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Dorcas
04-12-2007, 08:43 PM
<div align="center">A Productive Olive Tree</div>
“In this manner all Israel will be saved.”—ROMANS 11:26.

OLIVE trees are known to grow for hundreds of years. Even when the aged, often hollow, trunk finally dies, new stems sometimes spring from the roots, producing one or more new olive trees. Be that as it may, there exists an olive tree that was planted nearly 4,000 years ago and that is still alive and producing fruit today!

<sup>2</sup> In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul uses the olive tree as an illustration of the wonderful manner in which Jehovah fulfills part of a promise He made to Abraham centuries before:

“I shall surely bless you and I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore; and your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemies. And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves due to the fact that you have listened to my voice.”—Genesis 22:16-18.

<div align="center">The Abrahamic Covenant</div>
<sup>3</sup> Abraham had just proved that he was willing to sacrifice Isaac, his only son by his first wife, Sarah. (Hebrews 11:17-19; please read Genesis 22:1-18.) From earliest times Christians have seen in this episode a prefiguration of Jehovah’s sacrificing his Son and then receiving him back by means of the resurrection. Yes, “God loved the world [of mankind] so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16.

<sup>4</sup> So in this prophetic picture Abraham prefigured Jehovah God, and Isaac—a young man who could have resisted his 125-year-old father—pictured Jesus Christ, who willingly laid down his human life as the ransom sacrifice.—Hebrews 7:27; 10:12.

<sup>5</sup> Because of Abraham’s great faith, Jehovah had earlier made with him a covenant that took effect in 1943 B.C.E. (Genesis 12:4, 7; Galatians 3:17) Some 50 years later, after having seen the tested quality of Abraham’s faith, even in connection with Isaac, Jehovah repeated and enlarged upon this covenant promise, as recorded in Genesis chapter 22. This fully expressed Abrahamic covenant supplied details as to the outworking of God’s wonderful purposes. It showed that the seed of deliverance promised in Eden would appear on earth as a descendant of Abraham, that it would be a multiple seed (the precise number not being revealed at that time), that it would vanquish its enemies and, finally, that by means of that seed all nations of the earth would get blessings for themselves.—Genesis 3:15.

<div align="center">Identifying the Seed of Abraham</div>
<sup>6</sup> Every detail of that promise is of interest to persons who share Abraham’s faith and who want to be blessed by Jehovah. (Romans 4:16) Who, primarily, was the seed of Abraham, by means of whom all nations of the earth would eventually bless themselves? The apostle Paul identifies this primary Seed as being Christ.—Galatians 3:16.

<sup>7</sup> Further, since Jehovah promised Abraham that he would multiply his seed, what persons would make up the secondary part of Abraham’s seed? Who would be the “heirs with reference to a promise,” “joint heirs” with the primary Seed, Christ? (Galatians 3:29; Romans 8:17) For some 2,000 years even the number of those who would make up this secondary ‘seed of Abraham’ remained unknown to humans, like “the stars of the heavens” or “the grains of sand that are on the seashore.” Then, toward the end of the first century C.E., the apostle John heard “the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.”—Genesis 22:17; Revelation 7:4.

<sup>8</sup> Still, from among whom would these 144,000 “sons of Israel” be chosen and sealed? If sufficient fleshly Israelites had followed the Law covenant as a “tutor leading to Christ [the primary Seed of Abraham],” they could have supplied the entire 144,000 members of the secondary seed of Abraham and thus become “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,” for the blessing of all nations of the earth. (Galatians 3:24; Exodus 19:5, 6) But did enough prove themselves to be true children of Abraham, “the father of all those having faith”?—Romans 4:11.

<sup>9</sup> Even before Jesus began his earthly ministry John the Baptizer warned Jewish religious leaders: “Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘As a father we have Abraham.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Already the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree, then, that does not produce fine fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:9, 10) By Paul’s time the wonderfully wise manner in which Jehovah would raise up the full number of the secondary seed of Abraham had been revealed. (Romans 16:25-27) Paul explains this in detail in his letter to the Romans.

<div align="center">Paul’s Letter to the Romans</div>
<sup>10</sup> The Jews were very conscious of being God’s chosen people. Regarding the expression “chosen people,” The Concise Jewish Encyclopedia states: “A designation expressing the belief that the Jews have a special relationship with God. The concept is based on the covenant with Abraham.” Proud of being Abraham’s offspring, the Jews thought they were the seed whereby all other nations would be blessed, and that they could justify themselves before God by works carried out under the Law covenant.—John 8:33, 39; Romans 9:31, 32; 10:3, 4; 11:7.

