The Skeptics Annotated Bible (905 page)

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and
the rest were blinded

(11.7)
“The rest were blinded.”

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.

(11.8) “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear.”

9 And David saith,
Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block
, and a recompence unto them:

(11.9)
“Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block.”

10
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see
, and bow down their back alway.

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
.

(11.11)
“Salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them
[the Jews]
to jealousy.”

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?

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.

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?

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;

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

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

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.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: 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?

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.

(11.25) “Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” God blinded the Jews to prevent them from believing in Jesus. God wants all the Gentiles to believe first, then maybe he’ll let a few Jews believe, too.

(11.26-32) Fun facts about Jews.
(11.26)
“All Israel shall be saved.”
Move to Israel and your salvation is assured!
347 What will happen to Jews when they die?

26 And so
all Israel shall be saved
: 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.

(11.27)
“This is my covenant unto them,
[the Jews]
when I shall take away their sins.”
Someday God will take away all Jewish sins.

28
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

(11.28)
“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.
” God is a bit conflicted about Jews. They are his enemies, but he loves them for their ancestors’ sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

(11.30)
“For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their
[Jewish
] unbelief.”
Gentiles used to be unbelievers, but now the Jews are the unbelievers and God saves gentiles through Jewish unbelief. It’s all a part of God’s plan.

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.

(11.32)
“God hath concluded them
[the Jews]
all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.”

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!

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

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

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

12
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(12.3-21) Some of the best advice in the Bible