Romans Chapter 11
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
2
Even as it is written,
3
For thy sake we are killed all the day long;
4
We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
5
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
6
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
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nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,
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that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
10
For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren’s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
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who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service
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of God, and the promises;
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whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
14
But
15
it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:
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neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
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That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.
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For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
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And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one,
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even by our father Isaac—
21
for
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the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,
23
it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
24
Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
25
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
26
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
27
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.
28
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.
29
So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.
30
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?
31
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?
32
Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?
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What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:
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and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,
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even us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
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As he saith also in Hosea,
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
I say then, HasGod cast away his people? Far be the thought. For I also am an Israelite, of [the] seed of Abraham, of [the] tribe of Benjamin.
2
God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture says in [the history of] Elias, how he pleads withGod against Israel?
3
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thine altars; and I have been left alone, and they seek my life.
4
But what says the divine answer to him? I have left to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed knee to Baal.
5
Thus, then, in the present time also there has been a remnant according to election of grace.
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But if by grace, no longer of works: since [otherwise] grace is no more grace.
7
What [is it] then? What Israel seeks for, that he has not obtained; but the election has obtained, and the rest have been blinded,
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according as it is written,God has given to them a spirit of slumber, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear, unto this day.
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And David says, Let their table be for a snare, and for a gin, and for a fall-trap, and for a recompense to them:
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let their eyes be darkened not to see, and bow down their back alway.
11
I say then, Have they stumbled in order that they might fall? Far be the thought: but by their fall [there is] salvation to the nations to provoke them to jealousy.
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But if their fall [be the] world's wealth, and their loss [the] wealth of [the] nations, how much rather their fulness?
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For I speak to you, the nations, inasmuch as I am apostle of nations, I glorify my ministry;
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if by any means I shall provoke to jealousy [them which are] my flesh, and shall save some from among them.
15
For if their casting away [be the] world's reconciliation, what [their] reception but life from among [the] dead?
16
Now if the first-fruit [be] holy, the lump also; and if the root [be] holy, the branches also.
17
Now if some of the branches have been broken out, and thou, being a wild olive tree, hast been grafted in amongst them, and hast become a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree,
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boast not against the branches; but if thou boast, [it is] not thou bearest the root, but the root thee.
19
Thou wilt say then, The branches have been broken out in order that I might be grafted in.
20
Right: they have been broken out through unbelief, and thou standest through faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:
21
ifGod indeed has not spared the natural branches; lest it might be he spare not thee either.
22
Behold then [the] goodness and severity ofGod: upon them who have fallen, severity; upon thee goodness ofGod, if thou shalt abide in goodness, since [otherwise] thou also wilt be cut away.
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And they too, if they abide not in unbelief, shall be grafted in; forGod is able again to graft them in.
24
For if thou hast been cut out of the olive tree wild by nature, and, contrary to nature, hast been grafted into the good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who are according to nature be grafted into their own olive tree?
25
For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this mystery, that ye may not be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the nations be come in;
26
and so all Israel shall be saved. According as it is written, The deliverer shall come out of Zion; he shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
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And this is the covenant from me to them, when I shall have taken away their sins.
28
As regards the glad tidings, [they are] enemies on your account; but as regards election, beloved on account of the fathers.
29
For the gifts and the calling ofGod [are] not subject to repentance.
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For as indeed ye [also] once have not believed inGod, but now have been objects of mercy through the unbelief of these;
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so these also have now not believed in your mercy, in order that they also may be objects of mercy.
32
ForGod hath shut up together all in unbelief, in order that he might shew mercy to all.
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O depth of riches both of [the] wisdom and knowledge ofGod! how unsearchable his judgments, and untraceable his ways!
34
For who has known [the] mind of [the] Lord, or who has been his counsellor?
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or who has first given to him, and it shall be rendered to him?
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For of him, and through him, and for him [are] all things: to him be glory for ever. Amen.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Dico ergo: Numquid Deus repulit populum suum? Absit. Nam et ego Israelita sum ex semine Abraham, de tribu Beniamin:
2
Non repulit Deus plebem suam, quam præscivit. An nescitis in Elia quid dicit Scriptura: quemadmodum interpellat Deum adversum Israel?
3
Domine, Prophetas tuos occiderunt, altaria tua suffoderunt: et ego relictus sum solus, et quærunt animam meam.
4
Sed quid dicit illi divinum responsum? Reliqui mihi septem millia virorum, qui non curvaverunt genua ante Baal.
