Bible Question (short): The "branches" of Romans 11 |
Question (full): Tim (and my fellow Christian observers): I have been studying Romans 11 myself this month, and I was wondering precisely whom you hold the "branches" to be. Do you think branches represent individuals, or do they represent the collectives of Jews and Gentiles? Paul and the Jewish believers are obviously in some way represented by the "natural branches" still on the tree. And Romans 11:2 does refer to Israel in general, although it should be plain to the evangelical mind that while He has not rejected Israel wholesale, he goes on to specify a REMNANT of the nation that He has kept for Himself, not the entirety of Jacob's descendents. Aside from Elijah and the 7000, there was a lot of rejection going on. I hold that the branches do not refer to individuals, because natural branches will be grafted back in (implying that they were there before) after the fulness of the Gentiles has been grafted in (Romans 11:25). Individual Jews living today were not born "grafted in." Now for my Calvinist jab (since we have not danced this little rumba in a while, my non-TULIPy brother): does the "all Israel" in verse 26 refer to "every single Israelite"? Have fun! --Joe! |