Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Romans 11

Rom 11:1 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.

Hath God cast away

Or, Did God cast off.

God [See also Rom 11:2.]

Jehovah. Psa 94:14.

his people

Remnant. Rom 11:1-5.

That Israel has not been forever set aside is the theme of this chapter.

1. The salvation of Paul proves that there is still a remnant (Rom 11:1)
2. The doctrine of the remnant proves it (Rom 11:2-6).
3. The present national unbelief was foreseen (Rom 11:7-10).
4. Israel's unbelief is the Gentile opportunity (Rom 11:11-25).
5. Israel is judicially broken off from the good olive tree, Christ (Rom 11:17-22).
6. They are to be grafted in again (Rom 11:23-24).
7. The promised Deliverer will come out of Zion and the nation will be saved (Rom 11:25-29). That the Christian now inherits the distinctive Jewish promises is not taught in Scripture. The Christian is of the heavenly seed of Abraham (Gen 15:5-6; Gal 3:29), and partakes of the spiritual blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant (Scofield Genesis 15:18, note); but Israel as a nation always has it own place, and is yet to have its greatest exaltation as the earthly people of God. See "Israel" (Gen 12:2; Rom 11:26); "Kingdom" (Gen 1:26-28; Zec 12:8).

Rom 11:2 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,

foreknew

Foreknowledge. 2Pe 3:17. (Act 2:23; 1Pe 1:20.)

Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

Lord, they have killed thy prophets

1Ki 19:10, 14.

Rom 11:4 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.

I have reserved to myself seven thousand men

1Ki 19:18.

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

remnant

Remnant, Summary: In the history of Israel, a "remnant" may be discerned, a spiritual Israel within the national Israel. In Elijah's time 7,000 had not bowed the knee to Baal (1Ki 19:18). In Isaiah's time it was the "very small remnant" for whose sake God still forbore to destroy the nation (Isa 1:9). During the captivities the remnant appears in Jews like Ezekiel, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Esther, and Mordecai. At the end of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity it was the remnant which returned under Ezra and Nehemiah. At the advent of our Lord, John the Baptist, Simeon, Anna, and "them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (Luk 2:38), were the remnant. During the church-age the remnant is composed of believing Jews (Rom 11:4-5). But the chief interest in the remnant is prophetic. During the great tribulation a remnant out of all Israel will turn to Jesus as Messiah, and will become His witnesses after the removal of the church (Rev 7:3-8). Some of these will undergo martyrdom (Rev 6:9-11), some will be spared to enter the millennial kingdom (Zec 12:6 - 13:9). Many of the Psalms express, prophetically, the joys and sorrows of the tribulation remnant.

Remnant. See Scofield Isaiah 1:9, note.

grace

Grace (in salvation). 2Co 8:9. (Rom 3:24; Scofield John 1:16, note.)

Rom 11:6 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.

by grace, then is it no more of works

Rom 4:4-5; Gal 5:4.

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for

Rom 9:31; 10:3.

election

Election (corporate). Jhn 15:19. (Deu 7:6; 1Pe 1:2).

Rom 11:8 (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.

God

Jehovah. Isaiah 29:10.

Rom 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

Let their table be made a snare

Rom 11:9-10; Psa 69:22.

Rom 11:11 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.

salvation is come unto the Gentiles

Isa 42:6-7; Act 28:24, 28.

provoke them to jealousy

Deu 32:21.

Rom 11:12 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?

world [See also Rom 11:15.]

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

how much more their fulness

Psa 72:8-11; Isa 49:6; 60:3.

Rom 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

save

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Rom 11:15 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?

life from the dead

Isa 26:16-19; Eze 37:1-14; Hos 6:1-3.

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

because of unbelief

Heb 3:19.

standest by faith

1Co 10:1-13; 2Co 1:24.

not highminded, but fear

Pro 28:14; Heb 4:1-13.

Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

abide not still in unbelief

See Jer 3:21-25; 50:4-5; 2Co 3:16.

Rom 11:25 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.

mystery

Scofield Matthew 13:11, note.

fulness of the Gentiles

Luk 21:24; 2Pe 3:9.

The "fullness of the Gentiles" is the completion of the purpose of God in this age, viz. the outcalling from among the Gentiles of a people for Christ's name, "the church which is His body" (Eph 1:22-23). Cf. Act 15:14; Eph 4:11-13; 1Co 12:12-13. It must be distinguished from "the times of the Gentiles" (Luk 21:24).

Rom 11:26 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:

There shall come out of Sion

Christ (Second Advent). Rom 11:25-26; Phl 3:20-21. (Deu 30:3; Acts 1:9-11.)

Deliverer

Redeemer. Isa 59:20-21.

Jacob

Summary: Israel, so named from the grandson of Abraham, was chosen for a fourfold mission:

1. To witness to the unity of God in the midst of universal idolatry (Deu 6:4, with Isa 43:10, 12);
2. to illustrate to the nations the blessedness of serving the true God (Deu 33:26-29; 1Ch 17:20-21; Psa 144:15);
3. to receive, preserve, and transmit the Scriptures (Deu 4:5-8; Rom 3:1-2);
4. to produce, as to His humanity, the Messiah (Gen 3:15; 12:3; 22:18; 28:10-14; 49:10; 2Sa 7:12-16; Isa 7:14; 9:6; Mat 1:1; Rom 1:3). According to the prophets, Israel, regathered from all nations, restored to her own land and converted, is yet to have her greatest earthly exaltation and glory. See "Kingdom (O.T.)" (Scofield Genesis 1:26; Zechariah 12:8, note; N.T. Luke 1:31-33; 1 Corinthians 15:28). "Davidic Covenant" (Scofield 2 Samuel 7:16, note).

Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

my covenant

Isa 27:9; Jer 31:31-37; Heb 8:8; 10:16.

unto them

Israel (prophecies). Rom 11:1-27; Gen 12:2-3. (Gen 12:2, 3; Rom 11:26.)

sins

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

gospel

Gospel. Rom 15:16, 19-20, 29. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

repentance

Repentance. 2Co 7:9-10. (Mat 3:2; Act 17:30.)

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

believed [See also Rom 11:31.]

Or, obeyed.

unbelief

Or, disobedience.

Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

all in unbelief

Rom 3:9, 19; Gal 3:22.

Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

mind of the Lord

Spirit of the LORD. Isa 40:13.

Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

who hath first given to him

1Ch 29:11-14; Job 41:11; Psa 50:9-12.

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things

1Co 11:3; 15:28; Heb 2:10.