Disclaimer: Before beginning this chapter, it is especially important to understand that context drives meaning of words as much as the definitions of words drive the meaning of words. In other words, word studies in Romans 11 are more likely to do harm to our study than good, therefore we shall keep an ever watchful eye upon our presuppositions and theological tendencies as we go through this text.
As the greater context demands, our present subject is, as it has been since the beginning of Romans 9, the disbelief of physical Israel. Since beginning this discourse, the apostle has taken us on the pertinent side paths of God’s election of individuals (v. 9:11), God’s sovereign will and decree over the destination of souls (vv. 9:19-24), the necessity of the proclamation of the Gospel for salvation (vv. 10:14, 15), and the creation of faith by God in the individual soul to embrace and see “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor 4:6; cf. Rm. 10:17). Thus our understanding as we begin Romans 11 is that, though there is a perceived problem with Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, God if faithful and has a sovereign and perfect plan.