Romans 11:26

And so all Israel shall be saved Several interpretations of these words are in themselves legitimate. They may refer (A) to the natural Israel, the Jews; or (B) to the "Israel of God," the true Church of Christ. Again, if the reference (A) is adopted, the prophecy may mean (a) that then allthe elect of Israelshall at length be gathered in the long process shall at length be complete; or (b) that every individual of the then generation of Jews shall be brought to Messiah's grace; or (c) that "all" bears a less exact reference here, as so often in Scripture, and means "in general;" "Israel in general, the Jews of that day as a great aggregate, on a scale unknown before, shall be saved."

Of these various possibilities we prefer on the whole (A. c,) as the most in accord with the context, and with the analogy of Scripture. The explanation (B) is in itselfentirely true: the final glory and triumph of the Gospel will surely be, not specially the salvation of the Jews, but that of the Universal Church the immortal Bride of the King Eternal. And it is extremely important to remember the full recognition in Scripture of allits true members as the "seed of Abraham" (Galatians 3:29). But this is not the truth exactly in point here, where St Paul is dealing with the special prospect of a time when "blindness in part" will no longer characterize Jews as Jews. And the "Israel" of Romans 11:25 is probably the Israel of Romans 11:26, as no distinction is suggested in the interval. Again, the reference marked (A. a), though perfectly true in itself, is less likely here because in Romans 11:15; Romans 11:25, we have had already a prediction of a restoration of Jews, en masse, to grace; whereas the process of gathering in the elect of all ages is continuous, and thus, on the whole, gradual. Again, the reference marked (A. b), though the Divine Plan may, of course, intend no less, is far from analogous to the main teaching of Scripture as to the developements (even the largest) of grace in this world. On the whole, then, we adopt the interpretation which explains the sentence as predicting the conversion of some generation or generations of Jews, a conversion so real and so vastly extensive that unbelief shall be the small exception at the most, and that Jews as such shall everywhere be recognized as true Christians, lights in the world, and salt on the earth.

There shall come out of Sion, &c. In the following quotation St Paul more or less combines, as often, (see e.g. Romans 3:10-18,) several O. T. prophecies; with this for the main purport, that one ultimate result of the coming of Messiah should be the gift of grace to the Jews. In Isaiah 59:20-21, we have in the Heb., "And there shall come a Redeemer for Zion, and for them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord: As for me, this is my covenant with them." In Isaiah 27:9; "This is all the fruit [of God's dealings, namely] to take away his [Jacob's] sin." In Psalms 14:7 (LXX. Romans 13:7); "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!" In Isaiah 59:20 the LXX. has, "There shall come for Sion's sake the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob." In Isaiah 27:9 it has, "This is his blessing, when I shall take away his sin."

St Paul seems to have woven into one Isaiah 59:20 and Psalms 14:7, and to have completed the sentence from Isaiah 27:9. In the last clause of Romans 11:26 here he adopts the LXX., because, though it represents the Heb. inexactly, the substantial meaning is untouched: the Redeemer's coming shall be "for," "for the benefit of," those who turn from sin, by being the cause of their so doing;He shall thus turn sin from them, in the sense of removing its guilt and breaking its power.

shall come out of Sion Here probably the reference is to the First Advent. Q. d., "It stands foretold that the Appearance of Messiah, of the seed of David, shall result in the subdual of the unbelief and rebellion of Jacob, and the bringing in of a covenant for him of final pardon and peace. Now Messiah hasappeared; therefore, how slow soever the fulfilment be as yet, the remainder of this great promise must be drawing on: Israel shall yet be saved." The words have been often explained to foretel a futureComing of the Redeemer, whether literal or figurative, to work the conversion of Israel on a great scale. But the explanation above is fully sufficient for the argument, and (to say the least) more in accord with St Paul's general teaching as to the future Coming of the Lord.

the Deliverer the Rescuer; same word as 1 Thessalonians 1:10, "who rescueth us from the wrath to come." Heb. "Goel;" the Avenger of a Kinsman; hence generally the strong friend who rescues the weak.

ungodliness Lit. impieties. Perhaps omit the "and" before "shall turn away."