Romans 11:28

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,

Romans 11:28 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
New Living Translation (NLT)
28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Message Bible (MSG)
28 From your point of view as you hear and embrace the good news of the Message, it looks like the Jews are God's enemies. But looked at from the long-range perspective of God's overall purpose, they remain God's oldest friends.
American Standard Version (ASV)
28 As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
28 The Good News made the Jewish people enemies because of you. But by God's choice they are loved because of their ancestors.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies for your advantage, but regarding election, they are loved because of their forefathers,
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
28 As far as the good news is concerned, the people of Israel are enemies. That is for your good. But as far as God's choice is concerned, the people of Israel are loved. That is because of God's promises to the founders of our nation.

Romans 11:28 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 11:28

As concerning the Gospel
Whereas it might be objected to the call and conversion of the Jews, their implacable enmity to the Gospel, the apostle replies, by granting, that with respect to that,

they [were] enemies
to God and Christ, to the Gospel, and the ministers of it, and particularly to the apostle:

for your sakes;
the Gentiles, to whom it was preached, and by whom it was received, and which greatly irritated and provoked the Jews; or the sense is, that they were suffered to reject the Gospel, and treat it with hatred and virulence, that by this means it might be taken away from them, and carried to the Gentiles; so that the present enmity of the Jews to the Gospel, turned to the advantage of the Gentiles, and should not hinder the future conversion of God's elect among them in the latter day:

but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers'
sakes;
as many of them as belong to the election of grace, are beloved of God; and will appear to be so, when they are called by grace, as they will be, for the confirming of the promises concerning their future restoration made unto their fathers; not one of which shall ever fall to the ground, or they be deprived of any gifts and blessings of grace, which God has purposed for them, or promised to them, as is clear from what follows:

Romans 11:28 In-Context

26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,
29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

Cross References 2

  • 1. Romans 5:10
  • 2. Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 10:15; Romans 9:5
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