Romans 11:25

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 11:25 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;
Romans 11:25 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
25For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For I would not, brethren, etc..] The apostle in order to raise the attention of the Gentiles to what he was about to deliver to them, not only styles them “brethren”, expressing his affection for them, and their relation to him and other believing Jews, and to one another, being all one in Christ Jesus, partakers of the same grace, and heirs of the same glory; but also tells them, that what he had to acquaint them with was a “mystery”, a thing secret and hidden, which had not been heard of and known, at least not so fully and clearly as he was about to reveal it; and because of his great respect for them, he was unwilling, as he says, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery; he was…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For I would not . . . that ye should be ignorant of this mystery--The word "mystery," so often used by our apostle, does not mean (as with us) something incomprehensible, but "something before kept secret, either wholly or for the most part, and now only fully disclosed" (compare Rom 16:25; Co1 2:7-10; Eph 1:9-10; Eph 3:3-6, Eph 3:9-10). lest ye should be wise in your own conceits--as if ye alone were in all time coming to be the family of God. that blindness--"hardness" in part is happened to--"hath come upon" Israel--that is, hath come partially, or upon a portion of Israel. until the fulness of the Gentiles be--"have" come in--that is, not the general conversion of the world to Christ, as…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Ignorant of this mystery - The word “mystery” means properly what is “concealed, hidden, or unknown.” And it especially refers, in the New Testament, to the truths or doctrines which God had reserved to himself, or had not before communicated. It does not mean, as with us often, that there was anything unintelligible or inscrutible in the nature of the doctrine itself, for it was commonly perfectly plain when it was made known. Thus, the doctrine, that the division between the Jews and the Gentiles was to be broken down, is called a mystery, because it had been, to the times of the apostles, concealed, and was then revealed fully for the first time; Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:26-27; compare…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“St. Paul calls any truth known but to a few, a mystery. Such had been the calling of the gentiles: such was now the conversion of the Jews. Lest ye should be wise in your own conceits - Puffed up with your present advantages; dreaming that ye are the only church; or that the church of Rome cannot fail. Hardness in part is happened to Israel, till - Israel therefore is neither totally nor finally rejected. The fullness of the gentiles be come in - Till there be a vast harvest amongst the heathens. Romans 11:26”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:25 Paul usually uses the word mystery to refer to an event of the last days that has already been determined by God. Such a mystery already exists in heaven and is revealed to God’s people in the Christian era (see 16:25; 1 Cor 2:1, 7; 4:1; 15:51; Eph 1:9; 3:3, 4, 9; 6:19; Col 1:26, 27; 2:2; 4:3; 1 Tim 3:9, 16). Here, the mystery is the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the plan of salvation, which is at the heart of this entire passage (Rom 11:11-32).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I would: Psa 107:43; Hos 14:9; Co1 10:1, Co1 12:1; Pe2 3:8 this: Rom 16:25; Eph 3:3, Eph 3:4, Eph 3:9; Rev 10:7 lest: Rom 12:16; Pro 3:5-7, Pro 26:12, Pro 26:16; Isa 5:21 blindness: or, hardness, Rom 11:7, Rom 11:8; Co2 3:14-16 until: Psa 22:27, Psa 72:8-14, Psa 72:17, Psa 127:1; Isa 2:1-8, 60:1-22, Isa 66:18-23; Mic 4:1, Mic 4:2; Zac 8:20-23, Zac 14:9-21; Luk 21:24; Rev 7:9, Rev 11:15, Rev 20:2-4 Romans 11:26”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification