• Romans 1

  • Video Introduction to the Book of Romans

  • The City of Rome

  • Apartment Buildings in Ancient Rome

  • Synagogue in the City of Ostia

  • Romans 2

  • Synagogue in the City of Ostia

  • Romans 11

  • Grafting an Olive Branch

  • Grafting a Wild Olive Shoot Into the Garden Olive Tree

  • Olive Tree

  • Romans 13

  • Taxation

  • Romans 15

  • Paul’s Journeys After c. 61 C.E.

  • Romans 16

  • Letter Writing

  • Erastus Inscription in Corinth

The items shown in the illustrations and 3-D video footage in the Media Gallery are based on extensive research. However, they are artists’ renditions and, at times, depict only one of several possibilities.

Grafting a Wild Olive Shoot Into the Garden Olive Tree

Grafting a Wild Olive Shoot Into the Garden Olive Tree

This farmer grafts a shoot from a wild olive tree into a cultivated, or garden, olive tree. Paul likens the cultivated olive branches to Jews and the wild olive branches to Gentiles. Many natural Jews did not put faith in Jesus, so Gentiles were grafted in to take their place as members of spiritual Israel. (Ro 11:13, 17) Paul reminds the congregation in Rome that both Jews and Gentiles must maintain their faith in Christ and appreciate God’s kindness. (Ro 10:4; 11:22) He uses the illustration of an olive tree to emphasize part of the theme of his letter to the Romans: God is impartial and holds out the possibility of salvation to “everyone having faith,” whether Jew or Gentile. Therefore, Christians must remain united, regardless of their background​—Ro 1:16, 17; 2:11; 10:12.

Related Scripture(s)

Ro 11:24
Romans 1
Romans 2
Romans 11
Romans 13
Romans 15
Romans 16