Monday, May 18, 2009

Romans 11:25-36

This passage is not easy as is evidenced by a number of differing interpretations, especially with regard to 'all Israel' being saved (v.26). After checking out the views of different scholars, Harrison (1976, pp.123-126) from 'The Expositor's Bible Commentary' (Vol. 10) seems to be able to pull together a number of different views and make sense of it. Here 'all Israel' would mean the nation Israel as a whole though the language does not necessarily include every living Israelite. Davidson & Martin (1970, p.1039)from 'The New Bible Commentary 3rd Edition' state that the Rabbis in Paul's day used the term 'all Israel' without necessarily implying every individual as a whole.
Some have contended that 'all Israel' relates to all believers whether they be Jew or Gentile, i.e. a 'spiritual Israel'. However, Harrison states that 'Israel' had not been used of Gentiles in these chapters, therefore it is unlikely that Israel would be used of the Gentiles in this particular passage. He gives further helpful insight here as he states that 'There may be grounds for speaking of the church as the New Israel, but so far as terminology is concerned, Israel means the nation or the godly portion of it (cf.9:6).'

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