罗马书第十一章,保罗首先抛出了一个问题:“神弃绝了他的百姓么?”,紧跟着他自答道“断乎没有!” 这里所说的百姓就是指以色列人。保罗说因为他也是以色列人,亚伯拉罕的后裔,属便雅悯支派的。既然神救了他,说明神并没有弃绝以色列人——他的百姓。只不过,在如今这个时代,照着拣选的恩典,所得救的还只是个余数。也就是说现在惟有蒙拣选的人得救了,而其余的就成了顽梗不化的。但是保罗说正是因着他们的玩梗不化和跌倒,救恩临到了外邦人。这样,当以色列人看到外邦人得救的时候,就会被激起艳羡,他们中的一些人从而得救信主。保罗说,等到外邦人得救的数目添满了后,所有以色列人就都要得救了,这是一个奥秘。从前外邦人也不顺服,现在因着以色列人的不顺服,外邦人得了神的怜悯;同样,也将因着这些以色列人的不顺服,叫他们因着神施给外邦人的怜恤而蒙怜恤。因此,以色列人终将都得救,无怪乎保罗最后感叹道:深哉,神丰富的智慧和知识!
罗11:1 我且说、 神弃绝了他的百姓么.断乎没有.因为我也是以色列人、亚伯拉罕的后裔、属便雅悯支派的。
I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
罗11:2 神并没有弃绝他预先所知道的百姓。你们岂不晓得经上论到以利亚是怎么说的呢.他在 神面前怎样控告以色列人、说、
God didn't reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:
罗11:3 『主阿、他们杀了你的先知、拆了你的祭坛、只剩下我一个人、他们还要寻索我的命。』
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."
罗11:4 神的回话是怎么说的呢.他说、『我为自己留下七千人、是未曾向巴力屈膝的。』
But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
罗11:5 如今也是这样、照着拣选的恩典还有所留的余数。
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
罗11:7 这是怎么样呢.以色列人所求的、他们没有得着.惟有蒙拣选的人得着了、其余的就成了顽梗不化的.
What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn't obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
罗11:11 我且说、他们失脚是要他们跌倒么.断乎不是.反倒因他们的过失、救恩便临到外邦人、要激动他们发愤。
I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
罗11:13 我对你们外邦人说这话.因我是外邦人的使徒、所以敬重我的职分.〔敬重原文作荣耀〕
For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;
罗11:14 或者可以激动我骨肉之亲发愤、好救他们一些人。
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.
罗11:25 弟兄们、我不愿意你们不知道这奥秘、(恐怕你们自以为聪明)就是以色列人有几分是硬心的、等到外邦人的数目添满了.
For I don't desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won't be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
罗11:26 于是以色列全家都要得救、如经上所记、『必有一位救主、从锡安出来、要消除雅各家的一切罪恶。』
and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, "There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
罗11:27 又说、『我除去他们罪的时候、这就是我与他们所立的约。』
This is my covenant to them, when I will take away their sins."
罗11:29 因为 神的恩赐和选召、是没有后悔的。
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
罗11:30 你们从前不顺服 神、如今因他们的不顺服、你们倒蒙了怜恤.
For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
罗11:31 这样、他们也是不顺服、叫他们因着施给你们的怜恤、现在也就蒙怜恤。
even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.
罗11:32 因为 神将众人都圈在不顺服之中、特意要怜恤众人。
For God has shut up all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.
罗11:33 深哉、 神丰富的智慧和知识。他的判断、何其难测、他的踪迹何其难寻、
Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!