WILL ISRAEL BE RESTORED?

ROMANS 11:22–32

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved

(Romans 11:25–26a)

Paul emphasizes what he is about to say by prefacing it with the phrase, “I don’t want you to be ignorant about this.” He then goes on and tells them that what he is going to talk about is a “mystery.” In Paul’s vocabulary, a mystery is something that once was concealed, which we could not figure out, and which requires revelation for us to know.

The mystery is that Israel has been partially hardened until the full number of Gentiles has come in, and then “all Israel will be saved.” Some expositors believe this means that throughout time there will always be some Jews who convert, and the result—all of spiritual Israel will be saved.

The problem with this interpretation is that Paul has been speaking of ethnic Israel throughout this passage. It is begging the question to suppose that suddenly in verse 26 he shifts without warning to speaking of spiritual Israel. Moreover, there is no “mystery” in the idea that all of spiritual Israel will be saved. Everyone knows that.

The Coming Conversion of Israel

Rather, Paul has indicated that he is about to drop a revelatory bombshell, something unexpected. Thus, the other interpretation of these verses is that after the “fulness” of the Gentiles has been accomplished there will be a conversion of Israel.

Paul says “all Israel” in verse 26. This refers to Israel as a nation or people. Up to now, Paul has been speaking of a “partial” hardening of Israel, of “part” of Israel’s being cut off. Now. however, he says “all.” This means that the nation, as a nation, will be restored to God. It does not mean every single Jew alive at that time will be saved, but it does mean some kind of national conversion.

CORAM DEO

Paul says that the fulness of Israel will bring great blessings for the Gentiles (v. 12). and that the fulness of Israel will not come until a “fulness” of the Gentiles has come (v. 25). Based on the logic of Paul’s argument, if we want to receive the promise of these great blessings, what do we need to be doing? (Answer: Romans 10:14–15.)

For further study: Isaiah 65:8–19; Jeremiah 31:31–34

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