ACC ~ Romans 11 v1 - 10

OVERVIEW:

The present situation of the Jews is bleak, but that does not mean that God has rejected them. Paul himself was a Jew, and God would preserve a remnant among them for the future as he had already done in the past. The remnant of Israel will be saved by grace just as the Gentiles are now. Just when Elijah thought he was alone he learned that seven thousand had not bowed the knee to Baal. So there remains in Israel a remnant chosen by grace. God blinded the Israel of works and made it deaf because of its unbelief. This terrible fate had been predicted in the Old Testament.

11:1 | Part of Israel Saved

I MYSELF AM A DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM. AMBROSIASTER: Since Paul has shown that the people of Israel did not believe, now, in order that it should not be thought that he has said that they were all unbelievers, he shows that God has not rejected the inheritance which he promised to the descendants of Abraham. For he would not have promised them a kingdom if he knew that none of them would believe. … By using himself as an example, he shows that the part of Israel which God foreknew would be saved had in fact been saved and that the part which had been consigned to perdition because of its constant unbelief might yet be saved. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

HAS GOD REJECTED HIS PEOPLE? CHRYSOSTOM: God has not rejected his people, because Paul himself was one of them. If God had cast them off, he would not have chosen one of them as the one to whom he entrusted all his preaching, the affairs of the world, all the mysteries and the whole message of salvation. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 18.

REMNANT OF ELECTION. DIODORE: Fearing once again that exaggerating the rejection of the Jews might lead to a choice of disobedience, Paul turns to the small remnant of the election—the apostles and their fellow believers. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

AUGUSTINE: This refers to what Paul said above. Only those Jews who have believed in the Lord will be counted as descendants. AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 69.

HUMBLING AND ENCOURAGEMENT. PELAGIUS: Because Paul had by this point humbled them far enough, he now encourages the Jews in the way a good teacher would, so as not to provoke them unduly. God has not rejected everyone, and not forever, but only those who do not believe, as long as they do not believe. Paul reminds them that if God had rejected all the Jews, he too would have been rejected. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Wisely, Paul does not make the plight of Israel appear worse than it is. Even though he says that the nation is struggling in its blindness, he manages to say something positive at this point. EXPLANATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

THEODORET OF CYR: Paul says that, if God had rejected his people, he would have been one of those rejected as well. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Paul has mentioned not only his first ancestor but also the head of his tribe in order to show that he is not fabricating his claim. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THEODORET OF CYR: Paul could have supported his statement by referring to the 3,000 who believed at Jerusalem and to the many thousands spoken of by St. James, not to mention all those Jews of the diaspora who believed the message. But instead he uses himself as an example. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

11:2 | A Remnant Foreknown

NONE OF THEM IS LOST. AMBROSIASTER: This is what the Savior says: “Father, I have kept those whom thou didst give to me, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition.” COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.”

WHOM HE FOREKNEW. AUGUSTINE: Predestination is sometimes designated by the name of foreknowledge, as here, where “he foreknew” can only mean “he predestined,” as the context of what follows demonstrates. GIFT OF PERSEVERANCE 18.47.

NO OCCASION FOR PRIDE. PELAGIUS: God has not rejected those whom he knew in advance would believe. Paul eliminates any occasion for pride among the Gentiles, in case they become boastful because so few of the Jews believed. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

11:3 | A Lone Voice

I ALONE AM LEFT. DIODORE: Paul takes these words of Elijah and applies them by analogy to the Savior, in that only a remnant obtained the grace of the promise. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

PELAGIUS: The prophets knew only the things which had been revealed to them by the Lord. That is why the king, uncertain of mind, asked Jeremiah if, at the time at which he spoke with him, a word of the Lord had come to him. … Elijah was unaware that there were others besides himself who worshiped God. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

11:4 | The Hidden Faithful

SEVEN THOUSAND HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL. AMBROSIASTER: This is clear, for Paul shows that not only Elijah remained as one devoted to God who did not worship idols, but that there were many who remained faithful to God, just as there were not a few Jews who believed in Christ. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

