Two points: first, what does Paul say a gentile MUST do to partake of the
salvation offered by Messiah? We must be grafted into… made part of… the Olive Tree. The Olive Tree was the standard symbol of the nation of Israel. Therefore, Paul says a gentile must become part of Israel. Second, and perhaps most important, what makes Israel, Israel… what is it, precisely, that a gentile must be grafted into… and what is the rich root of the Olive Tree (Israel)? What makes Israel, Israel are the covenants YHWH made with them. Nothing else. This is a biblical and historical fact, and not a speculation. No covenants, no Israel. So, when one becomes part of Israel, by default one comes under the covenants of Israel… all of them. Only then do we get the benefit of what those covenants offer to us. The rich root of Israel Paul speaks about (a metaphor, of course) are necessarily those covenants, beginning with Abraham’s Covenant, then the Covenant of Moses.
Tom Bradford
21 окт 2024
