Aquinas and Romans 11:26

Abstract

ABSTRACT The debate over whether (and how) Paul provides a positive verdict on the Jewish people is an ongoing one, and a significant part of that debate concerns the interpretation of Paul’s words in Romans 11:26 that “all Israel will be saved.” In this article, I argue that a consideration of Aquinas’s Commentary on Romans, and in particular his reading of Romans 11:26, reveals a surprisingly positive assessment of the place of the Jewish people in salvation history, and one that bears fruit when brought into dialogue with contemporary exegetical concerns, in particular, by providing resources for a theologically grounded response to N. T. Wright’s criticisms of eschatological interpretations of Romans 11:26. My argument in this article has a twofold purpose: first, to contribute to the growing body of scholarship defending a positive evaluation of Aquinas’s place in the reception history of Romans 11:26, and second, to give support to the thesis that Aquinas (as scriptural commentator) can be a useful voice in contemporary Pauline exegesis.