PELAGIUS: If so many men were hidden from the prophet, how much more are you unaware of how many Jews have been saved and are to be saved! PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THEODORET OF CYR: Elijah did not know about these 7,000 until God revealed their existence to him. So it is not unbelievable that you too are ignorant of how many Jews have believed in the Savior. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

11:5 | A Remanant Chosen by Grace

CHOSEN BY GRACE. ORIGEN: The fact that Paul adds the words “chosen by grace” seems to me to be significant. He could have said simply that there is a remnant saved by grace, but by adding “chosen” he indicates that there is grace both with and without election. For everyone who is saved has doubtless been saved by grace, but those who have been saved by the election of grace seem to me to be more perfect than the others. For just as Israel includes all those who are descended from the nation of Israel as well as those who worship God with a pure mind and sincere heart, so we may also assume that all who come to faith in Christ come by grace. But those in whom the gift of grace is adorned with the works of virtue and purity of heart will be said to be saved not only by grace but by the election of grace. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

CALLED TO SALVATION. ORIGEN: Not only the Gentiles are benefited by the coming of Christ but also some who belong to the divine race, many of whom have been called to salvation. ON FIRST PRINCIPLES 4.2.6.

BROUGHT TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD. EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: The remnant of the Jews has proclaimed the sign of the Lord to all the Gentiles and has joined to God in one people, drawn to him, the souls of the Gentiles which are brought out of destruction to the knowledge of the Lord. PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 2.3.

WHOM GOD FOREKNEW. AMBROSIASTER: Even though many have fallen away, those whom God foreknew have remained in the promise of the law. For those who have accepted Christ as he was promised in the law have remained in the law, but those who rejected Christ have fallen away from it. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

AT THE PRESENT TIME THERE IS A REMNANT. AUGUSTINE: The “remnant” refers to the Jews who have believed in Christ. Many of them did believe in the days of the apostles, and even today there are some converts, though very few. THE CITY OF GOD 17.5.

GRACE, NOT MERIT. AUGUSTINE: The election of which the apostle speaks is according to grace, not merit. PREDESTINATION OF THE SAINTS 16.33.

PELAGIUS: Just as all did not perish then, so too some are saved now. The election of grace is faith just as works are the election of the law. Otherwise, what sort of election is it where there is no difference in merit? PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

11:6 | Grace Rather Than Works

IF BY GRACE, NO LONGER ON THE BASIS OF WORKS. AMBROSIASTER: It is clear that because grace is the gift of God there is no reward due for works, but it is granted freely because of the free mercy which intervenes. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

DIODORE: Grace shows the love for mankind of the one who gives it, but works demand compensation according to what they are worth. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

GRACE SAVES THE WILLING. CHRYSOSTOM: If we are all saved by grace, some might argue, why is everyone not saved? Because they did not want to be is the answer. For grace, even though it is grace, saves the willing, not those who refuse it and turn away from it. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 18.

GRACE EMPOWERS WORKS. AUGUSTINE: Grace is given not because we have done good works but in order that we may have power to do them, not because we have fulfilled the law but in order that we may be able to fulfill it. THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER 16.10.

SAVED FREELY. PELAGIUS: In case the Jews replied to Paul about those concerning whom the word comes to Elijah: “They were righteous; why were these sinners chosen?” the apostle adds that they too are saved freely just as the Gentiles are. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

LAW AND GRACE INCOMPATIBLE. GENNADIUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE: The apostle has expressed himself in this way … because he wants to show that the law and grace are completely incompatible and that the two of them can never go together. Of necessity, one must drive the other out. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

11:7 | Failure to Obtain the Promise

WHAT ISRAEL SOUGHT. DIODORE: What was Israel seeking? The promise that they would be made sons and heirs of the universe. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THEY FAILED TO OBTAIN WHAT WAS PROMISED. [PSEUDO-]CONSTANTIUS: The promises were made to the Jews, that Christ would come to save them from their sins, but since he came and they did not believe, Paul says: “Israel failed to obtain.” THE HOLY LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

PELAGIUS: Israel as a whole has not obtained righteousness because it did not seek it by faith but thought that it was justified solely by works of the law, even though it disregarded the greatest commandments of the law. That is why the Savior censures those who strain at a gnat but swallow a camel. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Israel tried to find righteousness in the type which was the law but did not obtain it. However, those who were sealed were elected and did obtain it on account of their belief, being justified by their faith. The rest were blinded, being hardened and rebellious. EXPLANATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

