Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans John Calvin
Chapter
Romans 11:1-6
Romans 11:1-6
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.
1. Dico igitur, Num abjecit Deus populum suum? absit: etenim ego Israelita sum, ex genere Abrahae, tribu Benjamin.
2. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
2. Non abjecit Deus populum suum quem praecognovit. An nescitis in Elia quid scriptura dicat? quomodo appellet Deum adversus Israel, dicens,
3. Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
3. Domine, Prophetas tuas occiderunt, et altaria tua diruerunt, et ego relictus sum solus, et quaerunt animam meam.
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.
4. Sed quid dicit ei oraculum? 338 Reservavi mihi ipsi septem millia virorum, qui non flexerunt genu imagini Baal.
5. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
5. Sic ergo et hoc tempore, reliquiae secundum electionem gratiae supersunt:
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.
6. Quod si per gratiam, jam non ex operibus; alioqui gratia, jam non est gratia: si vero ex operibus, jam non est gratia; alioqui opus, jam non est opus.
1. I say then, etc. What he has hitherto said of the blindness and obstinacy of the Jews, might seem to import that Christ at his coming had transferred elsewhere the promises of God, and deprived the Jews of every hope of salvation. This objection is what he anticipates in this passage, and he so modifies
338"Oraculum," {ὁ} {χρηματισμός}, the oracle, the divine response. The answer is put for him who gave the answer, for it is "Jehovah" in the passage that is quoted; as "Scripture" in Romans 11:2, and in other places, means him who speaks in the Scriptures. — Ed.