In Romans 12:1-2, Paul instructs us to use our power of reason and by so doing prove to ourselves what we believe. The Greek word for ‘reason’ is logikos – rational, logical, reasonable. So let us take a logical view of what he wrote in those preceding three chapters (9-11).
He asks a very logical question - If Israel is God’s chosen people, how is it that so many Jews have rejected the Messiah? Has his purpose failed?
In answering this question, Paul’s reasoning unfolds in three movements, recorded as chapters nine through eleven of his letter to the Romans:
* Overture – God’s sovereign choice of Israel
* Development – Israel’s responsibility for their unbelief
* Finale – Israel’s future restoration
His arguments revolve around three groups of people:
* The Jews – ethnic, genealogical descendants of Abraham
* The Gentiles – everyone else
* A remnant – Jews who exercise faith in Jesus
How do we know that Paul is speaking of ethnic Jews and not some spiritual incarnation? He defines his target very clearly:
‘my brothers, my relatives according to the flesh, who are Israelites’ (9:3).
These are God’s chosen people who received covenants, the Law, promises, and from whom came Messiah, Christ. This includes Paul himself –
‘For I too am an Israelite, of the offspring of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin (11:1).
This whole passage refers to God’s covenant people, ethnic Jews, Israel, descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob.
These are the people chosen specifically by God – Isaac through Sarah, not Ishmael or any of Abraham’s sons of Keturah. Through Jacob, not Esau - and chosen before either of them had chance to do anything good or bad. Is there injustice in this? Certainly not! God chooses those he wishes to show compassion and mercy, to prove that any privileged status is by God’s grace and not through personal ambition or hard work.
After some references to the prophets, Paul then notes a paradox. How is it that Gentiles attained righteousness by faith, when the Jews in practising Law completely failed? It was due to their lack of faith. They thought that by being zealous for Law they could acquire what can only be attained by faith. In quoting Hosea he shows that those not my people will become my sons, and from Isaiah, that only a remnant of the sons of Israel will be saved.
This helps us to understand verse six. Being a child of Abraham does not automatically guarantee that they would inherit their own blessings. Not all of Abraham’s offspring were Israel just because he was their father (v7), but only those chosen by God. Not even being a child of Jacob would guarantee the promise; following the revealing of the promised seed a new set of membership rules were instituted, as we’ll see. At the time of writing, the remnant (v27) of Israel included the 120 of the upper room, the 3,000 baptised at Pentecost, that soon swelled to 5,000, and all other Jews who through faith, repentance and God’s mercy (including Paul himself) came to be in Christ. This faithful remnant is natural Israel rooted in Abraham.
Chapter ten assures us that Israel had no lack of zeal, but they wanted to establish their own righteousness without submitting to God. Christ is the end of the Law. Faith is everything, irrespective of whether you are Jew or Gentile.
For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation (10:9-10).
This is the sole requirement for salvation: faith that Jesus is Lord and that he was resurrected from the dead.
‘There is no distinction between Jew and Greek… for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ (v12-13).
The Jews heard the same gospel message and they are responsible for rejecting it because they are a ‘disobedient and obstinate people’ (v21).
This leads to the opening, and startling question of chapter eleven:
‘I ask, then, God did not reject his people, did he?’
Paul uses his own credentials to prove that Israel has not been rejected. Just as a remnant was preserved in the days of Elijah so too is there a remnant in Paul’s day, of whom he is a part. This remnant has been chosen by God, not by their works, otherwise God’s grace would no longer be grace but, effectively, a loan that needs to be repaid. Their hardening is partial and purposeful – Israel’s fall brings salvation to the Gentiles. It leads to jealousy. If by their false step salvation comes to the world, riches to the nations ‘how much more will their full number mean?’ (v12).