THEODORET OF CYR: The elect are those who believed. … The rest were hardened because of their unbelief. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

11:8 | Failure to See and Hear

SOURCE OF THE QUOTE. ORIGEN: I have not been able to find the source of this quotation. If someone consults holy Scripture more carefully than I have done and finds it, let him say so. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

TWO KINDS OF BLINDNESS. AMBROSIASTER: These are the carnal Israelites who thought they were justified by the law and did not realize that they were justified by faith before God, because through the law they were all guilty.

Those who were blinded were those who were unable to see the way of truth which in their wickedness they had rejected and gone away from so that they could no longer come to the grace of salvation. The examples taken from the prophets reveal that there are two kinds of blind people. The first kind consists of those who are blinded forever, who will never be saved. These people are of such evil will that they knowingly say that they do not know what they hear. … The second type consists of those who, although they try to live according to the law, do not accept the righteousness of Christ. These people are doing this not out of the envy of an evil will but by an erroneous imitation of the tradition of their ancestors. They are blinded for a time, for although they ought to recognize the great works of Christ which cannot be ignored. … They have forgotten God and follow human opinions instead. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

A SPIRIT OF STUPOR. APOLLINARIS OF LAODICEA: This quotation was taken directly from the Hebrew by the apostle himself. The Septuagint edition has “God has put a spirit of stupor in you.” The version of Aquila more clearly has “virulence” and that of Symmachus has “pride.” … In effect, because of the ignorance of the people, the prophetic writings will be a sealed book to them, and they will be incapable of reading them. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

GENNADIUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE: The spirit of stupor prevented them from making the hard choice of repentance and conversion. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

ADDRESSED TO BOTH BELIEVERS AND SINNERS. PELAGIUS: The rest were hardened through unfaithfulness, as it is written: “Unless you believe, you will not understand.”

It is God’s prerogative to give them the spirit of stupor which they desired, for they have always disbelieved the words of God. If they had wanted to have a spirit of faith they would have received it. But even today Christians who doubt the resurrection reward or Gehenna have sought a similar spirit for themselves, for in this passage the prophet was addressing both believers and sinners. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

11:9 | A Snare and Retribution

A TEXTUAL NOTE. ORIGEN: The trap is not mentioned either in the Hebrew or in the Septuagint. We have recorded these things about the order of the words and the quality of the witnesses consulted in order to show by these details that the authority of the apostle does not rely on the texts of the Hebrews nor does it always retain the words of the translators, but rather it expounds the meaning of the Scriptures in whatever words are most suitable. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

LET THEIR FEAST BECOME A SNARE. AMBROSIASTER: He curses the feast of the wicked because the innocent are often deceived there. They are tricked into coming to dinner so that they may be ruined. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

CHRYSOSTOM: This means: Let their comforts and all their good things change and perish, and let them be open to attack from all sides. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 19.

PELAGIUS: The table is where they rejoiced at the death of Christ while they ate the passover. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Paul is using these words not as a prophecy but as a statement from the Scriptures which backs up what he has already said about the Jews, and at the same time he shows that there is nothing new under the sun. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

11:10 | Eyes Darkened, Backs Bent

ORIGEN: God will do this because it is better not to know anything at all than to know something badly. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

CHRYSOSTOM: Do these words need any interpretation? Are they not plain to everyone? HOMILIES ON ROMANS 19.

THEIR EYES DARKENED. AUGUSTINE: Behold mercy and judgment—mercy on the elect, who have obtained the righteousness of God, but judgment upon the others who have been blinded. And yet the former have believed because they willed it, while the latter have not believed because they have not willed it. Hence mercy and judgment were executed in their own wills. PREDESTINATION OF THE SAINTS 6.11.

THEIR BACKS BENT. [PSEUDO-]CONSTANTIUS: Their backs were bent forever by the burden of their sins so that they would not be forgiven unless they believed. THE HOLY LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

PELAGIUS: This prophecy speaks of those who gave the Savior vinegar and gall to drink. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.