1 So|strong="G3767" I|strong="G1473" ask|strong="G3004", “Did|strong="G1510" God|strong="G2316" force his|strong="G0846" people|strong="G2992" to|strong="G3004" leave him|strong="G0846"?” Of|strong="G1537" course not|strong="G3361". I|strong="G1473" myself|strong="G0846" am|strong="G1510" an|strong="G1510" Israelite|strong="G2475". I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" family of|strong="G1537" Abraham|strong="G0011", from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" tribe|strong="G5443" of|strong="G1537" Benjamin|strong="G0958".
2 God|strong="G2316" chose the|strong="G3588" Israelites to|strong="G3004" be|strong="G2316" his|strong="G0846" people|strong="G2992" before|strong="G1722" they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G2992" born. And|strong="G2316" he|strong="G0846" did|strong="G1492" not|strong="G3756" force them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G3004" leave. Surely you|strong="G3739" know|strong="G1492" what|strong="G5101" the|strong="G3588" Scriptures|strong="G1124" say|strong="G3004" about|strong="G5613" Elijah|strong="G2243". The|strong="G3588" Scriptures|strong="G1124" tell|strong="G3004" about|strong="G5613" Elijah|strong="G2243" praying to|strong="G3004" God|strong="G2316" against|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G2992" of|strong="G2316" Israel|strong="G2474". He|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004",
3 “Lord|strong="G2962", they|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" killed|strong="G0615" your|strong="G2962" prophets|strong="G4396" and|strong="G2532" destroyed your|strong="G2962" altars|strong="G2379". I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G2212" the|strong="G3588" only|strong="G3441" prophet|strong="G4396" still living, and|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3588" trying|strong="G2212" to|strong="G2212" kill|strong="G0615" me|strong="G1473" now|strong="G2532".”
4 But|strong="G0235" what|strong="G5101" answer did|strong="G5101" God|strong="G0846" give|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" Elijah? God|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004", “I|strong="G3004" have|strong="G3748" kept|strong="G2641" for|strong="G3004" myself|strong="G1683" seven|strong="G2035" thousand|strong="G2035" men|strong="G0435" who|strong="G3588" have|strong="G3748" never|strong="G3756" given worship to|strong="G3004" Baal|strong="G0896".”
5 It|strong="G3779" is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3779" now|strong="G3568". God has|strong="G1096" chosen|strong="G1589" a|strong="G1096" few people|strong="G3588" by|strong="G1722" his|strong="G2532" grace|strong="G5485".
6 And|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1487" he|strong="G1161" chose them by|strong="G1537" grace|strong="G5485", then|strong="G1161" it|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3765" what|strong="G3588" they|strong="G1161" have|strong="G1096" done|strong="G1096" that|strong="G1096" made|strong="G1096" them his|strong="G1096" people|strong="G3588". If|strong="G1487" they|strong="G1161" could|strong="G1096" be|strong="G1096" made|strong="G1096" his|strong="G1096" people|strong="G3588" by|strong="G1537" what|strong="G3588" they|strong="G1161" did|strong="G1096", his|strong="G1096" gift|strong="G5485" of|strong="G1537" grace|strong="G5485" would|strong="G1096" not|strong="G3765" really be|strong="G1096" a|strong="G1096" gift|strong="G5485".
7 So|strong="G3767" this|strong="G3778" is|strong="G5101" what|strong="G5101" has|strong="G3739" happened|strong="G3588": The|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3778" of|strong="G3588" Israel|strong="G2474" wanted God’s blessing, but|strong="G1161" they|strong="G3767" did|strong="G3767" not|strong="G3756" all|strong="G3588" get it|strong="G1161". The|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3778" he|strong="G3739" chose did|strong="G3767" get his|strong="G3739" blessing, but|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" others|strong="G3062" became hard and|strong="G1161" refused|strong="G3756" to|strong="G5101" listen to|strong="G5101" him|strong="G3739".
8 As|strong="G2531" the|strong="G3588" Scriptures say,
9 And|strong="G2532" David|strong="G1138" says|strong="G3004",
10 Let|strong="G4654" their|strong="G0846" eyes|strong="G3788" be|strong="G2532" closed so|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3956" they|strong="G0846" cannot|strong="G3361" see|strong="G0991".
