Romans 11:12 “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?”
I think the wording of the CJB is very clear for this verse: “Moreover, if their stumbling is bringing riches to the world — that is, if Isra’el’s being placed temporarily in a condition less favored than that of the Gentiles is bringing riches to the latter — how much greater riches will Isra’el in its fullness bring them!”
Paul is pointing to the good that has come out of something bad. It is not good that the Jewish people rejected God’s Son, but something good did come of it. The church was born and resulted in a body of believers that were bold in their faith and committed to sharing the gospel message. The church was/is rich in the spiritual provision of God through the Holy Spirit. The inclusion of believing Israel into the body of believers will only serve to make that body stronger and more powerful in its influence on the unsaved world.
Israel will not really turn to God in faith until after the “church” has been removed. Though God has provided for our every need through the ministry of the Holy Spirit now, the day is coming when the Messiah, Jesus, will come to rule on His throne personally in His kingdom. That day will not come until the nation of Israel as a whole desires Him to return. So----when Israel turns to God in true faith in His Son, Jesus will return as King of kings and the blessings of the kingdom age will be ushered in! “How much more their fullness” is a reference to the Messianic Kingdom of 1000 years on planet earth.
Romans 11:13-14 “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”
It is logical to assume that the majority of the body of believers at Rome were Gentiles. Paul loved the Jewish people, but was also aware that his ministry to the Gentiles was a privilege and of great importance in getting out the gospel truth. He is hoping that his ministry to the Gentiles will have an impact on many of his Jewish brethren. He wants them to recognize the mighty work that God is doing on behalf of the Gentile believers, so that they will desire to experience the same. Paul wasn’t thinking years and years down the road; he was concerned about the Jews of his day.
Romans 11:15 “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”
The Jews’ rejection of Jesus caused God to set them aside for the time being and empower and bless a people of faith from among the Gentile nations. The message of salvation was taken all over planet earth. When Israel turns back to God through faith in His Son, He will gladly restore them to fellowship and their place of favor among the nations. This pictures resurrection from the dead. A nation that has been dead in trespasses and sin will find new life in Christ.
Romans 11:16-18 “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.”
“if the firstfruit be holy” – The firstfruits are the first crops harvested. In my mind Jesus is the holy firstfruit of all people of faith with distinct relationship to all Jewish people of faith since He is a descendant of Abraham through Jacob through Judah through David. He became the firstfruit (singular) when He resurrected to new life in order to provide that new life to the family of believers.
1 Corinthians 15:20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
The context of this chapter is regarding Israel’s future in relationship to God. The lump would most logically refer to the nation of Israel, and that truth is affirmed by the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 2:3 “Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase:”
Through Jesus, God imparts holiness/righteousness to people of faith (past, present and future). After the resurrection of Jesus, there were many Jewish believers who were resurrected as part of the firstfruits (plural) giving testimony to this truth.
Matthew 27:52–53 “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
Paul gives a second word picture. The nation of Israel is pictured as growing from a root into a tree with holy branches. Remember that Paul is addressing a Gentile body of believers in Rome. He compares those of the nation of Israel who rebelled against God to serve idols and those who rejected His Son as the Messiah to branches that are broken off (because he is only referencing “some” of the branches). The Gentile believers who accepted Christ as Savior, the church, are pictured as a wild olive tree branches grafted in to the original tree to become part of the whole. Both the original branches of the tree and the branches that were grafted in are sustained by the root (Christ, the source of their holiness) and its oil (from the Greek for “fatness”). Oil often represents the Holy Spirit in Scripture (anointing for special service, used to bring light, comfort, healing, and refreshment).
Paul now warns the Gentiles not to “boast against the branches.” Don’t rejoice or brag as though you have replaced the original branches. You aren’t the one supporting the root of the tree; the root is supporting you. The root is ultimately Christ as representative of the spiritual nation of Israel through Abraham.
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