26 And so all Israel. Many understand this of the people of the Jews, as though Paul said, the religion should be restored again amongst them as before: but I extend the name of Israel unto all the people of God, to this sense, when the gentiles shall be come in, the Jews also shall turn from their defection unto the obedience of faith: and so the salvation of the whole Israel of GOD shall be fulfilled, which Israel must be gathered of them both: yet so, that the Jews have the first place, as the first borne in the house of God. This interpretation doeth therefore seem unto me more convenient, because Paul here goeth about to note the consummation of the kingdom of Christ, which is not included in the Jews, but comprehendeth the whole world. In the same manner, to the Galatians he calleth the church consisting together of Jews & gentiles, the Israel of God, by that,1 opposing the people gathered from the dispersion, to the carnal sons of Abraham, who were fallen away from his faith: as it is written. By this testimony of Isaiah he doth not confirm the whole sentence, but one member only: namely that the sons of Abraham are partakers of redemption. For if any take it, that Christ was promised and offered to them, but because they did refuse him, they were deprived of his grace: the words of the Prophet express more, namely that there is some number left, which after it repenteth, shall enjoy the grace of deliverance. And yet Paul citeth not word for word, that is read with Isaiah,2 the redeemer (quoth he) shall come to Zion, and they which shall repent from iniquity in Jacob, saith the Lord. But it becometh not us to be too curious herein. For this is to be regarded, how fitly the Apostles apply unto their purpose, whatsoever probations they bring out of the old testament: seeing they coveted nothing else, then as it were by the finger to point out, that the readers might he led unto the fountain.
26 And so all Israel. Many vnderstand this of the people of ye Iewes, as though Paul said, ye religion should be restored againe amongst thē as before: but I extend ye name of Israel vnto all ye people of God, to this sence, whē ye gentiles shalbe come in, the Iewes also shall turne from their defection vnto the obedience of faith: and so the saluation of the whole Israel of GOD shalbe fulfilled, which Israel must be gathered of them both: yet so, that the Iewes haue the first place, as the first borne in the house of God. This interpretation doeth therefore seeme vnto me more conuenient, because Paule here goeth about to note the consummation of the kingdome of Christe, which is not included in the Iewes, but cōprehendeth the whole worlde. In the same maner, to the Galathiās he calleth ye church consisting together of Iewes & gentiles, the Israel of God, by that,1 opposing ye people gathered from the dispersion, to the carnal sonnes of Abrahā, who were fallen away from his faith: as it is written. By this testimonie of Esay he doth not confirme the whole sentence, but one member onely: namely that the sonnes of Abraham are partakers of redemption. For if any take it, that Christ was promised and offered to them, but because they did refuse him, they were depriued of his grace: the wordes of the Prophete expresse more, namely that there is some number left, which after it repenteth, shall inioy the grace of deliueraunce. And yet Paule citeth not worde for worde, that is reade with Esai,2 the redeemer (quoth hee) shall come to Sion, and they which shall repent from iniquitie in Iacob, saith the Lorde. But it becommeth not vs to be too curious herein. For this is to bee regarded, howe fitly the Apostles apply vnto their purpose, whatsoeuer probations they bring out of the old testament: seeing they coueted nothing els, then as it were by the finger to point out, that the readers might he led vnto the fountaine.
- 1Gal. 6.16.
- 2Isaiah. 59.20.Esai. 59.20.
