Under the present economy God views Israel"s physical descendants as a whole as His enemies because of their unbelief. They are "enemies" of His, however, for the sake of the Gentiles to whom He extends grace in this period of Jewish unbelief. However from the standpoint of their national election for a special purpose, they are the objects of His love because of the patriarchs. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Romans 11:25-36 - That God "might Have Mercy Upon All"
"Mysteries" are the reasons and principles of the divine procedure which are hidden from ordinary minds, but revealed to the children of God by the Spirit, who searches the deep things, 1 Corinthians 2:10. We cannot tell how near the brim we are, or when the fullness of the Gentiles will fill the predestined measure. It may be much nearer than we suppose, and then the door will be closed, and the Hebrew nation will be grafted in to serve the divine program in the last stages of human history. They are still beloved for their fathers' sake, and the day is coming when all their sins will be forgiven and taken away.
We may go a certain distance in the devout understanding of the ways of God, but there is a point beyond which we cannot advance; and as we gaze down into the profound abyss of the divine dealings, we must cry, O the depth! Romans 11:33. The origin, the maintenance, and the ultimate end of creation, providence, and redemption, is God. To Him must be the glory! In other words, we shall find that the whole story of sin, redemption, and salvation will unravel and reveal the nature of God, as the prismatic band of color the sunlight. [source]
Chapter Summary: Romans 11
1God has not cast off all Israel 7Some were elected, though the rest were hardened 16There is hope of their conversion 18The Gentiles may not exult over them; 26for there is a promise of their salvation 33God's judgments are unsearchable
Greek Commentary for Romans 11:28
As touching the gospel [κατα το ευαγγελιον] “According to (κατα kata with the accusative) the gospel” as Paul has shown in Romans 11:11-24, the gospel order as it has developed. [source]
Enemies [εχτροι] Treated as enemies (of God), in passive sense, because of their rejection of Christ (Romans 11:10), just as αγαπητοι agapētoi (beloved) is passive. As touching the election (κατα την εκλογην kata tēn eklogēn). “According to the election” (the principle of election, not as in Romans 11:5. the elect or abstract for concrete). For the fathers‘ sake As in Romans 9:4; Romans 11:16. [source]
As touching the election [κατα την εκλογην] “According to the election” (the principle of election, not as in Romans 11:5. the elect or abstract for concrete). [source]
Romans 11:16Root - branches [] The same thought under another figure. The second figure is more comprehensive, since it admits an application to the conversion of the Gentiles. The thought of both figures centres in holy. Both the first-fruits and the root represent the patriarchs (or Abraham singly, compare Romans 11:28). The holiness by call and destination of the nation as represented by its fathers (first-fruits, root) implies their future restoration, the holiness of the lump and branches. [source]
Colossians 1:21Being in time past alienated [ποτε οντας απηλλοτριωμενους] Periphrastic perfect passive participle (continuing state of alienation) of απαλλοτριοω apallotrioō old word from Plato on, to estrange, to render αλλοτριος allotrios (belonging to another), alienated from God, a vivid picture of heathenism as in Romans 1:20-23. Only other N.T. examples in Ephesians 2:12; Ephesians 4:18. Ενεμιες Enemies Old word from εχτος echthos (hatred). Active sense here, hostile as in Matthew 13:28; Romans 8:7, not passive hateful (Romans 11:28). In your mind (τηι διανοιαι tēi dianoiāi). Locative case. Διανοια Dianoia (δια νους diaεν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις nous), mind, intent, purpose. Old word. It is always a tragedy to see men use their minds actively against God. In your evil works Hostile purpose finds natural expression in evil deeds. [source]
Colossians 1:21hostile [] as in Matthew 13:28; Romans 8:7, not passive hateful (Romans 11:28). In your mind (τηι διανοιαι tēi dianoiāi). Locative case. Διανοια Dianoia (δια νους diaεν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις nous), mind, intent, purpose. Old word. It is always a tragedy to see men use their minds actively against God. In your evil works Hostile purpose finds natural expression in evil deeds. [source]
Colossians 1:21hateful [Romans 11:28)] (Romans 11:28). In your mind (τηι διανοιαι tēi dianoiāi). Locative case. Διανοια Dianoia (δια νους diaεν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις nous), mind, intent, purpose. Old word. It is always a tragedy to see men use their minds actively against God. In your evil works Hostile purpose finds natural expression in evil deeds. [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:15Not as an enemy [μη ως εχτρον] This is always the problem in such ostracism as discipline, however necessary it is at times. Few things in our churches are more difficult of wise execution than the discipline of erring members. The word εχτρος echthros is an adjective, hateful, from εχτος echthos hate. It can be passive, hated, as in Romans 11:28, but is usually active hostile, enemy, foe. [source]
What do the individual words in Romans 11:28 mean?
As regardsindeedthegospel[they are] enemieson account ofyouhowevertheelectionbelovedon account ofthepatriarchs
Greek Commentary for Romans 11:28
“According to (κατα kata with the accusative) the gospel” as Paul has shown in Romans 11:11-24, the gospel order as it has developed. [source]
Treated as enemies (of God), in passive sense, because of their rejection of Christ (Romans 11:10), just as αγαπητοι agapētoi (beloved) is passive. As touching the election (κατα την εκλογην kata tēn eklogēn). “According to the election” (the principle of election, not as in Romans 11:5. the elect or abstract for concrete). For the fathers‘ sake As in Romans 9:4; Romans 11:16. [source]
“According to the election” (the principle of election, not as in Romans 11:5. the elect or abstract for concrete). [source]
As in Romans 9:4; Romans 11:16. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:28
The same thought under another figure. The second figure is more comprehensive, since it admits an application to the conversion of the Gentiles. The thought of both figures centres in holy. Both the first-fruits and the root represent the patriarchs (or Abraham singly, compare Romans 11:28). The holiness by call and destination of the nation as represented by its fathers (first-fruits, root) implies their future restoration, the holiness of the lump and branches. [source]
Periphrastic perfect passive participle (continuing state of alienation) of απαλλοτριοω apallotrioō old word from Plato on, to estrange, to render αλλοτριος allotrios (belonging to another), alienated from God, a vivid picture of heathenism as in Romans 1:20-23. Only other N.T. examples in Ephesians 2:12; Ephesians 4:18. Ενεμιες Enemies Old word from εχτος echthos (hatred). Active sense here, hostile as in Matthew 13:28; Romans 8:7, not passive hateful (Romans 11:28). In your mind (τηι διανοιαι tēi dianoiāi). Locative case. Διανοια Dianoia (δια νους diaεν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις nous), mind, intent, purpose. Old word. It is always a tragedy to see men use their minds actively against God. In your evil works Hostile purpose finds natural expression in evil deeds. [source]
as in Matthew 13:28; Romans 8:7, not passive hateful (Romans 11:28). In your mind (τηι διανοιαι tēi dianoiāi). Locative case. Διανοια Dianoia (δια νους diaεν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις nous), mind, intent, purpose. Old word. It is always a tragedy to see men use their minds actively against God. In your evil works Hostile purpose finds natural expression in evil deeds. [source]
(Romans 11:28). In your mind (τηι διανοιαι tēi dianoiāi). Locative case. Διανοια Dianoia (δια νους diaεν τοις εργοις τοις πονηροις nous), mind, intent, purpose. Old word. It is always a tragedy to see men use their minds actively against God. In your evil works Hostile purpose finds natural expression in evil deeds. [source]
This is always the problem in such ostracism as discipline, however necessary it is at times. Few things in our churches are more difficult of wise execution than the discipline of erring members. The word εχτρος echthros is an adjective, hateful, from εχτος echthos hate. It can be passive, hated, as in Romans 11:28, but is usually active hostile, enemy, foe. [source]