Chapter 11

  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.  

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  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,  

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

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  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.  

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

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  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.  

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

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  (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.  

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

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

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  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.  

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  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?  

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

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

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  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?  

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

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  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;  

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

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

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

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

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  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.  

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

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  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?  

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  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.  

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  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:  

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

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

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  For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.  

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

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

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

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  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!  

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

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

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

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