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The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans, Chapter 11
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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.
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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,
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3 |
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and
digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
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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.
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5 |
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace.
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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 it is no more grace:
otherwise work is no more work.
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7 |
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for;
but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
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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.
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9 |
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and
a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
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10 |
Let their eyes be
darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
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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.
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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?
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13 |
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the
apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
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14 |
If by any means
I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save
some of them.
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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?
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16 |
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root
be holy, so are the branches.
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17 |
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a
wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest
of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
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Boast not against the
branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root
thee.
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Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might
be graffed in.
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Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou
standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
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21 |
For if God
spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not
thee.
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22 |
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which
fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
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23 |
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be
graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
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For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by
nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree:
how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed
into their own olive tree?
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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.
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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:
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27 |
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away
their sins.
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As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but
as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
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29 |
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
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30 |
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now
obtained mercy through their unbelief:
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31 |
Even so have these also
now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
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32 |
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have
mercy upon all.
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33 |
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding
out!
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34 |
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been
his counsellor?
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35 |
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be
recompensed unto him again?
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36 |
For of him, and through him, and to
him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
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