Romans chapter 11

vs 10

What a lovely curse. The blind eyes thing is reminiscent of Jesus' words, but the crippled backs is just some extra pain for them.

vs 11

So in Paul's view, it's not as if Israel cannot be saved. God has in fact switched his focus so as to make Jews jealous of his work amongst the gentiles. This worked, at least within the church. Outside the church, I'm not so sure.

vs 12

This is a typical Pauline argument. He uses it several times in Romans. If God allows the bad thing to bring about good, then how much good will come from the good thing!

vs 13

So while Paul does have some words for the Jews or Jew-style Christians in the earlier chapters of Romans, now he is specifically addressing gentiles.

vs 14

Paul's hope for his own people is expressed in his ministry, then, by attempting to arouse jealousy. And you might think this was an odd path to take if it wasn't for the fact that every time Paul preached in a synagogue, he got pretty much no response, but every time he walked out on the street he started a church.

vs 15

Is the acceptance of Israel really linked to the resurrection? Or is Paul just speaking figuratively?

vs 16

Holy of purpose, I think, rather than of status specifically. The fact is that salvation doesn't work this way. Just because some Jews became Christians doesn't mean all Jews are saved. Same with gentiles. But Paul is looking at the idea that Israel is the root of holiness, because it is through them that the gospel has come. However, as he said earlier, that blessing does not necessarily mean that they've accepted it themselves.

vs 17

This is a picture of gentiles muscling in on the root of the gospel, at the expense of the jewish nation.

vs 18

He is warning gentiles against feeling boastful about being the 'new' people of God. He wants them to realise that they are shored up and supported only because of the history of Israel - which becomes their history.