Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Now Paul speaks of a “mystery” (GK 3696), lest his readers imagine that either he or they are capable of understanding the course of Israel’s history simply by observation and insight. The term “mystery” refers to the activity of God in salvation history, once hidden (16:25), but now made known to his people by revelation. The content of this mystery embraces Israel’s present hardening—which is “in part” because the believing remnant constitutes an exception and because the hardening is limited in duration, lasting only “until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” But it also embraces the salvation of “all Israel” that follows.