Skip to content
mannafest.faith

Romans 11:20

in Romans 11

That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

KJV

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

This verse in Romans 11

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Well; because of unbelief, etc. - This statement is all true; but then, consider, why is it that they were cast out? Was it not because of their unbelief? And you stand by faith: you were made partakers of these blessings by faith; be not high-minded; let this humble, not exalt you in your own estimation; for if the blessings were received by faith, consequently not by works; and if not by works, you have no merit; and what you have received is through the mere mercy of God.

This site's exposition

Branches were broken off

on Romans 11:19-22

Paul lets the Gentile say it, that branches were broken off so he could be grafted in, and verse 20 grants the fact while breaking the pride. Both the breaking and the standing turn on faith. Verse 22 holds kindness and severity together, and the warning runs at full strength to the grafted branch.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

They were broken off for unbelief, and thou standest by faith - Both conditionally, not absolutely: if absolutely, there might have been room to boast. By faith - The free gift of God, which therefore ought to humble thee.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Consider, (1.) "How they were broken off. It was not undeservedly, by an act of absolute sovereignty and prerogative, but because of unbelief. " It seems, then, it is possible for churches that have long stood by faith to fall into such a state of infidelity as may be their ruin.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Well--"Be it so, but remember that" because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest--not as a Gentile, but solely by faith--But as faith cannot live in those "whose soul is lifted up" (Hab 2:4).

The words behind it

14 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Philippians 2:12

    Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

    it leads to

    • 2 Peter 1:5–10

      For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

    • Luke 13:23–24

      “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,

    • 1 Corinthians 15:58

      Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

    • Hebrews 4:11

      Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

    • 1 Peter 2:11

      Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 10:12

    So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.

    it leads to

    • 2 Peter 3:17

      Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.

    • Proverbs 16:18

      Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

    • 1 Corinthians 8:2

      The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

Where this verse is studied

About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.