakōb;

ROMANS 11:27

TWMC

This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

KJV

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Greek

καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ’ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη, ὅταν ἀφέλωμαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.

Romanized Greek

kai hautē autois hē par’ emou diathēkē, hotan aphelōmai tas hamartias autōn.

ROMANS 11:28

TWMC

As far as the Gospel is concerned, those Israelites who have rejected Christ are considered enemies for your sake. Yet because of God's choosing and His promises to their forefathers, they remain beloved by Him.¹⁷

KJV

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

Greek

Κατὰ μὲν τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, ἐχθροὶ δι’ ὑμᾶς· κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἐκλογήν, ἀγαπητοὶ διὰ τοὺς πατέρας.

Romanized Greek

Kata men to euangelion, echthroi di’ hymas; kata de tēn eklogēn, agapētoi dia tous pateras.

ROMANS 11:29

TWMC

For God's gifts and His calling cannot be taken back.

KJV

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Greek

Ἀμεταμέλητα γὰρ τὰ χαρίσματα καὶ ἡ κλῆσις τοῦ θεοῦ.

Romanized Greek

Ametamelēta gar ta charismata kai hē klēsis tou theou.

ROMANS 11:30

TWMC

Just as you Gentiles were once disobedient to God but have now received His mercy through Israel's disobedience,¹⁸

KJV

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Greek

Ὥσπερ γὰρ καὶ ὑμεῖς ποτὲ ἠπειθήσατε τῷ θεῷ, νῦν δὲ ἠλεήθητε τῇ τούτων ἀπειθείᾳ·

Romanized Greek

Hōsper gar kai hymeis pote ēpeithēsate tō theō, nyn de ēleēthēte tē toutōn apeitheia;

ROMANS 11:31

TWMC

so Israel has now been disobedient, in order that through the mercy shown to you, they too may receive God's mercy.

KJV

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Greek

οὕτως καὶ οὗτοι νῦν ἠπείθησαν, τῷ ὑμετέρῳ ἐλέει ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθῶσιν·

Romanized Greek

houtōs kai houtoi nyn ēpeithēsan, tō hymeterō eleei hina kai autoi eleēthōsin;

ROMANS 11:32

TWMC

For God has confined everyone under disobedience, so that He may show mercy to everyone.

KJV

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Greek

συνέκλεισεν γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς πάντας εἰς ἀπείθειαν, ἵνα τοὺς πάντας ἐλεήσῃ.

Romanized Greek

synekleisen gar ho theos tous pantas eis apeitheian, hina tous pantas eleēsē.

ROMANS 11:33

TWMC

Oh, how deep are the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge! His judgments are beyond our ability to fully understand, and His ways are far beyond our ability to trace!¹⁹

KJV

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Greek

Ὦ βάθος πλούτου καὶ σοφίας καὶ γνώσεως θεοῦ. Ὡς ἀνεξερεύνητα τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνεξιχνίαστοι αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ.

Romanized Greek

Ō bathos ploutou kai sophias kai gnōseōs theou. Hōs anexereunēta ta krimata autou, kai anexichniastoi hai hodoi autou.

ROMANS 11:34

TWMC

For as Scripture asks, “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has ever been His counselor?”²⁰

KJV

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Greek

Τίς γὰρ ἔγνω νοῦν κυρίου; Ἢ τίς σύμβουλος αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο;

Romanized Greek

Tis gar egnō noun kyriou? Ē tis symboulos autou egeneto?

ROMANS 11:35

TWMC

“And who has ever given anything to God that He should be obligated to repay them?”²¹

KJV

Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

Greek

Ἢ τίς προέδωκεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνταποδοθήσεται αὐτῷ;

Romanized Greek

Ē tis proedōken autō, kai antapodothēsetai autō?

ROMANS 11:36

TWMC

For everything comes from Him, exists through Him, and exists for Him. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.²²

KJV

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Greek

Ὅτι ἐξ αὐτοῦ καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν τὰ πάντα· αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν.

Romanized Greek

Hoti ex autou kai di’ autou kai eis auton ta panta; autō hē doxa eis tous aiōnas. Amēn.

Notes

Romans 11:1 Has God Rejected the People He Foreknew?. The Greek apōsato means to reject or push away; mē genoito is Paul's emphatic denial, translated “Absolutely not!” In verse 2, proegnō means “knew beforehand” or “foreknew.” This relational expression may have implications for covenant choice, but it does not by itself settle on a single theory of predestination. ↩
Romans 11:3 Elijah and the Seven Thousand. Paul recalls Elijah's appeal in 1 Kings 19:10, 14 and God's reply in 1 Kings 19:18. God's preservation of seven thousand and their refusal to bow to Baal are the direct details; the story does not mean Elijah had been the only faithful Israelite. ↩
Romans 11:5 The Remnant Chosen by Grace. The Greek leimma means remnant and eklogē charitos describes choosing according to grace. The Byzantine reading of verse 6 contains a deliberately reciprocal grace/works contrast. TWMC condenses its last repetition for readable English without losing the contrast: works cannot make grace a wage. ↩
Romans 11:7 The Remnant and Those Who Were Hardened. Eklogē refers to chosen ones; epōrōthēsan to becoming hardened. TWMC supplies “righteousness” from prior argument while the Greek refers more generally to what Israel sought. ↩
Romans 11:8 A Spirit of Spiritual Numbness. Paul draws together Isaiah 29:10 and Deuteronomy 29:4. Katanuxeōs expresses stupor or unresponsiveness. TWMC renders it “spirit of spiritual numbness”; the blindness and deafness images describe spiritual unresponsiveness rather than necessarily literal bodily disabilities. God remains the expressed agent. ↩
Romans 11:9 David's Warning of Judgment. Paul quotes Psalm 69:22–23; the table, trap and bent back are poetic judgment images. “Judgment” interprets a Greek term of recompense. TWMC translates Paul's quotation as he gives it in Greek, rather than conforming it word for word to the Hebrew or Septuagint wording of the psalm. ↩
Romans 11:11 Stumbling Is Not the Same as Falling Beyond Recovery. The verbs ptaiein and pesōsin create a stumbling/falling contrast; “could never recover” is an interpretive expansion conveying Paul's denial of a terminal fall. Paraptōma is a trespass or transgression, while TWMC's “rejection of Christ” makes the contextual action explicit. “Brought salvation” does not mean that Israel's rejection itself is the source of salvation. ↩
Romans 11:12 Israel's Loss and Future Fullness. Plērōma means fullness. TWMC uses “her loss” and “her fullness” to mirror the contrast poetically; the feminine pronoun is intentional English personification, not a feminine Greek pronoun attached to Israel. The meaning of “fullness” is debated, and TWMC does not tie it to a particular number or timetable. ↩
Romans 11:13 Paul's Ministry and His Hope for Israel. Paul magnifies his apostolic ministry to Gentiles while hoping to save some fellow Israelites. Greek parazēloō means to provoke jealousy or emulation; TWMC's “a passionate desire for what the Gentiles have received” communicates the intended response while supplying contextual words. The sentence continues across verses 13–14. In Acts 13:46–51 Paul and Barnabas turned to Gentiles and shook dust from their feet; in Acts 18:6 Paul shook out his garments. These are distinct actions and do not prove Paul ceased caring for Jews (Acts 28:17–28). ↩
Romans 11:15 Rejection, Acceptance, and Life from the Dead. Greek apobolē contrasts with proslēmpsis, rejection versus acceptance. “With God” explicates the reconciliation relation from Romans 5:10–11 and 2 Corinthians 5:18–19. “Whole world” does not imply every individual is automatically saved. Zōē ek nekrōn is literally “life from the dead”; TWMC keeps the phrase because it is still debated whether it means spiritual restoration or resurrection. ↩
Romans 11:16 The First Portion and the Holy Root. The Greek aparchē refers to the first portion or firstfruits. Phyrama refers to the lump or batch of dough. Paul moves from this illustration to the root and branches of a tree. The Greek hagios means holy or set apart. Our wording “dedicated to God” explains that covenantal significance. Being set apart in this sense is not the same as possessing personal salvation. The identity of the root and the first portion is debated, and the paraphrase leaves that question open. ↩
Romans 11:17 Wild Branches Sharing the Root. Paul uses the imagery of grafting a wild olive branch into a cultivated olive tree. The Gentiles become participants in the tree's nourishing root; they do not replace the root or support it. The expression “you Gentiles” identifies Paul's immediate audience from the surrounding argument. The words “better than” explain what it means to boast against the branches. ↩
Romans 11:19 Faith, Unbelief, Kindness, and Severity. Paul's contrast between unbelief and faith is explicit. The Greek also contrasts God's kindness with His severity. Verse 22 includes a condition: continuing in God's kindness. TWMC keeps the full force of the warning without deciding in the text what it means for an individual's eternal salvation. “Reverent fear” explains the force of Paul's instruction not to become arrogant but to fear. ↩
Romans 11:23 God Can Graft the Natural Branches Back In. Paul explicitly states that those broken off can be grafted in again if they do not continue in unbelief. His final argument is from the less expected to the more natural: if Gentile branches could be grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated tree, how much more readily could the natural branches be restored to their own tree? ↩
Romans 11:25 Israel's Partial Hardening and the Fullness of the Gentiles. Paul uses mystērion to describe a divine purpose now being disclosed, rather than a puzzle that cannot be understood. The Greek pōrōsis apo merous describes a hardening affecting Israel in part; it does not say that every Israelite has been hardened. The expression plērōma tōn ethnōn means the fullness of the Gentiles. Whether this means a completed number, the full inclusion of the nations, or another aspect of God's purpose is debated. TWMC's “God's purpose for the Gentiles has reached its fullness” expands the expression contextually without determining a number or timetable. ↩
Romans 11:26 All Israel Will Be Saved, and the Deliverer from Zion. The Greek expression kai houtōs means “and thus” or “and in this way.” It emphasizes manner, although the surrounding passage also contains a temporal element. TWMC's “And in this way” preserves that distinction. Paul draws on Isaiah 59:20–21 and Isaiah 27:9, declaring that the Deliverer will remove ungodliness from Jacob and that God will take away sins. TWMC keeps “all Israel” as Paul wrote it, rather than replacing it with one theological definition. Zion originally referred to the stronghold associated with David's conquest of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6–9); subsequent Scripture uses Zion for Jerusalem, the center of God's dwelling and covenant promises. The Hebrew of Isaiah 59:20 speaks of a Redeemer coming to Zion; the ancient Greek Isaiah has “for Zion's sake,” while Romans reads “from Zion.” TWMC keeps Paul's wording, “from Zion.” The Greek looks forward: “when I take away their sins.” TWMC keeps that future sense, because Christ's completed sacrifice and a person's receiving of forgiveness are not the same thing. ↩
Romans 11:28 Beloved Because of God's Promises. Paul contrasts enemies in relation to the Gospel with beloved in relation to God's choosing and the patriarchs. TWMC names the group from the context, “those Israelites who have rejected Christ,” to make clear that Paul does not mean all Jewish people. “Are considered enemies” is softer than the Greek, which says simply “enemies” (echthroi). The Greek ametamelēta means not regretted or not revoked. TWMC's “cannot be taken back” communicates the irrevocable gifts and calling of God. ↩
Romans 11:30 Mercy and Disobedience. Paul sets Gentile disobedience and Israel's disobedience in a deliberate literary parallel and then speaks of mercy shown to both. TWMC keeps verses 30 and 31 as one linked sentence, as Paul wrote them. Greek synekleisen means shut up, enclosed, confined or consigned together; TWMC's “God has confined everyone under disobedience” keeps that active force rather than the softer “allowed everyone to be bound.” It does not add “under the Law,” because Gentiles are included too (Romans 2:12–16; 3:9–23). This active construction does not by itself settle whether God causes sinful choices. “Everyone” in context encompasses Jew and Gentile; the word does not itself determine universal salvation. ↩
Romans 11:33 The Depth of God's Wisdom and Knowledge. The Greek begins with the exclamation Ō bathos, meaning “Oh, the depth!” Paul speaks of the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God. TWMC's “Oh, how deep” keeps the depth imagery. The Greek anexereunēta describes God's judgments as unsearchable, while anexichniastoi describes His ways as beyond tracing or tracking. TWMC preserves both ideas in accessible language. ↩
Romans 11:34 Who Has Known the Mind of the Lord?. Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13, using two rhetorical questions to emphasize that no human being possesses complete knowledge of God's mind or serves as His counselor. TWMC preserves the interrogative form and the deliberate repetition. ↩
Romans 11:35 God Owes Nothing to Anyone. Paul draws from Job 41:11, where God challenges the suggestion that anyone has given Him something that would require repayment. The Greek verb proedōken emphasizes giving first or beforehand. TWMC's “given anything to God” communicates the argument, but omits that explicit sense of priority. Reading the verse beside Job 41:11 brings that sense of priority back out. ↩
Romans 11:36 From Him, Through Him, and To Him. Paul uses three prepositional expressions: ex autou (“from Him”), di' autou (“through Him”), and eis auton (“to Him”). TWMC's “exists for Him” keeps the threefold movement and follows the Greek eis auton, which names God as the goal and purpose of all things (compare Colossians 1:16, “all things were created through Him and for Him”). ↩