Romans 11:5

My Notes

What Does Romans 11:5 Mean?

Paul affirms that God's faithfulness persists through a remnant: even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Even so then — Paul connects the present to the past. Just as in Elijah's day God preserved seven thousand who had not bowed to Baal (v.4, quoting 1 Kings 19:18), even so now — the same principle operates in the present. The remnant principle is not ancient history. It is ongoing reality.

At this present time (en to nun kairo — in the now-time, in the current moment) — the remnant exists now. Not just in Elijah's era. Not just as a future hope. Right now — in Paul's present, in the church age — a remnant of believing Israel exists. The claim is contemporary: look around, and you will find them.

There is a remnant (leimma — a remainder, what is left over) — a surviving portion. Not the majority. Not the expected outcome. A remnant — small, seemingly insignificant, but real. The remnant is the thread through which God's purposes for Israel continue. The nation as a whole may have rejected the Messiah (v.7). But a remnant has not.

According to the election of grace (kat' eklogen charitos) — the remnant exists not because some Jews were smarter or more spiritual than others. The remnant exists because of election — God's sovereign choice. And the election is of grace (charis) — unmerited favor, not earned by works (v.6: if by grace, then is it no more of works). The remnant is not self-selected. It is God-selected. And the selection is gracious — based entirely on God's initiative, not human merit.

The verse addresses the question of Romans 9-11: has God rejected Israel? Paul's answer: no (11:1). The proof: a remnant exists. And the remnant is there because grace selected them — the same grace that selected Elijah's seven thousand, the same grace that has operated in every generation to preserve a faithful portion within an unfaithful nation.

The remnant principle is one of the most persistent themes in Scripture: when everything seems lost, God preserves a thread. Small. Seemingly insignificant. Sustained entirely by grace. And through that thread, the story continues.

Reflection Questions

• 1.How does the remnant in Paul's day parallel the seven thousand in Elijah's day — and what does the continuity reveal?
• 2.What does 'according to the election of grace' reveal about why the remnant exists — and how does it eliminate human boasting?
• 3.How does the remnant principle (God preserving a thread when everything seems lost) operate across the entire Bible?
• 4.Where might you be part of a remnant — small, seemingly insignificant — and how does knowing it is sustained by grace change your perspective?

Devotional

At this present time also there is a remnant. Also. Now. Not just in Elijah's day. Now — in this generation, in this era, in whatever age you read this verse. A remnant exists. The nation may have turned away. The majority may have rejected. But a portion — small, barely visible, seemingly insignificant — remains. And the remnant is the proof that God has not given up.

According to the election of grace. The remnant is not self-selected. You did not join the remnant because you were wiser or more devout. The remnant exists because God chose — and the choosing is grace. Not works (v.6). Grace — the unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor of a God who preserves a people for himself when the people do not preserve themselves.

A remnant. The word is small. The reality is everything. The remnant is the thread through which God's promises continue. When Israel rejected the Messiah, the promises did not fail. They continued — through the remnant. When the nation went one direction, the remnant went another. And the remnant — sustained by grace, selected by election — kept the story alive.

This is how God works across all of Scripture. The world was destroyed by flood — a remnant survived in the ark. Israel went into exile — a remnant returned. The nation rejected Jesus — a remnant believed. The pattern is consistent: when everything seems lost, God preserves a thread. The thread is always thin. The God holding it is always strong.

You may be part of the remnant. Small. Seemingly insignificant. Surrounded by a majority that has gone the other direction. The remnant is never impressive by worldly standards. It is always sufficient by God's. You are not the remnant because you are strong. You are the remnant because grace selected you. And the grace that selected you sustains you — at this present time, as in every other time.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture