Chapter 11 is one of the most complicated chapters in the Book of Romans. It is important for contemporary readers to remember that when Paul penned this letter, the Gospel stories of Jesus did not yet exist. He was writing to a group of people in Rome whom he had never met and who were divided over the issue of Gentile versus Jew. Today, when we delve into studying what Paul means in this theological letter, we often think back to the life of Jesus. In fact, I have heard it said that for modern readers, Paul is explicating what it meant for Jesus to speak with Gentiles, eat with tax collectors, and invite criminals into the Kingdom of God (Luke 23:43).
Since the original audience for Paul’s letter did not yet have the Gospels for reference, Paul uses Old Testament references throughout the Book of Romans to build his argument. In chapter 11 we have officially embarked on the part of the letter where Paul is looking to answer the controversial, and still current, question: “Are the Jews still God’s chosen people?”
Paul does not bury the lead! In the first verse, he is straightforward in his delivery: “Did God reject his people? By no means!” To build his argument of inclusivity, Paul looks at three different scriptural references that his readers would have immediately understood. His first citation is Deuteronomy 29, where Moses laments that the people of Israel have hardened their hearts against God (v. 8). The second citation is from Psalm 69. There, David is so aggrieved by the treatment he has received from his enemies that he asks God for justice (v. 9). The third witness is Isaiah, who laments for Israel in Isaiah 29 that, “their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their back be bent forever” (v. 10).
However, the stories do not end there. Despite the utter failure of God’s people in each of these accounts, God remains faithful. Moses admonishes the people’s shortcomings, and a mere six verses later, invites them into a covenant with the living God (Deut. 29: 12). David laments his treatment by the people, but the Psalm ends in a praise for God’s faithfulness despite his enemies’ shaming (Psalm 69:33). Finally, though Isaiah warns the Israelites of their lack of faithfulness, he still promises that a day will come when “the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see” (Isaiah 29:18).
These scriptural references are often lost on the modern reader, but we must keep reading to understand the nuances Paul offers as witnesses to God’s redemptive love. Paul is building his argument that Jesus came not to replace the covenant that God made with His people; He came to extend it.
Consider this quote from Walther Eichrodt, “The divine activity of love is brought out most strongly when it is credited with eternal durability. Man cannot annul the covenant; if he breaks it, this only means that he is violating its conditions. The majesty of divine love shows itself in this, that God alone has the power to dissolve the relation, yet never makes use of it.”
God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).