Romans 11-12

New International Version

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!^(A) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,^(B) from the tribe of Benjamin.^(C) ²God did not reject his people,^(D) whom he foreknew.^(E) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ³“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”^[a]?^(F) ⁴And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^[b]^(G) ⁵So too, at the present time there is a remnant^(H) chosen by grace.^(I) ⁶And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(J) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁷What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^(K) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^(L) ⁸as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that could not see
and ears that could not hear,^(M)
to this very day.”^[c]^(N)

⁹And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
¹⁰May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,^(O)
and their backs be bent forever.”^[d]^(P)

Ingrafted Branches

¹¹Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!^(Q) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^(R) to make Israel envious.^(S) ¹²But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,^(T) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

¹³I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^(U) I take pride in my ministry ¹⁴in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(V) and save^(W) some of them. ¹⁵For if their rejection brought reconciliation^(X) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^(Y) ¹⁶If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits^(Z) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷If some of the branches have been broken off,^(AA) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others^(AB) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.^(AC) ¹⁹You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^(AD) Do not be arrogant,^(AE) but tremble.^(AF) ²¹For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²²Consider therefore the kindness^(AG) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(AH) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^(AI) ²³And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^(AJ) ²⁴After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^(AK) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵I do not want you to be ignorant^(AL) of this mystery,^(AM) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:^(AN) Israel has experienced a hardening^(AO) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,^(AP) ²⁶and in this way^[e] all Israel will be saved.^(AQ) As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
²⁷And this is^[f] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”^[g]^(AR)

²⁸As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies^(AS) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,^(AT) ²⁹for God’s gifts and his call^(AU) are irrevocable.^(AV) ³⁰Just as you who were at one time disobedient^(AW) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³²For God has bound everyone over to disobedience^(AX) so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

³³Oh, the depth of the riches^(AY) of the wisdom and^[i] knowledge of God!^(AZ)
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!^(BA)
³⁴“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”^[j]^(BB)
³⁵“Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”^[k]^(BC)
³⁶For from him and through him and for him are all things.^(BD)
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.^(BE)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(BF) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(BG) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform^(BH) to the pattern of this world,^(BI) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(BJ) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(BK)—his good, pleasing^(BL) and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³For by the grace given me^(BM) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,^(BN) ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^(BO) and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts,^(BP) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(BQ) then prophesy in accordance with your^[l] faith;^(BR) ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^(BS) ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(BT) if it is giving, then give generously;^(BU) if it is to lead,^[m] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹Love must be sincere.^(BV) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^(BW) ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love.^(BX) Honor one another above yourselves.^(BY) ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^(BZ) serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope,^(CA) patient in affliction,^(CB) faithful in prayer.^(CC) ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.^(CD) Practice hospitality.^(CE)

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you;^(CF) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^(CG) ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another.^(CH) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[n] Do not be conceited.^(CI)

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(CJ) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.^(CK) ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^(CL) ¹⁹Do not take revenge,^(CM) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[o]^(CN) says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary: