Was Israel Rejected
or Tossed Away,
Following the Advent of Christ?
By Jonathan Mitchell
Taking another look at Romans 11:15
15. You see, since their rejection [of the good news] (or: It follows that, in view of the fact of this tossing away, or putting off and away, of [the Messiah] from them; or: For if, as is the case, their casting away) [is, means, or brings the] conciliation of the aggregate of humanity (the changing of the universal system to another level of existence; the complete change for the arranged order to be other than it was; the world's change from enmity to friendship), what [will be] the receiving [of it or of Him; of them or from them] (the taking [of it] to [themselves]; the seizing to be face-to-face; the drawing [of it or Him] toward [themselves], as one does a companion, an associate, or something of value; or: that acceptance as of being welcomely admitted), if not Life forth from out of the midst of dead folks?!
This study will call attention to the Greek nouns, 'apobole,' in the first clause, and 'proslempsis,' in the second clause. We will also consider the plural personal pronoun 'auton,' "their," in my rendering of it, in the first clause. How this pronoun, 'auton,' is rendered will affect how we read Paul, in this verse.
So let us first consider the pronoun. In the common versions, this particular spelling is normally rendered as being in the genitive case, in this verse, which would be, "of them," or, "their (signifying a possessive function)." In the second clause, Paul does not use this personal pronoun, and so there is ambiguity as to what he was referring, following the noun, "the receiving." I have inserted some potential words which may guide us in our understanding of the question which Paul rhetorically raises, "what [will be]..."
However, this spelling of this personal pronoun, 'auton,' also functions as being the ablative case, and so it can be rendered, "from them." We see this in the parenthetical rendering of the noun phrase: "It follows that, in view of the fact of this tossing away, or putting off and away, of [the Messiah] FROM them." So this begs the question: Were THEY being rejected, or were they rejecting something by tossing it away, or putting something off?
The noun, 'apobole,' means a casting, tossing or putting (bole) something, or of something, off, or away (apo). Thus my first rendering, "rejection." So, was Israel "being rejected," or were they rejecting something or someone? Both nouns under consideration, here, have the definite article. With a possessive rendering of the pronoun, the article, in effect, becomes "their." Or, it could read, "the rejection of them." So is Paul referring to the rejection of them, or to their rejection of something or someone?
The second noun under consideration is, 'proslempsis,' and means, with the article, "the receiving." My parenthetical expansion offers the alternate meanings, "the taking [of it] to [themselves]," or, "the seizing to be face-to-face," or, "the drawing [of it or Him] toward [themselves], as one does a companion, an associate, or something of value" (brackets added, of course, as suggested implications). My final offering, "that acceptance as of being welcomely admitted," would answer to the reading in the first clause, "their rejection (assuming this meaning "by God")," or "the rejection and casting away of them."
So how are we to choose? Were they rejected, or did they reject Christ and the Gospel? Well, we know that the Judean leadership rejected Jesus as their Messiah, and in this also rejected His Good News. But did God then reject them, as this verse is normally read? Consider what Paul affirmed, earlier in this chapter:
"God does not (or: did not) thrust away His people, does He (or: did He)?"(vs. 1) "God does (or: did) not thrust away His people from Himself - whom He by experience intimately foreknew!" (vs. 2).
Consider what he says in the next verses:
16. Now since (or: But if, in view of the fact that,) the Firstfruit [is] holy (set-apart and consecrated; sacred), the kneaded mixture (the result of the lump which is mingled and reduced to a uniform consistency by treading, kneading or beating) also [is]; and since (or: if, as is the case,) the Root [is] holy (set-apart, sacred, different from the norm), so also [are] the branches (the shoots; the boughs).
17. Now since some (or: if, as is the case, certain ones) of the branches are broken off (or: were at one point broken out of [the tree]), yet you yourself, being a wild olive tree of the field or forest, you are (or: were) grafted in within (or: among) them, you also came to be (are birthed; are become) a joint-participant of (a partner and partaker taking in common together with; a sharer-in-common-being from) the Root and of the Fatness of The Olive Tree (or: of the oil from the olive). [cf Jn. 15:1-10]
18. Stop boasting against (or: Do not be constantly vaunting or exulting over) the branches! Now since you are habitually boasting and exulting (priding yourself), you yourself are not bearing (supporting; sustaining; carrying) The Root, but rather, The Root [supports] you!
Notice the opening words of vs. 17, "SOME of the branches are broken off." The rest of the remaining branches became the beginning of Christ's called-out folks, and communities. They were God's "remnant," and they represented Israel that continued bearing fruit, which, when they were pressed, they produce the oil for the community lampstands. Those branches that were removed from the Olive Tree (the Tree of the Anointing) were those that were not producing any Fruit (cf Jn. 15:2ff). And recall vs. 5, in our present chapter:
"Thus then, also, within the present season (or: In this way, therefore, even in the current appropriate situation and in union with the present fertile moment) a destitute remainder (or: a forsaken minority under the effect of lack; a left-behind surviving group; a worn-smooth, plain, inferior, unsculptured, unembossed part; a remnant) has been birthed (has come to be and exists) down from a selection of Grace (in accord with an election which is grace; in relation with, and in the sphere of, a choosing-out from joy-producing Favor, which is Grace's choice)."
Next, consider what follows regarding the broken out branches:
24. ... to how much greater an extent (or: so how much rather) will these, the ones in accord with nature, proceed in being engrafted into their own olive tree!
