Gentile believer is likened to a wild olive grafted in contrary to nature, partaking in both

the root and the fatness of the olive tree. The Apostle magnifies his office as the Apostle

of the Gentiles "if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh,

and might save some of them" (Rom. 11: 14).

We learn from these passages that one of the reasons for the abundance of spiritual

gifts that characterized the Gentile Churches, was that Israel might, if it were possible, be

awakened to see their prerogatives passing to the uncircumcision, and so be provoked to

jealousy, and repent and be saved. This, however, was not to be. Israel were not

provoked; they passed out into their present blindness, and the gifts ceased.

There can be no doubt after considering the testimony of these Scriptures that the gifts

enjoyed by the early Church were well within the sphere of those things "which the

Prophets and Moses did say should come".