“All Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:25–27)

Says Paul calls it τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο (to mystērion touto), "this mystery" (11:25, BSB; lex.G3466; note.language.Rom.11.25-Rom.11.36.mysterion-houtos-ametameleta), told "so that you will not be conceited" (11:25, BSB). "A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in" (11:25, BSB). "And so all Israel will be saved" (11:26, BSB), with "The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob" (11:26, BSB), from Isa 59:20; 11:27 joins Isa 59:21 and Isa 27:9 (see note.language.Rom.11.26-Rom.11.27.isa-59-20-27-9-jer-31).

Uncertain Three questions sit under the views: who πᾶς Ἰσραήλ (pas Israēl, "all Israel") is; when, since the hardening lasts ἄχρι οὗ (achri hou, "until"); and how, whether καὶ οὕτως (kai houtōs, "and so") marks manner, sequence or logic. No lean is taken here. Each main view, with its grounds and main difficulty: - A future large-scale conversion of ethnic Israel, at or before Christ's return, through faith in Christ; the Deliverer is often read as the returning Christ. Grounds: "Israel" in 11:25 is the people hardened "in part," so the same word in 11:26 most naturally means that people; "until" sets a limit to the hardening; the natural branches are regrafted "if they do not persist in unbelief" (11:23, BSB). Difficulty urged: καὶ οὕτως usually means "and in this way," not "and then." - The church of Jews and Gentiles, the whole people of God. Grounds: καὶ οὕτως as manner, so that all Israel is saved by the Gentiles' coming in alongside believing Jews; the one olive tree (11:17–24); "no difference between Jew and Greek" (10:12, BSB); "not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" (9:6, BSB). Difficulty urged: "Israel" in 11:25 plainly means ethnic Israel, as distinct from the Gentiles. - The total of elect Jews saved through the age, the remnant over time rather than one generation. Grounds: a remnant "at the present time" (11:5, BSB); Paul hopes to "save some of them" (11:14, BSB); the hardening is partial throughout. Difficulty urged: "all" and the "mystery" seem to promise more than the remnant already described in 11:1–10. - Others, by reference only: a first-century (preterist) fulfilment; and two-covenant readings, in which Israel is saved apart from faith in Christ. Two-covenant readings fall outside the firm boundary of salvation through faith in Christ stated below; the other views all stay within it.

Implies Whoever is saved is saved by God's mercy through faith in Christ (10:9–13; 11:20, 23). Says The hardening is "in part" (11:25, BSB). Background: note.historical.Rom.11.1-Rom.11.36.restoration-hopes; it does not decide the question.