The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• The Calvin Translation Society, Instituted In May M.DCCC.XLIII.
• Translator’s Preface.
• Commentaries On the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans.
• The Epistle Dedicatory.
• Epistle to the Romans.: the Argument.
• Chapter I.
• Chapter II.
• Chapter III.
• Chapter IV.
• Chapter V.
• Chapter VI.
• Chapter VII.
• Chapter VIII.
• Chapter IX.
• Chapter X.
• Chapter XI.
• Chapter XII.
• Chapter XIII.
• Chapter XIV.
• Chapter XV. 1
• Chapter XVI.
• A Translation of Calvin’s Version of the Epistle to the Romans.
• Chapter I.
• Chapter II.
• Chapter III.
• Chapter IV.
• Chapter V.
• Chapter VI.
• Chapter VII.
• Chapter VIII.
• Chapter IX.
• Chapter X.
• Chapter XI.
• Chapter XII.
• Chapter XIII.
• Chapter XIV.
• Chapter XV.
• Chapter XVI.
• Errata.
• Works Published By T. and T. Clark, Edinburgh.

CHAPTER XI.

1I say then, Hath God cast away his people? By no means; for I also am an Israelite, from the seed of Abraham, from the2 tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people whom he has foreknown. Know ye not what the Scripture saith as3 to Elias? how he appeals to God against Israel, saying, “Lord, thy prophets have they killed, and thy altars have they pulled4 down, and I am left alone, and they seek my life?” But what says the answer of God to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the5 image of Baal.” So now, even at this time, there is a remnant6 according to the election of grace: and if through grace, then no longer by works, otherwise grace is no longer grace; but if by works, then no longer by grace, otherwise work is no longer work.

7What then? That which Israel seeks, he has not obtained; but election has obtained it, and the rest have been blinded,8 as it is written, “God has given them the spirit of compunction, eyes so as not to see, and ears so as not to hear,” even to9 this day; and David says, “Be their table for a snare and for a trap, and for a stumbling, and for a recompense to them;10 darkened be their eyes so as not to see, and their back ever bow thou down.”

11I say then, Have they stumbled so as wholly to fall? By no means; but by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles12 in order to provoke them to jealousy. But if their fall be the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of the13 Gentiles, how much more their fulness? Even to you Gentiles do I speak,—As far, doubtless, as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles,14 I make illustrious my office, if by any means I shall provoke15 to emulation my flesh, and shall save some of them. If indeed their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will be their resumption but life from the dead?

16Now if the first-fruits be holy, even so the lump; and if the17 root be holy, so also the branches. If indeed some of the branches have been broken off, and thou, a wild olive, hast been ingrafted instead of them, and hast become a partaker of the18 root and fatness of the olive, glory not against the branches;19 but if thou gloriest, it is not thou who bearest the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt then say, “Broken off have been the20 branches, that I might be ingrafted.” Be it so: for unbelief have they been broken off, and thou by faith standest; be not21 high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, beware lest he should not spare thee.

22See then the kindness and the severity of God; towards those indeed who have fallen, severity; but towards thee kindness, if thou continuest in his kindness; otherwise thou also shalt be23 cut off: and they, if they remain not in unbelief, shall be ingrafted; 24 for God is able to ingraft them again. For if thou hast been cut off from the wild olive, which is so by nature, and hast contrary to nature been ingrafted in the true olive, much more shall they, according to nature, be ingrafted in their own olive.

25I would not indeed, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be proud among yourselves, that blindness has in part happened to Israel, until the fulness of26 the Gentiles shall come in: and so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, “Come from Sion shall the Deliverer, and shall27 turn away impieties from Jacob; and this shall be my covenant28 with them, when I shall take away their sins.” As to the gospel they are indeed enemies on your account; but as to29 election they are beloved on account of the fathers; for without30 repentance are the gifts and the calling of God. As indeed ye also formerly believed not God, but have now obtained31 mercy through their unbelief; so also they have not now believed, because ye have obtained mercy, that they may also32 obtain mercy: for God has shut up all under unbelief, that he might show mercy to all.

33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! how incomprehensible are his judgments34 and unsearchable his ways! Who indeed has known the mind35 of the Lord? or who has been to him a counsellor? or, who36 has first given to him, and it shall be rendered to him again? for from him and through him and for him are all things: to him be glory for ever. Amen.