Part 37 (1/2)

(30)What then shall we say? That Gentiles, who were not following after righteousness, obtained righteousness, the righteousness which is of faith; (31)but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, attained not to [such] a law. (32)Wherefore? Because [they sought it]

not by faith, but as being by works of law. For they stumbled against the stone of stumbling; (33)as it is written: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame.

X.

BRETHREN, it is my heart's desire and prayer to G.o.d on their behalf, that they might be saved. (2)For I bear them witness, that they have a zeal for G.o.d, but not according to knowledge. (3)For not knowing the righteousness of G.o.d, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of G.o.d. (4)For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, to every one that believes.

(5)For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law: The man that has done them, shall live by them.[10:5] (6)But the righteousness which is of faith says thus: Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down;) (7)or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring up Christ from the dead.) (8)But what says it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (9)because, if thou shalt profess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that G.o.d raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10)For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth profession is made unto salvation. (11)For the Scripture says: Whoever believes on him shall not be put to shame. (12)For there is no difference between Jew and Greek; for the same is Lord of all, rich toward all that call upon him; (13)for every one who shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(14)How then shall they call on him on whom they believed not? And how shall they believe on him of whom they heard not? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (15)And how shall they preach, unless they are sent forth? As it is written:

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!

(16)But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah says: Lord, who believed our report? (17)So then faith comes of hearing, and hearing by the word of G.o.d.

(18)But I say, did they not hear? Yes verily;

Their sound went forth into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.

(19)But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:

I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are no people, By a foolish nation I will move you to anger.

(20)But Isaiah is very bold, and says:

I was found by those who sought me not; I became manifest to those who asked not after me.

(21)But of Israel he says:

All the day long, I stretched forth my hands, To a disobedient and gainsaying people.

XI.

I SAY then, did G.o.d cast away his people? Far be it! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (2)G.o.d did not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the Scripture says in the story of Elijah; how he pleads with G.o.d against Israel, saying: (3)Lord they killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I was left alone, and they seek my life. (4)But what says the answer of G.o.d to him? I reserved to myself seven thousand men, who bowed not the knee to 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, it is no longer of works; otherwise, grace becomes no longer grace. [11:6][But if of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise, work is no longer work.]

(7)What then? What Israel seeks after, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. (8)According as it is written: G.o.d gave them a spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day. (9)And David says:

Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumbling-block, and a recompense to them; (10)Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow down their back alway.

(11)I say then, did they stumble in order that they should fall? Far be it! But by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. (12)But if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?

(13)For I am speaking to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office; (14)if by any means I may provoke to emulation those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.

(15)For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (16)And if the first-fruit is holy, so also is the lump; and if the root is holy, so also are the branches. (17)And if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive-tree, wert grafted in among them, and became a partaker with them of the root and the fatness of the olive-tree; (18)boast not over the branches. But if thou boast, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.

(19)Thou wilt say then: The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. (20)Well; because of their want of faith they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; (21)for if G.o.d spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

(22)Behold then the goodness and severity of G.o.d; toward those who 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 continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in; for G.o.d is able again to graft them in. (24)For if thou wast cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive-tree; how much more shall these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?