神棄絕了以色列人嗎 — 羅馬書讀經隨筆 第11章

羅馬書第十一章，保羅首先拋出了一個問題：“神棄絕了他的百姓麽？”，緊跟著他自答道“斷乎沒有！” 這裏所說的百姓就是指以色列人。保羅說因為他也是以色列人，亞伯拉罕的後裔，屬便雅憫支派的。既然神救了他，說明神並沒有棄絕以色列人——他的百姓。隻不過，在如今這個時代，照著揀選的恩典，所得救的還隻是個餘數。也就是說現在惟有蒙揀選的人得救了，而其餘的就成了頑梗不化的。但是保羅說正是因著他們的玩梗不化和跌倒，救恩臨到了外邦人。這樣，當以色列人看到外邦人得救的時候，就會被激起豔羨，他們中的一些人從而得救信主。保羅說，等到外邦人得救的數目添滿了後，所有以色列人就都要得救了，這是一個奧秘。從前外邦人也不順服，現在因著以色列人的不順服，外邦人得了神的憐憫；同樣，也將因著這些以色列人的不順服，叫他們因著神施給外邦人的憐恤而蒙憐恤。因此，以色列人終將都得救，無怪乎保羅最後感歎道：深哉，神豐富的智慧和知識！

羅11:1 我且說、 神棄絕了他的百姓麽．斷乎沒有．因為我也是以色列人、亞伯拉罕的後裔、屬便雅憫支派的。
I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
羅11:2 神並沒有棄絕他預先所知道的百姓。你們豈不曉得經上論到以利亞是怎麽說的呢．他在 神麵前怎樣控告以色列人、說、
God didn't reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:
羅11:3 『主阿、他們殺了你的先知、拆了你的祭壇、隻剩下我一個人、他們還要尋索我的命。』
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."
羅11:4 神的回話是怎麽說的呢．他說、『我為自己留下七千人、是未曾向巴力屈膝的。』
But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
羅11:5 如今也是這樣、照著揀選的恩典還有所留的餘數。
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
羅11:7 這是怎麽樣呢．以色列人所求的、他們沒有得著．惟有蒙揀選的人得著了、其餘的就成了頑梗不化的．
What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn't obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
羅11:11 我且說、他們失腳是要他們跌倒麽．斷乎不是．反倒因他們的過失、救恩便臨到外邦人、要激動他們發憤。
I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
羅11:13 我對你們外邦人說這話．因我是外邦人的使徒、所以敬重我的職分．〔敬重原文作榮耀〕
For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;
羅11:14 或者可以激動我骨肉之親發憤、好救他們一些人。
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.
羅11:25 弟兄們、我不願意你們不知道這奧秘、（恐怕你們自以為聰明)就是以色列人有幾分是硬心的、等到外邦人的數目添滿了．
For I don't desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won't be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,
羅11:26 於是以色列全家都要得救、如經上所記、『必有一位救主、從錫安出來、要消除雅各家的一切罪惡。』
and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, "There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
羅11:27 又說、『我除去他們罪的時候、這就是我與他們所立的約。』
This is my covenant to them, when I will take away their sins."
羅11:29 因為 神的恩賜和選召、是沒有後悔的。
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
羅11:30 你們從前不順服 神、如今因他們的不順服、你們倒蒙了憐恤．
For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,
羅11:31 這樣、他們也是不順服、叫他們因著施給你們的憐恤、現在也就蒙憐恤。
even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy.
羅11:32 因為 神將眾人都圈在不順服之中、特意要憐恤眾人。
For God has shut up all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all.
羅11:33 深哉、 神豐富的智慧和知識。他的判斷、何其難測、他的蹤跡何其難尋、
Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!