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Post by Natalie on Jul 13, 2017 18:27:34 GMT -6
While doing some searching about the twelve tribes, I ran across something I hadn't heard before. The idea is that Genesis 48:19 about Ephraim's offspring becoming a "multitude of nations" could be translated "a fullness of Gentiles". Which then makes the verse in Romans (11:25) not mean a number specific rapture but instead a return of the Jews from the nations like Micah 5:3 talks about.
Is this a reasonable interpretation? Anyone else want to study this out? I don't know the original languages so I can't sort it out that way.
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Post by whatif on Jul 13, 2017 22:50:22 GMT -6
Interesting possibility, Natalie! I know Ephraim's mother was Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, from Egypt, so it is very possible that is what it means.
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Post by kjs on Jul 14, 2017 7:50:14 GMT -6
Hi Natalie
I am going to have to disagree with your interpretation here – not to suggest it is not an intriguing theory – but simply because it does not “flow with the rest of the text”.
In Romans 11 – the Apostle Paul is basically explaining how God has temporarily blinded those of Israel; so that the gentiles may also partake of God’s new provision.
The Greek word used for gentiles is “ethnos”: a race, a nation, pl. the nations (as distinct from Isr.); which pretty much means all nations (all races) outside the race of the people of Israel.
Starting in verse 11 of this chapter, he starts talking how the “wild vines” – or the non-Israeli races are being GRAFTED into the True Vine (or Jesus Christ).
By the time he gets to verse 25 – when he speaks of the fullness of the gentiles
He has already made clear that in this section of text – when speaking of Gentile – he is referring to everyone who is NOT of Israel.
It does not make sense (at least to me) – that his use of Gentile in verse 25 – suddenly means another group such as “Ephraim's offspring” --- when all the previous times it means everyone outside of Israel.
That would be having a major change of thought within mid-sentence – so to speak…..
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Post by Natalie on Jul 14, 2017 8:32:10 GMT -6
I thought it was interesting too and never hearing it before thought I'd ask here. What you are saying makes sense. It wouldn't make sense for him to use the same word but switch meaning.
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Post by whatif on Jul 14, 2017 11:43:45 GMT -6
Great points, kjs!
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