Romans 11:12

“Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, etc..] By “the world”, as is clear from the next clause, is meant the Gentiles; who were frequently called so by the Jews, who reckoned themselves to be “the church”, and all the nations round about them, “the world”; which observation may serve to illustrate other passages of Scripture; (see <430316> John 3:16 <470519>2 Corinthians 5:19 <620202>1 John 2:2); now the fall of the Jews, which was a lessening of them, was the riches of the Gentiles; and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; the number of the true believers in Christ among them were very few, the generality of them received him not, but stumbled at him, and fell…”

“Now if the fall of them--"But if their trespass," or "false step" be the riches of the--Gentile world--as being the occasion of their accession to Christ. and the diminishing of them--that is, the reduction of the true Israel to so small a remnant. the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness!--that is, their full recovery (see on Rom 11:26); that is, "If an event so untoward as Israel's fall was the occasion of such unspeakable good to the Gentile world, of how much greater good may we expect an event so blessed as their full recovery to be productive?"”

“If the fall of them - If their lapse, or falling. If their temporal rejection and being cast off for a time has already accomplished so much. Be the riches of the world - The word “riches” means wealth, abundance of property; more than is necessary to the supply of our needs. Hence, it means also anything that may promote our comfort or happiness, as wealth is the means of securing our welfare. The gospel is called riches, as it is the means of our highest enjoyment, and eternal welfare. It is the means of conferring numberless spiritual blessings on the Gentile world; and as this was done by the fall of the Jews, so it could be said that their fall was the riches of the world. It was the…”

“The first part of this verse is treated of, Rom 11:13, &c; the latter, How much more their fulness, (that is, their full conversion,) Rom 11:23, &c. So many prophecies refer to this grand event, that it is surprising any Christian can doubt of it. And these are greatly confirmed by the wonderful preservation of the Jews as a distinct people to this day. When it is accomplished, it will be so strong a demonstration, both of the Old and New Testament revelation, as will doubtless convince many thousand Deists, in countries nominally Christian; of whom there will, of course, be increasing multitudes among merely nominal Christians. And this will be a means of swiftly propagating the gospel…”

“the world: Rom 11:15, Rom 11:33, Rom 9:23; Eph 3:8; Col 1:27 diminishing: decay, or, loss their: Rom 11:25; Isa 11:11-16, Isa 12:1-6, 60:1-22, Isa 66:8-20; Mic 4:1, Mic 4:2, Mic 5:7; Zac 2:11; Zac 8:20-23; Rev 11:15-19 Romans 11:13”