“1 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. 2
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, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down
thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 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. 5 Even
so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
election of grace. 6 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. 7 What then? Israel hath not
obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it,
and the rest were blinded 8 (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. 9 And David saith, Let their table
be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto
them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down
their back alway. 11 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. 12 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? 13 For I speak to
you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify
mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which
are] my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 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? 16 For if the firstfruit [be]
holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the
branches. 17 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; 18 Boast not against the
branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root
thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might
be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and
thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God
spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not
thee. 22 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. 23 And they also,
if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is
able to graff them in again. 24 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? 25 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. 26 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: 27 For this [is] my covenant
unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the
gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election,
[they are] beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling
of God [are] without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not
believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they
also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
that he might have mercy upon all.”
“33 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! 34
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him
again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to
whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:1-36 AV)
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