Fullness of the Gentiles

Q. What does the term “fullness of the Gentiles” mean in Rom.11.12 and 25?

A. The answer to that begins in the Torah, specifically Gen. 49.19 where the term is used in a prophecy about Ephraim. Jacob says that Ephraim, who would later be known as the 10 northern tribes of Israel, would be scattered among the nations, or gentiles (Isa. 7.8, Amos 9.9, Jer 34.17,Hos 9.16-17, Ezek 37.21). The 10 northern tribes were “cut off” and divorced by God because of their unbelief. Later the 2 remaining tribes were cut off and divorced by God for the same reason (Mt.21 43) and scattered among the nations as well. So, what we have is all 12 tribes that have been driven into the nations due to unbelief. Rom 11 describes what happened and how the Lord will save Israel (all 12 tribes) and bring them back in faith. So, in Rom 11.25 he says that a hardening has happened to Israel (12 tribes) until the fullness of the gentiles (the tribes scattered among the gentiles, nations) comes in (by faith in Yeshua). Then in verse 26 it says that and thus (after this happens) all Israel (12 tribes) will be saved and he quotes Isa 59.20 (Rom 9.27, 11.5, Jer 31.1-7, 34.17, 31.10, Jer 50.17-20, Ezek 37.21). So, Paul is telling the gentile believers that what has happened to Israel was predicted. They have only “stumbled” but not fallen (11.11) and it is only temporary. God will again save a remnant of all the 12 tribes, put them together again (Ezek 37) and fulfill his promises. The term “fullness of the gentiles” does not mean when the all the gentiles who will believe comes in. It means those among Israel who have been scattered among the nations comes back to God of their fathers through Yeshua by faith.


Q. What exactly were the weak and beggarly elements talked about in Gal 4.9?

A. The context is man’s traditions, and this case it concerns the Jewish Oral traditions that the Galatians were struggling with. Jewish believers who had a strong attachment to these oral traditions were trying to impose on the Galatians some of these traditions, trying to convince them that their salvation was somehow deficient if they did not observe these things. The Torah commandments were never considered weak or worthless, but on the contrary were holy, righteous, good and perfect. It was the man-made dogmas that were a problem and still are today. Paul dealt with this in Col 2.8-23 also. The hand-written dogmas of man have no authority over a believer and we should not subject ourselves to them anymore. These dogmas are the customs and festivals of the nations and we are not to listen to the criticisms of the people around us when we don’t celebrate these things with them, but follow the customs and festivals found in the Scriptures (Col 2.16-17) which were pictures of the Messiah and the Redemption.