I SAY then, Hath God rejected his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (2)God hath not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture saith of Elias[75]? how he maketh intercession with God against Israel, saying, (3)"Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I only am left, and they seek my life." (4)But what saith the oracle of God to him? "I have left to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." (5)So then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (6)But if by grace, it is no more by works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if by works, it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (7)What then is the result? Israel hath not obtained that which it seeketh; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded, (8)as it is written[76], "God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; unto this present day." (9)And David saith[77], "Let their table be for a snare, and for a trap, and for a stumbling-block, and for a recompence unto them: (10)let their eyes be blinded, that they may not see, and bow down their back continually." (11)I say then, Have they stumbled so as to fall? God forbid: but by their stumbling salvation is come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. (12)For if their stumbling is the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? (13)For I address myself to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am indeed the apostle of the Gentiles, I exalt my ministry: (14)if by any means I might provoke to jealousy my flesh, and save some of them. (15)For if the rejection of them is the reconciliation of the world, what shall their recovery be, but life from the dead? (16)Now if the first fruits be holy, so is the mass: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. (17)But if some of the branches have been broken off, and thou though a wild olive hast been grafted in among them, and become a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (18)boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. (19)Wilt thou say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in? (20)Admitted; by unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: (21)for if God spared not the native branches, tremble lest he spare not thee.