Hello! I'm studying the Calvinism debate and looking at passages on both sides. The current passage I'm looking at is one that currently seems to go against Calvinism:
Romans 11:16-22. I could be wrong; if so, could you answer the following questions of mine?
Hello Kilk1.
1 Are the branches individuals or groups?
The branches are two nations; the nation of Israel and the Gentile nations.
2. If groups, what do the two trees represent?
Two olive trees, one cultivated olive tree and one wild olive tree. The nation of Israel and the nation of the Gentiles; Gentile means not Jewish.
The root is Christ and the branches in an olive tree are attached to the root of the olive tree. The branches are not attached to a tree trunk on an olive tree.
3. What causes branches to be in the cultivated olive tree as opposed to the wild olive tree?
There are two answers to this question and at two levels.
The first is that the Jews represent the branches in the cultivated olive tree and this was a result of God's choice. That is God chose the nation of Israel and it is was therefore His will that Israel was a cultivated olive tree. So at one level a Gentile can convert to Judaism and therefore be a member of the cultivated olive tree.
The second level is that Gentiles who convert to a belief in Jesus Christ are grafted into the root. Hence, the Gentiles become a cultivated branch by virtue of being attached to the root.
4. Can branches grafted into the cultivated tree be cut off?
Yes, the text specifies that branches were cut off. Paul also warns the Gentiles that they can be severed for unbelief.
5. Can branches cut off from the cultivated tree be grafted in again?
Yes, severed branches can in fact be grafted back into the root. Paul states this to be true.
Romans 11:23
And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
There are two levels in the text and for this reason the text is difficult to understand.