11 So|strong="G2443" I|strong="G3767" ask|strong="G3004": When|strong="G1096" the|strong="G3588" Jews fell|strong="G4098", did|strong="G1096" that|strong="G2443" fall|strong="G4098" destroy them|strong="G0846"? No|strong="G3361"! But|strong="G0235" their|strong="G0846" mistake brought|strong="G1519" salvation|strong="G4991" to|strong="G1519" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" Jews. The|strong="G3588" purpose|strong="G0846" of|strong="G3004" this|strong="G3588" was|strong="G3588" to|strong="G1519" make|strong="G3863" the|strong="G3588" Jews jealous|strong="G3863".
12 Their|strong="G0846" mistake brought rich blessings to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889". And|strong="G2532" what|strong="G3588" they|strong="G0846" lost brought rich blessings to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" non-Jewish people|strong="G1484". So|strong="G2532" surely the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889" will|strong="G1484" get much|strong="G4214" richer blessings when|strong="G2532" enough Jews become the|strong="G3588" kind of|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1484" God|strong="G0846" wants.
13 Now|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" speaking|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210" people|strong="G1484" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" Jews. I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" an|strong="G1510" apostle|strong="G0652" to|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" non-Jewish people|strong="G1484". So|strong="G3767" while|strong="G1510" I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1510" that|strong="G3004" work, I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G1510" do|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" best I|strong="G1473" can|strong="G3004".
14 I|strong="G1473" hope I|strong="G1473" can make|strong="G3863" my|strong="G2532" own|strong="G0846" people|strong="G0846" jealous|strong="G3863". That|strong="G0846" way|strong="G0846", maybe I|strong="G1473" can help some|strong="G5100" of|strong="G1537" them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" saved|strong="G4982".
15 God|strong="G0846" turned away from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" Jews. When|strong="G0846" that|strong="G0846" happened|strong="G3588", he|strong="G0846" became friends with|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" other|strong="G0846" people|strong="G0846" in|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889". So|strong="G3361" when|strong="G0846" he|strong="G0846" accepts the|strong="G3588" Jews, it|strong="G0846" will|strong="G5101" be|strong="G3361" like|strong="G0846" bringing people|strong="G0846" to|strong="G5101" life|strong="G2222" after|strong="G1537" death|strong="G3498".
16 If|strong="G1487" the|strong="G3588" first|strong="G0536" piece|strong="G0536" of|strong="G3588" bread is|strong="G3588" offered to|strong="G2532" God, then|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" whole loaf is|strong="G3588" made holy|strong="G0040". If|strong="G1487" the|strong="G3588" roots|strong="G4491" of|strong="G3588" a|strong="G1487" tree are|strong="G3588" holy|strong="G0040", the|strong="G3588" tree’s branches|strong="G2798" are|strong="G3588" holy|strong="G0040" too|strong="G2532".
17 It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" as|strong="G1722" if|strong="G1487" some|strong="G5100" of|strong="G5100" the|strong="G3588" branches|strong="G2798" from|strong="G1722" an|strong="G1510" olive|strong="G1636" tree|strong="G1636" have|strong="G1510" been|strong="G1510" broken|strong="G1575" off|strong="G1575", and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" branch|strong="G2798" of|strong="G5100" a|strong="G1096" wild|strong="G0065" olive|strong="G1636" tree|strong="G1636" has|strong="G1096" been|strong="G1510" joined|strong="G1096" to|strong="G2532" that|strong="G1096" first tree|strong="G1636". If|strong="G1487" you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1096" Jew, you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G0846" as|strong="G1722" that|strong="G1096" wild|strong="G0065" branch|strong="G2798", and|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" now|strong="G1161" share the|strong="G3588" strength and|strong="G2532" life of|strong="G5100" the|strong="G3588" first tree|strong="G1636".
