How does normal tree grafting work, using the pecan tree as an example?
In normal grafting, a native rootstock that has survived local climate and soil but bears poor fruit is retained. Horticulturists then graft a bred hybrid onto it. With pecans, the old natural pecan trunk is cut off and a big, soft-shell paper-shell hybrid is grafted in, producing better fruit from the hardy native root.
Les explains that Romans 11's olive tree illustration is the direct opposite of normal grafting. Under normal grafting, you keep the old root native to a particular area because it has survived the climate, soil, and conditions, though its fruit probably isn't all that good. Horticulturists breed up a good hybrid. Les says the only example he is acquainted with is the pecan tree, because they have done it with one. They take the old natural pecan and then take a hybrid—the big, nice, soft-shell pecan—and cut off the old original trunk of that native pecan, grafting in the beautiful paper-shell variety. That is the normal way of grafting. By contrast, the Romans 11 illustration takes the beautiful tree, casts it aside, and grafts in an old wild olive tree, which Les says produced no fruit and was worthless, 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
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.
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.