Note: this chapter explains God’s plan with Jew and Gentile based upon His grace. The first section explains that God has not cast off the Jews because a remnant has believed. It has a ABCB structure with BB’ made up of two quotes each. There follows an  ABCB’A’ pattern that describes the way the Gentiles were grafted into the Olive tree of Israel and a warning that the position can be reversed. The final section is expressive of the majestic purpose of God. 

God has not cast away Israel
A. 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

B. i. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

B. ii. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

C. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

B’. i. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded i. 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

B’.ii. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

A. Israel’s fall and restoration
a. 11 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.

b. 12 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 fulness?

a’. 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

b’. 15 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?

B. Gentiles and the Olive tree of Israel
a. 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

b. 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

a’. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

b’. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

C. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God:

B’. Gentiles and the Olive tree of Israel
on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

A’. Israel’s fall and restoration
a. 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

b. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved:

c. as it is written,

There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

b’. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

a’. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

The majestic salvation plan of God

A. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

B. 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

B’.  35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

A’. 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

A. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

B. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:

C. but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead,

B’. and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

A’. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

A. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

B. 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

C. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:  for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity;

C’. even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

B’. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

A’. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid.

A. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

B. 3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,even so we also should walk in newness of life.

C. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

D. 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed,  

E. that henceforth we should not serve sin.  

D’. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

C’. 8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

B’. 9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

A’. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A. 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; 

B. because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

C. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

B. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

A’. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God  through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (reconciliation).

A.(23) But I see another law in my members,

B. warring against the law of my mind,

C. and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

D.(24) O wretched man that I am!

C’.who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

D’. 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

B’.So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;

A’.  but with the flesh the law of sin.

A.(1) ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

B. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

• C. (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,  God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

B’.(4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,

A’. who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

A. (5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;

B. but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 

A’. (6) For to be carnally minded is death;

B’. but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

A.  (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:

B. for it is not subject to the law of God,

B’. neither indeed can be.

A’. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

(From John Owen)

A (1) What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

B (3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

C (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

D (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

E (6) Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

F (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

E1 (8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

D1 (9) Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

C1 (10) How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

B1 (11) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

A1 (12) And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

A. 17 Behold, thou art called a Jew,
and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
18 And knowest his will,  and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind,
a light of them which are in darkness,
20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes,
which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

B. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?
thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?
thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law,  through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 

C. 24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

B’.  25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law:
but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law,  shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

A’. 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise (meaning of the name Judah) is not of men, but of God.

A1. a. 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

b. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

A2. a. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

b’. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

B. 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

C. 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

D. 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

C’. 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

B’. 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

A’. a. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

b. 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

b’. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

a’. 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

A. Justification not by law
a.19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith,

b. it saith to them who are under the law:

c. that every mouth may be stopped,
and all the world may become guilty before God.

b’. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:

a’. for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

B. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God

C. which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and up on all them that believe: for there is no difference:

D. 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

D’. 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

C’. 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,

B’. i. to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
ii. 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

A’. Justification through faith for Jew and Gentile
a. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

b. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

c. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

b’. 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

a’. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.