We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Ver. 1. _Ought to bear_] As porters do their burdens, as pillars do the poise of the house, or rather as parents have their babes in their arms. Βασταζειν . _ And not to please ourselves_] _Bis desipit,... [ Continue Reading ]
Let every one of us please _his_ neighbour for _his_ good to edification. Ver. 2. _Please his neighbour_] Though he cross himself: this is true Christian love, and driven almost out of the world by sinful self-love, which causeth men to dislike those things in others that they favour and flatter in... [ Continue Reading ]
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Ver. 3. _For even Christ_] And we should express him to the world, preach abroad his virtues by our practice, 1 Peter 2:9. Our lives should be as so many sermons upon the life of Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Ver. 4. _For whatsoever things, &c._] Here the apostle meets with an objection. For some man might say, that that saying of the Psalms pertains to Davi... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: Ver. 5. _Now the God of patience_] The soul is then only in good plight when the heaven answers the earth, Hosea 2:21; when Christ the Sun of righteousness shines into it.... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye may with one mind _and_ one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 6. _With one mind and one mouth, _] It is recorded to the high commendation of the Church of Scotland, that for this 90 years and upwards they have kept unity with purity without schism, much less... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Ver. 7. _To the glory of God_] That is, of heaven, the joys whereof it is as impossible to comprehend as it is to compass the heaven with a span, or contain the ocean in a nut shell. Such comfort there is in the prese... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises _made_ unto the fathers: Ver. 8. _Now I say that Jesus_] Paul proveth particularly in this and the following verses that Christ hath taken both Jews and Gentiles to his glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
And that the Gentiles might glorify God for _his_ mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. Ver. 9. _And that the Gentiles_] Though they had no such promises, might glorify God's free grace in the day of their visitation.... [ Continue Reading ]
And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. Ver. 10. _Rejoice_] That your names are also written in heaven, and that ye are enrolled in the records of the new Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. Ver. 11. _All ye Gentiles_] As being received into the glory of God, Romans 15:7 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Ver. 12. _In him shall the Gentiles trust_] Isaiah hath it, "To him shall the Gentiles seek:" to seek to God then argues trust in God. He that hopes not, prai... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 13. _Fill you with all joy, &c._] Note here that joy and peace are the means whereby faith worketh hope.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Ver. 14. _Full of goodness_] The excellency of a godly man is to follow God fully, as Caleb, Numbers 14:24; to have a heart full of goodness, as these... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, Ver. 15. Chrysostom truly saith of St Paul, that he was _insatiabilis Dei cultor, _ an insatiable worshipper of God, one that thought he could never... [ Continue Reading ]
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Ver. 16. _Ministering the gospel_] Serving about holy things or doing sacred offices, as the priests under the... [ Continue Reading ]
I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. Ver. 17. _I have therefore, &c._] So have all God's faithful ministers at this day against the contempts and contumelies cast upon them by the mad world, ever beside itself in point of salvation. There i... [ Continue Reading ]
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Ver. 18. _To make the Gentiles, &c._] Christ by his gospel subdued the Britons, whom the Romans with all their force could never subdue, as Tertullian observed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Ver. 19. _So that from Jerusalem_] Chrysostom observeth, that Plato came three times to Sicily to convert Dionysius the tyrant to... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: Ver. 20. _Lest I should build_] Lest I should seem to do anything unbeseeming the office of an apostle: there is a decorum to be kept in every calling.... [ Continue Reading ]
But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. Ver. 21. _But as it is written, _] In obedience to this divine oracle, the apostle preached to those that had not heard, yet neglected not those that had.... [ Continue Reading ]
For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. Ver. 22. _For which cause_] By planting Churches and preaching where was more need.... [ Continue Reading ]
But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; Ver. 23. _These many years_] The Romans were converted to the faith betimes. Some of them were "in Christ before Paul,"Romans 16:7. Christ made haste also to convert England, whose religion bef... [ Continue Reading ]
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your _company_. Ver. 24. _For I trust to see you_] _Ipse aspectus viri boni delectat, _ He himself delights at the si... [ Continue Reading ]
But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. Ver. 25. _To minister unto the saints_] The highest angel in heaven may not hold himself too good to serve the saints.... [ Continue Reading ]
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. Ver. 26. _It hath pleased them_] It hath not been squeezed out of them as verjuice is out of a crab, but freely and cheerfully they have contributed, ευδοκησαν . _ For the po... [ Continue Reading ]
It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. Ver. 27. _Their debtors they are_] And so are we to pity and pray for them. See my "True Treasure," sect. 2. ch... [ Continue Reading ]
When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. Ver. 28. _When I have sealed_] That is, safely delivered, as if it were under seal. _ This fruit_] This sweet ripe fruit of their faith and love, their alms.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Ver. 29. _In the fulness of the blessing_] Christ may use one of less grace to do more good than one of more (for there are diversities of operations, as well as of gifts, 1Co 12:6), but u... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in _your_ prayers to God for me; Ver. 30. _For the Lord Jesus Christ's sake_] This is one of those passages in St Paul, than the which there can nothing possibly be imagine... [ Continue Reading ]
That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which _I have_ for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; Ver. 31. _That my service which, &c._] One would have thought that the apostle coming with alms to them, should easily have been well accepted; but he saw... [ Continue Reading ]
That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Ver. 32. _Be refreshed_] _See Trapp on "_ Rom 1:12 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ 2Jn 1:12 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the God of peace _be_ with you all. Amen. Ver. 33. _Now the God of peace_] A fit attribute for the present purpose. It is a commendable policy in Christians, when they pray, to propound God to their mind in such notions, and under such titles, as whereby they may see in God the things they desi... [ Continue Reading ]