The Old Testament prophets foretold of the universal spread of the Gospel and the inclusion of Gentiles as God's people as well as the rejection of the Gospel by Israel.
| [Having shown that it is necessary for all men to hear the gospel in order to be saved, Paul goes on to point out that the gospel has been preached to all men without distinction]: | |
| 10:18 | But I ask: Did
they not hear?
[the gospel] Of course they did:
[Note: In describing the spread of the gospel in his day, Paul used the language of Psalm 19:4 which teaches that creation testifies to the existence of an all-wise Creator. Just as the unspoken message of creation is available for all men without distinction to observe, so too the gospel in Paul's day was being preached throughout the world to all men without distinction in keeping with the Lord's command (Matthew 28:19). In effect, the unspoken "voice" of the heavens which communicated the work of God in creation to all nations prefigured the voice of God's servants in Paul's day (and ours) which communicated the work of God in salvation to all the nations of the earth.] [Paul then points out that Israel should have understood from their (Old Testament) Scriptures that there would come a time in history when they would reject God and that God would reveal Himself to other nations instead]: |
| 10:19 | Again I ask: Did
Israel not understand? [That they would reject God and God would turn to the Gentiles]? [They should have! Paul cites two (2) places in the Old Testament where such an event was predicted]: [1] First, Moses says, [In Deuteronomy 32:21]
|
| 10:20 |
[2]
And Isaiah boldly
says
[in Isaiah 65:1],
|
| 10:21 | But concerning
Israel He says
[in Isaiah 65:2],
|