Romans 11

Jehovah answering Elijah

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. Romans 11:3–4

Paul quotes the LORD's answer to Elijah at Horeb. The God who comforted Elijah that he was not alone was Jehovah, the premortal Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• quotes 1 Kings 19:10 — They have thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets.
• quotes 1 Kings 19:18 — Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel.

The Master who grafts the olive tree

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. Romans 11:16–24

Paul uses the same picture Zenos used: Israel is a tame olive tree, Gentiles are wild branches grafted in, and God can graft the natural branches back. In Jacob 5 the Lord of the vineyard who labors to save the tree is understood as the Lord Jesus Christ.

• alludes to Jacob 5:3-10 — Zenos's allegory of the tame olive tree, wild branches grafted in.
• alludes to 1 Nephi 10:12-14 — Israel compared to an olive tree whose natural branches are grafted in again.

The Deliverer out of Sion

Deliverer — the rescuer; Isaiah 59:20 has 'the Redeemer'

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: Romans 11:26–27

Quoting Isaiah, Paul promises that a Deliverer will come from Zion to turn Israel from sin and take their sins away. That Deliverer is Jesus Christ, who will gather and save Israel.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Isaiah 59:20-21 — The Redeemer shall come to Zion... this is my covenant with them.
• quotes Isaiah 27:9 — By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged... to take away his sin.
• the same title in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 — Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Of Him, through Him, to Him are all things

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Romans 11:34–36

Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13, where 'the Lord' is Jehovah, and praises God as the source and goal of everything. Elsewhere Paul says all things were made through and for Christ, so this doxology echoes Him, though here it is addressed to God generally.

• quotes Isaiah 40:13 — Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
• alludes to Colossians 1:16 — All things were created by him, and for him.