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Timothy: Romans 11:11-24
The Holy Olive Root, the Israelites, and the Gentiles

11 I say, then, Did not they stumble that they fall? Let it not be! But by their slipping away came salvation to the nations, to provoke them to jealousy.

12 But if their slipping away is the riches of the world, and their default the riches of the nations, how much more their fullness?

13 For I speak to you, the nations, since I am an apostle of the nations, (I glorify my ministry),

14 if somehow I may provoke to jealousy my flesh, and may save some of them.

15 For if their casting away is the reconciliation of the world, what is the reception, except life from the dead?

16 Now if the firstfruit is holy, so also the lump. And if the root is holy, so also the branches.

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree were grafted in among them, and became a sharer of the root and the fatness of the olive tree,

18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, it is not you that bears the root, but the root bears you.

19 You will say then, The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.

20 Well! For unbelief they were broken off. And you stand by faith. Do not be highminded, but fear.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, fear that it may be He will not spare you either.

22 Behold, then, the kindness and severity of God: On those having fallen, severity. But on you, kindness, if you continue in the kindness. Otherwise, you will also be cut off.

23 And those also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if you were cut out of the natural wild olive tree, and against nature were grafted into a good olive tree, how much more these being according to nature will be grafted into their own olive tree?

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I offer my praise and thanks to You. Another day has passed, and I am grateful that You have allowed me to continue living in this physical body, to contemplate the Eternal Living Word of God, and to participate in building Your Church among the people of Vietnam. I pray that Christ will strengthen me and that the Holy Spirit will guide me in the truth. I am grateful to Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Dear Father, I would like to present my understanding of Romans 11:11-24.

Dear Father, I understand verses 11 and 12 as follows: Although these are the words of the Apostle Paul, I believe that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write some thoughts that might be in the minds of God’s people regarding the stumbling of Israel. Through Paul, the Holy Spirit affirmed that the stumbling of Israel did not cause the Jewish people to lose their share of salvation. Even though You allowed them to remain in their hardness of heart for nearly two thousand years and sent many people to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, anyone in Israel who believes in the Gospel is still admitted into the Church.

The fact that the Gentiles believe and worship You like the Jews, but with the difference that they also believe in Your Gospel of Salvation, is an event worth pondering for the Jews and encouraging them to believe in the Gospel. If the stumbling of Israel caused the Gentiles to learn about the Gospel and enjoy Your abundant grace, then the fact that the Jewish people believe in the Gospel will further enrich the Gentiles’ blessings. For You have chosen Israel as a priestly nation for all people.

Dear Father, I understand verses 13 and 14 to mean that Paul told the people of God in the Church, who were born from the Gentiles, that he was called to be an apostle to the Gentiles and did his best to fulfill his duty. However, he did not forget that Israel was the people of Abraham’s descendants according to the flesh, just like himself. Whenever he had the opportunity, he reminded and urged them to come to the Gospel, hoping to save even a few of them.

Dear Father, I understand verse 15 to mean that due to the rebellion of the people of Israel, You temporarily set them aside for nearly two thousand years. However, You provided the Gospel of Salvation to all people, allowing many from other nations to be reconciled with God through faith in the Gospel. When the time comes, if You accept Israel back, it will be as if they were raised from the dead.

Dear Father, I understand verse 16 to mean that if the bread offered to You as the firstfruits of the harvest is holy, then the flour used to make the bread is also holy. If the root is holy, then the branches are also holy, because the branches receive life from the root. The term “holy” is used here with a special meaning for You to use. The forefathers of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were holy, so their descendants were also holy, set apart for You, except those who rejected You. This is the difference between Israel and the nations.

Dear Father, I understand passages 17 through 22 as follows: Christ is the good olive tree, as prophesied in Isaiah 11:1, “And a Shoot goes out from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch will bear fruit out of his roots.” Within Christ are the people of Israel, but when they do not accept Him, they are cut off from Him. At that time, those from other nations who believe in the Gospel are united with Christ, like wild olive branches grafted into a good olive tree. These people from other nations are made partakers of the root, sharing in the faith of the forefathers of Israel. The sap of the good olive tree is the life from Christ. Those from the nations have nothing to boast about, nor can they criticize the unbelieving Israelites. For they are united with Christ through faith in Your grace, not by any works of their own. Instead, they should fear You and continue to live in a way that demonstrates their faith by not breaking Your commandments. If they do not, they will also be cut off, like the unbelieving Israelites. You are loving, for You are love; yet, You are also just, for You are righteous. You do not accept sin, for You are holy.

Dear Father, I understand verses 23 and 24 to mean that if the people of Israel abandon their unbelief and believe in the Gospel, they will be immediately grafted back into Christ. The advantage of the people of Israel over the nations is that they are descended from Abraham, a man of great faith. They already know God and have been entrusted with the Eternal Living Word of God. Therefore, when they are grafted into Christ, they will experience a new life in Him. It will be a nature to them, and their restoration will be like resurrection from the dead.

I pray for peace in Jerusalem and for the day when You will rescue the people of Israel. I understand and believe that Christ will take the Church out of the world before that time. I also eagerly await Christ. May all of Your will be fulfilled soon. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
04/03/2023