Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Romans 11:20

Romans 11:20. Well. Not necessarily ironical; but an admission of both the fact and the purpose of the breaking off of the branches. The Apostle, however, passes immediately to the cause of this state of things, ‘as one which must prevent haughtiness, and inspire fear and anxiety respecting the duration of the state of grace; assigning the reason in Romans 11:21 ' (Meyer).

By their unbelief. The form is the same as in the other phrase by thy faith; the Greek article in each case being equivalent to the possessive pronoun, though both terms may be used abstractly. ‘Thou' is emphatic, while standest refers to the position as a branch, rather than to standing as opposed to falling.

Be not highminded: be not haughty. A few older manuscripts give a slightly different form (answering to that in chap. Romans 12:16), which, however must be taken in the same sense.

But fear. ‘Fear is oppposed, not to faith, but to superciliousness and security' (Bengel). The reason is added in Romans 11:21, with which these clauses should be joined.

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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Romans 11:20

Old Testament

New Testament