Dual Panel1Therefore I say, God has not rejected his people, has he? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, from the descendants of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2God has not rejected his people, whom he foreknew! Or do you not know, in [the passage about] Elijah, what the scripture says—how he appeals to God against Israel?
3Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life!"
4But what does the divine response say to him? "I have left for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal."
5So in this way also at the present time, there is a remnant _selected by grace_ .
6But if by grace, [it is] no longer by works, for otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
7What then? What Israel was searching for, this it did not obtain. But the elect obtained [it], and the rest were hardened,
8just as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, until this very day."
9And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a cause for stumbling and a retribution to them;
10let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see, and cause their backs to bend _continually_ ."
11I say then, they did not stumble so that they fell, [did they]? May it never be! But by their trespass, salvation [has come] to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them [to jealousy].
12And if their trespass [means] riches for the world and their loss [means] riches for the Gentiles, how much more [will] their fullness [mean]?
13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Therefore, inasmuch as I am apostle to the Gentiles, I promote my ministry,
14if somehow I may provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.
15For if their rejection [means] the reconciliation of the world, what [will] their acceptance [mean] except life from the dead?
16Now if the first fruits [are] holy, [so] also [is] the [whole] batch of dough, and if the root [is] holy, [so] also [are] the branches.
17Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, [although you] were a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the root of the olive tree’s richness,
18do not boast against the branches. But if you boast against [them], you do not support the root, but the root [supports] you.
19Then you will say, "Branches were broken off in order that I could be grafted in.
20Well said! They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand firm because of faith. Do not think arrogant [thoughts], but be afraid.
21For if God did not spare the _natural_ branches, perhaps he will not spare you either.
22See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity upon those who have fallen, but upon you the kindness of God—if you continue in his kindness, for otherwise you also will be cut off.
23And those also, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God is able to graft them in again.
24For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are _natural branches_ be grafted into their own olive tree?
25For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you will not be wise in your own sight, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,
26and so all Israel will be saved, just as it is written, "The deliverer will come out of Zion; he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
27And this [is] the covenant from me with them when I take away their sins."
28With respect to the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sake, but with respect to election, [they are] dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.
29For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.
30For just as you formerly were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of the disobedience of these,
31so also these have now been disobedient for your mercy, in order that they also may now be shown mercy.
32For God confined them all in disobedience, in order that he could have mercy on them all.
33Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable [are] his judgments and [how] incomprehensible [are] his ways!
34For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?
35Or who has given in advance to him, and it will be paid back to him?"
36For from him and through him and to him [are] all [things]. To him [be] glory for eternity! Amen.