This verse highlights that the "remnant" isn't chosen because of any merit or action on their part, but solely by God's "grace"— His unmerited favor. It's a crucial distinction: their salvation is a testament to God's sovereign choice, not human worthiness, even in a time of widespread disbelief.
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is responding to the question of whether God has completely rejected the Jewish people. He's shown that Israel's current blindness isn't a sign that God's promises have failed, but rather that faithfulness is found not in the whole nation, but in a select group. This verse then clarifies that just as God preserved a faithful few in Elijah's day, a similar "remnant" exists now, chosen by God's grace, not by any merit of their own.
Paul tackles a tough question: Has God completely abandoned His people? He assures us the answer is a resounding 'No!'
Paul is addressing a potential misunderstanding. If the majority of Israel has rejected Jesus, has God completely written them off? Paul emphatically says 'absolutely not!' He draws a parallel to the time of the prophet Elijah. Even when it seemed like Elijah was the only one left faithful to God, God revealed that He had preserved seven thousand people who hadn't bowed to idols.
This shows a crucial principle: God's faithfulness to His promises isn't dependent on the faithfulness of the majority. Even in times of widespread unfaithfulness, God always preserves a faithful few. In Paul's day, this meant a 'remnant' of Jewish people who embraced Jesus as their Messiah.
Why does this remnant exist? It's not because they earned it, but because God freely chose them.
The verse states this remnant is 'chosen by grace.' This is a critical distinction. The mass of the Jewish people at the time were relying on their own adherence to the Law, their heritage, and their 'works.' But this remnant is set apart not because of anything they did, but because of God's unmerited favor – His grace.
Paul emphasizes that grace and works are mutually exclusive. If salvation were based on our works, it would be a debt God owes us. But because it's based on grace, it's a free gift. This means God's choice isn't based on foreseeing who would be 'good enough,' but on His own sovereign, gracious purpose.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
leimma · Greek Noun
A small remaining portion or surviving group of people. In theology, it refers to the faithful few within a larger population who remain loyal to God amidst widespread apostasy or judgment.
chariti · Greek Noun
The unmerited, undeserved favor and kindness of God toward humanity, particularly in the context of salvation, where God acts to rescue and redeem those who cannot save themselves.
charis · Greek Noun
Unmerited favor and divine enablement provided by God to undeserving sinners, whereby He grants salvation and righteous standing through faith alone, apart from human merit.
ergon · Greek Noun
Human efforts or deeds performed in an attempt to earn justification or divine approval, which are fundamentally contrasted with the free gift of grace in the biblical doctrine of salvation.
eklogē · Greek Noun
Those whom God, according to His sovereign purpose and eternal counsel, has chosen for salvation, not based on foreseen merit, but according to His own good pleasure and mercy.
pōroō · Greek Verb (passive participle used as noun)
The state of spiritual dullness, insensitivity, or callousness where the heart becomes unresponsive to divine truth, often as a result of persistent rejection of God’s revelation.
The reference to a 'remnant' chosen by grace in Romans 11 directly parallels the story of Elijah, where God preserved a faithful few in Israel during a time of widespread idolatry. Paul uses this historical precedent to show that even though the majority of Jewish people in his day rejected Jesus, God had not abandoned His people entirely, but had graciously chosen a believing minority.
c. 875-860 BC
Elijah's Ministry
During a time of widespread idolatry in Israel, the prophet Elijah believed he was the only faithful worshipper of God left, facing persecution from King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.
c. 875-860 BC
God's Reserved Remnant
God revealed to Elijah that He had preserved 7,000 faithful Israelites who had not bowed down to the idol Baal, demonstrating that faithfulness can remain even in times of national apostasy.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus, a Jew, ministered to Israel, but the religious leaders and many of the people rejected and crucified him.
c. AD 33-62— this verse
Early Church Growth
Following Jesus' ascension, His Jewish followers formed the early church in Jerusalem. Thousands of Jews believed in Jesus, particularly after Pentecost, though they remained a minority compared to the broader Jewish population.
c. AD 57-62
Paul's Ministry and Writings
The Apostle Paul, himself a Jew, preached the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, facing opposition from many of his own people while seeing thousands converted to Christianity.
This passage directly parallels Romans 11:5 by showing God's preservation of a remnant (7,000 people) who had not bowed to Baal, even when the nation had largely fallen into idolatry. It serves as the historical precedent Paul uses to illustrate the present situation.
Isaiah 10:21This prophecy speaks of a remnant of Jacob returning to God, which Paul alludes to, reinforcing the Old Testament basis for God preserving a faithful few even amidst national apostasy. It highlights the sovereignty of God in salvation.
Romans 9:27Paul previously quoted Isaiah 10:21 to speak of a remnant in relation to Israel's rejection of Christ. This verse in Romans 11:5 directly connects back to that earlier discussion, showing continuity in God's plan.
Acts 21:20This passage demonstrates that even at the time Paul was writing, there were 'many thousands' of Jewish believers, illustrating that the 'remnant' spoken of in Romans 11:5 was a significant, though comparatively small, group within the nation.
ellicottRomans 11:5: "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
(5, 6) As there was a remnant then, so also is there a remnant now. That there should be so is due not to any human merit on the part of those exempted from the fate of their nation, but to the spontaneous act of the divine grace selecting them from the rest. These two things,” grace” and “works,” really exclude each other. The Apostle reverts somewhat parenthetically, and because his mi…
cambridgeRomans 11:5: "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
5 . at this present time ] In which the mournful phenomenon of Jewish unbelief occasioned this whole discussion. there is ] Lit. there hath been : it was and still is. a remnant ] a reserve, a leaving . The noun is cognate to the verb “I reserved” in Romans 11:4 . This “remnant” at some stages of apostolic history ( Acts 6:7 ; Acts 21:20 ,) was in itself very numerous. But it was always,…
This verse highlights that the "remnant" isn't chosen because of any merit or action on their part, but solely by God's "grace"— His unmerited favor. It's a crucial distinction: their salvation is a testament to God's sovereign choice, not human worthiness, even in a time of widespread disbelief.
Paul is responding to the question of whether God has completely rejected the Jewish people. He's shown that Israel's current blindness isn't a sign that God's promises have failed, but rather that faithfulness is found not in the whole nation, but in a select group. This verse then clarifies that just as God preserved a faithful few in Elijah's day, a similar "remnant" exists now, chosen by God's grace, not by any merit of their own.
Paul is responding to the question of whether God has completely rejected the Jewish people. He's shown that Israel's current blindness isn't a sign that God's promises have failed, but rather that faithfulness is found not in the whole nation, but in a select group. This verse then clarifies that just as God preserved a faithful few in Elijah's day, a similar "remnant" exists now, chosen by God's grace, not by any merit of their own.
"So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtai…" — This verse highlights that the "remnant" isn't chosen because of any merit or action on their part, but solely by God's "grace"— His unmerited favor. It's a crucial distinction: their salvation is a…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
