Stumbling, jealousy, and life from the dead (Romans 11:11–15)

Says "did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous" (11:11, BSB). Paul magnifies his ministry "in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them" (11:14, BSB). The jealousy of Deut 32:21 is not restated; see note.language.Rom.10.14-Rom.10.21.akoe-rhema-christou-parazelo and note.language.Deut.32.21.lxx-parazeloso.

Uncertain τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῶν (to plērōma autōn), "their fullness" (11:12, BSB): a full number or a completion (lex.G4138; note.language.Rom.11.11-Rom.11.16.eptaisan-pleroma-proslempsis). This note leans to completion: 11:12 sets πλήρωμα against τὸ ἥττημα αὐτῶν, "their failure" (11:12, BSB), a loss made good rather than a count. The alternative is a full number alone. Both readings appeal to 11:25, where the same noun returns; the lean concerns 11:12 only and does not decide "all Israel" (11:26).

Says "if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" (11:15, BSB).

Uncertain What "life from the dead" (ζωὴ ἐκ νεκρῶν, zōē ek nekrōn) means. This note leans to the resurrection at the end. The exact phrase occurs only here; the lean rests on Paul's use of ἐκ νεκρῶν elsewhere in Romans, usually of resurrection (4:24; 6:4, 9; 8:11; 10:9). The alternative is a figurative renewal of Israel. πρόσλημψις (proslēmpsis, "acceptance") stands opposite ἀποβολή, "rejection" (lex.G4356; lex.G580).