What happens in the Romans 11 grafting illustration?
In Romans 11, some branches are broken off, and Gentiles, as a wild olive tree, are grafted in among the Jews, the good olive tree, so they partake of the root and fatness. This is opposite normal grafting: instead of a good hybrid grafted into native root, the beautiful tree is cast aside and a wild olive is grafted in.
Les teaches that Romans 11:17 presents a horticultural illustration. Some branches are broken off, and Gentiles, addressed as a wild olive tree, are grafted in among the Jews, the good olive tree, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Les explains this is the direct opposite of normal grafting. Normally, the old root native to an area has survived the climate and soil, though its fruit may not be good. Horticulturists then breed up a good hybrid and graft it into that native root. Les illustrates with the pecan tree: the old natural pecan is cut off, and a beautiful paper-shell hybrid is grafted in. But in Romans 11, the beautiful tree is cast aside, and an old wild olive tree is grafted in. The wild olive produced no fruit, was worthless, and was like a bad weed.
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
More Questions
How is the grafting in Romans 11 different from normal grafting?
The grafting Paul describes in Romans 11 is the direct opposite of the way people normally graft trees.
Why is the grafting in Romans 11 the opposite of normal grafting?
Paul's grafting illustration in Romans 11 is the direct opposite of how we normally graft trees.
What does Romans 11 teach about Israel's branches and the Gentiles being grafted in?
In Romans chapter 11, God broke off the branches of natural Israel and grafted in the Gentiles.