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Letter to the American Church

Started by Jaime, Sat Mar 09, 2024 - 14:00:40

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Jaime

https://ericmetaxas.com/books/letter-to-the-american-church/

I'm about halfway through this 136 page and recommend it. The author highlignts Dietrich  Bonhoeffer's efforts to get the church involved in speaking against Hitler's evil in Germany back in the 1930's. I think it could speak to the Church of today as well.


Wycliffes_Shillelagh

Hmmm... who's more likely to grow "the stache," Biden or Trump?

 rofl

Jaime

#2
I think Biden has more than proved HIS tendencies. There have been many unfounded accusations against Trump, but his 4 year record doesn't uphold that in my opinion. If you are in doubt, might wanna vote for RFK Jr.  ::crackup::  at least Fauci would be somewhat concerned! At any rate  Biden and the Dems are locked and loaded for way more lawfare that would make the Nazis proud!

At any rate the point of the book is that it might not be advisable for the church to stay silent politically looking back on the German Church's  experiences in the Nazi era. I think that is true. Just staying neutral politically might not be the best with the evil we see in the world regardless of one's perspective, regardless of possibly endangering their tax exempt status.

Wycliffes_Shillelagh

Quote from: Jaime on Sat Mar 09, 2024 - 14:41:54I think Biden has more than proved HIS tendencies. There have been many unfounded accusations against Trump, but his 4 year record doesn't uphold that in my opinion. If you are in doubt, might wanna vote for RFK Jr.
That's the plan!

Quote from: Jaime on Sat Mar 09, 2024 - 14:41:54At any rate the point of the book is that it might not be advisable for the church to stay silent politically looking back on the German Church's  experiences in the Nazi era. I think that is true. Just staying neutral politically might not be the best with the evil we see in the world regardless of one's perspective, regardless of possibly endangering their tax exempt status.
The tax-exempt status doesn't matter as much as it used to.  The standard deduction is so high now that very few people get to claim charitable deductions anyway.  The parishioners won't be hurt at all.

But, it would mean that the churches would have to file tax returns, and that would paint a pretty clear picture of where the church funds are really going.  If a church is scared of that, I'd say there's something rotten in Dodge.

Jaime

#4
The tax scam that LBJ put in where churches were scared to be politically active was one of LBJ's sad legacy among many other things.  The church HAS to stand up to evil no matter which party is the source.


Amo

Quote from: Jaime on Sat Mar 09, 2024 - 14:00:40https://ericmetaxas.com/books/letter-to-the-american-church/

I'm about halfway through this 136 page and recommend it. The author highlignts Dietrich  Bonhoeffer's efforts to get the church involved in speaking against Hitler's evil in Germany back in the 1930's. I think it could speak to the Church of today as well.

I think a most obvious problem would be the Roman Catholic Church. Which many today believe to be authentic Christianity. They were a major problem back then, as the Vatican and Pope were the first to sign a political accord with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, and recommend that their adherents support them. Joe Biden is a Roman Catholic. Not only does the Vatican support most of what he is doing and advise others to as well, but much of what he is doing is directly in line with what the Vatican has been calling for in its Encyclicals, and social justice agenda.

Lest people forget, our form of government, Declaration of Independence, and Constitution were backed up by a predominantly Protestant peoples. Many of whom had escaped Roman Catholic persecution, and persecution at the hands of other Protestants who had not yet rejected a combined church and state. The Roman Catholic Church had little to do with the founding principles upon which our government was formed. To the contrary, the two papal Encyclicals published nearest our governments formation, reveal their hostility toward our founding principles. The following link examines these Encyclicals in posts 305 & 306.

https://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/index.php?topic=93028.280

The following quote is from the book Ecclesiastical Megalomania, The Economic and Political Thought of the Roman Catholic Church, by Dr. John W. Robbins.

