Romans 11:14

If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them.

If by any means {G1513}{G4458} I may provoke to emulation {G3863} them which are my {G3450} flesh {G4561}, and {G2532} might save {G4982} some {G5100} of {G1537} them {G846}.

in the hope that somehow I may provoke some of my own people to jealousy and save some of them!

in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.

if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.

Context

Romans 11:14 is situated within Paul's extensive and deeply personal discourse in Romans chapters 9-11, where he addresses the complex question of Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah and their place in God's ongoing redemptive plan. Having explained in Romans 11:13 that he magnified his office as the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul here clarifies a crucial aspect of his mission: his hope that the success of the Gentile mission would serve as a catalyst for his own people. This verse reveals Paul's strategic and passionate desire for the salvation of his kinsmen, demonstrating that God's temporary "hardening" of Israel was not a final abandonment but part of a larger plan to ultimately bring them back into faith.

Key Themes

  • Paul's Enduring Love and Hope for Israel: This verse powerfully underscores Paul's profound compassion and fervent desire for the salvation of his fellow Israelites. Despite their unbelief, his primary aspiration is to see his own nation embrace Christ, reflecting a love that mirrors God's own faithfulness to His covenant people.
  • The Provocation to Emulation: Paul's strategy is ingenious and divinely inspired. By seeing the spiritual blessings and salvation experienced by the Gentiles who have accepted Christ, Paul hoped it would "provoke to emulation" (or jealousy) within Israel. This is not a destructive envy but a positive rivalry, stirring a desire for the same spiritual reality found in Christ, akin to how Israel's "fall" led to salvation for the Gentiles.
  • God's Inclusive and Redemptive Purpose: The verse highlights God's intricate and sovereign plan, where even apparent setbacks (Israel's temporary unbelief) are woven into a grand tapestry of redemption. The Gentile mission serves not only to bring Gentiles into the fold but also as a means to draw Israel back, demonstrating God's desire for all to be saved.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version phrase "provoke to emulation" translates the Greek word parazēloō (παραζηλόω). While zēlos (ζῆλος) can carry connotations of zeal or destructive envy, the prefix para- here indicates a stirring up alongside, suggesting a positive kind of rivalry or jealousy that motivates imitation or desire. In this context, it means to incite or stimulate a desire for what others have found, leading to a positive outcome. "My flesh" (Greek: sarx, σάρξ) clearly refers to Paul's physical kinsmen, the Israelites, emphasizing his deep ethnic and familial connection to those he sought to save.

Practical Application

Romans 11:14 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Strategic Witnessing: It reminds us that God can use diverse methods to draw people to Himself. Our own transformed lives, the joy we find in Christ, and the blessings we experience as believers can serve as a powerful testimony, creating a positive curiosity or "emulation" in others who are yet to believe.
  • Persistent Hope and Love: Paul's unwavering love and persistent hope for his people, even in their unbelief, challenge us to maintain the same attitude toward family members, friends, and communities who have not yet embraced the Gospel. We should not give up on those we care about, continuing to pray for and witness to them.
  • Interconnectedness of God's Work: This verse illustrates that God's plan is vast and interconnected. Our efforts in sharing the Gospel with one group of people can have ripple effects, influencing others in unexpected ways, all for the ultimate purpose of salvation. Like Paul, we are called to be diligent in sharing the good news, trusting God to work through our efforts to "save some of them."
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:16

    For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?

  • 1 Timothy 4:16

    Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

  • Titus 3:5

    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

  • 1 Timothy 2:4

    Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

  • 2 Timothy 2:10

    Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:20

    And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

  • 1 Corinthians 9:22

    To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.

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