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Sic ergo et in hoc tempore reliquiæ secundum electionem gratiæ salvæ factæ sunt.
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Si autem gratia, iam non ex operibus: alioquin gratia iam non est gratia.
7
Quid ergo? quod quærebat Israel, hoc non est consecutus: electio autem consecuta est: ceteri vero excæcati sunt:
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sicut scriptum est: Dedit illis Deus spiritum compunctionis: oculos ut non videant, et aures ut non audiant, usque in hodiernum diem.
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Et David dicit: Fiat mensa eorum in laqueum, et in captionem, et in scandalum, et in retributionem illis.
10
Obscurentur oculi eorum ne videant: et dorsum eorum semper incurva.
11
Dico ergo: Numquid sic offenderunt ut caderent? Absit. Sed illorum delicto, salus est Gentibus ut illos æmulentur.
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Quod si delictum illorum divitiæ sunt mundi, et diminutio eorum divitiæ Gentium: quanto magis plenitudo eorum?
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Vobis enim dico Gentibus: Quamdiu quidem ego sum Gentium Apostolus, ministerium meum honorificabo,
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si quomodo ad æmulandum provocem carnem meam, et salvos faciam aliquos ex illis.
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Si enim amissio eorum, reconciliatio est mundi: quæ assumptio, nisi vita ex mortuis?
16
Quod si delibatio sancta est, et massa: et si radix sancta, et rami.
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Quod si aliqui ex ramis fracti sunt, tu autem cum oleaster esses, insertus es in illis, et socius radicis, et pinguedinis olivæ factus es,
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noli gloriari adversus ramos. Quod si gloriaris: non tu radicem portas, sed radix te.
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Dices ergo: Fracti sunt rami ut ego inserar.
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Bene: propter incredulitatem fracti sunt. Tu autem fide stas: noli altum sapere, sed time.
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Si enim Deus naturalibus ramis non pepercit: ne forte nec tibi parcat.
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Vide ergo bonitatem, et severitatem Dei: in eos quidem, qui ceciderunt, severitatem: in te autem bonitatem Dei, si permanseris in bonitate, alioquin et tu excideris.
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Sed et illi, si non permanserint in incredulitate, inserentur: potens est enim Deus iterum inserere illos.
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Nam si tu ex naturali excisus es oleastro, et contra naturam insertus es in bonam olivam: quanto magis ii, qui secundum naturam, inserentur suæ olivæ?
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Nolo enim vos ignorare fratres mysterium hoc: (ut non sitis vobisipsis sapientes) quia cæcitas ex parte contigit in Israel, donec plenitudo Gentium intraret,
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et sic omnis Israel salvus fieret, sicut scriptum est: Veniet ex Sion, qui eripiat, et avertat impietatem a Iacob.
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Et hoc illis a me testamentum: cum abstulero peccata eorum.
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Secundum Evangelium quidem, inimici propter vos: secundum electionem autem, charissimi propter patres.
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Sine pœnitentia enim sunt dona, et vocatio Dei.
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Sicut enim aliquando et vos non credidistis Deo, nunc autem misericordiam consecuti estis propter incredulitatem illorum:
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ita et isti nunc non crediderunt in vestram misericordiam: ut et ipsi misericordiam consequantur.
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Conclusit enim Deus omnia in incredulitate: ut omnium misereatur.
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O altitudo divitiarum sapientiæ, et scientiæ Dei: quam incomprehensibilia sunt iudicia eius, et investigabiles viæ eius!
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Quis enim cognovit sensum Domini? Aut quis consiliarius eius fuit?
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Aut quis prior dedit illi, et retribuetur ei?
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Quoniam ex ipso, et per ipsum, et in ipso sunt omnia: ipsi gloria in sæcula. Amen.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2
God didn’t reject his people, whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:
3
“Lord, they have killed your prophets. They have broken down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life.”
4
But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
5
Even so too at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
7
What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
8
According as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.”
9
David says, “Let their table be made a snare, a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them.
10
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Always keep their backs bent.”
11
I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
12
Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
13
For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry,
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if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.
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For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead?
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If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches.
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But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree,
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don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
19
You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.”
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True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear;
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for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
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See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
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They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
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For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25
For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
26
and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
27
This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.”
28
Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30
For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
31
even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.
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For God has bound all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.
33
Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
34
“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
35
“Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?”