What does that question mean? It is quite startling! It is explained by the olive tree metaphor. The various parts:
* The root: the Abrahamic covenant
* Natural branches: Jews
* Wild branches: Gentiles
* Broken branches: unbelieving Jews
* Grafted branches: believing Gentiles
What does this all mean? It means that Gentiles can share in the promises made to Abraham; that unbelieving Jews can be reattached to the tree; it remains the one and same tree – Israel is not replaced. The Abrahamic covenant after all is unilateral, everlasting, irrevocable, not requiring a mediator.
In verse 25 Paul declares a mystery:
‘A partial dulling of senses has come upon Israel until the full number of people of the nations has come in, and in this manner all Israel will be saved’.
This partial dulling or hardening, this unbelief, is temporary. There is a full number of Gentiles (undisclosed) and when that has been completed, Israel will be saved. Yes, we are still talking about ethnic Israel as a discrete entity. Nowhere is it suggested that this means every Jew individually. It does not refer to Zionism, an invention of the nineteenth century. It does not refer to the political state of Israel, a twentieth century political contrivance, nor to its geographic location. It does not refer to a ‘spiritual Israel’. It means that there will be a future large-scale conversion, a turning to Jesus, by Jewish people wherever they live on earth, by some means as yet to be revealed. The Jews are still an enemy of the gospel, but the Abrahamic Covenant still exists (it is enduring), the Jews are still God chosen people, beloved of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and ultimately because God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (v29).
If you, dear reader, are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you may well be confused by this précis of these three chapters. The Watchtower Society (WTS) teaches replacement theology in which natural Israel is completely rejected and replaced by a spiritual entity which they call ‘spiritual Israel’. Take for example some quotes from The Watchtower:
w10 11/1 p. 29 Does Bible Prophecy Point to the Modern State of Israel? By the expression “all Israel,” Paul meant all of spiritual Israel—Christians who have been selected by holy spirit. He was saying that the failure of the natural Jews to accept the Messiah would not thwart God’s purpose to have a spiritual ‘olive tree’ full of productive branches.
w11 5/15 p. 25 par. 19 ‘O the Depth of God’s Wisdom!’ Yes, Jehovah’s purpose with regard to “the Israel of God” is being fulfilled in a marvelous way. (Gal. 6:16) As Paul said, “all Israel will be saved.” (Rom. 11:26) In Jehovah’s due time, “all Israel”—that is, the complete number of spiritual Israelites—will serve as kings and priests in heaven. Nothing can cause Jehovah’s purpose to fail!
And there are many more. The point WTS makes is that this Israel comprises just 144,000 members. They are separated from mankind and the earth and are taken to heaven in some way.
The first thing to note is that the term ‘spiritual Israel’ is a non-scriptural term and although many commentators use it to describe those within the New Covenant, the entire body of believers, the church, it does not have a scriptural definition. The other term ‘the Israel of God’ appears just once at Galatians 6:16. It too is difficult to define as it appears right at the end of the letter, almost as a throwaway comment. However the context of Galatians is very different to that of Romans 9-11. In Galatians Paul demonstrates that everyone in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or freeman, etc. has an equal standing in the congregation. It is a spiritual entity, a virtual nation of Israel, bound by faith in Jesus as the only means of salvation. In Jesus they have freedom, released from the drudgery of Law. Romans 9-11 refers most definitely to the natural, genealogically related nation descended from Abraham and Sarah. It helps us greatly to understand this if we have a clear notion of the various covenants relevant and how they relate to each other, specifically the Abrahamic Covenant, The Mosaic (Law) Covenant, and the New Covenant. It also helps to understand exactly what a covenant is. Under the entry ‘Covenant’ in Insight vol 1, p520, it says: ‘An agreement between two or more persons to do, or refrain from doing some act; a compact; a contract’. This is not true. As we will see some covenants are unilateral. Also, a covenant and a contract are very different beasts. That is perhaps something that you can investigate for yourself. I might write it up myself one day. If you do, beware! That Insight entry is both confused and confusing.
