Who is the root and fatness of the olive tree in Romans 11?
In Romans 11, the root and fatness of the olive tree refers to Abraham, the father of Israel. The context explains that Israel was removed from feeding on the root and fatness of their father Abraham, and the Gentiles were grafted in to partake of that same root and fatness.
Les explains that Romans 11:16 speaks of the first root being holy, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Israel did not appreciate that position, so God broke off some branches. The Gentiles, pictured as a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and now partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree. The analogy is that when Israel rejected everything and God turned to the Gentiles through the apostle Paul, calling out the Body of Christ, Israel was removed from feeding on the root and fatness of their father Abraham. God then put the Gentiles in their place.
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
Who replaced Israel in feeding on the root and fatness of Abraham in Romans 11?
In the olive tree analogy, God removed Israel from feeding on the root and fatness of their father Abraham and put the Gentiles in their place.
Who is Romans 11:17 addressing when it talks about the wild olive tree being grafted in, and who is the good olive tree?
In Romans 11:17 Paul is speaking to Gentiles, who are pictured as a wild olive tree that has been grafted in among the Jews (the good olive tree) and now shares in the root and the fatness of the olive tree.
Who enjoyed the fatness of the root of Abraham before Paul turned to the Gentiles?
From the time the promise was given to Abraham until Paul went to the Gentiles, Israel enjoyed the fatness of the root of Abraham.