A remnant chosen by grace, and the hardening of the rest (Romans 11:1–10)

Says "God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew" (11:2, BSB). οὐκ ἀπώσατο (ouk apōsato, "did not reject"; lex.G683) answers the question of 11:1, and Paul gives himself as evidence: "I am an Israelite myself" (11:1, BSB). Elijah's complaint (1 Kgs 19:10, 14) receives the reply, "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal" (11:4, BSB; 1 Kgs 19:18; see note.language.Rom.11.1-Rom.11.4.ps-94-14-1-kgs-19). For Elijah traditions and Jewish hopes of restoration, see the historical note note.historical.Rom.11.1-Rom.11.36.restoration-hopes; it does not decide these verses.

Says "at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace" (11:5, BSB). "And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace" (11:6, BSB). On grace and works see note.exegetical.Rom.3.27-Rom.3.31.boasting-excluded and note.exegetical.Rom.4.3-Rom.4.8.crediting-righteousness; on the remnant of 9:27–29 see note.exegetical.Rom.9.25-Rom.9.29.hosea-and-isaiah.

Says "What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened" (11:7, BSB): ἐπωρώθησαν (epōrōthēsan, "were hardened"; lex.G4456; note.language.Rom.11.1-Rom.11.10.aposato-leimma-poroo). "God gave them a spirit of stupor" (11:8, BSB), drawing on Deut 29:4 and Isa 29:10, and David's prayer follows (11:9–10; Ps 69:22–23; see note.language.Rom.11.8-Rom.11.10.deut-29-4-isa-29-10-ps-69).

Uncertain How divine hardening relates to Israel's unbelief (God's judicial response to unbelief, his decree, or both), and whether it is final for those hardened. No lean is taken here. 11:11, 23 and 25 bear on finality and are read differently by the views; the election views are not repeated here (see note.exegetical.Rom.9.6-Rom.9.24.how-election-works).