Romans 11:25-32

Paul is going to review salvation history concerning Israel one more time in 11:25-32.

11:25

This verse begins with “for” which ties it into the verses before it concerning the olive tree.

“Mystery” is “mysterion” and does not mean the unknown.

It refers to God’s activity in history concerning man’s salvation that has been revealed to man.

The use of mystery refers to things that had been hidden in the past.

It is a technical term used in Jewish apocalyptic verses where God reveals his set purpose to mankind through a prophet.

Daniel 2:17-18, 27-30, 47

Matthew 13:11 (Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10)

Romans 16:25

1 Corinthians 2:1, 7

1 Corinthians 4:1

1 Corinthians 15:51

Ephesians 1:9

Ephesians 3:3, 4, 9

Ephesians 6:19

Colossians 1:26, 27

Colossians 2:2

Colossians 4:3

1 Timothy 3:9, 16

Revelation 1:20

Revelation 10:7

Revelation 17:5, 7

The mystery concerning Israel is immediately stated by Paul:

a) Israel is the chosen nations

b) Israel has experienced a hardening in part until Gentiles have come in

c) Israel will be saved.

“Conceited” lines up with 11:17-21

The hardening is:

a) partial

b) temporal

c) And a response to Israel having rejected Jesus in Mt. 12 and other places.

This hardening will serve as discipline and eventually bring Israel to God.

In the OT the Gentiles were in darkness and the Jews had God’s revelation.

In the NT the Jews are in darkness and the Gentiles walk in the light.

In the End the Jews will need to turn to God out of darkness just like the Gentiles have in the church age.

“Full number” means also “Complete Number”

11:26

Israel’s restoration promised:

Deuteronomy 30:1-5

Jeremiah 23:3

Ezekiel 11:17

Ezekiel 36:24

Micah 2:12

Zechariah 10:8-10

“And So” is “houtos” or “in this way”

This can mean:

a) this is the result, “all Israel will be saved

b) this is how it happens, or, to explain the manner of how all Israel will be saved just as the prophets said or just as Paul has explained.

“All Israel” “pas Israel”

Israel can mean:

a) the community of believers both Jew and Gentile

b) the nation of Israel

c) the believers within Israel

In 9-11 Israel has always meant the nation of Israel.

Notice 9:6, “not all who are from Israel are Israel”

Paul writes “all Israel” not “every Israelite”

“Salvation” is “sothesetai”

11:27

The quote from Isaiah 59:20, 21 and 27:9 shows to Paul’s readers that even the OT predicted these things:

a) God will send a deliverer

b) Israel will be godless

c) God will take away their sins

d) God has a covenant with Israel

11:28

11:29

11:30

11:31

11:32