QuoteRoman Catholic economic thought, as developed by the popes in their encyclicals and by Roman Church-State councils, has been a contributor to, if not the only source of, several forms of anti-capitalist political and economic organization during the long hegemony of the Roman Church-State. Among these forms are
1. feudalism and guild socialism in Europe during the Middle ages.
2. fascism in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, and Latin America in the twentieth century;
3. Nazism in Germany in the twentieth century;
4. interventionism and redistributive state in the West, including the United States in the twentieth century; and
5. liberation theology in Latin America and Africa in the twentieth century.
(Ecclesiastical Megalomania, John W. Robbins, Pt. 1, chap. 1, pg. 30)

From these doctrines of the natural community of goods and the moral primacy of need developed all the forms of anti-capitalist social organizations that the Roman Church-State has supported for the thousand years. The Roman Catholic doctrine of private property is echoed in the nineteenth century Communist slogan, "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." The Roman Catholic doctrine reverberates in the slogan of twentieth century American liberals: "Human rights are more important than property rights." It was the creed of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society:, "We shall take from the haves and give to the have nots, who need it so much." It appears in the literature of fascism, Nazism, liberation theology, interventionism, and socialism. (Ibid., pg. 35)

These Thomistic notions - that private property is merely a construct of human reason and government, and that need gives the needy title to the goods of others - are the reason the Roman Catholic bishops in Brazil in 1998 pronounced that looting is neither sin nor a crime. The needs of the looters gives the looters title to the goods they are taking. According to Roman Catholic doctrine, the looters are, by natural and divine law, the rightful owners of those goods.
(Ibid., pgs. 35&36)

The dispensing of riches to the needy is not merely a private moral obligation in Thomisitic thought, as fundamentally important as that is, but a public legal obligation that is properly enforced by the public authorities. That is the position officially adopted by the Roman Church-State shall become abundantly clear. (Ibid., pg. 36)

So apparently, only those Catholics willing to go against the teachings and social doctrine agenda of the leadership of the church, would join in with the warnings you are speaking of. More than likely they would argue against such, as many of them do at present.

Jaime

#6
In my view, too many Protestant churches are way too apolitical like the Lutheran church was in the 1930's in the face of the matastasizing Nazi cancer according to the author. We have dangerous tendancies boiling up with the Marxists in this country, and the church may be the only hope to mobilize real opposition  against such. Hitler was able to succeed with his evil BECAUSE the church in Germany (largely protestant Lutherans) was silent.

Amo

Quote from: Jaime on Sat Mar 09, 2024 - 19:43:53In my view, too many Protestant churches are way too apolitical like the Lutheran church was in the 1930's in the face of the matastasizing Nazi cancer according to the author. We have dangerous tendancies boiling up with the Marxists in this country, and the church may be the only hope to mobilize real opposition  against such. Hitler was able to succeed with his evil BECAUSE the church in Germany (largely protestant Lutherans) was silent.

Agreed. Biblical Christianity should certainly stand up for the protection of freedom and liberty. In so doing though, it must be careful not to force itself upon others either, if or when they have the power to do so. As the Roman Catholic church has been and is presently so apt to do whenever possible concerning its own political views and or agendas.

The danger today is the ever closer connection between bible believing Christians, and Roman Catholicism. The latter presently holding an unbalanced amount of power over the peoples of this nation, by their large numbers inhabiting all three branches of our government. Which itself is exactly why we are rapidly devolving into the political vision of the Vatican globalist elitist agenda. The will of our people being increasingly bypassed by that of unelected officials of international elitist globalist organizations, which the Pope's of Rome not only support, but ask us to submit to.


Texas Conservative

Most churches today in the US and A don't even truly believe in the gospel.  So who even cares about politics.

4WD

Quote from: Jaime on Sat Mar 09, 2024 - 19:43:53In my view, too many Protestant churches are way too apolitical like the Lutheran church was in the 1930's in the face of the matastasizing Nazi cancer according to the author. We have dangerous tendancies boiling up with the Marxists in this country, and the church may be the only hope to mobilize real opposition  against such. Hitler was able to succeed with his evil BECAUSE the church in Germany (largely protestant Lutherans) was silent.
I agree with you on this. I do not think that it is because the Protestant churches are way too apolitical; rather I think the Protestant churches are way too political. That is, far too many of the major denominations, including the Catholic Church, has succumbed to a leftist ideology.

This country was founded very solidly on the Judeo-Christian values; not so much on the religion but certainly on the values. However, without the religion, the values will not maintain. What we are witnessing is clearly a departure from those values. And the churches do not seem to be standing much against that departure.

