Romans 11 and the future of ethnic Israel

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Dec 2000 by Merkle, Ben L

Finally, verses 30 and 31 support our thesis that Paul is concerned with the present more than with the future. He writes,

For as you [Gentiles] were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their [Israels] disobedience, even so these [Israeli also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you [Gentiles] they [Israel] also may now obtain mercy.

The threefold "now" (vuv) of these two verses indicates Paul's emphasis on the present situation of Israel. Although the final "now" is textually debated, most commentators favor its inclusion. 24 It is clear that even now Israel is receiving mercy.

4. The nature of the "mystery" (v. 25). Paul writes in verses 25 and 26a, For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that a hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved.

The "mystery" includes a threefold schema: (1) the hardening of part of Israel; (2) the coming in of the fullness of the Gentiles; and (3) the salvation of all Israel.

What does Paul mean when he states that Israel is experiencing a "hardening in part" ...omg ......? The noun...("hardening") corresponds to the verb op&ow ("were hardened") in verse 7 where Paul contrasts the "elect" with the "rest."25 As in verse 7, in verse 25 Paul is speaking quantitatively ("in part") and not temporally ("for a while"). The verse should not be understood as meaning "for a while hardening has happened to Israel" but "a partial hardening (or 'a hardening in part') has happened to Israel."26 Also, by a "hardening in part" Paul does not mean that all of Israel is only partially hardened, but that some are fully hardened while the elect remnant is being saved. In no way does the phrase suggest that God intends to initiate a special salvation era for Israel in the future.

There is also debate as to the meaning of "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." Those who affirm Paul to be teaching a future mass conversion of Jews naturally read this phrase to mean that Israel will be hardened by God for a while but that will change when the fullness of the Gentiles are saved, after which an unprecedented number of Jews will put their faith in Christ. Moo paraphrases the verse: "Israel's partial hardening will last only until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in-and then it will be removed."27 But is that the most natural way to read this phrase?

This question can only be answered by examining &Xpt ou ("until"). This phrase is essentially terminative in its significance, implying the end of something. Yet, only the context can determine where the emphasis lies ofter the termination. Often the phrase is used in an eschatological context, where the termination envisioned contains a finalization aspect that makes questions concerning the reversal of the circumstance irrelevant. In other words, what is important is not what will take place after the event is completed, but that the event is eschatologically fulfilled.