Die Wurzel des Ölbaums (Röm 11,18). Eine alternative Perspektive

Abstract

In Rom 11:17–24 Paul uses the metaphor of an olive tree to describe his conviction of blindness of parts of Judaism and of inclusion of Gentiles in God’s people. In doing so Paul speaks of a root, of natural branches and branches which have been grafted in. The branches indeed stand for the believers (Jews alike Gentiles, as far as they are Christians), but the meaning of the root is much harder to define. In this article the opinion is advocated that the root means faith: It is the faith which is common to all Christian believers (Jews as Gentiles) and which all those who are not Christians – the branches broken off – are lacking in.