The Ancient Witnesses

248 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

Mentor and he graciously invited me into the speaker’s line-up. I began by reading these two verses, So I ask, did they (i.e. the Jews) stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! 38 “These verses,” I explained, “say that the Jewish rejection of Jesus has led to salvation for the Gentiles, but that this in turn will make the Jews jealous and, presumably, they will later seek to be saved. So it seems to me that Paul was not describing the Jews as permanently rejected.” Chrysostom saluted and was called on by Mentor. “It is no surprise that Paul speaks this way,” he said, “he wants to comfort the fallen souls of these Jews, for even if they had fallen a thousand times, the Gentiles would not have been saved unless they had shown faith. And the Jews likewise would not have perished unless they had been unbelieving and disputatious. 39 “In other words,” Chrysostom continued, “Paul is comforting them so they can be confident in their salvation if they change.” “May I comment on the Romans passage?” asked Origen. Chrysostom stepped aside as Origen limped to the lectern and opened a volume which, we soon learned,

38 Rom. 11:11-12.

39 Chrysostom, Commentary on Romans , Homily XIX (NPNF 1. 11, 488- 489).