Romans 11:13

ὑμῖν δὲ—τοῖς ἔθνεσιν. A dramatic turn: not, of course, implying that those to whom he was writing were all Gentiles; cf. Romans 2:1; Romans 2:17.

ἐφ' ὅσον μὲν οὖν κ.τ.λ. The particles must be separated. οὖν = well then, introducing what he has to say to Gentiles. μὲν finds its antithesis in δὲ, Romans 11:17. His stress upon the mission to the Gentiles does not prevent him seeing their real position. There is still the note of apologia: from Romans 9:1 he has been defending his position as apostle of the Gentiles; and here he completes the defence. Hence the emphatic ἐγώ.

ἐφ' ὅσον, so far as I am …; the description does not exhaust the meaning of his office; it has a bearing upon Jews as well.

ἐθνῶν�. This seems to be the only instance in N.T. of the gen. after ἀπ. describing the persons to whom the apostle is sent.

τὴν διακονίαν. Of the apostolic office; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18; 1 Timothy 1:12.

δοξάζω. Cf. John 8:54; Hebrews 5:5; Revelation 18:7 = magnify. The Apostle may magnify his office, for the purpose which he states; but this must not lead his converts to exult over the excluded (κατακαυχῶ, Romans 11:17).