<sup>11</sup> It was against this background that the apostle Paul wrote to the Christian congregation in Rome. Some of the Jews in Rome had become Christians, but by far the majority of them refused to put faith in Jesus as the Messiah. The Christian congregation in Rome was made up also of many non-Jewish Christians.

<sup>12</sup> For different reasons both Jews and Gentiles had feelings of superiority—the Jews because they came from the original Abrahamic stock—the Gentiles because they had been admitted into special Abrahamic-covenant privileges as a result of lack of faith on the part of the unbelieving Jews. Paul sought to convince Christians of Jewish and non-Jewish origin that both groups owed their righteous standing before God to their faith in Christ rather than to works. (Romans 3:21-27) In writing his letter, Paul’s aim was Christian unity and productivity, to the glory of Jehovah for the wonderful manner in which he moves forward in fulfilling the promises of the Abrahamic covenant.

<div align="center">A Symbolic Olive Tree</div>
<sup>13</sup> The apostle Paul expresses grief that “not all who spring from Israel are really ‘Israel,’” and states: “Neither because they are Abraham’s seed are they all children [part of Abraham’s spiritual seed].” Then he goes on to illustrate how Jehovah ‘raises up children to Abraham.’ (Romans 9:1, 2, 6, 7) To describe how the Abrahamic covenant produces the full number of members of the spiritual seed of promise, he uses the symbol of a specially cultivated olive tree.—Please read Romans 11:13-26.

<sup>14</sup> Paul mentions the root before speaking of the tree itself, and he says “the root is holy.” (Romans 11:16) Jehovah God is the “Most Holy One.” (Hosea 11:12) He is frequently called “the Holy One of Israel,” particularly in the book of Isaiah. (Isaiah 10:20; 29:19; 60:9) The apostle Peter counsels anointed Christians, saying: “In accord with the Holy One who called you, do you also become holy yourselves in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15, 16) Jehovah God, the Greater Abraham, is the root of the symbolic olive tree.

<sup>15</sup> As the patriarch Abraham was the root of the nation of Israel, so Jehovah gives life to spiritual Israel. As the 12 tribes of Israel stemmed from Abraham through his son Isaac, through Jacob and the 12 patriarchs, the 12 symbolic tribes of spiritual Israel stem from Jehovah through the Greater Isaac, Christ Jesus. He, as the primary Seed of Abraham, is symbolized by the olive tree’s stock, or trunk. (Galatians 3:16) Jehovah, the root, produces the full number of members of the secondary seed through his Son, Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:29) But how or in what manner does Jehovah produce the required number of symbolic branches?

<div align="center"> </div>
<div align="center">Some Branches Lopped Off, Others Grafted In</div>
<sup>16</sup> Paul goes on to explain this wonderful arrangement. He writes: “For I do not want you, brothers, to be ignorant of this sacred secret, in order for you not to be discreet in your own eyes: that a dulling of sensibilities has happened in part to Israel until the full number of people of the nations has come in, and in this manner [Greek, kai hou´tos] all Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:25, 26; compare Ephesians 3:3-6.) Jehovah would “raise up children to Abraham” by admitting into the secondary seed of Abraham the required number, or “full number of people of the nations [Gentiles].” By showing “the faith of Abraham” this limited number of non-Jews would prove to be spiritual Jews, part of spiritual Israel, “the Israel of God.”—Romans 4:16; 2:28, 29; Galatians 6:15, 16.

<sup>17</sup> Paul illustrated the outworking of this “sacred secret” by an unusual horticultural procedure. The normal procedure is to graft shoots from a cultivated tree onto a wild stock, in order to make it productive, as Paul was well aware. He told the Gentile Christians that they had been “grafted contrary to nature into the garden olive tree.” (Romans 11:24) He thus likened the non-Jews who would be admitted into the Abrahamic covenant to scions, or shoots, from a wild olive that would be grafted onto the trunk of a “garden olive tree.” They would replace the natural branches that had been lopped off, these representing the fleshly Jews who had been rejected because of their lack of faith. (Romans 11:17, 19, 20, 24) This unusual illustration served as a forceful exposure of the proud and haughty unbelieving Jews, who considered the Gentiles to be as lifeless as stones or as incapable of producing fine fruit as wild olive branches. It confirmed that Jehovah had “power to raise up children to Abraham,” even as John the Baptist had forewarned.—Luke 3:8.

