"all"! (Rom.11:32)

From a message by a Curious Questioner--

>CQ> Why did Paul say "thou." Of course, the NT was in Greek. But notice that "thou" reflects the Greek better than our modern "you." It means one person, or personified thing.

Yer correct in yer comments about thou versus you, but don't forget that the "thou" can mean a "personified thing" as thou hast said. Specifically, in Romans 11:17, Paul changes from speaking to "you Gentiles" (2nd person plural) to "thou" (2nd person SINGULAR), and continues with the singular through verse 24.

The "thou" of 11:17 is identified not as a branch, but as "a wild olive TREE". That is important to realize, since it is a "personified THING." Also it is important to notice that from verse 14 through verse 24, Paul used the word "if" TEN times. The other tree which Paul calls "a good olive tree" in verse 24, is first indicated as "the firstfruit" in Romans 11:16. In Jeremiah 11:16, we find this:

"The Lord called thy name, a green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken." (and olive oil can BURN)

The "thou" of 11:17 is a tree among branches. ("hope of a tree")
The "thou" of 11:18 is a tree supported by THE root.
The "thou" of 11:19 is something IN THE PLACE of the branches.
The "thou" of 11:20 is an individual that WILL say a certain thing.

Beginning to see the change of application? In 11:17 the "thou" is a "wild olive tree", but in 11:24, the "thou" is NOT the whole tree, but as it were, "cut out of the olive tree which is wild".

Yer original comment with more than one meaning of "thou" was more correct that ya realized. In Rom.11:7, the singular "he" is used of all the billions of Israel, in a corporate sense (as echad/unity). Likewise, the "thou" can indicate all non-Israelites in a corporate sense. Read the entire context of Jeremiah 11:1 through 12:17 and the Lord give y'all understanding in these spiritual things.

>CQ> Notice, Paul said, "lest thou also be cut off."

Nope. He did not say "lest" there, he said "otherwise". There are two kinds of wisdom in contrast. God's wisdom, and that which is other wise, "lest ye should be wise in your own conceits." Beware of blindness in part! (Be not deceived.)

>CQ> The one who brags that the jews were cut off that he may be graffed in, could suffer the same fate as the Jews.

Such a "one" could, but, "ye brethren are not in darkness."

>CQ> If we continue not in his goodness, we can also be cut off.

Nope. Paul said "thou", not "we" in Rom.11:22. Paul is "persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom.8:38,39)

Be thou persuaded like WISE! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Grace be to thy heart in love. Amen. --Richard