Letter to the Romans

But I ask, didn't Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."

Isaiah is very bold, and says, "I was found by those who didn't seek me. I was revealed to those who didn't ask for me."

But as to Israel he says, "All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.

I ask then, Did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God didn't reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:

"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."

But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn't obtain, but the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

According as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day."

David says, "Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, A stumbling block, and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Bow down their back always."

I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?

For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;

if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.

For if the rejection of them is the reconciling of the world, what would their acceptance be, but life from the dead?

If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree;