ROMANS Study Guide

to see what God is doing or what is really going on around

them spiritually.

3) The word slumber ( katanuxis : a pricking or piercing) refers to

a grieving or something that numbs someone to the point

of being insensible. The idea here is that light (revelation)

when rejected… produces even greater darkness (Matt.26:22 -

23; Matt.13:11-13). Paul is presenting the idea of Israel

having missed their visita tion by God …now their hearts

were hard (blinded and in many ways broken - pierced) and

they would suffer and stumble about in their darkened condition.

4) Paul quotes David in a Messianic passage in Ps.69:22-23 in

which David prophecies that those (of Israel) who reject

Messiah will come under a harsh judgment of stumbling over

the truth in Christ, trapped in the ir misunderstanding…they

will be continually blind and unable to grasp the truth. Vss.9-10

Rom 11:11 I say then, did they not stumble that they fall? Let it not be! But by their slipping away came salvation to the nations, to provoke them to jealousy. Rom 11:12 But if their slipping away is the riches of the world, and their default is the riches of the nations, how much more their fullness? Rom 11:13 For I speak to you, the nations; since I am the apostle of the nations, I glorify my ministry. Rom 11:14 if by any means I may provoke those who are my flesh to jealousy and might save some of them. Rom 11:15 For if their casting away is the reconciling of the world, what is the reception except life from the dead?

e. But Paul declares that Israel’s fall is not going to be forever:

vs.11

1) Paul points to a harsh fact… Israel had to be “taken out of

the way” as a hindering force to the gospel (Matt.23:13)

a) Paul is not saying that God wanted their fall.

b) Paul is saying God is using their fall(rejection) to advance the

gospel.