Yes—because they opposed Paul's gospel of grace, but Romans 11:28 balances this by calling them beloved for the fathers' sakes.
The Jews are called enemies concerning the gospel because they rejected the gospel of grace that Paul preached and became its chief opponents. Their rejection opened the door for the Gentiles to receive salvation, yet Romans 11:28 says they are still beloved as touching election for the fathers' sakes. Les Feldick teaches that their opposition was part of God's plan, and a Jewish remnant remains according to the election of grace.
Romans 11:28 — This verse directly answers why the Jews are enemies concerning the gospel while also being beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Romans 11:11 — This verse explains that Israel's fall brought salvation to the Gentiles, which the Jews reacted to with jealousy and opposition.
Romans 11:28 answers the question directly: "As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." The context of Romans 11 explains why this is so. Romans 11:11 says, "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." Israel's rejection of the gospel opened the way for Gentiles to receive salvation, and that same rejection was always meant to awaken Israel's jealousy. The New Testament records the Jewish response to Gentile inclusion. In Acts 13:45, "when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." Paul's gospel included what Ephesians 3:6 calls "that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." The same chapter also promises, "And so all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26), showing this enmity is not final.
Les Feldick teaches that the Jews are called enemies concerning the gospel because they opposed the gospel of grace from the beginning of Paul's ministry. He points out that when Paul preached to the Jews and was rejected, he turned to pagan Gentiles, who embraced the message. The Jews then became "the chief opponents of Christianity," hating the thought of Gentiles infringing on their exclusive relationship with God. Their mindset, as Les describes it, was that they were the only ones with access to God; placing Gentiles in the same category was anathema to them. Acts 13:45 shows them filled with envy and speaking against Paul. Yet Les insists this enmity is not the final word. He connects Romans 11:28 to the coming deliverance of Israel: all Israel shall be saved when the Deliverer comes out of Zion, and God will take away their sins through the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31. In this present age of grace, which is predominantly Gentile, there is still a remnant of Jews according to the election of grace, not of law or Judaism. The enmity "for your sakes" serves the Gentiles' salvation, but the election-love for the fathers means God will never abandon Israel.
Les Feldick describes the Jewish reaction in Acts. When Paul was rejected by Jews, he turned to pagan Gentiles, who embraced the gospel. The Jews then hated both the gospel and the Gentile believers, becoming the chief opponents of Christianity. Their exclusive mindset—believing they alone had access to God—made the thought of Gentile inclusion anathema. Acts 13:45 records that when the Jews saw the multitudes of Gentiles, they were filled with envy and spoke against Paul's message, contradicting and blaspheming.
No. Romans 11:28 contrasts the gospel and election: "As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." Les Feldick explains that while the age of grace is predominantly Gentile, there is a remnant of Jews who have believed the gospel of grace according to the election of grace. He also connects Romans 11:26 with the future day when all Israel will be saved and the Deliverer turns away ungodliness from Jacob.
Romans 11:11 says Israel's fall brought salvation to the Gentiles so that they might provoke Israel to jealousy. Les observes that exactly this happened: Paul preached to Gentiles, they embraced the gospel, and the Jews were filled with envy. The enmity, then, was not an accident but part of God's purpose to bring the gospel to the whole world.
Israel's Future Salvation and Verse 28 Context
Les places Romans 11:28 in the context of all Israel's future salvation, the Deliverer out of Zion, and the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31, showing that the 'enemies' statement is set within God's ongoing plan for Israel.
The Jews as Chief Opponents of Gentile Salvation
Les shows that when Jews rejected the gospel, Gentiles embraced it, and Jews reacted with hatred toward Gentile believers, making them the chief opponents of Christianity.
Jewish Envy and the Shift to Hatred
In the early days Jews were filled with envy as Paul and Barnabas saw Gentiles saved, and God intended that envy; later mutual hatred developed over the 'Christ killer' accusation.
Exclusive Jewish Mindset
Les describes how Jews believed only they had access to God, so the thought of Gentiles being in the same category was anathema, leading them to oppose Paul's message.
The Mystery: Gentiles as Fellow Heirs
Les explains that the gospel Paul preached revealed the mystery that Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, a concept Jews had no concept of and would have found horrifying.
Jewish Envy and Paul's Turn Away from Israel
Les points to Acts 13:45 where the unbelieving Jews were filled with envy and contradicted Paul, and he notes Paul then turned almost completely to the Gentiles after Israel continued to reject.
Jewish Believers Opposed Paul's Gentile Ministry
Les emphasizes that Jewish believers at Jerusalem tried to stop Paul's ministry among the Gentiles, and had they succeeded, no one would have had a chance of salvation; this shows the opposition Paul withstood.
A Remnant According to Election of Grace
Les teaches that in this age of grace there is a remnant of Jews who have become believers of the gospel of grace, according to the election of grace, not of law or Judaism.
Romans 11:28: As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
This is the key verse asking why Jews are enemies concerning the gospel while still beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Romans 11:11: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
It explains that Israel's fall resulted in salvation coming to the Gentiles and being intended to provoke Israel to jealousy.
Acts 13:45: But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
It records the historical Jewish reaction to Paul's Gentile ministry—envy and blasphemy.
Ephesians 3:6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
It summarizes the mystery revealed through Paul: Gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel in Christ.
Romans 11:5: Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
It supports Les's teaching that a remnant of Jews believes the gospel of grace according to election.
No. Romans 11:28 limits this enmity to their relationship to the gospel: "As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." Their role as enemies does not cancel God's ongoing love for them.
Because their rejection of the gospel opened the way for Gentiles to receive it. Romans 11:11 says through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles. Les Feldick shows that the Jews' envy and opposition accompanied Paul's Gentile mission.
He says Jews were the chief opponents of Christianity, hating the thought of Gentiles sharing their exclusive access to God. He cites Acts 13:45, where the Jews were filled with envy and contradicted Paul's message.
Watch the Teaching: The Gifts & Calling of God Without Repentance — Romans 11:29 Explained