What does this mean?

[DaveH]

I copied it in 6 different translations if that helps. They all seem to be saying the same thing, but it just kind of "jumped out" at me this morning -- and it caught me by surprise. Funny how you can read something numerous times and never see it.

Anyone want to take a stab at what this verse is saying?

Romans 11:32 (KJV)
32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Romans 11:32 (English Standard Version)
32For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Romans 11:32 (NKJV)
32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

Romans 11:32 (NIV)
32For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Romans 11:32 (NASB)
32For (A)God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Romans 11:32 (Amplified Bible)
32For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike].

[OkieArcher]

Best thing I could come up with hope this helps ya

For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
a. You were once disobedient to God: The Gentile Christians came from disobedience; yet God showed them mercy, in part through the disobedience of Israel.
b. Obtained mercy through their disobedience: If God could use the disobedience of Israel for the good of Gentiles, He could also use the mercy shown to Gentiles for the mercy of Israel.
c. God has committed them all to disobedience: The idea is that God has shut up both Jew and Gentile into custody as lawbreakers. God offers mercy to these prisoners, based on the person and work of Jesus.

[Chuck7]

My AOL is not working now so I can't access my online Bible...but if i remember correctly, Paul is talkng about Israel here. This is the chapter that says that God has blinded their eyes till the last Gentile is saved..i beleive this is alos the chapter that says "And ALL Israel shall be saved."
Dave, I beleive the verse you quoted is Paul showing how God will save "All " of Israel. by His grace.
C7

[LBR]

Off the top of my head, I think it's confirming that nobody is perfect, that all are lost without God, and His grace covers all equally. Everyone is the same in God's eyes.

Again, that's off the top of my head--I need to read it in context.

Chad

[DaveH]

I guess it's the first part of the verse I'm trying to understand. It sounds like God MADE us be disobedient just so He could have mercy on us. Am I looking at it wrong?

[manuman]

I can't recall the passage right now, but it speaks of the difference of unbelief and in outright rebellion, knowing that they are wrong, and I believe that it is saying that the Lord counts all as being somewhat ignorant due to their unbelief as opposed to willful and knowledgeable sin, thus being able to show mercy.

[Chuck7]

Let's look at the verse in context brother Dave . I know your a pretty smart guy so instead of doing alot of commenting I'll simply highlight key phrases in blue.

25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.


26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27For this is my covenantunto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
The callings...God called Israel. I know we are also the new Israel but in this chapter God is speaking literaaly about the nation of Israel.

30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

So yes ...God will have mercy on Israel...The Word says in the Old Testament that when they see the Christ that they crucified that they will cry and morn for 3 months.

31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Praise be to God Dave....This is certainly a wonderful verse to show God's unmerited grace.

33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Amen Paul ...God's ways are higher and wiser than ours ..I'm certainly not one of His counselors.

Chuck7

[Venator1]

He found jews and gentiles disbelieve because of their free will not his doing. I think you are looking at it wrong.

[mudhead1s wife]

The thing that spoke to me the most was the fact that if it were not for free will we would not know sin so sin we would not, we know that this was done in act of Love. Okay now in order to repent we have to admit that we have sinned and in order todo that we must be shown our sin, if you go further and read his doxology you will see that it is written in the same manner as many as the Psalms, he is giving honor andglory to God.I know this doesn't help your question so much, but I just wanted to point out how amazing God is, we have taken a small piece of one chapter and found a wealth of wisdom in it.

[DaveH]

After posting this, I spoke to a Christian friend at work and we talked discussed it. What we came up with was that God "gave us over" to our sinful indulgences just like He did with the pagans in the old testament. Giving us over is a far cry from bringing it about and that is where I was trying to discern what God's Word was saying.