God has not cast away his people; a remnant remains. Paul pictures Gentile believers as branches grafted into an olive tree, warns them against pride, and ends in praise of God's unsearchable wisdom.
1 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 .
2 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 ,
3 Lord , they have killed thy prophets , and digged down thine altars ; and I am left alone , and they seek my life .
4 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 .
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace .
6 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 .
7 What then ? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for ; but the election hath obtained it , and the rest were blinded
8 (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 .
9 And David saith , Let their table be made a snare , and a trap , and a stumblingblock , and a recompence unto them :
10 Let their eyes be darkened , that they may not see , and bow down their back alway .
11 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 .
12 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 ?
13 For I speak to you Gentiles , inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles , I magnify mine office :
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh , and might save some of them .
15 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 ?
16 For if the firstfruit be holy , the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy , so are the branches .
17 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 ;
18 Boast not against the branches . But if thou boast , thou bearest not the root , but the root thee .
19 Thou wilt say then , The branches were broken off , that I might be graffed in .
20 Well ; because of unbelief they were broken off , and thou standest by faith . Be not highminded , but fear :
21 For if God spared not the natural branches , take heed lest he also spare not thee .
22 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 .
23 And they also , if they abide not still in unbelief , shall be graffed in : for God is able to graff them in again .
24 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 ?
25 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 .
26 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 :
27 For this is my covenant unto them , when I shall take away their sins .
28 As concerning the gospel , they are enemies for your sakes : but as touching the election , they are beloved for the fathers ' sakes .
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance .
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God , yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief :
31 Even so have these also now not believed , that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy .
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief , that he might have mercy upon all .
33 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 !
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord ? or who hath been his counsellor ?
35 Or who hath first given to him , and it shall be recompensed unto him again ?
36 For of him , and through him , and to him , are all things : to whom be glory for ever . Amen .