18 But|strong="G1161" don’t|strong="G3756" act as|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1487" you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G3588" better than|strong="G3361" those|strong="G3588" branches|strong="G2798" that|strong="G1161" were|strong="G3588" broken off. You|strong="G4771" have|strong="G3588" no|strong="G3756" reason to|strong="G3756" be|strong="G3361" proud of|strong="G3588" yourself|strong="G4771", because|strong="G1161" you|strong="G4771" don’t|strong="G3756" give life to|strong="G3756" the|strong="G3588" root|strong="G4491". The|strong="G3588" root|strong="G4491" gives life to|strong="G3756" you|strong="G4771".
19 You|strong="G3004" might|strong="G1473" say|strong="G3004", “Branches|strong="G2798" were|strong="G2798" broken|strong="G1575" off|strong="G1575" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" I|strong="G1473" could be|strong="G3767" joined to|strong="G2443" their tree.”
20 That|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3588" true. But|strong="G1161" those|strong="G3588" branches were|strong="G3588" broken|strong="G1575" off|strong="G1575" because|strong="G1161" they|strong="G1161" did|strong="G2573" not|strong="G3361" believe. And|strong="G1161" you|strong="G4771" continue to|strong="G2573" be|strong="G3361" part of|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" tree only|strong="G0235" because|strong="G1161" you|strong="G4771" believe. Don’t|strong="G3361" be|strong="G3361" proud, but|strong="G1161" be|strong="G3361" afraid|strong="G5399".
21 If|strong="G1487" God|strong="G2316" did|strong="G5339" not|strong="G3756" let the|strong="G3588" natural|strong="G5449" branches|strong="G2798" of|strong="G2316" that|strong="G2316" tree stay, he|strong="G1487" will|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3756" let you|strong="G4771" stay if|strong="G1487" you|strong="G4771" stop believing.
22 So|strong="G3767" you|strong="G4771" see|strong="G3708" that|strong="G3708" God|strong="G2316" is|strong="G2316" kind, but|strong="G1161" he|strong="G2532" can also|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" very|strong="G2532" strict. He|strong="G2532" punishes those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" stop following him|strong="G3708". But|strong="G1161" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2316" kind to|strong="G1909" you|strong="G4771", if|strong="G1437" you|strong="G4771" continue|strong="G1961" trusting in|strong="G1909" his|strong="G3708" kindness|strong="G5544". If|strong="G1437" you|strong="G4771" don’t continue|strong="G1961" depending on|strong="G1909" him|strong="G3708", you|strong="G4771" will|strong="G2316" be|strong="G2532" cut|strong="G1581" off|strong="G1581" from|strong="G4098" the|strong="G3588" tree.
23 And|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1437" the|strong="G3588" Jews will|strong="G2316" believe in|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316" again|strong="G3825", he|strong="G0846" will|strong="G2316" accept them|strong="G0846" back|strong="G3825". He|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" able|strong="G1415" to|strong="G3825" put them|strong="G0846" back|strong="G3825" where they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G1510".
24 It|strong="G1581" is|strong="G3778" not|strong="G2532" natural|strong="G5449" for|strong="G1063" a|strong="G1487" wild|strong="G0065" branch to|strong="G1519" become part of|strong="G1537" a|strong="G1487" good tree|strong="G1636". But|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" non-Jewish people|strong="G3778" are|strong="G3778" like|strong="G2596" a|strong="G1487" branch cut|strong="G1581" from|strong="G1537" a|strong="G1487" wild|strong="G0065" olive|strong="G1636" tree|strong="G1636". And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" were|strong="G3778" joined to|strong="G1519" a|strong="G1487" good olive|strong="G1636" tree|strong="G1636". But|strong="G2532" those|strong="G3588" Jews are|strong="G3778" like|strong="G2596" a|strong="G1487" branch that|strong="G3778" grew from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" good tree|strong="G1636". So|strong="G2532" surely they|strong="G2532" can be|strong="G2532" joined to|strong="G1519" their|strong="G2532" own|strong="G2398" tree|strong="G1636" again|strong="G2532".
