Romans 11:1-15

Quote
Martin Luther described Paul's letter to the Romans as the "most important piece
in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not
only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as
though it were the daily bread of the soul".[28]

Useless facts
331 words, 167 unique

Historical Context
(Historians best guesses only)

– Paul had spent ~10 years travelling about Asia Minor preaching the gospel
(~AD47-57)
– Some of the Jews of Rome had already believed in Jesus
– The Jewish Christians had required gentile converts to also keep the Jewish
laws (Torah)
– Many contentions between Gentile and Jewish Christians over status and
whether gentiles needed to be circumcised
– Jews were expelled from Rome ~AD 49 due to unrest between believing
and non-believing Jews over whether Jesus was the Messiah
– Gentile Christians were left
– After Emperor Claudius died ~AD 54 Emperor Nero allowed Jews back in to
Rome
– Conflict may have arisen between the returning Jewish Christians and the
Gentile Christians over whether the Jews were "still God's people"
– This conflict may have contributed to the Great Fire of Rome of AD64 after
which Emperor Nero started to persecute the Christians
– It is believed that Paul wrote Romans some time between AD55 and AD57
– It was Paul's intention to visit Rome on the way to Spain after visiting
Jerusalem and he wanted to introduce himself and outline his theology to
prepare them for his arrival and make acquaintance / establish
relationship.
– The epistle was a literary form of letter/essay which was intended for
wider publication than a personal letter...

Links
NET version: http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Rom&chapter=11#n11

Amplified: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2011:1-
15&version=AMP

The Message:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2011:1-
15&version=MSG
Commentary:

http://www.ccel.org/search?category=scripture&&resultsOnly&qu=romans+11

Sermons:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sortby=downloads&keyword=Romans&
BibleOnly=true&currSection=sermonsbible&chapter=11&verse=1&AudioOnly=f
alse
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ScriptureIndex/10/?pageSize=100

My verse by verse commentary

11:1 God has not totally rejected his people.

11:2 God has not rejected his people whom he appointed and foreknew from
the beginning.
What did Elijah say?
Ref: Ps 94:14, 1 Kings 19:10-14

11:3 (I Kings 19)

11:4 God said to Elijah that he has kept for himself 7000 who have no bowed
the knee to Baal

11:5 just as there was a remnant in the time of Elijah there is also a remnant in
the present time who are chosen by grace

11:6 not by works

11:7 Israel failed to obtain righteousness, but the elect obtained it. The rest
became hardened.

11:8 God gave them over to their stupidity

Ref: Deut. 29:4, Isa. 29:10

11:9 David cursed them, wishing their plan for righteousness by works to turn
back on them
Ref: Ps. 69:22-23

11:10 David wished for them to become confused – why?

11:11 Have they fallen beyond recovery?No! But through their misfortune the
rest of humanity has benefited in order to make them jealous and turn
them back.
Ref. Acts 13:46

11:12 If we(the gentiles) have benefited so greatly through the transgressions,

mistakes and disobedience of Israel imagine what it will be like when they
return to the fold and turn back to God.
Ref: Luke 15:11-32 (The parable of the prodigal son), Matt. 21:28-46
(Parables of two sons and the bad tenants)

11:13 I am an apostle to the Gentiles

11:14 so I work as hard as I can in the hope that they will realize what they’re
missing and want to be a part of what God is doing.

11:15 For if their rejection and exclusion from the benefits of salvation were
overruled for the reconciliation of the world, just think what’s going to
happen when they get it right?
Discussion topics
– Background of story of Elijah and the priests of Baal and the rebelliousness
of Israel and their rejection of God – yet God reserved 7000.
– Background of references in verses 8-10
– The jealousy in verse 11
– The riches in verse 12
– Similar parallels of concepts with the parables of the prodigal son, the two
sons and the bad tenants

Summary
1. God has not rejected those Israelites whom he foreknew
2. Those he foreknew were saved by grace not by works
3. Those who were not the elect he gave over to stupidity (or stupor i.e. they
were made insensible to the truth)
4. We the gentiles have benefited from Israel’s transgression (i.e. the
crucifixion of the Messiah)
5. God wants to draw the Israelites back to himself by demonstrating his
grace to the gentiles
6. When the Jews are reconciled to the truth, what further riches may be
released upon the world?

Application
– Don’t become faithless like the Jews
– Do not fall into a works based faith
– Pray that the Jews will see the truth and put their faith in Jesus who is the
Messiah