Boast Not Against the Branches: The Reformed Tradition and the Jews

by Douglas Wilson

Too many Reformed folk are ignorant of the prominent place afforded to the future of the Jews in their own history and confessions.” -Steve SchlisselThis little book seeks to remedy that ignorance.

Today, affection for the Jewish people based on Romans 11 is thought to be an error rooted in the Post-war Consensus or Dispensationalism.

But in this book Doug Wilson has assembled quotes from countless Reformed teachers, many untethered from the 20th century and its Left Behind series, each writing about what they believe the Bible really teaches about Romans 11.

We must reject the mistakes made in 20th century theology. But we must not throw out our heritage as we do so.

Genres: Theology, History, Nonfiction, Christian

61 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2025

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would be more properly titled “The Reformed Tradition and Romans 11,” but doing that would expose the tenuous nature of the polemic. The future conversion of the Jews has no more to do with whether we should let them do bad things in the present and excuse bad behavior in the past than the future conversion of the Hottentots has to do with whether or not we should let them eat people.

[Brandon Adkison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Helpful for what it is. Basically is a short survey of 16th, 17th, 18th, 20th, and 21st century reformed theologians who held to a future mass in-gathering of ethnic Jews, based primarily upon Romans 11.
In a moment when many have looked at dispensational excesses and have over-reacted by dipping their toes (or more) into the poisonous swimming pool of antisemitism, this is a helpful counterbalance.
It would have been much more helpful if there had been discussion of how this relates to current discussions of modern Talmudic Judaism, as well as the ongoing debates on the connection between United States foreign policy and the State of Israel. However, given that this is a short book, it is understandable that this was largely left out, and we can look to other venues for discussion of these topics. Still, this shortcoming is the reason for the 3-star review. It is a book I appreciate, just not one that was extraordinary.

[R.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fantastic small book, my only qualm is that he does not discuss the idea of Judeo Christianity. I would say that is one of the main issues at Hand within Christendom in America today, that we don’t know what it look like to actually be Christian without the Judeo before it.

But fantastic work on how the reformers have thought about Israel, but they were in a very different time where many of them never saw the establishment of a secular/hyper liberal Jewish state. I wonder if that would have changed their perspective.

[Michael Cranford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick but helpful refresher on the classic reformed position on the future of the Jewish people. The book’s focus is on Romans 11 and whether we adopt a preterist or futurist reading of the text. The long list of quotations from various reformers, puritans, and theologians is quite helpful.

Teaser quote: “Now this means that it is not possible to be in sync with the purposes of God in this world without loving the Jewish people….At the same time, loving the Jews as God does, for the sake of their fathers, is not the same thing as approving of what the Jews do, or agreeing with Zionism…”

[Jordan Litts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short yet thorough. It is clear that Reformed theologians throughout the centuries have gladly and hopefully believed in the future conversion of the Jews. Why? Well, because the Bible makes that glad hope clear.

[Noah Kellum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exposition of Romans 11 from a futurist perspective. Failed to justify the proposition that this is the standard Christian view, only that it was present from the 16th century onwards, despite the fact that the earliest reformers (Luther, Calvin, etc.) were not futurist on this Scripture. Unfortunately, this has nothing to contribute to the discussion on how Christian’s should act towards a rogue people who hate Christians and who’s philosophy is built around deceit and violence.

[Rowena Ivanhoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short and easy to read book. Most of it is quotations from major figures in the reformed theological tradition about the place of the Jewish people in God’s plan of salvation. The final chapter is Pastor Wilson’s exposition of Roman’s 11. Guess what? You don’t have to be dispensational to believe that God still has a plan for the Jews. And to have an attitude of arrogance and hatred toward Jews puts one out step with the majority of Reformed thought since the Reformation. Very interesting book from both a historical and theological perspective.

[Ryan Watkins]

This is Wilson’s anti-antisemitism book. Wilson acknowledges writing this due to the rise of Christian Nationalism and its criticism of Judaism and the post war consensus. Wilson spends most of the book quoting reformed theologians affirming the view of Romans 11 which teaches the future conversion of the Jews to Christianity. Wilson successfully shows this to be the majority reformed position. Wilson spends no time on the views Tamudic Judaism.

[Dennis Wales · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are at all interested in what the Reformed Church believes about the future of the Jews, then please read this book. They are not “replaced” nor discarded, but rather they still are important in God’s plan.

[Steve Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Christians should read this

Douglas Wilson has the proper view of the Jews. I appreciate his insight, and have shared these with many.
This is a quick read, and all should jump into it.

[Nancy Kendall]

(no audio, Kindle-owned)

[Mark Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels important for the time - a robust demonstration that the futurist approach to the redemption of the Jews is not an invention of the 60s.

[Thomas Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Capably serves Wilson's purpose of demonstrating that the Futurist reading of Romans 11 has a historic pedigree among Reformed theologians.

[Grant Van Brimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

good little resource

[Patrick Porras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. A hearty collection of quotes from a smattering of Reformed theologians over the past 5 centuries and then finishes with a short overview commentary on Romans 11.

Brief and accessible.

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little booklet. As I am preparing to preach through Romans 9-11 over the next few weeks, I will be returning to it again and again. Thank God for it.