36
For of him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
λεγω ουν μη απωσατο ο θεος τον λαον αυτου μη γενοιτο και γαρ εγω ισραηλιτης ειμι εκ σπερματος αβρααμ φυλης βενιαμειν
2
ουκ απωσατο ο θεος τον λαον αυτου ον προεγνω η ουκ οιδατε εν ηλια τι λεγει η γραφη ως εντυγχανει τω θεω κατα του ισραηλ
3
κυριε τους προφητας σου απεκτειναν τα θυσιαστηρια σου κατεσκαψαν καγω υπελειφθην μονος και ζητουσιν την ψυχην μου
4
αλλα τι λεγει αυτω ο χρηματισμος κατελιπον εμαυτω επτακισχιλιους ανδρας οιτινες ουκ εκαμψαν γονυ τη βααλ
5
ουτως ουν και εν τω νυν καιρω λειμμα κατ εκλογην χαριτος γεγονεν
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ει δε χαριτι ουκετι εξ εργων επει η χαρις ουκετι γινεται χαρις
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τι ουν ο επιζητει ισραηλ τουτο ουκ επετυχεν η δε εκλογη επετυχεν οι δε λοιποι επωρωθησαν
8
καθαπερ γεγραπται εδωκεν αυτοις ο θεος πνευμα κατανυξεως οφθαλμους του μη βλεπειν και ωτα του μη ακουειν εως της σημερον ημερας
9
και δαυιδ λεγει γενηθητω η τραπεζα αυτων εις παγιδα και εις θηραν και εις σκανδαλον και εις ανταποδομα αυτοις
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σκοτισθητωσαν οι οφθαλμοι αυτων του μη βλεπειν και τον νωτον αυτων δια παντος συγκαμψον
11
λεγω ουν μη επταισαν ινα πεσωσιν μη γενοιτο αλλα τω αυτων παραπτωματι η σωτηρια τοις εθνεσιν εις το παραζηλωσαι αυτους
12
ει δε το παραπτωμα αυτων πλουτος κοσμου και το ηττημα αυτων πλουτος εθνων ποσω μαλλον το πληρωμα αυτων
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υμιν δε λεγω τοις εθνεσιν εφ οσον μεν ουν ειμι εγω εθνων αποστολος την διακονιαν μου δοξαζω
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ει πως παραζηλωσω μου την σαρκα και σωσω τινας εξ αυτων
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ει γαρ η αποβολη αυτων καταλλαγη κοσμου τις η προσλημψις ει μη ζωη εκ νεκρων
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ει δε η απαρχη αγια και το φυραμα και ει η ριζα αγια και οι κλαδοι
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ει δε τινες των κλαδων εξεκλασθησαν συ δε αγριελαιος ων ενεκεντρισθης εν αυτοις και συγκοινωνος της ριζης της πιοτητος της ελαιας εγενου
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μη κατακαυχω των κλαδων ει δε κατακαυχασαι ου συ την ριζαν βασταζεις αλλα η ριζα σε
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ερεις ουν εξεκλασθησαν κλαδοι ινα εγω εγκεντρισθω
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καλως τη απιστια εξεκλασθησαν συ δε τη πιστει εστηκας μη υψηλα φρονει αλλα φοβου
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ει γαρ ο θεος των κατα φυσιν κλαδων ουκ εφεισατο ουδε σου φεισεται
22
ιδε ουν χρηστοτητα και αποτομιαν θεου επι μεν τους πεσοντας αποτομια επι δε σε χρηστοτης θεου εαν επιμενης τη χρηστοτητι επει και συ εκκοπηση
23
κακεινοι δε εαν μη επιμενωσιν τη απιστια εγκεντρισθησονται δυνατος γαρ εστιν ο θεος παλιν εγκεντρισαι αυτους
24
ει γαρ συ εκ της κατα φυσιν εξεκοπης αγριελαιου και παρα φυσιν ενεκεντρισθης εις καλλιελαιον ποσω μαλλον ουτοι οι κατα φυσιν εγκεντρισθησονται τη ιδια ελαια
25
ου γαρ θελω υμας αγνοειν αδελφοι το μυστηριον τουτο ινα μη ητε εν εαυτοις φρονιμοι οτι πωρωσις απο μερους τω ισραηλ γεγονεν αχρι ου το πληρωμα των εθνων εισελθη
26
και ουτως πας ισραηλ σωθησεται καθως γεγραπται ηξει εκ σιων ο ρυομενος αποστρεψει ασεβειας απο ιακωβ
27
και αυτη αυτοις η παρ εμου διαθηκη οταν αφελωμαι τας αμαρτιας αυτων
28
κατα μεν το ευαγγελιον εχθροι δι υμας κατα δε την εκλογην αγαπητοι δια τους πατερας
29
αμεταμελητα γαρ τα χαρισματα και η κλησις του θεου
30
ωσπερ γαρ υμεις ποτε ηπειθησατε τω θεω νυν δε ηλεηθητε τη τουτων απειθεια
31
ουτως και ουτοι νυν ηπειθησαν τω υμετερω ελεει ινα και αυτοι νυν ελεηθωσιν
32
συνεκλεισεν γαρ ο θεος τους παντας εις απειθειαν ινα τους παντας ελεηση
33
ω βαθος πλουτου και σοφιας και γνωσεως θεου ως ανεξεραυνητα τα κριματα αυτου και ανεξιχνιαστοι αι οδοι αυτου
34
τις γαρ εγνω νουν κυριου η τις συμβουλος αυτου εγενετο
35
η τις προεδωκεν αυτω και ανταποδοθησεται αυτω
36
οτι εξ αυτου και δι αυτου και εις αυτον τα παντα αυτω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
I say, then, Did God cast away His people? let it not be! for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin:
2
God did not cast away His people whom He knew before; have ye not known--in Elijah--what the Writing saith? how he doth plead with God concerning Israel, saying,
3
`Lord, Thy prophets they did kill, and Thy altars they dug down, and I was left alone, and they seek my life;'
4
but what saith the divine answer to him? `I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.'
5
So then also in the present time a remnant according to the choice of grace there hath been;
6
and if by grace, no more of works, otherwise the grace becometh no more grace; and if of works, it is no more grace, otherwise the work is no more work.
7
What then? What Israel doth seek after, this it did not obtain, and the chosen did obtain, and the rest were hardened,
8
according as it hath been written, `God gave to them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear,' --unto this very day,
9
and David saith, `Let their table become for a snare, and for a trap, and for a stumbling-block, and for a recompense to them;
10
let their eyes be darkened--not to behold, and their back do Thou always bow down.'
11
I say, then, Did they stumble that they might fall? let it not be! but by their fall the salvation <FI>is<Fi> to the nations, to arouse them to jealousy;
12
and if the fall of them <FI>is<Fi> the riches of a world, and the diminution of them the riches of nations, how much more the fulness of them?
13
For to you I speak--to the nations--inasmuch as I am indeed an apostle of nations, my ministration I do glorify;
14
if by any means I shall arouse to jealousy mine own flesh, and shall save some of them,
15
for if the casting away of them <FI>is<Fi> a reconciliation of the world, what the reception--if not life out of the dead?
16
and if the first-fruit <FI>is<Fi> holy, the lump also; and if the root <FI>is<Fi> holy, the branches also.
17
And if certain of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wast graffed in among them, and a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree didst become--
18
do not boast against the branches; and if thou dost boast, thou dost not bear the root, but the root thee!
19
Thou wilt say, then, `The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in;' right!
20
by unbelief they were broken off, and thou hast stood by faith; be not high-minded, but be fearing;
21
for if God the natural branches did not spare--lest perhaps He also shall not spare thee.
22
Lo, then, goodness and severity of God--upon those indeed who fell, severity; and upon thee, goodness, if thou mayest remain in the goodness, otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off.
23
And those also, if they may not remain in unbelief, shall be graffed in, for God is able again to graff them in;
24
for if thou, out of the olive tree, wild by nature, wast cut out, and, contrary to nature, wast graffed into a good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who <FI>are<Fi> according to nature, be graffed into their own olive tree?
25
For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this secret--that ye may not be wise in your own conceits--that hardness in part to Israel hath happened till the fulness of the nations may come in;
26
and so all Israel shall be saved, according as it hath been written, `There shall come forth out of Sion he who is delivering, and he shall turn away impiety from Jacob,
27
and this to them <FI>is<Fi> the covenant from Me, when I may take away their sins.'
28
As regards, indeed, the good tidings, <FI>they are<Fi> enemies on your account; and as regards the choice--beloved on account of the fathers;
29
for unrepented of <FI>are<Fi> the gifts and the calling of God;
30
for as ye also once did not believe in God, and now did find kindness by the unbelief of these:
31
so also these now did not believe, that in your kindness they also may find kindness;
32
for God did shut up together the whole to unbelief, that to the whole He might do kindness.
33
O depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
34
for who did know the mind of the Lord? or who did become His counsellor?
35
or who did first give to Him, and it shall be given back to him again?
36
because of Him, and through Him, and to Him <FI>are<Fi> the all things; to Him <FI>is<Fi> the glory--to the ages. Amen.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).