_CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 1:1. PAUL.—In Latin Paulus, and equals little. Chosen, perhaps, for humility. Name of illustrious Roman family. Saul among Jews. Afterwards Paul. Very common for Jews to accept a second name of Greek origin bearing resemblance in sound. So Σαῦλος, Παῦλος SERVANT.—Common word... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Romans 1:2_ The gospel long promised.—A scheme long in preparation, the carrying out of which seems long delayed, may be expected to be of great value and importance. The scheme of the gospel was long in preparation to human seeming. The prophetic utterances exten... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 1:3. TO THE FLESH.—σάρξ denotes a living being in distinction from the dead, which is κρέας. It denotes also body as distinguished from mind (Stuart). OUR LORD.—Supreme Ruler of the Church. Romans 1:4. DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD, ETC.—Endowed with power by sending the Sp... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 1:7. GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE, ETC.—εἰρήνη, happiness of every kind; peace with God and man. God first Christ’s Father and then ours. Grace and peace are cause and effect. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Romans 1:7_ A graceful salutation.—The universality of this address... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 1:8. YOUR FAITH IS SPOKEN OF, ETC.—Rome frequented by strangers, and so the faith of the Church easily made known. κόσμω, the beautiful order of the visible world. Romans 1:10. MAKING REQUEST, IF BY ANY MEANS, ETC.—Grotius happily renders: “Si forte Dei voluntas felicitatem... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 1:16. THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.—In and by the gospel God shows and exerts moral power. The best equivalent for “unto” is “for.” It signifies direction. The Greek word used for mental and carnal direction. Gospel, from the old Gothic _guth_, good, and _spillon_, to ann... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 1:18. THE WRATH OF GOD.—ὀργὴ Θεοῦ, God’s displeasure. The phrase is plainly anthropopathic. May express a particular instance of displeasure. Romans 1:19. THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD.—That concerning God which is knowable. St. Basil called the natural world a school of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 1:22.—Here begins a dark picture of heathenism, but fully verified from the writings of what has been called the most brilliant age of the most intellectual nations of the world. St. Paul traces man’s downward progress. Evolution, but in the wrong direction. According to the... [ Continue Reading ]