The Riches of the Gentiles Romans 11:12

Paul the apostle referred to Isaiah's words as he told the people in Rome, “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy”, and in chapter eleven and verse twelve of Romans, Paul told the people in Rome about, “the riches of the Gentiles” where we read:

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?

The verse begins, “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, ...” Paul began with the word, “now” which refers to “moreover and” “if the fall” or “whether the lapse, deviation from truth and uprightness, sin and misdeed” “of them” which means “pertaining to the people of Israel” “be the riches” which means “is and exists as the wealth, abundance of external possessions, fullness, abundance and plenitude” “of the world” which means “pertaining to the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages and pleasures”. Paul considered the “fall” of the people in Israel to be the “wealth and advantage” of the rest of the people on earth.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?”. Paul continued with the words, “and the diminishing” which means “the diminution, decrease and loss” “of them” or “pertaining to the people of Israel” “the riches” which means “the abundance of external possessions, fullness and plenitude” “of the Gentles” or “pertaining to the company, troop, tribe, nation and people group”; “how much more” which means “to what greater and larger degree” “their fullness” or “the people of Israel's filling, completeness and abundance”. Paul shared since the “Gentiles” were abundantly blessed because of the Jews rejection of the “gospel” through Jesus Christ, how much more would there be an advantage to those who belong to Israel.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how God never desired to have the people of Israel forsake Him and turn away from His Son Jesus. They were “provoked to jealousy” so they would find how much more blessing they would receive by accepting Jesus as the Messiah. The “Gentiles” became “rich” because the Jewish people rejected Jesus as the Messiah, but God waits with “abundant blessing” for the people of Israel to turn their hearts to Him.

Next time Paul tells his readers about, “Paul” “magnifies” his “office”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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