Romans 11:13-14 - Exposition

But ( δὲ is better supported than γὰρ ) I speak to you the Gentiles. Inasmuch (or, so far ) then ( οὖν , which is not in the Textus Receptus, being read, and so connecting this clause with what follows) as I am an apostle of the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy (in the Authorized Version, emulation, but it is the same word as in Romans 11:11 ) my flesh ( i.e. my kindred ) , and may save some of them . To the Gentiles, whom he now directly addresses, he thus intimates that, though he is especially their apostle, yet beyond them he has his own countrymen still in view, whose conversion, through theirs, he has ever close to his heart. I glorify ( δοξάζω ) my ministry—i.e, my apostleship to the Gentiles—may mean that I add glory to it, if I may, through it, attain that further purpose.