11:2 What does the word "foreknew" mean here?
11:2 What does the word "foreknew" mean here?
It means simply that God knew Israel as the nation He chose in order for His purposes in the earth to be fulfilled in Jesus (CP 9;4-5 with Gen 49:10; Mic 5:2; Mt 2:3-6; Lu 2:11)
God also chose national Israel to be His witness in the earth (CP Ex 19:5-6; De 7:6; 26:18-19; Isa 62:11-12; Ro 3:1-2).
Israel was also chosen by God to be the first nation to receive His offer of salvation (CP Mt 10:1, 5-6; Jn 1:11; 5:39-40; Ro 1:16). When Israel rejected salvation, God temporarily set the nation aside and took the gospel to the Gentiles (CP Ac 13:44-47; Ro 9:30-33; 10:1-4 with Mic 5:3).
See also comments on Ro 9:7 and 9:10-13, 9:30-33, 10:4, 10:6-11, 10:12-13, 10:18-21, 11:1-10, 11:4, 11:7-10, 11:16, 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).