Section 11:11–24

Do not be arrogant toward Jews who do not believe in Jesus

In this section, Paul asked his readers if God has rejected the Jews forever. He answered his own question, indicating that God has not. At that time many Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ/Messiah. As a result, God made the message about Jesus known to people who were not Jews. But God will one day include the Jews and save them through Jesus too.

Paul then spoke directly to the believers who were not Jews. He said that he boasted about his ministry to the non-Jews so as to make the Jews jealous of the results of his ministry among the Gentiles. Then maybe some would be curious and begin believing in Jesus. When God accepts their faith in Jesus, it will be like they rose from the dead.

Paul then used some metaphors to illustrate his point that God has not rejected forever the Jews who, at that time, did not believe in Jesus as the Christ. He showed that if some Jews were holy, then all were, in the same way that a part of a batch of dough represents the whole batch. And the branches of a tree that is holy are themselves holy, even if they have been broken off to allow branches from a different tree to be joined into the trunk. He used the picture of the branches of that different tree to represent the believers who were not Jews.

He reminded the believers who were not Jews of God’s kindness toward them. He told them to always be mindful of that kindness rather than being proud of themselves. He warned them that God is able to do to them as he did to the Jews who do not believe in Jesus, if they became proud of themselves.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Do not look down on Jews who have not accepted Jesus as the Christ
-or-
Many Gentiles believing in Jesus will make the Jews want that blessing too

Paragraph 11:11–12

11:11a

I ask then: Here the word then means “therefore.”

did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?: This is a rhetorical question that Paul himself answered in 11:11b. Translate it as a question.

stumble…fall: These two clauses are figures of speech. Here stumble refers to having difficulty believing that Jesus is the Christ, and fall refers to the consequences of destruction as a result of the Jews rejecting Jesus as the Christ.

In many languages the meaning here will be clear. But in some languages a literal translation would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This indicates that the Jews sinned when they rejected Jesus but God has not abandoned them.

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

did they stumble ⌊in sin⌋ so as to fall ⌊away⌋ ⌊completely⌋ ⌊from God’s promises⌋
-or-
did they fall ⌊in sin⌋ so as to be unable to stand again ⌊and God accept them⌋

so as to: Here this introduces the result. It is not purpose here.

11:11b

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” It indicates a very strong “no.” They did not fall. See how you translated this phrase in 3:4 or 11:1.

11:11c

However: The Greek word here is often translated “but.” Here it indicates contrast to the implied statement “they stumbled.” It does not contrast to “By no means.” In some languages what contrasts in 11:11c must be made clear. For example:

⌊They stumbled⌋ but

because of their trespass: Here the word trespass refers to doing something wrong or bad against God. Here are other ways to translate this word:

they sinned (Good News Translation)
-or-
their failure (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is implied here that the Jews trespassed by rejecting Jesus as the Christ/Messiah. In some languages a literal translation would refer to any trespass. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This refers to the Jews rejecting Jesus as their Messiah.

• Explain in your translation. For example:

their trespass ⌊against God⌋
-or-
their sin ⌊of rejecting Jesus⌋

salvation has come to the Gentiles: There is no verb in the Greek. The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions have added the words has come to make the English natural. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

their failure has brought salvation for the gentiles (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
so God made salvation available to the Gentiles (New Living Translation (2004))

salvation: This word refers to being rescued from something harmful or dangerous. In Scripture it generally refers to rescue from God’s anger at the final judgment. Here are other ways to translate this word:

to save (Good News Translation)
-or-
to save/rescue ⌊people⌋ ⌊from his anger⌋

See how you translated salvation in 1:16 or “saved” in 10:10.

Gentiles: This word refers to people who are not Jews. See how you translated this word in 1:5 or 9:30.

11:11d

to make Israel jealous: This is a purpose for salvation coming to the Gentiles. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

in order to stir them to envy (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
to make Israel envious (New International Version)

Israel: The Greek is literally “them.” It continues to refer to the Jews who do not believe in Jesus.

jealous: Here this word refers to being resentful of what someone else has. It implies here that the Jews resent that Gentiles have attained the kingdom of God. Here are other ways to translate this word:

envious (New International Version)
-or-
they indeed also want to be saved

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