What does Romans 11:14 mean?
This completes Paul's thought begun in the previous verse. He cited his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). Though Paul himself was a "Hebrew among Hebrews" (Philippians 3:4–7), he was converted (Acts 9:1–6) in order to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the non-Jewish people: the Gentiles. An apostle is a person sent to represent another with an important message. In Paul's case, that message is that the Gentiles can be saved and come into relationship with God through faith in Christ.Paul now declares that he magnifies—he works hard at—this ministry, in part, to help save some of his fellow Jews. How would that work? His aim is to provoke the Jews to become jealous of the special relationship the Gentiles now have with God through faith in Christ. Paul wants his fellow Jewish people to see that and want it too. Some will come to faith in Christ in that way, Paul believes.