Rom. 11:11-24, Stumbling and Falling

In Rom. 11:11 Paul asks concerning Israel: have they stumbled that they should fall? His answer is, Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.  What does this mean?  It is obviously possible to stumble and “fall” or “not fall,” as is the case with Israel. Further, the two words “fall” are related but different.   This study should help understand this critically important passage.  (We will list “piptō” in the next post.  It speaks of falling in a complete sense, used of people falling (bowing) before someone in total worship.  This is Paul’s question did they stumble so as to have a complete fall?

ptaiō (verb): to stumble, trip

·       Rom 11:11: did Israel "stumble" so as to fall (piptō)

·       James 2:10: stumble in one part of the law & you're guilty of all

·       Jas 3:2ab: we stumble in many things; he who doesn’t stumble in word is perfect

·       2Pt 1:10: make calling/election sure, do these things & you'll never stumble.

ptōsis (noun): falling, fall

·       Mt 7:27: great was the fall of the house on sand.  (This refers to falling.  But note that Jesus must qualify it, saying this fall was “great.”

·       Lk 2:34: Jesus destined to cause the fall & rise of many.

paraptōma (noun): false step, transgression, sin (This is that by which you stumble, the rock in the pathway. It may or may not result in a complete fall.)

·       Mt 6:14,15: if you forgive men their transgression your Father will forgive you; if not, he will not forgive your transgressions. (Mk 11:25,26).

·       Rom 4:25: Christ delivered up bec. of our offences, raised bec. of justification

·       Rom 5:15ab,16,17,18,20: free gift not like offence; by one man's offense many died; free gift came from many offenses resulted in justification; by one man's offense death reigned; as thru one man's offense judgment came to all; the law entered that the offense might abound.

·       Rom 11:11,12: the Jews "trespass" is for salvation of Gentiles; if the "trespass" is riches for the world how much more their fulfillment.  (I.e. as the passage goes on to say, Israel can, and will be, restored from this stumble.)

·       2 Cor 5:19: God in Christ reconciling world, not imputing their trespasses

·       Gal 6:1: bro overtaken by trespass to be restored by the spiritual

·       Eph 1:7: in Christ, forgiveness of sins

·       Eph 2:1,5: Christ made alive those dead in T's & sins; even when dead in T's we're made alive together w/Christ

·       Col 2:13ab: you being dead in T's, made alive w/Him having forgiven you all T's

parapiptō (verb): to fall beside or away

·       Heb. 6:6: impossible to renew to repentance if they fall away.  (They fall hard but they fall off to the side of the path, away from the path.)