Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 11:13

"But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;" — Romans 11:13 (ASV)

This paragraph follows naturally from the preceding, because Paul now applies to his own position and ministry the truth he has stated. He wants the Gentiles in the Roman church to catch the full import of what he is saying. They have looked on him as “the apostle to the Gentiles.” Very well, but they must not suppose that he has lost sight of the need to witness to Israel. His work among Gentiles is not simply as an end in itself but is a means of reaching his countrymen (cf. v.11). The salvation of the Gentiles is for the sake of God’s election of Israel, of whom Paul hopes thereby to save “some” (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:22). The word “some” suggests that he does not expect his efforts will bring about the actual eschatological turning of the nation to the crucified and risen Son of God, when “all Israel will be saved” (cf. v.26). This belongs to the indefinite future. But if God could turn him around, a proud Jew who bitterly set himself against Jesus as the Christ, surely through him others can be won. These others are the “firstfruits” (the “remnant”; cf. v.5), who contain in themselves the promise of the ultimate harvest of a nation of believers (v.16).

There is some difficulty in ascertaining the meaning of “life from the dead” (v.15). In order to retain the balance of the sentence, this expression must pertain to the world (cf. the structure of v.12). Perhaps Paul is suggesting the promise of a worldwide quickening and deepening of spiritual life when Israel is restored to divine fellowship. She will become a tonic to the nations that are to be saved.

There is a difficulty in understanding the final statement: “if the root is holy, so are the branches.” Paul uses “root” in anticipation of his use of this word in the following verses to refer to the historic Israel, especially to its patriarchal foundation (see vv.17–24; cf. the use of “building” in 1 Corinthians 3:10 anticipating 3:11–15). Israel’s future restoration conforms with the holy character impressed on them at its beginning.