Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31192/np.16.2.6
Global Christian Mission and the Return of Efraim: Some Exegetical Possibilities of Romans 11:26
Irena Petrović
orcid.org/0000-0003-1912-9368
; Centre for Protestant Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ksenija Magda
orcid.org/0000-0002-9824-063X
; Centre for Protestant Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The subject of this deliberation is the question about Paul’s understanding of the expectation in Romans 11:26 that ‘All Israel will be saved’. It is also to investigate how this relates to the earlier claim in the chapter about the ‘coming in of the full number of Gentiles.’ The blessing which Ephraim, Joseph’s younger son from the marriage with a foreigner, received from his grandfather Israel, is connected with the history of Israel, the nation, and its Covenant with God. The use of some other prophetic eschatological utterances about Israel’s return from captivity, a conclusion is being made, that through the contextualisation of these prophetic texts into his own missionary context and problem, Paul, understands his mission to the Gentiles as also a ministry to the lost tribes of Israel. These are now the ‘great multitude’ that has melted with nations, and only in the ‘coming in’ of the Gentiles – that is of the ethne, the nations – which is being conducted through the Gospel ministry to the ends of the earth, also ‘all Israel’ is being reached.
Keywords
Romans; Covenant; Restoration of Israel; Israel; Gentiles
Hrčak ID:
203376
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2018.
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