But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says,
I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
All Commentaries on Romans 10:19 Go To Romans 10
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
By calling a people “foolish” Paul explained what he meant by “those who are not a people,” viz., a foolish people ought not to be called a people at all. But he says that the Jewish people will be angered by the Gentiles’ faith, because they have received what the Jews have rejected…. Even though entire peoples were foolish idol worshipers, they nevertheless put away their paganism by believing. Thus Paul said: “If a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?” Thus he means: “I will make you jealous of those who once were not a people but were made a people,” because although they were once a foolish idolworshiping people, they put aside their paganism through their faith in Christ.