25 I|strong="G3739" want|strong="G2309" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G2443" understand|strong="G0050" this|strong="G3778" secret truth, brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G0080" sisters. This|strong="G3778" truth will|strong="G1510" help you|strong="G5210" understand|strong="G0050" that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" don’t|strong="G3756" know|strong="G0050" everything. The|strong="G3588" truth is|strong="G1510" this|strong="G3778": Part|strong="G3313" of|strong="G0575" Israel|strong="G2474" has|strong="G3739" been|strong="G1510" made|strong="G1096" stubborn, but|strong="G1063" that|strong="G3754" will|strong="G1510" change when|strong="G1096" enough non-Jewish people|strong="G1484" have|strong="G1510" come|strong="G1096" to|strong="G2443" God.
26 And|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3956" is|strong="G3588" how|strong="G3779" all|strong="G3956" Israel|strong="G2474" will|strong="G3956" be|strong="G2532" saved|strong="G4982". The|strong="G3956" Scriptures say,
27 And|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3778" make this|strong="G3778" agreement with|strong="G3844" those|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846"
28 The|strong="G3588" Jews refuse to|strong="G2596" accept the|strong="G3588" Good|strong="G2098" News|strong="G2098", so|strong="G1161" they|strong="G1161" are|strong="G3588" God’s enemies|strong="G2190". This|strong="G3588" has|strong="G3962" happened|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2596" help you|strong="G5210" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3962" Jews. But|strong="G1161" they|strong="G1161" are|strong="G3588" still God’s chosen|strong="G1589" people|strong="G3588", and|strong="G1161" he|strong="G1161" loves them|strong="G1223" because|strong="G1223" of|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" promises he|strong="G1161" made to|strong="G2596" their|strong="G2596" ancestors|strong="G3962".
29 God|strong="G2316" never changes his|strong="G2532" mind|strong="G2532" about|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588" he|strong="G2532" calls. He|strong="G2532" never decides to|strong="G2532" take back the|strong="G3588" blessings he|strong="G2532" has|strong="G2316" given them.
30 At|strong="G1161" one|strong="G3778" time|strong="G4218" you|strong="G5210" refused to|strong="G3778" obey|strong="G0544" God|strong="G2316". But|strong="G1161" now|strong="G1161" you|strong="G5210" have|strong="G1653" received|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1653", because|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3588" Jews refused to|strong="G3778" obey|strong="G0544".
31 And|strong="G2532" now|strong="G3568" they|strong="G0846" are|strong="G3778" the|strong="G3588" ones who|strong="G3588" refuse to|strong="G2443" obey|strong="G0544", because|strong="G0846" God|strong="G0846" showed|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1656" to|strong="G2443" you|strong="G3779". But|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3778" happened|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" they|strong="G0846" can also|strong="G2532" receive|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1656" from|strong="G2532" him|strong="G0846".
32 All|strong="G3956" people|strong="G3956" have|strong="G1653" refused to|strong="G1519" obey God|strong="G2316". And|strong="G2316" he|strong="G3956" has|strong="G2316" put them|strong="G2443" all|strong="G3956" together as|strong="G1519" people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" don’t obey him|strong="G2443" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" he|strong="G3956" can show|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1653" to|strong="G1519" everyone|strong="G3956".
33 Yes, God’s|strong="G2316" riches|strong="G4149" are|strong="G3588" very|strong="G0846" great! His|strong="G0846" wisdom|strong="G4678" and|strong="G2532" knowledge|strong="G1108" have|strong="G2532" no end! No one|strong="G3588" can explain what|strong="G3588" God|strong="G2316" decides. No one|strong="G3588" can understand his|strong="G0846" ways|strong="G3598".
34 As|strong="G1096" the|strong="G1097" Scriptures say,
35 “Who|strong="G5101" has|strong="G5101" ever given|strong="G4272" God|strong="G0846" anything|strong="G5101"?
36 Yes, God|strong="G0846" made all|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956". And|strong="G2532" everything|strong="G3956" continues through|strong="G1223" him|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" for|strong="G1519" him|strong="G0846". To|strong="G1519" God|strong="G0846" be|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" glory|strong="G1391" forever|strong="G0165"! Amen|strong="G0281".