25. You see, I am not willing for you folks to continue being ignorant of this Secret (or: mystery), brothers (= fellow believers; family) - in order that you folks may not continue being prudent, thoughtful or discreet by [other MSS: among or within; other MSS: beside] yourselves (or: = be conceited) - that a petrifying, from a part (a stone-like hardening in some measure; a callousness [extending over] a part), has been birthed and come into existence in Israel (or: has happened to Israel) until which [time] (or: to the point of which [situation]) the effect of the full inclusion (or: the result of the full measure and entire contents; the full totality; or: = the full impact and full complement of forces) of the ethnic multitudes (or: from the nations; or: - which are the Gentiles -) may, or would, enter in.
26. So then, thus, in this manner and with this result: ALL ISRAEL will progressively be delivered (or: one-after-another be rescued, saved, made whole and restored to their original position [in the olive tree]), according as it has been written, "The One continuously dragging out of danger and drawing to Himself (The Rescuer; The Deliverer) will repeatedly arrive and be present from out of Zion; He will continue turning irreverence away from Jacob. [cf Zech. 13:1]
28. Corresponding to (With respect to; In accord with; Down from; In the sphere of) the Good News (the message of goodness and well-being), on the one hand, [they were] enemies (hostile ones; ones regarded as enemies) because of (or: through; with a view to; on account of; for the sake of) you folks; on the other hand, according to (with respect to; in accord with; down from; corresponding to) the selection (the choosing out; the election) [they are] loved ones, because of (with a view to; on account of; for the sake of) the fathers (= ancestors),
29. for you see, the grace-effects and the calling of God (or: because the results from God's joyous favor and invitation) [are] void of regret and without change in purpose (or: irrevocable; not to be regretted afterward; are not subject to recall; = are never taken back).
30. It follows that, just as you folks were once (or: at one time) incompliant to God (or: unconvinced, disobedient, unwilling to be persuaded and stubborn by God), yet now (at the present time) you folks are (or: were) mercied (made the recipients of mercy) by (or: in; with) the incompliance (disobedience; stubbornness; lack of being convinced) of these folks,
31. thus also, these NOW (at the present time) are incompliant (stubborn; disobedient; unconvinced) by (or: for; to; with) your mercy, to the end that they also may NOW be mercied (would, at the present time, be the recipients of mercy).
32. For you see, God encircles, corrals, encloses, coops up, shuts up on all sides, and locks ALL mankind (everyone; the entire lot of folks) together into disbelieving incompliance (unpersuaded disobedience; unconfident stubbornness; a lack of being convinced), to the end that He could (or: would; should) mercy ALL mankind (may make everyone - all those folks - recipients of mercy)! [comment: note the complete inclusion expressed in this verse; cf Rom. 5:12-21]
33. O, the depth of [the] riches (wealth; resources) and wisdom and intimate, experiential knowledge and insight, of God (or: from God; which are God)! How unsearchable (inscrutable) the effects of His decisions (results of the distinctive separations, evaluations, judicial awards and judgments, from Him), and untrackable (untraceable) His ways (the paths from Him; the roads which are Him).
So with all of this in mind (while endeavoring to keep this essay short), how are you now reading vs. 15, above?
Bear with us, for one more passage. In Eph. 2, Paul discusses and compares the two categories of humanity, as viewed from the perspective of God's old covenant economy of Israel. Here, Paul gives two categories for the whole of humanity: the circumcision (Israel; the Jews) and the uncircumcision (the Gentiles; the ethnic multitudes). Read the whole chapter, but for the moment, ponder what he said about the Gentiles and Israel, in these verses:
14. You see, He Himself is our Peace (or: continuously exists being our Joining) - the One making (forming; constructing; creating; producing) The BOTH [to be] ONE, and within His flesh (= physical being; or: = system-caused crucifixion) is instantly destroying (unbinding; unfastening; loosing; causing to collapse) the middle wall of the fenced enclosure (or: the partition or barrier wall): the enmity (cause of hate, alienation, discord and hostility; characteristics of an enemy),
15. rendering useless (nullifying; rendering down in accord with inactivity and unemployment) the Law (or: the custom; = the Torah) of the implanted goals (or: concerning impartations of the finished product within; from commandments; which was inward directives) consisting in decrees (or: prescribed ordinances), to the end that He may frame (create; found and settle from a state of wildness and disorder) The Two [Jew; Gentile] into One qualitatively New and Different [p46 & others: common] Humanity centered within the midst of, and in union with, Himself, continuously making (progressively creating) Peace (a Joining);
16. and then should fully transfer, from a certain state to another which is quite different, The BOTH - centered in, and within the midst of, One Body in God (or: make completely other, while moving away from what had existed, and fully reconcile The Both, in one Body, by, to, with and for God), through the cross - while in the midst of Himself killing the enmity and discordant hatred (or: killing-off the characteristics of enemies within it).
17. And so upon coming, He brings goodness and proclaims as good news (or: as a message of ease and well-being), Peace (harmony from the Joining; lack of discord; [= shalom]) to you, the folks far off, and Peace (a Joining; harmony; = [shalom]) to the people nearby,
18. that (or: because) through Him we, The Both, continuously have (hold and possess) the procurement of access (conduct toward the presence; admission, being led), within one Spirit (or: in union with one Breath-effect and Attitude), to (or: toward; face to face with) the Father.
19. Consequently then, you folks no longer continuously exist being strangers (foreigners) and sojourners (folks being or living beside a house; temporary residents in a foreign land), but in contrast, you continually exist being fellow-citizens of those set apart to be sacred people (or: folks residing together in a City belonging to, and composed of, the holy ones): even God's family (members of God's household),
20. being fully built as a House upon the foundation of, and from, the sent-forth representatives (or: emissaries) and prophets (folks who had light ahead of time), Jesus Christ continuously being a corner-foundation [stone] of it (or: there being an extreme point and head of the corner, or, capstone/keystone: Jesus Christ Himself),
This is the new creation, where all are included in the Second Humanity (1 Cor. 15:47).
Jonathan
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