What is the fullness of the Gentiles (Romans 11:25)?

Answer

In Romans 11, Paul makes a compelling observation—an affirmation he refers to as a mystery—that a partial hardening has occurred until “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” «For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. », (Romans 11:25, ESV). The context helps us understand the meaning of the partial hardening and what the fullness of the Gentiles is.

In the first eleven chapters of Romans, Paul catalogs the mercies of God in God’s provision of righteousness through the gospel. First, in Romans 1:1—3:20, Paul considers the universal human need for God’s righteousness, as all are unrighteous and separated from God. Then in Romans 3:21—4:25, Paul lays out how God applied righteousness through faith to all who believe in Jesus, outlining three different and significant types of descendants of Abraham: 1) ethnic Israel «What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found? », (Romans 4:1), 2) believing Gentiles «And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: », (Romans 4:11), and 3) believing Jews «and the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. », (Romans 4:12). These three groups of descendants of Abraham are crucial for grasping the partial hardening and the completeness of the Gentiles that Paul discusses in Romans 11.

Romans 5—8 delves into the consequences of that righteousness applied in liberating believers from the consequences and enslavement of sin (Romans 5—7) and ensuring them of a present and future of reconciliation and peace with God (Romans 8). Towards the end of Romans 8 is a strong affirmation of the believer’s eternal security—God will uphold His promises to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, and they will never be separated from the love of Christ «Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? », (Romans 8:35).

While discussing these mercies of God, Paul seems to anticipate that his readers might question why, if God is so faithful to restore those who believe in Jesus, His promises of restoration to Israel have not yet been fulfilled. In essence, if God is faithful, and if His promises to believers are reliable, then why is He not fulfilling His promises to Israel? It is to address this concern that Paul writes Romans 9—11, introducing the concepts of a partial hardening of Israel and the completeness of the Gentiles «For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. », (Romans 11:25).

In Romans 9, Paul expresses his affection for his Jewish brethren (Romans 9:1-5) and acknowledges that the covenant promises are to be fulfilled to a specific

Group of Abraham’s descendants. Paul shows the distinct groups by highlighting God’s choosing of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and affirms that God’s blessing would be for those descendants who believe in the Messiah «as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: And whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.», (Romans 9:33). Salvation would not only be for believing Jews, though, as Gentiles could also call upon the name of the Lord for salvation (Romans 10:12-13). While there are believing Jews and Gentiles, Paul explains that the nation of Israel as a whole has not yet received her Messiah (Romans 10:18—11:10), but they will one day be saved through believing in their Messiah «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).

In the meantime, Paul explains that there is a partial hardening of the nation—that many will refuse the Messiah—until the fullness of the Gentiles occurs. Israel’s hardening will continue until the divinely set number of Gentiles are saved: “Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ” «For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. », (Romans 11:25, NLT).

Paul recognized that Israel’s failure to accept the Messiah when He came offering the kingdomPaul recognized that Christ’s sacrifice was a blessing for the Gentiles, as it meant delaying the establishment of His kingdom on earth to pay for everyone’s sins. This act fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed, as stated in Genesis 12:3b. The partial hardening of Israel signaled a shift towards proclaiming salvation to the Gentiles. Paul, acknowledging himself as the apostle to the Gentiles, emphasized the importance of spreading the message of Christ to fulfill the promises made. He hoped that through this, the Jewish people would also come to accept their Messiah.

In 2 Timothy 4:17, Paul expressed gratitude for God’s support in fulfilling his ministry and spreading the message to all Gentiles. While the current fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel may not be evident, Paul believed that these promises would be kept after the full inclusion of the Gentiles. He referenced Daniel 9, which outlines a 490-year prophetic timeline leading to the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Israel. After 483 years, the Messiah would be cut off, paving the way for future events as described in the scripture.

(Daniel 9:26a), indicating a shift in focus away from Israel as Gentiles (Rome) would prevail, leading to wars and desolation. However, in the future, a ruler known as the Antichrist will make a seven-year pact with Israel. This final seven-year period will redirect attention to Israel and mark the conclusion of the times of the Gentiles mentioned by Jesus in Luke 21:24.

The concept of the fullness of the Gentiles in Romans 11:25 highlights God’s global perspective (through the universal spread of the gospel of salvation) and the timeline (as the times of the Gentiles are not yet over). Eventually, the fullness of the Gentiles will be achieved, and God will rescue the nation of Israel. Those who may doubt God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises can find reassurance in these passages, which serve as important reminders that God has a meticulous plan that He is executing patiently and meticulously.