Bible verses about "cynicism" | AUV

¹⁰ [This fate will come upon] those people especially who corrupt themselves with physical desires and despise being ruled by others. They are daring, self-willed, and are not afraid to speak against glorious beings [i.e., angels],

¹ Then I ask, “Did God reject His [own] people [i.e., the Jews]?” Certainly not! For I am an Israelite too, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God did not reject His people whom He knew previously. Or, do you not know what the Scriptures say in the passage where Elijah pleads with God against Israel? ³ [I Kings 19:10], “Lord, they [i.e., the Israelites] have killed your prophets and have destroyed your altars; I am the only one left and they are trying to kill me, too.” ⁴ But how did God answer him? [I Kings 19:18 says], “I [i.e., God] have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed their knee [in worship] to Baal [Note: “Baal” was a term used for one of the idols worshiped in Elijah’s day by Canaanites and others in Palestine]. ⁵ So, now also, there is a small minority which has been selected by God’s unearned favor [i.e., to be saved]. ⁶ And if [they were selected] by God’s unearned favor, [then] the choice is not based on the good that people may do. Otherwise, God’s favor would not be [really] unearned. ⁷ What then? [Just this]: The very thing that the Israelites are looking for [i.e., a right relationship with God], they have not found. But God’s selected ones obtained [this right relationship with Him] and the rest [of the Israelites] were made insensitive to God’s call, ⁸ as it has been written [Isa. 19:10], “God gave them a spirit of numbness [i.e., they developed a spiritual insensitivity to God and His word]. [He gave them] eyes to see with [but they would not look], and ears to hear with [but they did not listen]. And they still have this spirit.” ⁹ And King David said [Psa. 69:22-23], “Let their table ensnare and trap them [i.e., let the Jews’ devotion to such things as lavish feasts become the occasion for leading them astray], and become an occasion for their falling [away from God]. And let them be repaid [for such conduct with punishment]. ¹⁰ Let their eyes become [spiritually] dim so they cannot see, and may their backs always bend [i.e., under heavy burdens].” ¹¹ I say then, did the Jews trip [over Jesus] just so they could fall [away from God]? Certainly not! [There was another reason]: Instead, it was by means of their sin that salvation was made available to the Gentiles, so that the Jews might become jealous of them [i.e., causing them to want what the Gentiles now had]. ¹² Now if the Jews sinning meant blessings for [the rest of] the world, and their [spiritual] defection meant blessings for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness [also produce blessings]! [Note: “Fullness” here may mean either a large or the complete number of Jews who will be saved, or become completely obedient to God]. ¹³ Now I am talking to you Gentiles, [and] since I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I will make the most of my ministry [to you], ¹⁴ in hope that somehow I might stir up jealousy among my fellow-Jews, and thereby save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection [by God] meant that [the rest of] the world could be restored to favor [with God], what would [God’s] receiving the Jews back into fellowship be, except like dead people coming back to life? ¹⁶ And if the first part of the dough is dedicated to God, the entire batch of dough will be also. And if the roots [of a tree] are dedicated to God, the branches will be also. ¹⁷ But some of the branches [of a cultivated olive tree] were broken off [i.e., God’s rejection of the Jews] and you [Gentiles], representing a wild olive tree [branch], were grafted into it. So then, you [Gentiles] were able to benefit from the roots and sap of the olive tree, along with the Jews. ¹⁸ Therefore, you should not brag [about your superiority] over the [natural] branches [i.e., the rejected Jews]. But, if you must brag, it should not be over you [Gentiles] nourishing the roots [i.e., the Jews], but over the roots nourishing you. ¹⁹ But you [Gentiles] will then say, “The branches were broken off so that we could be grafted in.” ²⁰ True, but they [i.e., the Jews] were [really] broken off because they did not believe [in Christ], and you [Gentiles] remain [in God’s favor] because you do believe [in Him]. So, do not become arrogant [about it], but be fearful. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches [i.e., the Jews], He will not spare you [Gentiles] either. ²² So, look at God’s kindness and severity. He was severe with those [Jews] who have fallen, but He is kind to you [Gentiles], if you continue to accept His kindness [i.e., by living for Him faithfully]. Otherwise, you too will be cut off [like the Jews were]. ²³ And these Jews also will be grafted [back] in [to the olive tree] if they do not continue in their lack of faith [in Christ], because God is able to graft them back in again. ²⁴ For you [Gentiles] were cut off from a natural wild olive tree and [then], contrary to the natural process, were grafted into a cultivated olive tree. [Since that has happened], how much more likely is it for these [Jews], who are the natural branches, to be grafted [back] into their own olive tree [again]? ²⁵ For I want you to know this secret, brothers, so you will not become conceited: Part of the Israelites have become [spiritually] insensitive [to God], [and will remain that way] until the fullness of the Gentiles occurs. [Note: As with verse 12, concerning the Jews, “fullness” here may mean either a large or the complete number of Gentiles who will be saved]. ²⁶ And so [i.e., in this way] all the Israelites will be saved. [Note: The “all” here is thought by many to refer to a large number of the physical Jews who will be saved, not necessarily to every single individual Jew]. Even as it is written [Isa. 59:20-21], “The Deliverer [i.e., Christ] will come from Zion [i.e., the city of Jerusalem, or from the nation of Israel]. He will take away the wickedness from Jacob [i.e., the Jews].” ²⁷ [A summary of Jer. 31:31-34 says], “And I [i.e., God] will make this Agreement with them [i.e., Jewish and Gentile believers] when I take away their sins.” ²⁸ Now in response to the [proclamation of the] good news [about Christ], the Jews became [God’s] enemies for the sake of you [Gentiles]. But concerning [God’s] select people, these Jews became [God’s] dearly loved ones for the sake of their forefathers [i.e, who believed God’s promises regarding their descendants]. ²⁹ For God does not change His mind about the gifts He gives and the people He calls [to Him]. ³⁰ For you Gentiles were disobedient to God in the past, but now you have obtained [God’s] mercy by means of the disobedience of the Jews. ³¹ So, now these [same] Jews have also been disobedient [to God], so that they may also now obtain [God’s] mercy by means of the mercy [He has] shown to you [Gentiles]. ³² For God has made all people prisoners of a disobedient life, so that He could show mercy to everyone. ³³ O, how deep is the richness of God’s wisdom and knowledge! How difficult [it is for us] to explain His judgments and how impossible [for us] to accurately track how He operates! ³⁴ [Note: The following are rhetorical questions raised from their reading of the Old Testament]. For who has known [what goes on in] the Lord’s mind? Or, who has been His advisor? ³⁵ Or, who has given [something] to God that He has to pay back? ³⁶ For everything was created by Him, exists through His [power] and is intended for His [glory]. May He be praised forever. May it be so.

²⁰ He answered them, “[It was] because you had such little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith as [small as] a mustard tree seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to that place over there’ and it would move. And nothing will be impossible for you [to do].” {[{[Some manuscripts contain the following verse:

¹³ So, we should stop judging one another any more. But instead, you people should determine not to put anything in your brother’s way [to cause him] to trip or fall [away from God].