“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;”
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root — Paul introduces the grafting metaphor with unusual botanical detail: a wild olive (agrielaios, uncultivated) grafted into a cultivated tree. The pagan Gentiles are grafted into Israel's covenant, sharing in the sap (chrisma, perhaps anointing, blessing) from the patriarchal root.
Church Fathers on Romans 11:17
“And if some of the branches be broken off.” And yet above you said that the more part perished, and a few were saved only. How came it then that speaking of those that perished, you have used a “some,” which is indicative of fewness? It is not, he replies, in opposition to myself, but out of a desire to court and recover those that are distressed. Observe how in the whole of the passage one finds him working at this object, the wish to solace them. And if you deny it, many…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!