Bible Strands
Romans 11:15
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses Gentile believers in Rome while explaining the temporary nature of Israel's unbelief and God's ongoing redemptive timeline. He poses a rhetorical question to contrast a past spiritual condition with a future one.
The words — The Greek ἀποβολὴ (apobolē) literally means "casting away" or "rejection," and καταλλαγὴ (katallagē) means "reconciliation." The text states that Israel's casting away functions as the world's reconciliation, then asks what their receiving will produce.
The thread — The text's sequence of loss preceding restoration mirrors the dead son returning to life (Luke 15:24) and believers being reconciled while hostile to God (Romans 5:10). This pattern aligns with the future gathering of all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10).
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to accept that present exclusion is temporary and purposeful, not permanent. It demands an expectation of a future resurrection-level restoration rather than a conclusion that current unbelief ends God's plan.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Cross-references
- Ephesians 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
- Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
- Luke 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
- Luke 15:32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
- Romans 11:11 I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
- Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
- Revelation 11:11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them.
- Ezekiel 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.
- Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.