<sup>18</sup> Nevertheless, non-Jewish Christians who had been “grafted contrary to nature” into the Abrahamic-covenant tree as part of the spiritual seed had no reason to feel superior to the Jews. Paul explained: “They also [Jews], if they do not remain in their lack of faith, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.” (Romans 11:23) A small remnant of natural Jews accepted the primary Seed and became permanent branches in the symbolic tree. (Romans 9:27; 11:5) But the majority of the Jews had been broken off the Abrahamic-covenant tree in 36 C.E., at the end of the 70th week of years foretold by Daniel. (Daniel 9:27) After that, however, some Jews had been grafted back “into their own olive tree” by putting faith in the Messiah, Jesus, the primary Seed of Abraham. (Romans 11:24; Acts 13:5, 42, 43; 14:1) By pointing these things out Paul promoted unity among the anointed Christians, for all had become ‘sharers in the olive’s root of fatness’ through “God’s kindness.”—Romans 11:17, 22.

<div align="center">A Fully Productive Olive Tree</div>
<sup>19</sup> Throughout the centuries, and particularly in the favorable part of this time of the end, other Jews and non-Jews were grafted into the symbolic olive tree. Thus the Abrahamic covenant produces the “full number” of Jews and Gentiles needed to complete the spiritual seed. “In this manner all Israel will be saved,” not fleshly Israel, but those who are “really ‘Israel,’” the 144,000 members of spiritual Israel.—Romans 11:12, 25, 26; 9:6-8; Revelation 7:4.

<sup>20</sup> The wonderful manner in which Jehovah has fulfilled this most important part of the Abrahamic covenant, by producing the trunk and the full number of branches of this symbolic tree should fill us with wonder. Like Paul, we exclaim: “O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and past tracing out his ways are! For ‘who has come to know Jehovah’s mind, or who has become his counselor?’ Or, ‘Who has first given to him, so that it must be repaid to him?’ Because from him and by him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.”—Romans 11:33-36.



[Footnotes]

“και ουτως = and thus; not merely temporal.” (The Expositor’s Greek Testament) Compare Today’s English Version (“and this is how”), Authorized Version, Revised Standard Version and New International Version (“and so”). Those who believe in the ultimate conversion and salvation of the entire Jewish nation make kai hou´tos mean “and then,” timewise. (See Romans 11:26, The Jerusalem Bible.) Many of Christendom’s Bible commentaries give this interpretation, even though it goes against Paul’s whole line of reasoning and against the facts of history, past and present.—Compare Romans 2:28, 29; 9:1-6, 27; 10:1, 21; 11:5, 7-10, 14; Acts 13:45, 46.

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THE SYMBOLIC OLIVE TREE—Type and Antitype

BRANCHES

12 tribes of Israel

144,000 spiritual Israelites (secondary seed)

TRUNK

Isaac, Jacob and 12 patriarchs

Messiah Jesus (primary Seed)

ROOT

Abraham

Jehovah

This is from the 8/15/83 WT. You may find it interesting. Let me know if any info has changed.

Love to all...Dorcas http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/MSN%20Vlinder.gif

Utuna
09-17-2009, 03:11 PM
Dear Dorcas,

maybe I'm a little bit late, :p but thanks for sharing this pearl with us! This post is great, great, great!

It's a proof that some ancient WT articles were far more interesting in the past than the ones written nowadays.

---------------------------------------------
"Le sectarisme des jugements pauvres lui tenait quelquefois lieu de volonté" - Hervé Bazin
"J'ai pétri de la boue et j'en ai fait de l'or" - Charles Baudelaire
"S'il m'a été donné de voir un peu plus loin que les autres, c'est que je me tenais sur les épaules de géants" - Isaac Newton

uglyandthin
09-17-2009, 09:08 PM
Hi Dorcas:

Like Utuna, I am thankful that you have started this post. There are many more understandings in the Abrahamic covenant than even the ones mentioned in this article.

First it promotes the asking of the question in me, why does a nation need 3 fathers, ie Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and yet this one scripture seems to give us the answer.

“I shall surely bless you and I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore; and your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemies. And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves due to the fact that you have listened to my voice.”—Genesis 22:16-18.


