13 But now I’m speaking to you non-Jews. Since I am indeed an ambassador to the non-Jews, I take pride in my service, 14 hoping that somehow I might make my fellow Jews envious and might save some of them. 15 After all, if their rejection of the messiah meant that the rest of the world would be reconciled, what else could their acceptance bring other than coming back to life from the dead?

16 If the first portion of dough is holy, so is the lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you non-Jews, who are like a wild olive tree, were grafted into them, and so you too were able to share in the olive tree’s growth, which came from the root, 18 then don’t brag that you’re better than the branches. If you must boast, remember that you’re not supporting the root, but the root is supporting you.

19 Ah, but then you’ll say, ‘Branches were broken off so that we could be grafted in.’ 20 Well you’re right. They were broken off because of their disbelief, and it’s true that you’re there because of your faith. But don’t get a big head—maintain your reverence for God, 21 because if he didn’t spare the natural branches when they showed disbelief, then he won’t spare you either. 22 So you can see both God’s kindness and his severity—those who disobeyed experienced his severity, but you experienced his kindness. Otherwise you’ll be pruned off, too, 23 and also, if they turn away from their disbelief, they’ll be grafted back in, because God has the power to do that. 24 If you were cut off an olive tree that’s wild by nature, and contrary to normal practice were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more easily would those who naturally belong be grafted into their own olive tree!