What did Paul mean by provoking his fellow Jews to emulation in Romans 11:14?
Paul meant he hoped to stir his fellow Jews to jealousy or envy by what the Gentiles were enjoying, so that they might desire the same. The phrase "provoke to emulation" describes creating jealousy, not merely irritating them, as he sought to draw his own flesh toward those blessings.
In Romans 11:14 Paul says, "if by any means I may provoke to emulation them who are of my flesh." Les explains that this means his fellow Jews, and that Paul is coming back to the concept of creating jealousy. Les teaches that Paul wanted to make those Jews a little envious of what the Gentiles are enjoying. This fits Paul's unique role as the apostle of the Gentiles: he was a Jew's Jew, an Israelite, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin, yet also a Roman citizen fluent in Greek and the culture of the then-known world. He could go to the Jew as a Jew and to the Gentiles as a Roman, and he always defended that unique apostleship and calling.
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
More Questions
Why did Paul want to provoke his fellow Jews to jealousy in Romans 11:14?
Paul's purpose in Romans 11:14 was to create jealousy in his fellow Jews by making them envious of what the Gentiles are enjoying.