To me there appears to be one nation of people under Abraham that is broken into three parts that could be individual sub nations under the one nation of Abraham and these three nations would be headed by not one Father, but three Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Some, will become part of the heavenly kingdom (stars), some will be part of the earthly part of God's Kingdom (grains of sand that are on the seashore) and some will benefit from the outworking of God's will through the administration of that kingdom through the "stars" and the "sands of the sea". That's a thumbnail sketch of my take on this scripture.

uglyandthin

The Way
03-18-2011, 07:26 PM
THE SYMBOLIC OLIVE TREE—Type and Antitype

BRANCHES

12 tribes of Israel

144,000 spiritual Israelites (secondary seed)

TRUNK

Isaac, Jacob and 12 patriarchs

Messiah Jesus (primary Seed)

ROOT

Abraham

Jehovah

This is from the 8/15/83 WT. You may find it interesting. Let me know if any info has changed.

Love to all...Dorcas http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/MSN%20Vlinder.gif

It has changed now. The Watchtower study article 'O the Depth of God's Wisdom!' in the Watchtower of May 15, 2011, p. 21-25 "updates" the explanation of 1983, which is a euphemism for making short shrift of the whole type-antitype idea and stripping away half of the previous explanation, that is all things having to do with the natural nation of Israel (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the 12 patriarchs, the 12 tribes of Israel). An excerpt:
The Symbolic Olive Tree

13 The apostle Paul goes on to compare those who become part of Abraham’s seed to branches on a symbolic olive tree.* (Rom. 11:21) This cultivated olive tree represents the fulfillment of God’s purpose with regard to the Abrahamic covenant. The root of the tree is holy and represents Jehovah as the one who gives life to spiritual Israel. (Isa. 10:20; Rom. 11:16) The trunk represents Jesus as the primary part of Abraham’s seed. The branches collectively represent “the full number” of those included in the secondary part of Abraham’s seed.
_____
* Evidently, there is no typical or antitypical olive tree. Although natural Israel did produce kings and priests, the nation did not become a kingdom of priests. Kings in Israel were prevented by law from becoming priests. Therefore, natural Israel did not serve as a typical olive tree. Paul is illustrating how God’s purpose to produce “a kingdom of priests” is fulfilled in connection with spiritual Israel. This updates what was published in the August 15, 1983, Watchtower, pages 14-19.
13. What is represented by (a) the olive tree, (b) its root, (c) its trunk, and (d) its branches?

14 In the illustration of the olive tree, the natural Jews who rejected Jesus are likened
to olive branches that were “broken off.” (Rom.11:17)
Note how para. 13 does not even try anymore to give any Scriptural support or reasons WHY. It just says the root is this, the trunk is that, and apparently you have to accept this without further ado. The 1983 article at the least explored the scriptural support and tried to give Scriptural reasons (not that it was an entirely satisfying explanation either, but it contains interesting elements), but these were built in large part upon the whole type-antitype idea, which is now thrown in the dustbin. Talk about sawing the branch off the tree you're sitting on...

Let me just touch upon a few inconsistencies and paradoxes with this new explanation.
- "cultivated olive tree": If Jehovah is the root, then who is the cultivator of the tree? Who has planted the young tree with its root?
- The olive tree is said to depict the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. But where does Abraham come into the picture? Nowhere! Abraham is completely left out now!
- Natural Jews who rejected Jesus are likened to the natural branches that were "broken off". How then did these Jews who never believed in Jesus, grow on "their own" (Rom. 11:24) olive tree in the first place?? How did they naturally sprout from the trunk, who is said to be Jesus?? It does not make any sense!!
- Those who become part of Abraham's seed, HOW exactly can be said they descend or spring from Abraham? What does Paul say?
- Is there anyhow a certain continuity from the natural nation of Israel into "spiritual Israel" or the new "holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9)? Is the concept/term of "spiritual Israel" valid? or could it be misleading and in need of rethinking? See Perimeno's essay Did "Spiritual" Israel Replace Natural Israel? (http://www.perimeno.ca/SpiritualIsrael.htm)
- What was the quintessence of Paul's reasoning in Romans chapters 9-11 (or even 8-12)? (2 Peter 3:15-16)

PS: Maybe someone could upload a scan of the picture of the olive tree with the type-antitype in the Watchtower Aug. 15, 1983? That would be very interesting to see for all.