Abrahamic Covenant
This was made with Abraham. It is unilateral (no mediator required), unconditional (no responsibilities on Abraham’s behalf), and is everlasting, therefore still in force. It has three aspects: descendants, land, blessings to all nations. Enjoyment of their land was conditional on obedience, however Paul, at Romans 4:13 seems to suggest that the ultimate fulfilment is the whole world, thereby obviating the need for a Jewish homeland in the Middle East. The Jews, the ethnic race, are still loved by God as his chosen people.
Law Covenant
The Mosaic (Law) Covenant was made between Jehovah and the nation of Israel. It was bilateral and temporary; they agreed to abide by its terms. Moses was its mediator. It did not replace the Abrahamic Covenant but was the means by which its provisions would be imparted to his children of promise. Israel regularly failed to comply with its terms, but it remained in force. It was fulfilled in Jesus and at Pentecost was set aside, in favour of the New Covenant.
New Covenant
The provisions of the New Covenant are unilateral and unconditional. While we were still sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). God sent Jesus to earth because he loves us so much that he does not want any to be destroyed (Jo 3:16). The once for all time sacrifice (Heb 9:12) that he made forgives the sins, not just of believers, but of the whole world (1 Jo 2:2). This has to be the case, otherwise he would need to sacrifice himself regularly, and that cannot happen. As the Law Covenant required a mediator, Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant. It is between God and the congregation of believers in Christ. However it is also bilateral and conditional in that to enjoy these provisions we must believe that Jesus is the son of God, that through his death and resurrection he avails us of God’s grace, and that in gratitude for this extraordinary act of love we allow God’s Spirit to operate within us, producing beautiful fruitage (Gal 5:22-23). Initially the members were Jews, subsequently joined by, and eventually outnumbered by, Gentiles beginning with Cornelius. The outward symbol of rebirth is baptism; the only sacrament is the breaking of bread – partaking of the bread and wine until he comes. This is likely what Paul referred to as ‘Israel of God’, spirit-begotten believers in Christ, who make up the congregation, the body of Christ, in his discourse to the Galatians. It does not replace the Abrahamic Covenant but is the means by which Abraham’s blessings are extended to all nations.
To enjoy the benefits of the Law Covenant, all one had to do was to be born as a descendant of Jacob (Israel). This large family became a nation at Sinai where it was inducted into the Law Covenant, with Moses as its mediator – their sinful condition prevented direct access to Jehovah. It defined who they were, their relationship with Jehovah and with their neighbours. They enthusiastically and unanimously accepted it. All their descendants were, by default, members.
However, Jesus fulfilled that Law Covenant and so a new method of approaching God was needed. Whereas the Law code was based on works, the New Covenant would be based on faith, with Jesus himself as mediator for the same reason, sin. Israel could have remained as the exclusive membership, but as we know they rejected Jesus, had him killed and persecuted the new membership – who initially were their own brothers. At Pentecost the initial membership consisted of just 120 people. Even though they were offspring of Abraham through the chosen lineage, most Jews were lopped off. Later that day, Peter did some explaining and 3,000 branches were instantly reattached to the blessings of Abraham, based on their remorse and acceptance in full of the new arrangement. The numbers grew but not by very much; there were a lot of vacancies. So people of the nations, Gentiles, were invited to become honorary members, children of Israel. These enthusiastically joined up and accepted the terms of the New Covenant in full. In Paul’s metaphor, they were grafted into the root, Abraham, and are now ‘Israel’ even though they are not Israel. Those in the Law Covenant were known as the Children of Israel (or simply Israel) and in the New Covenant they are known as the Israel of God. The tree made up of a root and branches (no trunk), will remain forever. Adopted children have exactly the same rights to name, title and inheritance as natural children, not because they have become part of the Abrahamic Covenant but because the New Covenant through Abraham’s seed is the means by which all nations of the earth can bless themselves.
These three covenants are separate but integral to each other. Many of those who are Israel are no longer Israel, although they can at some later date be reattached if they so choose. Paul suggests that this could be in significant numbers and is yet future. I know that there are Messianic Jews who are treated with contempt by the modern political state. Whether this will grow into what Paul had in mind, or something completely different, only time will tell.
