John Calvin 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)

I would not, etc. Here he rouses his audience to greater attention, as he declares that he is going to reveal something secret. Nor did he do this without reason, for he wished to conclude a very complex question with a brief and plain statement; and yet he declares what no one could have expected.

But the words, Lest you should be proud in yourselves, show what his intended purpose was: to check the arrogance of the Gentiles, so that they would not exult over the Jews. This admonition was also necessary, to prevent the falling away of that people from excessively disturbing the minds of the weak, as if their salvation was to be despaired of forever.

This same truth is no less useful to us today, so that we may know that the salvation of the remnant, whom the Lord will eventually gather to Himself, is hidden, sealed as it were by His seal.

And whenever a long delay tempts us to despair, let us remember this word mystery; by this, Paul clearly reminds us that the manner of their conversion will be neither common nor usual. Therefore, those who attempt to measure it by their own judgment act absurdly, for what can be more unreasonable than to regard as incredible that which is far removed from our understanding?

It is called a mystery because it will be incomprehensible until the time of its revelation. It is, however, made known to us, as it was to the Romans, so that our faith may be content with the word and sustain us with hope, until the event itself comes to light.

That blindness in part, etc. “In part,” I think, refers not simply to time or to the number, but means in a way, or to some measure. By this expression, he intended, it seems to me, only to moderate a statement that was in itself severe. Until does not specify the progression or order of time, but means the same as if he had said, “That the fullness of the Gentiles,” etc.

The meaning, then, is this: God had, in a way, so blinded Israel that while they refused the light of the gospel, it could be transferred to the Gentiles, allowing them to occupy, as it were, the place left vacant. Thus, this blindness served God’s providence in advancing the salvation of the Gentiles, which He had intended.

And the fullness of the Gentiles is to be understood as a great number. For it was not to be as before, when only a few proselytes joined themselves to the Jews; rather, the change was to be so significant that the Gentiles would form almost the entire body of the Church.