Romans 11:28
in Romans 11Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
KJV
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
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This verse in Romans 11
Commentary
11 notes on this verse"According to the Gospel indeed they are enemies for your sake: but according to the election they are most dear for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. For as you also once did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy because of their unbelief: so these also have now not believed, that through the mercy shown to you they too may obtain mercy."
This site's exposition
loved on account of the patriarchs
on Romans 11:28-29
Israel stands in two relations at once, enemies regarding the gospel and loved regarding election. Verse 29 grounds the love in God, whose gifts and call are irrevocable, the Greek ametameletos, never taken back. Jeremiah 31:35 to 37 gives the same guarantee by sun and moon.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
However seriously the Jews may have sinned by rejecting the gift of God, and however worthy they may be of death, nevertheless, because they are the children of good people, whose privileges and many benefits from God they have received, they will be received with …
"As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." That the Gentile then might not be puffed up, and say, "I am standing, do not tell me of what would have been, but what has been," he uses this consideration to bring him down, and says, "As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes." For when you were called they became more captious. Nevertheless God hath not even now cut short the calling of you, but He waiteth for all the Gentiles that are to believe to come in, and then they also shall come. Then he does them another kind favor, by saying, "As touching election, they are beloved for the fathers sakes." And what is this? for wherein they are enemies, punishment is theirs: but wherein they are beloved, the virtue of their ancestors has no influence on them, if they do not believe. Nevertheless, as I said, he ceaseth not to solace them with words, that he may bring them over.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, as concerning the Gospel, he proves his statement with a reason: first, he presents the proof; second, he removes an objection, at for the gifts and the calling. First, therefore, he says that their sins will be taken away and that …
Since, he says, you have submitted to the Gospel and have been accepted by God, they became more stubborn and recoiled further and became enemies; but since their ancestors were chosen by God from the beginning, God will not allow them to perish completely (for …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Though, as concerning the gospel (namely, in the present dispensation of it), they are enemies to it for your sakes, that is, for the sake of the Gentiles, against whom they have such an antipathy; yet, when God's time shall come, this will wear off, and God's love to their fathers will be remembered. See a promise that points at this, Lev. xxvi.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
They are now enemies - To the gospel, to God, and to themselves, which God permits. For your sake: but as for the election - That part of them who believe, they are beloved.
As concerning the Gospel,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
As concerning the Gospel - The unbelieving Jews, with regard to the Gospel which they have rejected, are at present enemies to God, and aliens from his kingdom, under his Son Jesus Christ, on account of that extensive grace which has overturned their peculiarity, by admitting the Gentiles into his Church and family: but with regard to the original purpose of election, whereby they were chosen and separated from all the people of the earth to be the peculiar people of God, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake; he has still favor in store for them on account of their forefathers the patriarchs.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
As concerning the gospel - So far as the gospel is concerned; or, in order to promote its extension and spread through the earth. They are enemies - The word “enemies” here stands opposed to “beloved;” and as in one respect, to wit, on account of “election,” they were still beloved, that is, beloved by God, so in another respect they were his enemies, i. e., opposed to him, or cast off from him. The enemies of God denote all who are not his true friends; Col 1:21; Rom 5:10; compare Rom 11:8. The word here is applied to the Jews because they had rejected the Messiah; had become opposed to God; and were therefore rejected by him. For your sakes - For your advantage. Their rejection has become the occasion by which the gospel has been preached to you; compare Rom 11:11, Rom 11:19-20. As touching the election - So far as the purpose of election is concerned. That is, the election of their fathers and of the nation to be the special people of God. They are beloved - God still regards them with interest; has purposes of mercy toward them; intends still to do them good. This does not, mean that he approved of their conduct or character, or that he had for them the same kind of affection which he would have had if they had been obedient. God does not love a sinful character; but he may have still purposes of mercy, and regard people with deep interest on whom he intends yet to bestow mercy. For the fathers’ sakes - Compare Deu 10:15. He had chosen their fathers to be His special people. He had made many promises to Abraham respecting his seed, and extended these premises to his remotest posterity. Though salvation is by grace, and not from human merit, yet God has respect to his covenant made with the fathers, and will not forget his promises. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| κατὰ | kata | As regards | G2596 → | 468 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγέλιον | euangelion | gospel | G2098 → | 73 times |
| ἐχθροὶ | echthroi | [they are] enemies | G2190 → | 32 times |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | on account of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| κατὰ | kata | As regards | G2596 → | 468 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκλογὴν | eklogen | election | G1589 → | 7 times |
| ἀγαπητοὶ | agapetoi | beloved | G27 → | 61 times |
| διὰ | dia | on account of | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατέρας· | pateras | patriarchs; | G3962 → | 410 times |
κατὰAs regards
kataG2596 →468 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγέλιονgospel
euangelionG2098 →73 times
ἐχθροὶ[they are] enemies
echthroiG2190 →32 times
δι᾽on account of
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
κατὰAs regards
kataG2596 →468 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἐκλογὴνelection
eklogenG1589 →7 times
ἀγαπητοὶbeloved
agapetoiG27 →61 times
διὰon account of
diaG1223 →664 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
πατέρας·patriarchs;
paterasG3962 →410 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Matthew 21:43Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
it leads to
- Matthew 21:41
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”
- Matthew 8:11–12
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Matthew 21:41
Through
Romans 9:5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
it leads to
- John 10:30
I and the Father are one.”
- John 1:1–3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Colossians 1:16–19
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
- Romans 1:25
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
- 1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son…
- John 10:30
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Romans
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.