A. Romans 1:1-17. INTRODUCTION. ADDRESS 1–7. OCCASION 8–15. SUBJECT 16–17. 1–7. Address. The writer’s (_a_) name and state, (_b_) office, (_c_) commission defined by a statement of (i) the Person from whom it was received, (ii) the Person of whom it dealt and through whom it came, (iii) the persons... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΥ͂ΛΟΣ. Here, Gal., Gal., Ephesians, 1 and 2 Tim., no colleague is mentioned. ΔΟΥ͂ΛΟΣ in the address here and Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:1, only; cf. James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1:1; cf. also Galatians 1:10; Colossians 4:12;... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὃ Κ.Τ.Λ. This message is continuous with GOD’S earlier revelation and fulfils it, cf. Hebrews 1:1-2. ΠΡΟΕΠΗΓΓΕΊΛΑΤΟ. 2 Corinthians 9:5 only; cf. Romans 15:4; Galatians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:10; for the converse cf. Ephesians 1:12. ΔΙᾺ ΤΩ͂Ν ΠΡ. Α. ἘΝ ΓΡΑ. Ἁ. The fulness of the expression suggests that Gent... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΕΡῚ ΤΟΥ͂ ΥἹΟΥ͂ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂ Κ.Τ.Λ. ‘His Son’ is the subject of GOD’S Gospel promised beforehand—the words go with the whole preceding clause taken as one idea; their meaning is developed in the participial clauses following, which are strictly parallel and explain the twofold character or nature in whic... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ ὉΡΙΣΘΈΝΤΟΣ, “who was distinguished, from His brethren κατὰ σάρκα, as GOD’S Son by an act of power,” closely |[56] Acts 17:31, ἐν�.τ.λ., “by a man whom He marked out or distinguished for that office, by the warrant of raising Him from death.” The fundamental notion of ὁρίζειν is to distinguish o... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙ' ΟὟ. He who is the subject of the Gospel is also the agent through whom GOD dispenses those powers which enable men to minister the Gospel; cf. John 1:17; Galatians 1:1. ἘΛΆΒΟΜΕΝ. The subject of Romans 1:1 is recovered—the apostolic commission exercised under the Lord. The aorist refers to the ac... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΟἿΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. A hint of the reason of his writing to them. Cf. Romans 1:13. ΚΑῚ ὙΜΕΙ͂Σ. Throughout the Epistle S. Paul primarily considers Gentile Christians. ΚΛΗΤΟῚ Ἰ. ΧΡ. Called to belong to Jesus Christ, |[62] κλητὸς�, Romans 1:1, and κλητοῖς ἁγίοις, Romans 1:7. The genitive stands for an adjec... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑ͂ΣΙΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. The local designation comes first, then the foundation of their state in GOD’S love, then the demand thus made on them for response. All Christians in Rome are addressed, whatever their previous history. ἈΓΑΠΗΤΟΙ͂Σ ΘΕΟΥ͂, ‘GOD’S beloved’: a unique phrase, but cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:4;... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓ΧΑΡΙΣΤΩ͂. S. Paul follows his greeting always with thanksgiving or blessing (εὐλογητός), except in Gal. (θαυμάζω) and 1 Tim., Tit. Peculiar to this place are μου (exc. Philippians 1:3) and διὰ Ἰ. Χρ. This fulness of phrase corresponds to the fulness of statement in 1–7. ΠΕΡῚ ΠΆΝΤΩΝ Ὑ. Cf. πᾶσιν... [ Continue Reading ]
8–17. Thanksgiving 8–10 _a_ introduces the Occasion 10 _b_–15 and the Subject 16–17 of the Epistle. He gives thanks to GOD for the wide report of their faith as heartily as (9) his prayers for them have been unceasing and (10) have embodied his eagerness to see them, (11) to help them and be helped... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓᾺΡ introduces the personal reasons for his writing. He establishes personal relations with his readers before communicating his message, as he bases his commission on personal relations with the Lord. Cf. Colossians 1:3 ff. (the other unvisited church to which he wrote); 2 Timothy 1:3. Note also th... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠῚ, at. ΔΕΌΜΕΝΟΣ ΕἼ ΠΩΣ. Cf. Acts 8:22; cf. Blass, p. 216. ἬΔΗ ΠΟΤῈ, at long last. ΕΥ̓ΟΔΩΘΉΣΟΜΑΙ, “in passive always tropical; to prosper, be successful,” Thayer; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 3 John 1:2; but cf. Sept., Judges 18:5; Tob 5:21; Tob 11:5; so S. H. adopt early English vv., “I have a spedi way.”... [ Continue Reading ]
ἽΝΑ ΤΙ ΜΕΤΑΔΩ͂ Κ.Τ.Λ. The complex order and the indefinite τι … χάρισμα give a half apologetic tone to this expression of his object, leading at once to the correction τοῦτο δέ ἐστιν—if he benefits them they will also help him. ΧΆΡΙΣΜΑ, a concrete instance of GOD’s χάρις, a gift of GOD. Cf. perhaps... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΥΝΠΑΡ., only here. ἘΝ (cf. ἐπί, 2 Corinthians 7:7), no |[65], = in my feelings about you. [65] | parallel to ΔΙᾺ ΤΗ͂Σ ἘΝ�.Τ.Λ. πίστις has its regular meaning, faith in GOD through Christ, ἘΝ�., which we each find in the other: he piles up phrases to emphasise the reciprocity of benefit (συν., ἐν�... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΕΘἘΜΗΝ. He had got beyond prayers; he had made definite plans, but had been hindered by the exigencies of his work. ΤΙΝᾺ ΚΑΡΠῸΝ, again the apologetic τις. ΣΧΩ͂, ‘get,’ as always.... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought of the service he wished to render and the fruit he hoped to gain leads on to the statement of the motive and the theme of the Epistle. He has already got ‘fruit,’ and so is in debt to men of all classes and culture, and would wish to preach in Rome that he may be debtor to them too. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΚΑΤ' ἘΜῈ, subject to ΠΡΌΘΥΜΟΝ, sc. ἐστιν. So far as I have to do with the matter—ref. to ἐκωλύθην, Romans 1:13; cf. τὰ κατ' ἐμὲ, Philippians 1:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΑΙΣΧΎΝΟΜΑΙ. Cf. Mark 8:38; 2 Timothy 1:8. There is no lack of readiness, because there is no need of reserve; the Gospel is its own vindication. The tremendous opposition he had lately experienced, especially at Corinth, seems to be in his mind. ΔΎΝΑΜΙΣ ΓᾺΡ ΘΕΟΥ͂ Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18 f. T... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓᾺΡ. The Gospel is GOD’s power, with this wide range and single condition, because in it GOD’s righteousness (which man needs if he is to answer to his true destiny) is revealed for man’s acceptance as beginning, as far as the human condition is concerned, from faith and promoting faith. ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΎΝΗ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓᾺΡ gives the reason for the revelation just described and for the condition of its effectiveness. ἈΠΟΚ. ὈΡΓῊ ΘΕΟΥ͂. The revelation here spoken of is the revelation through the actual facts of human life, just as the Gospel revelation is revelation through the actual facts of the divine life seen i... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 1:18-32. (18) This power and condition revealed in the Gospel meets the need of man; for in the actual state of man we can see that his life lies under GOD’s wrath. Man has by unrighteous action overlaid the truth imparted to him: (20) the knowledge of GOD, communicated through the visible cr... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΌΤΙ gives the reason for the wrath. For (Blass, p. 274) they knew GOD (19–21 _a_, expanding τὴν�. κατ.), but did not act on this knowledge (21 _b_–23, expanding ἐν�.). There should be a full stop or colon after κατεχόντων: as Romans 1:18 introduces the whole section. ΤῸ ΓΝΩΣΤῸΝ Τ. Θ. = that eleme... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤᾺ ΓᾺΡ� … ΘΕΙΌΤΗΣ are best treated as parenthetic—explanatory of ἐφανέρωσεν—the revelation of GOD through nature and human nature is true as far as it goes, but it is confined to His power both in nature and in morals, and His character as Divine Ruler and Lawgiver. Cf. generally Luke 18:18 f. ΤᾺ� |... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΌΤΙ picks up and expands the theme of Romans 1:19. ΓΝΌΝΤΕΣ, aor. = having received or gained knowledge of GOD. |[73] τὴν�. κατέχοντες. [73] | parallel to ἘΔΌΞΑΣΑΝ = did not ascribe the due honour to GOD for what they knew to be His acts; cf. Acts 11:18; Matthew 15:31, _alibi_ ΗΥ̓ΧΑΡΊΣΤΗΣΑΝ. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΆΣΚΟΝΤΕΣ The asyndeton shows that this is an explanation of the preceding sentence. Φ. of false allegations, Acts 24:9; Acts 25:19 and here only.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἬΛΛΑΞΑΝ. Cf. Psalms 106 (105) 20; cf. _infra_ 25. The consequence of their false conception is a false religion, substituting inferior objects of worship for the one true object. The construction is a survival of poetic usage. Cf. Soph. _Antigone_ 495 (Lietzmann). ΤῊΝ ΔΌΞΑΝ. Here apparently = the m... [ Continue Reading ]
The consequences seen in the moral condition, to which GOD handed man over. Man by ignoring the truth is led to neglect the worship of GOD for the worship of creatures, and thence (24) to failure in due respect to his own body and (26) consequent misuse of the body for unnatural ends, and (28) misap... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἽΤΙΝΕΣ. Quippe qui, “seeing that they,” repeats Romans 1:23 with amplification. ΤῊΝ�. Quite comprehensive = the truth about God and themselves and their relation to Him; so ΤΩ͂Ι ΨΕΎΔΕΙ the false theory or statement of man and GOD which they adopted; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 John 2:27. ἘΣΕΒΆΣΘΗ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ. Wilful rejection of GOD’S self-revelation undermines self-respect, purity, and the whole sphere of duty. ΠΆΘΗ�. The gen. is descriptive—shameful passion. The thought of misuse is included in ἀτιμία; cf. Romans 9:21; as ΦΥΣΙΚΉ and ΚΑΤᾺ ΦΎΣΙΝ mark a right use.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΟΛΑΜΒΆΝΟΝΤΕΣ, ‘receiving as due.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΔΟΚΊΜΑΣΑΝ, ‘they thought not fit’ (cf. Field, _ad lo_[77]). The verb implies approval after testing: the infinitive is epexegetic. ΤῸΝ ΘΕῸΝ closely with the verb; cf. in passive construction 1 Thessalonians 2:4. They tested or proved GOD and decided not to keep Him, etc. [77] _ad loc_ ad locum ἜΧΕ... [ Continue Reading ]
This catalogue of sins emphasises the false relations of man to man as following upon the false relation of men to GOD and the false conception of the proper use of man’s own nature. The classification is only partially systematic, 29 _a_ the mental dispositions, 29 _b_–31 the dispositions seen in v... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἽΤΙΝΕΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. define once more the root of the evil—rejection of known truth—here as to the fixed judgment of GOD on such acts and persons. ΤῸ ΔΙΚΑΊΩΜΑ = the just decision or claim, cf. Romans 2:26; Romans 8:4; Luke 1:6, not so much of the judge as of the legislator. The word and its cognates used... [ Continue Reading ]