Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 11:25

"For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;" — Romans 11:25 (ASV)

Ignorant of this mystery. The word mystery means, properly, that which is concealed, hidden, or unknown. And it especially refers, in the New Testament, to the truths or doctrines which God had reserved to Himself, or had not previously communicated. It does not mean, as we often understand it, that there was anything unintelligible or inscrutable in the nature of the doctrine itself, for it was commonly perfectly plain when it was made known. Thus the doctrine that the division between the Jews and the Gentiles was to be broken down is called a mystery because it had been, until the times of the apostles, concealed, and was then revealed fully for the first time (Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:26–27).

(Compare to 1 Corinthians 15:51; Mark 4:11; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3).

Thus the doctrine which the apostle was stating was one that until then had been concealed, or had not been made known. It does not mean that there was anything unintelligible or incomprehensible in it, but until then it had not been made known.

Lest ye should be wise in your own conceits. Paul communicated the truth regarding this, lest they should attempt to inquire into it, should speculate about the reason why God had rejected the Jews, and should be elated with the belief that they had, by their own skill and genius, ascertained the cause. Rather than leave them to vain speculations and self-gratification, he chose to cut short all inquiry by stating the truth about their present and future state.

Blindness. Or hardness (Romans 11:7).

In part. Not totally, or entirely. They are not absolutely or completely blinded. This is a qualifying expression; but it does not denote what part or portion, or for what time it is to continue. It means that the blindness regarding the whole nation was only partial. Some were then enlightened, and had become Christians; and many more would be.

To Israel. To the Jews.

Until the fulness of the Gentiles, etc. The word fulness, in relation to the Jews, is used in Romans 11:12. It means until the abundance or the great multitude of the Gentiles shall be converted. The word is not elsewhere used regarding the Gentiles, and it is difficult to fix its meaning definitely.

It doubtless refers to the future spread of the gospel among the nations; to the time when it may be said that the great mass, the abundance of the nations, shall be converted to God. At present they are, as they were in the times of the apostle, idolaters, so that the mass of mankind are far from God.

But the Scriptures have spoken of a time when the gospel shall spread and prevail among the nations of the earth, and to this the apostle refers. He does not say, however, that the Jews may not be converted until all the Gentiles become Christians, for he expressly supposes (Romans 11:12–15) that the conversion of the Jews will have an important influence in extending the gospel among the Gentiles.

Probably the meaning is that this blindness is to continue until great numbers of the Gentiles shall be converted; until the gospel shall be extensively spread; and then the conversion of the Jews will be a part of the rapid spread of the gospel and will be among the most efficient and important aids in completing the work.

If this is the case, then Christians may still labor for their conversion. They may seek that in connection with the effort to convert unbelieving Gentiles, and they may toil with the expectation that the conversion of the Jews and Gentiles will not be separate, independent, and distinct events, but will be intermingled, and will be perhaps simultaneous. The word fulness may denote such a general turning to God, without affirming that each individual shall be thus converted to the Christian faith.