μυστήριον … οὕτως … ἀμεταμέλητα (11:25–36)
Says μυστήριον (mystērion, 11:25) is Paul's term; Abbott-Smith files 11:25 under “of particular truths, or details, of the Christian revelation.” What it contains, including “all Israel will be saved” (11:26, BSB), is not argued here. No lean is taken. See note.exegetical.Rom.11.25-Rom.11.27.all-israel.
Says “A hardening in part has come to Israel” (11:25, BSB). πώρωσις (pōrōsis): “a hardening.” See var.Rom.11.25.par-heautois.
Implies Whoever is saved is saved by mercy through faith in Christ (11:20, 23; note.exegetical.Rom.10.5-Rom.10.13.the-word-is-near).
Says “they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs” (11:28, BSB). “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable” (11:29, BSB). ἀμεταμέλητος (ametamelētos): “not repented of, unregretted.” κλῆσις (klēsis): “a calling, call.”
Uncertain Whether 11:29 means a future for ethnic Israel, or faithfulness to the elect within Israel, follows the all-Israel note. No lean is taken.
Uncertain Reading or omitting νῦν (11:31; var.Rom.11.31.nyn) does not settle timing. No lean is taken.
Says “God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone” (11:32, BSB). συγκλείω (synkleiō): “to shut together, enclose, shut in on all sides.”
Implies This is not universalism. Everyone means Jews and Gentiles alike (note.exegetical.Rom.5.18-Rom.5.21.one-act-of-righteousness).
Says “How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!” (11:33, BSB). “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things” (11:36, BSB). ἀνεξιχνίαστος (anexichniastos): “that cannot be traced out.” See note.language.Rom.11.34-Rom.11.35.isa-40-13-job-41-11.
Implies The praise closes the argument of chapters 9–11.
Uncertain Whether it also closes chapters 1–11 is not stated. No lean is taken.
Claims
- SaysPaul calls the matter a mystery (11:25); its content is not decided in this note.
- SaysA hardening in part has come to Israel (11:25).
- ImpliesWhoever is saved is saved by God's mercy through faith in Christ (11:20, 23).
- SaysRegarding the gospel they are enemies for the Gentiles' sake; regarding election they are loved for the patriarchs; God's gifts and call are irrevocable (11:28–29).
- UncertainWhether 11:29 secures a future for ethnic Israel or faithfulness to the elect within Israel follows the all-Israel note; no lean is taken.
- UncertainWhether νῦν is read in 11:31, and any timing drawn from it, is unsettled; no lean is taken.
- SaysGod has consigned everyone to disobedience so that he may have mercy on everyone (11:32).
- Implies11:32 is not universalism; everyone means Jews and Gentiles alike.
- SaysGod's judgments and ways are beyond tracing, and all things are from, through, and to him (11:33, 36).
- ImpliesThe doxology closes the argument of chapters 9–11.
- UncertainWhether the doxology also closes chapters 1–11 is not stated; no lean is taken.
Citations
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 11 (library/raw/LogosBible_SBLGNT text)
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. μυστήριον (G3466) —
of particular truths, or details, of the Christian revelation
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. πώρωσις (G4457) —
a hardening
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἀμεταμέλητος (G278) —
not repented of, unregretted
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. κλῆσις (G2821) —
a calling, call
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. συγκλείω (G4788) —
to shut together, enclose, shut in on all sides
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἀνεξιχνίαστος (G421) —
that cannot be traced out
2026-11-04
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