Romans 11 (New International Version)

The Remnant of Israel

1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!¹ I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,² from the tribe of Benjamin.³ 2 God did not reject his people,⁴ whom he foreknew.⁵ Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"^a ?⁶ 4 And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."^b7 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant⁸ chosen by grace.⁹ 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works;¹⁰ if it were, grace would no longer be grace.^c 7 What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain,¹¹ but the elect did. The others were hardened,¹² 8 as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear,¹³ to this very day."^d14 9 And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,¹⁵ and their backs be bent forever."^e16

Ingrafted Branches

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!¹⁷ Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles¹⁸ to make Israel envious.¹⁹ 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,²⁰ how much greater riches will their fullness bring! 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,²¹ I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy²² and save²³ some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation²⁴ of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?²⁵ 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits²⁶ is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 If some of the branches have been broken off,²⁷ and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others²⁸ and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.²⁹ 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.³⁰ Do not be arrogant,³¹ but be afraid.³² 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22 Consider therefore the kindness³³ and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue³⁴ in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.³⁵ 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.³⁶ 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,³⁷ how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

25 I do not want you to be ignorant³⁸ of this mystery,³⁹ brothers, so that you may not be conceited:⁴⁰ Israel has experienced a hardening⁴¹ in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.⁴² 26 And so all Israel will be saved,⁴³ as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is^f my covenant with them when I take away their sins."^g44 28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies⁴⁵ on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,⁴⁶ 29 for God's gifts and his call⁴⁷ are irrevocable.⁴⁸ 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient⁴⁹ to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^h receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience⁵⁰ so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

33 Oh, the depth of the riches⁵¹ of the wisdom andⁱ knowledge of God!⁵² How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!⁵³ 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"^j54 35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"^k55 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.⁵⁶ To him be the glory forever! Amen.⁵⁷