M
Madaglan
Guest
I have a number of questions about how to interpret Romans 11.1-32. Since the selection is quite large, I have refrained from posting all of it here, but here is a link to this selection:
biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2011:1-32;&version=31;
Here’s a short summary of how I understand the selection:
In the beginning of this selection, Paul speaks about how God has not forsaken His people, the Jews. Paul continues to illustrate that, various times in Israel’s history, there have been small numbers of Jews faithful to God who have remained in God’s good-will. Paul then mentions that God has chosen, through his grace, a number of faithful from the Jews.
After this, Paul speaks how, although the majority of the Jews have rejected divine truth, some of the Jews may yet be saved by faith and belief in Christ. Paul makes the illustration of the Jewish unbelievers of Christ as being branches cut-off, and the Christian believers through grace as being engrafted in their place.
Verses 25-26 is where it becomes somewhat difficult to understand exactly what Paul is saying. Is he saying that all the Jews will believe in Christ once the selected number of Gentile believers have come in??? A reference to the end-times???
Paul concludes with the statement that, although the Jews are enemies of the gospel, they are still loved by God (on account of the patriachs), and can, despite their disobedience, be shown mercy by God.
It seems that many individuals today use these latter verses (especially 28-29) to suggest that even those Jews who have not accepted the Christian gospel can still be saved by virtue of the eternal covenant with Abraham. However, I don’t see this interpretation as compatible with what Paul writes here and elsewhere. From what I understand, Paul is simply saying that the Jews are not categorically condemned by Christ, but that they can receive mercy by coming to belief in Christ.
What are you thoughts on these verses? How do these verses portray that Christian Church in relation to the Jewish unbelievers?
biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2011:1-32;&version=31;
Here’s a short summary of how I understand the selection:
In the beginning of this selection, Paul speaks about how God has not forsaken His people, the Jews. Paul continues to illustrate that, various times in Israel’s history, there have been small numbers of Jews faithful to God who have remained in God’s good-will. Paul then mentions that God has chosen, through his grace, a number of faithful from the Jews.
After this, Paul speaks how, although the majority of the Jews have rejected divine truth, some of the Jews may yet be saved by faith and belief in Christ. Paul makes the illustration of the Jewish unbelievers of Christ as being branches cut-off, and the Christian believers through grace as being engrafted in their place.
Verses 25-26 is where it becomes somewhat difficult to understand exactly what Paul is saying. Is he saying that all the Jews will believe in Christ once the selected number of Gentile believers have come in??? A reference to the end-times???
Paul concludes with the statement that, although the Jews are enemies of the gospel, they are still loved by God (on account of the patriachs), and can, despite their disobedience, be shown mercy by God.
It seems that many individuals today use these latter verses (especially 28-29) to suggest that even those Jews who have not accepted the Christian gospel can still be saved by virtue of the eternal covenant with Abraham. However, I don’t see this interpretation as compatible with what Paul writes here and elsewhere. From what I understand, Paul is simply saying that the Jews are not categorically condemned by Christ, but that they can receive mercy by coming to belief in Christ.
What are you thoughts on these verses? How do these verses portray that Christian Church in relation to the Jewish unbelievers?