What kind of riches are meant by the riches of the world in Romans 11:12?
They are spiritual riches in Romans 11:12, not material wealth. The Greek word kosmos refers to the world system—the human system, politics, economy, and predominantly Gentile population. Israel's fall brought these spiritual riches to the Gentiles, which they have enjoyed.
Les explains that the word 'world' in Romans 11:12 is the Greek kosmos, meaning the world system—not terra firma, the earth, but the human system, politics, economy, and world population, predominantly Gentiles. He emphasizes that the riches are not wealth, money, gold, or silver, but spiritual riches. These are the spiritual riches Gentiles have enjoyed because of Israel's fall out of God's program, and God intended this to turn Israel to Himself by promoting jealousy.
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?
More Questions
What does Romans 11:12 mean?
The verse means that if the fall of the Jews because they rejected their Messiah brought riches to the Gentile world, how much more will their fullness bring after the Gentiles have received the riches.
What does Paul mean in Romans 11:12 by 'how much more their fullness'?
Paul's point is that if Israel's fall (their rejection of their Messiah) brought such riches to the Gentile world, then Israel's fullness, after the Gentiles have received the riches, will bring even more.