The Meaning of Romans 11:28 Explained

Romans 11:28

KJV: As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

YLT: As regards, indeed, the good tidings, they are enemies on your account; and as regards the choice -- beloved on account of the fathers;

Darby: As regards the glad tidings, they are enemies on your account; but as regards election, beloved on account of the fathers.

ASV: As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers'sake.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As concerning  the gospel,  [they are] enemies  for your sakes:  but  as touching  the election,  [they are] beloved  for  the fathers'  sakes. 

What does Romans 11:28 Mean?

Verse Meaning

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.

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

1  God has not cast off all Israel
7  Some were elected, though the rest were hardened
16  There is hope of their conversion
18  The Gentiles may not exult over them;
26  for there is a promise of their salvation
33  God'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]
For the fathers‘ sake [δια τους πατερας]
As in Romans 9:4; Romans 11:16. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:28

Romans 11:16 Root - 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 1:21 Being 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 1:21 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 1:21 hateful [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 3:15 Not 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 regards indeed the gospel [they are] enemies on account of you however the election beloved on account of the patriarchs
Κατὰ μὲν τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἐχθροὶ δι’ ὑμᾶς δὲ τὴν ἐκλογὴν ἀγαπητοὶ διὰ τοὺς πατέρας

Κατὰ  As  regards 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
εὐαγγέλιον  gospel 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: εὐαγγέλιον  
Sense: a reward for good tidings.
ἐχθροὶ  [they  are]  enemies 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐχθρός  
Sense: hated, odious, hateful.
δι’  on  account  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἐκλογὴν  election 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκλογή  
Sense: the act of picking out, choosing.
ἀγαπητοὶ  beloved 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀγαπητός  
Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love.
διὰ  on  account  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
πατέρας  patriarchs 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.