I believe that the only real answer is a revival to those Judeo-Christian values.  That will only happen with a revival to a true belief in the God of the Bible.  I don't see that happening. What I am convinced of is that (1) short of his dying between now and November, Biden will be the democrat nominee; (2) if Biden wins, then this nation, and hence the west generally, will be lost; (3) even if Trump wins he can only slow the inevitable.

The reason that Trump cannot actually turn things around is because, I believe, while he seems to believe in Judeo-Christain values, he doesn't really know or believe what truly is the root of those values.  He shows no tendency toward a revival of fear and worship of the God of the Bible.  And that probably because he doesn't even know what that would mean. Is there someone else that will come along to change that?  I doubt it.

Jaime

#10
Where we differ 4WD, i think God can and WILL use an unlikely man exactly like Trump to turn this country. God used a man who was a murderer and adulterer in King David.

I believe we are in a battle of good vs evil that is climaxing. Trump is not our savior, but I think iIF this country turns around, it may well be an unlikely man like Donald Trump, used by God, to bring about a revival that we need as well as undo some of the horrible fiscal folly we have allowed ourselves to engage. The manner of that turning is up to God.

From what I have seen in my lifetime, a lot of conservative churches including the CofC have overtly TRIED to remain apolotical and one could argue for good reason, but like the Church in the 1930s I think we need to be way more vocal than we are now with the evil we see arrayed against us whatever the source. It is NOT the church's place to hold political rallies or have military flybys during flag waving services. BUT it IS the church's place to take a stand against evil. We hesitate BECAUSE we don't want to appear political. With that hesitation we toy with the spiral of silence that plagued the German church in the 1930s. As you eloquently stated, we are more at a crossroads than ever before, even though EVERY election in the past 40 years has been said to be the most pivotal in history. This one actually IS in my opinion. At my age and yours, we become motivated for our kids and grandkid's sake. We may be looking at our last chance to take a stand against an evil that spans both of the major parties in the form of the Establishment Uniparty masquerading as a two party system marketing the illusion of choice, and augmented by and administrative DEEP STATE, all under the cover of an advocate media and Social Media platforms.

We have seen farmers recently all over the world rising up against the oppressive WEF and WHO elite surrogate governments. (This is not visible in our mainstream media)  I believe we will likely see a WORLDWIDE standing up against such evil in the coming months of 2024.   The evil ones sense the looming danger to their plans. They will NOT go quietly in my opinion.

Jaime

#11
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/43814-letter-to-the-american-church/day/3

Quote"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil." Although not directly from Bonhoeffer, this phrase encapsulates the essence of his plea to the Church of his time. It's a call that's relevant today, reminding us that indifference and inaction in the face of injustice are not neutral; they side with oppression.
In our modern era, we too grapple with what German sociologist Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann coined as the "Spiral of Silence." It's the phenomenon where the fewer people that speak up, the higher the price becomes for speaking out, leading to an increasing culture of silence. This deadly spiral took hold in 1930s Germany and still finds resonance in our communities today.
So, what truly keeps us silent? Is it fear of isolation, criticism, or repercussion? Or is it, perhaps, a deeper misunderstanding about our faith and role as Christians in society?

4WD

Quote from: Jaime on Mon Mar 11, 2024 - 07:04:54Where we differ 4WD, i think God can and WILL use an unlikely man exactly like Trump to turn this country. God used a man who was a murderer and adulterer in King David.
I could be totally wrong, but I do not see God providentially interacting with the events of today like He did with Israel in the days leading up to the first coming of Jesus. God did that for the very purpose of bringing Jesus to the world to establish His plan of salvation (Rom 9).  I do not think any such similar purpose exists today.  Europe was the original "nation" based upon the Judeo-Christian values.  Europe has largely apostatized and yet God has not turned Europe in any way that you might picture His turning the US.

Under the Old Covenant, Israel was in fact a theocracy with God as her "official" leader.  That is not the situation today. National (ethnic) Israel was God elect (chosen) nation.  Under the New Covenant, there is no elect (chosen) nation.  The body of Jesus Christ, Christians, constitute God's only elect people.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Argentina under the new right wing Javier Milei. He identifies as Catholic. Will he govern counter to Pope Francis?

I do not know of any significant nation, which having fallen under a Marxist type of government, ever to self-correct. 

Jaime

#13
Obviously we are not Israel of old, but I do believe God had a providential purpose for this country. Will he intervene? I don't know, BUT if we are to TURN, I believe he will have to intervene and his intervention will be through imperfect men as it was with our founding. And we the Church will have to resist the spiral of silence.

