The Salvation of “All Israel” in Romans 11:25–27 as the Salvation of Inner-Elect, Historical Israel in Christ

Abstract

In this article, prevalent interpretations of Romans 11:25–27, which envision Israel as a separate entity apart from the church or understand Israel ecclesiologically, are criticised on the basis of (1) the anachronistic relationship of current Judaism with the Ἰουδαῖοι/Ἰσραήλ in Paul, (2) the constraints posed by the connotations inherent to these designations in the time of the Second Temple, and (3) Paul’s thought on Israel and the identity in Christ outside of Romans 9–11. The terms Paul uses and the grammar he utilises in Romans 11:25–27 are re-examined in respect of the context of the letter to the Romans and the larger context of the Pauline corpus. The salvation of “all Israel” (Rom 11:26) is interpreted as the salvation of ancient, inner-elect Israel, in distinction from national Israel (outer-elect), who lived before the Christ-event.