“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:”
Romans 11:20, KJV
“That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.”
Romans 11:20, ESV
Table of Contents
- Romans 11:20 Meaning – Well; because of unbelief they were broken off
- Romans 11:20 Meaning – thou standest by faith
- Romans 11:20 Meaning – Be not highminded, but fear
Romans 11:20 Meaning – Well; because of unbelief they were broken off
To the question, ‘Why should not we glory’ over the branches that were broken off? were they not broken off that we might be graffed in? were they not removed to make room for us? why should we not glory in this token of being preferred to them’ the apostle’s answer is —
‘It is true that the casting off of the Jews was, in the order of Divine providence, among the intended means of the calling of the Gentiles. It was not, however, the reason of their being cast off: that was their own unbelief. Had they believed, they would not have been cast off.
But, being unbelieving, their rejection on account of that unbelief was made conducive to the conversion of the Gentiles. In all this there is nothing to excite pride, but much to induce caution. They fell by unbelief; “thou standest by faith.”‘
Brown, John – Analytical exposition of the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Romans (1857)
Romans 11:20 Meaning – thou standest by faith
Argument 9. In answering the objection it is propounded; It’s true the Jews are rejected, that upon this occasion thou mightest succeed them in the Church, but seeing they for their unbelief are rejected, and thou standest by faith, thou hast no reason to insult over and despise the Jews, but rather to fear and to take heed to thy self that thou sin not, and be punished. Therefore oughtest thou not to contemn the Jews, as if altogether cast off.
Dickson, David – An Exposition of All St. Paul’s Epistles (1659)
The Gentiles’ place in the church depended entirely on faith — q.d., ‘It is not as Gentiles that you enjoy your privileges — it is as believing Gentiles. You have no ground for pride as Gentiles — much ground for gratitude and humility. It is by believing the truth that Gentiles become members of the holy family, and continue so; and “it is of faith, that it may be by grace” — for this “faith is the gift of God;” so that there is no room for boasting.’
It is true of every individual Gentile believer, that “he standeth by faith.” Could he entirely fall from faith, he would fall from a state of salvation. But the apostle is here speaking both of unbelieving Jews and believing Gentiles as bodies. This is plain from his speaking of the broken off branches as “graffed in again” — a declaration applicable, not to the individual unbelievers of the primitive age, most of whom never were converted, but the Jewish people, then generally unbelieving.
What is here said, though indirectly full of instruction to individual believing Gentiles, is directly spoken of the Gentile Church. That stands entirely by faith. While there are believers among the Gentiles, there will be a Church among them — a body whom God owns as His; but if there should cease, in any country, to be believers, the Church there would be annihilated.
There does not exist any such body as the Israelitish nation, which, even though in a state of unbelief, stands in a peculiar relation to God. This statement lays a solid foundation for the caution that follows
Brown, John – Analytical exposition of the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Romans (1857)
Romans 11:20 Meaning – Be not highminded, but fear
This fear, however, is by no means opposed to the confidence and security of faith; for Paul does not wish our belief to experience any vacillation, or any alternation between confidence and doubt, much less the shadow of consternation, or least particle of trepidation.
What then will be the nature and character of this fear? As the Lord orders us to be engaged in the consideration of two subjects, so a twofold affection of the mind must necessarily be produced.
Our heavenly Father wishes us to direct our unceasing attention to the wretched state and condition of our own nature.
This can produce nothing else but horror, wearisomeness, perplexity, and despair; and we must therefore be so completely thrown down, worn out, and bruised, as to pour out our complaints and groans to the Fountain of all pardon and love.
This state of horror, produced by a consideration and reviewing of our own character, prevents not our minds from relying, and calmly resting on the goodness of Jehovah; this wearisomeness precludes us not from the enjoyment of full consolation in the God of all comfort; this perplexity, anxiety, and despair, debar us not from the possession of solid and firm joy and hope in the bosom of eternal Holiness, Wisdom, and Power.
The fear, therefore, here described by the apostle, is opposed as an antidote to pride and contempt, because every one, in proportion to his arrogance, becomes too secure, and at last insolent against others; and on this account we have cause so far to entertain fear, lest our heart, inflated with pride, should swell, extol, and magnify itself.
Calvin, John – Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans tr. Francis Sibson (1834)
What a force does this caution receive, when we look to regions once thickly planted with flourishing Christian churches — such as Egypt, Barbary, and Asia-Minor — now lying entirely desolate under the withering influence of Mohammedan or Pagan superstitions! These churches stood by faith. Faith departed, and where are they?
Brown, John – Analytical exposition of the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Romans (1857)
