Introduction
C. Israel’s future salvation ch. 11
In chapter 9 Paul glorified God’s past grace in sovereignly electing Israel as a vessel that would honor Him in a special way in time and space. In chapter 10 he spoke of Israel’s present refusal to respond to His provision of Jesus Christ. In chapter 11 he revealed God’s future plans for the nation that, when accomplished, will fully vindicate His righteousness.
This chapter proves that God has a future for ethnic Israel, the racial descendants of Jacob. That future is distinct from the future of the church that true believers of both Jewish and Gentile races living now compose. Romans 11 not only vindicates God but dispensational theology. Covenant theology on the other hand argues that God will fulfill the promises concerning future blessing that He gave Israel in the church. [Note: See Saucy, The Case . . ., pp. 250-63, for a good presentation of Israel’s future restoration in this chapter, and Griffith Thomas, St. Paul’s Epistle . . ., pp. 310-17.]
"This chapter from the historical point of view is logically necessary. The Old Testament clearly promises Israel headship or leadership in the world’s worship . . . Israel as a separate people is to be restored and to realize the promises made to them in the Old Testament." [Note: Stifler, p. 183.]
"The great historian Arnold Toynbee classified Israel as ’a fossil civilization’ and did not know what to do with it. For some reason, the nation did not fit into his historical theories." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:550.]
Be the first to react on this!