Summary
Those in the Abrahamic Covenant are the children of Israel and that is their exclusive privilege based on the faith of their patriarch Abraham. The Law Covenant was their means of approaching God until Christ came, fulfilled the Law and inaugurated the New Covenant, today’s means of approaching God and having a relationship with him for those who have been grafted into the blessings of Abraham alongside those faithful Jews who were already there. The former covenant was relevant to a discrete people living in one contiguous location and had hundreds of requirements written on tablets, the latter for a distributed nation scattered across the globe with just three – faith, repentance, baptism – inscribed on hearts. These covenants are both temporary, as temporary as sin. The root and branches remain forever.
Why The Watchtower is wrong
The Watchtower Society teaches that God has no future plan for ethnic Israel. It states that the Jews lost their covenant status when they rejected Jesus, that ‘the Israel of God’ is the 144,000, and that when Paul says ‘all Israel will be saved’, this small group is what is saved. This interpretation has no basis in this passage. If Paul uses his ethnic Jewish identity to prove that God has not rejected his people, ‘spiritual Israel’, his whole argument collapses.
Returning to the three groups of people, in this scenario, Gentiles would also be part of ethnic Israel, Israel would be hardened and saved simultaneously and likewise be lopped off and grafted in at the same time. The olive tree metaphor becomes meaningless.
Returning to verse 25 we are told that a partial hardening has come upon Israel. If Israel is the 144,000 and the great crowd are Gentiles, then are the 144,000 hardened so that some or all can be grafted back in? Jesus teaches that he has other sheep (John 10:16), a reference to the Gentiles becoming one flock (inciting the Jews to jealousy). But this is not what the WTS teaches – each member is self-inducted by a personal mystic experience which cannot, and must not, be interrogated – nothing to do with being Jew or Gentile. Once again, as always when stress-testing WT theology, the whole thing collapses under its own weight! This passage makes sense only if the natural branches are actually Jews and the wild branches are actually Gentiles. A future large-scale turning to Christ of ethnic Jews seems to be the only explanation that makes any sense – not every Jew, not the modern state of Israel, not the 144,000 or ‘spiritual Israel’, but individual Jews wherever they live on earth.
It gets worse for the WTS. It is worth noting here that anyone who is not in the New Covenant, does not have a mediator. Think upon the consequences of that. According to WTS only 144,000 are spirit-anointed and adopted as sons of God. This small group comprises the sum total membership. It alone partakes of the body and blood of Jesus at an annual memorial. All others, the other sheep, sit and observe. They are denied communion with Jesus, even though ‘unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you’ (John 6:53). Who is the mediator for this ‘great crowd of other sheep’? They do not have one – unless their governing body, the self-appointed faithful slave, the leaders of a publishing corporation founded in nineteenth century USA, is their mediator. In claiming to be Jehovah’s channel of communication, this group of men have effectively become the mediator of the New Covenant for millions of ‘other sheep’. They say that they are off to heaven to be ‘a kingdom and priests’ (Rev 5:10) with Christ. In their words, Christ is their mediator (and theirs alone), and they are mediators for everyone else! Are they making themselves equal to Christ?* There is a word for that. It starts with a B!
* Compare 2 Corinthians 5:20 in the New World Translation with any other version you can lay your hands on. There are 50 or so in Bible Hub. Spot the difference. What has been added to NWT and what does it mean?
* The Watchtower June 2026 p31 has a short piece under the guise of 'Questions from Readers', arguing that the two covenants in Galatians are the Law and Abrahamic Covenants, not the New Covenant. Paul certainly refers to the Abrahamic Covenant but predominantly he is comparing the slavery to works with the freedom in Christ that comes through faith. It appears to take Watchtower's ‘the 144,000’ outside of the New Covenant. So who is in this covenant? Is Jesus mediator for nobody?