03/10/2026

 

Samuel Clifford

 

Introduction:

 

One of the most ignored passages in the Bible, in my opinion, is Romans 11:25-32. The reason I say this is because of the concerningly large number of replacement theologians who believe God has cast off Israel. Their beliefs directly contradict this passage in which a group (that cannot be the church) is still elect and will one day be saved (during the Millennium after purification from the Tribulation). The intent of this article is to do an in-depth analysis of these verses.

 

Context of Romans 11

 

Chapter 11 of Romans has to do with God’s future plans for Israel. In Romans 11:16-24, Paul stresses the unity between believing Gentiles and Jews. The text is similar to Ephesians 2 in that it shows a soteriological unity between believing Jews and Gentiles, but it does not indicate that believing Gentiles are incorporated into Israel. 

 

“For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” Romans 11:16-24 KJV

 

In this passage, Paul speaks of an olive tree, which appears to represent the place of blessing. The root of this olive tree is likely the Abrahamic covenant. This issue here is the relationship Jews and Gentiles have to the Abrahamic covenant. According to 11:17, “some of the branches be broken off.” This refers to unbelieving Jews who are removed from the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant. Believing Gentiles, however, who are represented by the “wild olive branch,” have been grafted into the “fatness of the olive tree.” So believing Gentiles are now in the place of blessing as they are benefiting from the Abrahamic covenant. In 11:18, Paul warns Gentile Christians not to be arrogant against the natural branches (Jews) since “God has the power to graft them in again” (11:23), which will clearly be the case according to 11:26, when Paul predicts the salvation of the nation of Israel. It is extremely difficult to see how this passage supports replacement theology. While both the “natural” and “wild” branches have a relationship to the same olive tree, the branches are still distinguished. It is not as though the wild branches become the natural branches. So even within the illustration believing Jews and Gentiles are distinguished. 

 

Romans 11:25

 

“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

In the New Testament, a “mystery” means something that had not been revealed prior. Another example is 1 Corinthians 15:51 where the mystery not revealed prior was that not every believer will experience physical death (“we will not all sleep”), every believer will undergo a supernatural transformation. The mystery in Romans 11:25 is that God has hardened Israel’s heart partially until the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in” which refers to the rapture of the Church. When the church is raptured, no more people will be added to it (Acts 2:47).

 

People will still be saved during the Tribulation as Revelation 13 and 17 are parallel passages, and in 13 the beast is given power over all kindreds to overcome saints, and in 17 we see a group that came out of the great tribulation "from all kindreds", and the church did not come out of the tribulation, because they were never in it to begin with (Rev. 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Titus 2:13) So logically the only option is that people can be saved during the tribulation saints. However, since the Church cannot go through the tribulation they cannot be a part of the church. 

 

Note that this verse, and the verses after as I will show, prove that the Church and Israel are not the same. In this verse Israel is hardened and how can someone interpret the Church as being hardened if they are the same?

 

Romans 11:26-27

 

“and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’ ‘This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.’”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

This verse is not teaching that every single individual Israelite will be saved as shown by Revelation 2:9 and 3:9. “All Israel” refers to the nation collectively, in contrast to the smaller believing remnant within it. The context makes this clear. Paul is not teaching that every individual Israelite alive at that time will be saved, but that the nation as a whole, its majority, will turn to the Lord (cf. Zechariah 12–13). Exodus 14:30–31 shows this clearly as God “saved Israel” at the Red Sea, even though the nation included individuals of all ages and levels of faith who did not personally experience the event in the same way. The passage uses “Israel” as a collective whole, not as a statement about every individual Israelite.

 

Paul then quotes from Isaiah 59:20:

 

“‘A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,’ declares the Lord.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭20‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

Paul predicts that all Israel will be saved and uses Old Testament scriptures as proof. Jesus will come to Zion to a people who have turned away from their transgression (Isaiah 55:6). This is the Second Coming or Revelation. Jesus will return to Israel (Zechariah 14) to a purified remnant after the Tribulation. 

 

Romans 11:28

 

“From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

Presently, the unbelieving Israel are “enemies for your sake” because they oppose the gospel. The Israelites presently do not believe in the gospel and the nation has rejected Christ. However, God remains steadfast in His unconditional covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) and they are still “beloved” because of their fathers. Their national election that was given to them and spoken through the patriarchs gives them their special purpose and shows why God will save the remnant. 

 

Romans 11:29

 

“for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

God gave Israel special privileges and promises in the Old Testament (Genesis 26:24; Genesis 27:29; Numbers 24:9). Israel's gifts and calling were not taken away because of their rejection of Messiah Jesus at His first coming (Rom. 9:3-4; 11:2). God will not break His unconditional covenant with Abraham, the other patriarchs, and the nation of Israel as a whole.

 

Romans 11:30-31

 

“For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

“For just as you once were disobedient to God”

 

Gentiles were once disobedient to the coming of Christ. Gentiles were not nationally chosen and following the Mosaic Law like Israel was in the Old Testament. 

 

“but now, have been shown mercy because of their disobedience”

 

Israel rejected the Messiah and that brought the Gentiles to be the focus of God during this dispensation (the Dispensation of Grace). The gentiles are offered salvation and are a part of the Church (Ekklesia; Body of Christ) (cf. Acts 28:25-28).

 

“so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.”

 

Israel is not disobedient and their heart hardened as shown in verse 25. However, the disobedience of the majority is followed by God’s mercy as He turns them to Himself, even when they otherwise would not seek Him.

 

Romans 11:32

 

“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭32‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

The conclusion of Romans 9-11 is that everyone, both the Gentiles and Israel, has, is, or will be disobedient. There is no reason for Gentiles to believe they are better than Israel as they were once disobedient. And Israel is not to believe they are better as they are currently disobedient. God will show mercy to all (Romans 3:9; Galatians 3:22). God allowed both Israel and Gentiles to experience disobedience so that salvation would be grounded in His mercy alone, and not human merit.