Wycliffes_Shillelagh

Quote from: Amo on Sun Mar 10, 2024 - 13:07:21Agreed. Biblical Christianity should certainly stand up for the protection of freedom and liberty. In so doing though, it must be careful not to force itself upon others either, if or when they have the power to do so.
I think you have American ideals confused with Biblical ones.

The first commandment is "no other gods" and that's precisely the opposite of "separation of church and state."  That's state religion, and it is forcing itself upon society.

As for liberty, Paul writes about it at length... but also identifies himself as a "bondservant of Jesus Christ."  American liberty is quite a bit more... libertine... than Biblical liberty.

Wycliffes_Shillelagh

Quote from: 4WD on Mon Mar 11, 2024 - 08:45:01I do not know of any significant nation, which having fallen under a Marxist type of government, ever to self-correct.
What do you consider as self-correction?  There are a bunch of countries that are no-longer-communist. 

Yugoslavia, for example, was a communist country, had a civil war, and is now several states which are not controlled by the communist party (oversimplified).

Texas Conservative

Quote from: Jaime on Mon Mar 11, 2024 - 09:02:25Obviously we are not Israel of old, but I do believe God had a providential purpose for this country. Will he intervene? I don't know, BUT if we are to TURN, I believe he will have to intervene and his intervention will be through imperfect men as it was with our founding. And we the Church will have to resist the spiral of silence.

Referring to this?

2 Chronicles 7:14

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

While we (USA) may have served a purpose in the plan of Christ, We aren't Israel.  Neither is Europe.

Texas Conservative

Quote from: Jaime on Mon Mar 11, 2024 - 07:04:54Where we differ 4WD, i think God can and WILL use an unlikely man exactly like Trump to turn this country. God used a man who was a murderer and adulterer in King David.

I believe we are in a battle of good vs evil that is climaxing. Trump is not our savior, but I think iIF this country turns around, it may well be an unlikely man like Donald Trump, used by God, to bring about a revival that we need as well as undo some of the horrible fiscal folly we have allowed ourselves to engage. The manner of that turning is up to God.

From what I have seen in my lifetime, a lot of conservative churches including the CofC have overtly TRIED to remain apolotical and one could argue for good reason, but like the Church in the 1930s I think we need to be way more vocal than we are now with the evil we see arrayed against us whatever the source. It is NOT the church's place to hold political rallies or have military flybys during flag waving services. BUT it IS the church's place to take a stand against evil. We hesitate BECAUSE we don't want to appear political. With that hesitation we toy with the spiral of silence that plagued the German church in the 1930s. As you eloquently stated, we are more at a crossroads than ever before, even though EVERY election in the past 40 years has been said to be the most pivotal in history. This one actually IS in my opinion. At my age and yours, we become motivated for our kids and grandkid's sake. We may be looking at our last chance to take a stand against an evil that spans both of the major parties in the form of the Establishment Uniparty masquerading as a two party system marketing the illusion of choice, and augmented by and administrative DEEP STATE, all under the cover of an advocate media and Social Media platforms.

We have seen farmers recently all over the world rising up against the oppressive WEF and WHO elite surrogate governments. (This is not visible in our mainstream media)  I believe we will likely see a WORLDWIDE standing up against such evil in the coming months of 2024.   The evil ones sense the looming danger to their plans. They will NOT go quietly in my opinion.

Standing up for bad government and spiritual revival is not the same thing.  The problem with a Republic with representative Democracy, is that when the people stray from God, it all falls apart.  We are there, we just haven't seen all the consequences yet.  Short of a revival initiated by the Holy Spirit not Trump, we will fall.

Jaime

Quote from: Texas Conservative on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 07:18:11Referring to this?

2 Chronicles 7:14

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

While we (USA) may have served a purpose in the plan of Christ, We aren't Israel.  Neither is Europe.

Never said we were Israel. We aren't. But God CAN heal our land, if we turn for our ways, and he would likely use imperfect men in the process.


Jaime

#19
Of course the Holy Spirit will be the impetus, but the Holy Spirit will likely use imperfect men, or He will cause repentence in imperfect men as our government reps to implement  laws and do away with horrible laws whether  it is using me or Rand Paul or Franklin Graham, or Tony Evans or Donald Trump.  No man or woman ( except maybe Hillary  ::smile:: ) is beyond the reach of being a tool of the Holy Spirit. 

