11:16 Who does "the firstfruit" refer to here?
11:16 Who does "the firstfruit" refer to here?
Some Bible scholars believe that the firstfruit and the root referred to here represent the Jews who have already accepted Christ as their Saviour, and that the lump and the branches apply to the rest of Israel who are yet to accept Him (CP V11-16).
Other commentators believe that while the lump and the branches refers to as yet unsaved Israel, the firstfruit and the root refers to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the fathers of the Jewish nation, and this is the correct view in light of what Paul says in V28 (CP V25-28).
It was because of God's covenant promises to Abraham and the others that He has only temporarily set Israel aside and not rejected it completely (CP 11:1-2, 12, 23, 26-29). V29 here alone is sufficient proof that God has not totally given up on Israel.
He has not revoked His calling of Israel to be a part of His eternal kingdom, and will restore it to fellowship with Himself, under Christ as Messiah, at Christ's second coming (CP 1Sam 12:22; Psa 14:7; 94:14; Isa 10:20-27; 11:11-16; 27:12-13; 29:22-24; 57:20-21; Jer 23:3-8; 31:7, 31-34; Eze 6:8-10; 37:11-14; Joel 2:32; Mic 2:12-13; 4:6-8, 5:3-8; Zeph 2:7-9; 3:11-13; Zech 8:6-12; 12:8 - 13:1; Mt 24:30-31).
See also comments on Ac 13:48, Ro 9:14-18, 9:30-33, 10:4, 10:6-11, 10:12-13, 10:18-21, 11:1-10, 11:2, 11:4, 11:7-10, 11:17-24, 11:29, 11:32, 11:33-36; Rev 12:1-5, and 12:6 and author's studies The Old Covenant - Fulfilled in Christ and Completely Abolished in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and Israel in God's eternal Purpose in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).