Where the church must do is stand up and speek out or we will accelerate our country's fate as the German church did theirs. No need for political cheer leading, but fearlessly standing up for good and speakkng out boldy against evil, no matter whether the source is over zealous Conservarives OR Liberals. We cannot hold back for fear of appearing political.

Texas Conservative

Quote from: Jaime on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 07:38:17Of course the Holy Spirit will be the impetus, but the Holy Spirit will likely use imperfect men, or He will cause repentence in imperfect men as our government reps to implement  laws and do away with horrible laws whether  it is using me or Rand Paul or Franklin Graham, or Tony Evans or Donald Trump.  No man or woman ( except maybe Hillary  ::smile:: ) is beyond the reach of being a tool of the Holy Spirit. 

Where the church must do is stand up and speek out or we will accelerate our country's fate as the German church did theirs. No need for political cheer leading, but fearlessly standing up for good and speakkng out boldy against evil, no matter whether the source is over zealous Conservarives OR Liberals. We cannot hold back for fear of appearing political.

Most churches don't even preach the gospel anymore.

We are called to preach Jesus, and spread the gospel.  That is where change lies.

Jaime

#21
Obviously the gospel must be preached AND evil must be stood against BOLDLY!  If not the Church, then WHO? People like Hitler counted on the Church being silent. Hitler was right about the German Church unfortunately.

Wycliffes_Shillelagh

Quote from: Texas Conservative on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 07:18:11While we (USA) may have served a purpose in the plan of Christ, We aren't Israel.  Neither is Europe.
No, but we contain much of Israel.  The 5 cities with the largest Jewish populations...

1. New York City
2. Jerusalem
3. Los Angeles
4. Tel Aviv
5. Chicago

NYC has 3x as many Jews as Jerusalem...

Jaime

Quote from: Wycliffes_Shillelagh on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 15:21:11No, but we contain much of Israel.  The 5 cities with the largest Jewish populations...

1. New York City
2. Jerusalem
3. Los Angeles
4. Tel Aviv
5. Chicago

NYC has 3x as many Jews as Jerusalem...

We must  define the "Israel of God" discussed in Galatians chapter 6 and the Israel discussed in Romans 11 that is comprised of grafted on wild branches (gentile believers) and grafted BACK ON broken off natural branches (Jewish believers) And likely not the obstinate secular Jews living in America or any Jews that don't accept Christ. The Israel of God IS His people people that put on Christ, not simply people that have Jewish blood flowing through their veins.

Texas Conservative

Quote from: Jaime on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 15:53:43We must  define the "Israel of God" discussed in Galatians chapter 6 and the Israel discussed in Romans 11 that is comprised of grafted on wild branches (gentile believers) and grafted BACK ON broken off natural branches (Jewish believers) And likely not the obstinate secular Jews living in America or any Jews that don't accept Christ. The Israel of God IS His people people that put on Christ, not simply people that have Jewish blood flowing through their veins.

God still has plans for physical Israel.

Jaime

#25
Quote from: Texas Conservative on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 17:09:03God still has plans for physical Israel.

I believe that too. I don't know what that plan is. My denominational tribe does not believe God has a plan for physical Israel. I suspect the plan will be as surprising as God's plan for the Gentiles was when it was revealed to the Jews that God even had a plan for the Gentiles.

DaveW

Quote from: Wycliffes_Shillelagh on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 15:21:11No, but we contain much of Israel.  The 5 cities with the largest Jewish populations...

1. New York City
2. Jerusalem
3. Los Angeles
4. Tel Aviv
5. Chicago

NYC has 3x as many Jews as Jerusalem...
If you take the combined Washington DC and Baltimore metroplex area, it beats out Chicago by 100,000

4WD

Quote from: Jaime on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 17:21:50I believe that too.
Why do you believe that given passages such as Galatians 3:26-29?

Texas Conservative

Quote from: 4WD on Wed Mar 13, 2024 - 14:08:05Why do you believe that given passages such as Galatians 3:26-29?

Do you believe there is no distinction between male and female anymore?

4WD

Quote from: Wycliffes_Shillelagh on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 15:21:11No, but we contain much of Israel.  The 5 cities with the largest Jewish populations...

1. New York City
2. Jerusalem
3. Los Angeles
4. Tel Aviv
5. Chicago

NYC has 3x as many Jews as Jerusalem...
Rom 9:6  But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

4WD

Quote from: Texas Conservative on Wed Mar 13, 2024 - 14:10:28Do you believe there is no distinction between male and female anymore?
Not so far as being "in Christ".

Jaime

#31
Quote from: 4WD on Wed Mar 13, 2024 - 14:08:05Why do you believe that given passages such as Galatians 3:26-29?

4WD, I have to think about that but my first inclination is to refer back to Romans 11:25 about the Jews  being partially harded or blinded (in some versions)

Lest  you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

I guess I believe God is going to do something supernaturally to lift that hardening or blindness, after that they will still need to respond to the Gospel as we do. But they were blinded presumably BY God, so BY God the blindness seems to be going to be lifted By God. Not two Gospels but their blindness to the Gospel  will be lifted so they can respond one way or the other as all the rest of humanity does.

4WD

Quote from: Jaime on Wed Mar 13, 2024 - 15:47:074WD, I have to think about that but my first inclination is to refer back to Romans 11:25 about the Jews  being partially harded or blinded (in some versions)

Lest  you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

I guess I believe God is going to do something supernaturally to lift that hardening or blindness, after that they will still need to respond to the Gospel as we do. But they were blinded presumably BY God, so BY God the blindness seems to be going to be lifted By God. Not two Gospels but their blindness to the Gospel  will be lifted so they can respond one way or the other as all the rest of humanity does.
The really all depends upon what you think is the fullness of the Gentiles.  I think that happened not long after Paul wrote that.  The term fullness as used in the NT is not about time or number unless it specifically says "fullness of time" or "fullness of number". I rather believe that "fullness" in Romans 11:25 is used in the sense of Colossians 1:19. I believe the fullness of the Gentiles is when the gospel message to the Gentiles is complete.

Jaime

#33
It says, "UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles COMES IN." To me that speaks of the full number coming into the kingdom or the church, not the number who have HEARD the gospel. The GOSPEL is STILL being preached to Gentiles. I strongly doubt the full number of Gentiles has come in as of yet, OR the blindness or hardening would been lifted from Israel, it seems to me.

4WD

Quote from: Jaime on Wed Mar 13, 2024 - 20:50:54It says, "UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles COMES IN." To me that speaks of the full number coming into the kingdom or the church, not the number who have HEARD the gospel. The GOSPEL is STILL being preached to Gentiles. I strongly doubt the full number of Gentiles has come in as of yet, OR the blindness or hardening would been lifted from Israel, it seems to me.
It is not about the number of those who either heard or responded. The word, fullness, in Romans 11:25 is the same Greek word as that in Romans 11:12.

(KJV)  Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

Some translations interpret this as "full number" as you are want to do with verse 25.  I disagree with that.  The Greek word is πλήρωμα [plērōma].  As a noun it carries the meaning of repletion or completion, that is, what fills or what is filled in a qualitative sense.  I believe that it refers to spiritual fullness, i.e., being filled with all the abundance of salvation.  The word itself as used elsewhere in the NT does not refer to "full number" but rather to completeness or abundance.  See for example John 1:16.

(ESV) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

(KJV)  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.


Also consider Romans 15:29, (ESV) I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Also Ephesians 1:23, "the fullness of Him (Christ)"; Ephesians 3:19, "That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God"; Ephesians 4:13, "Attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

And also compare the way the verb form πληρόω [plēroō] is used in Romans 15:13-14; Ephesians 3:19; 5:18; Phil 1:11; Col 2:10.

I believe this meaning fits the context.  In Romans 11:12, "fullness" is in contrast with "transgression" or "fall" and "loss" or "diminishing", words that sum up the lost state as opposed to salvation. This does not have a numerical connotation; the point is simply the lost state as compared with a saved state.

All in all I believe this meaning corresponds to the meaning in verse 25.  Fullness in verses 11 and 25 speaks of the rich state of the blessedness of salvation as opposed to the sorry state of being lost.  There is nothing in verse 11 that projects the conversion of the Jews to some distant future date or in verse 25  that projects the conversion of the Gentiles at some future date.

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