WHAT ADVANTAGE ... - The design of the first part of this chapter is to answer some of the objections which might be offered by a Jew to the statements in the last chapter. The first objection is stated in this verse. A Jew would naturally ask, if the view which the apostle had given were correct, w... [ Continue Reading ]
MUCH EVERY WAY - Or, in every respect. This is the answer of the apostle to the objection in Romans 3:1. CHIEFLY - That is, this is the principal advantage, and one including all others. The main benefit of being a Jew is, to possess the sacred Scriptures and their instructions. UNTO THEM WERE COM... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT IF SOME DID NOT BELIEVE? - This is to be regarded as another objection of a Jew. “What then? or what follows? if it be admitted that some of the nation did not believe, does it not follow that the faithfulness of God in his promises will fail?” The points of the objection are these: * The... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD FORBID - Greek. Let not this be. The sense is, “let not this by any means be supposed.” This is the answer of the apostle, showing that no such consequence followed from his doctrines; and that “if” any such consequence should follow, the doctrine should be at once abandoned, and that every man,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF OUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS - If our sin. The particular sin which had been specified Romans 3:3 was “unbelief.” But the apostle here gives the objection a general form. This is to be regarded as an objection which a Jew might make. The force of it is this: * It had been conceded that some had not... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD FORBID - Note, Romans 3:4. FOR THEN - If it be admitted that it would be unjust for God to inflict punishment. HOW SHALL GOD ... - How will it be right or consistent for him to judge the world. JUDGE - To “judge” implies the possibility and the correctness of “condemning” the guilty; for if it... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF ... - This is an objection similar to the former. It is indeed but another form of the same. THE TRUTH OF GOD - His truth or faithfulness in adhering to his threatenings. God threatened to punish the guilty. By their guilt he will take occasion to show his own truth; or their crime will furn... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT RATHER - This is the answer of the apostle. He meets the objection by showing its tendency if carried out, and if it were made a principle of conduct. The meaning is, “If the glory of God is to be promoted by sin, and if a man is not therefore to be condemned, or held guilty for it; if this... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN? - This is another remark supposed to be made by a Jewish objector. “What follows? or are we to infer that we are better than others? ARE WE BETTER THAN THEY? - Are we Jews better than the Gentiles? Or rather, have we any preference, or advantage as to character and prospects, over the Ge... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN - The apostle is reasoning with Jews; and he proceeds to show from their own Scriptures, that what he had affirmed was true. The point to be proved was, that the Jews, in the matter of justification, had no advantage or preference over the Gentiles; that the Jew had failed to keep t... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH - In the Hebrew Psalms 14:2, God is represented as looking down from heaven to see, that is, to make investigation, whether there were any that understood or sought after him. This circumstance gives not only high poetic beauty to the passage, but deep solemnity and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE ALL GONE OUT OF THE WAY - They have “declined” from the true path of piety and virtue. THEY ARE TOGETHER - They have at the same time; or they have equally become unprofitable. They are as one; they are joined, or united in this declension. The expression denotes union, or similarity. BE... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR THROAT ... - This expression is taken from Psalms 5:9, literally from the Septuagint. The design of the psalm is to reprove those who were false, traitorous, slanderous, etc. Psalms 5:6. The psalmist has the sin of deceit, and falsehood, and slander particularly in his eye. The expressions her... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE MOUTH - Psalms 10:7. The apostle has not quoted this literally, but has given the sense. David in the psalm is describing his bitter enemies. CURSING - Reproachful and opprobrious language, such as Shimei used in relation to David; 2 Samuel 16:5, 2 Samuel 16:7. BITTERNESS - In the psalm, dec... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR FEET ... - The quotation in this and the two following verses, is abridged or condensed from Isaiah 59:7. The expressions occur in the midst of a description of the character of the nation in the time of the prophet. The apostle has selected a few expressions out of many, rather making a refer... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTRUCTION - That is, they “cause” the destruction or the ruin of the reputation, happiness, and peace of others. MISERY - Calamity, ruin. IN THEIR WAYS - Wherever they go. This is a striking description not only of the wicked then, but of all times. The tendency of their conduct is to destroy th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WAY OF PEACE ... - What tends to promote their own happiness, or that of others, they do not regard. Intent on their plans of evil, they do not know or regard what is suited to promote the welfare of themselves or others. This is the case with all who are selfish, and who seek to gain their... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD - Psalms 36:1. The word “fear” here denotes “reverence, awe, veneration.” There is no such regard or reverence for the character, authority, and honor of God as to restrain them from crime. Their conduct shows that they are not withheld from the commission of iniquity by any... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WE KNOW - We all admit. It is a conceded plain point. WHAT THINGS SOEVER - Whether given as precepts, or recorded as historical facts. Whatever things are found in the Law. “The law saith.” This means here evidently the Old Testament. From that the apostle had been drawing his arguments, and hi... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW - By works; or by such deeds as the Law requires. The word “Law” has, in the Scriptures, a great variety of significations. Its strict and proper meaning is, a rule of conduct prescribed by superior authority. The course of reasoning in these chapters shows the sense in which... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW - The apostle, having shown the entire failure of all attempts to be justified by the “Law,” whether among Jews or Gentiles, proceeds to state fully the plan of justification by Jesus Christ in the gospel. To do this, was the main design of the Epistle, Romans 1:17. He makes, therefore, in t... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD - The apostle, having stated that the design of the gospel was to reveal a new plan of becoming just in the sight of God, proceeds here more fully to explain it. The explanation which he offers, makes it plain that the phrase so often used by him, “righteousness of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED - This was the point which he had fully established in the discussion in these chapters. HAVE COME SHORT - Greek, “Are deficient in regard to;” are lacking, etc. Here it means, that they had failed to obtain, or were destitute of. THE GLORY OF GOD - The praise or approbation of... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING JUSTIFIED - Being treated as if righteous; that is, being regarded and treated as if they had kept the Law. The apostle has shown that they could not be so regarded and treated by any merit of their own, or by personal obedience to the Law. He now affirms that if they were so treated, it must... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM GOD HATH SET FORTH - Margin, “Fore-ordained” (προέθετο proetheto). The word properly means, “to place in public view;” to exhibit in a conspicuous situation, as goods are exhibited or exposed for sale, or as premiums or rewards of victory were exhibited to public view in the games of the Greek... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THIS TIME - The time now since the Saviour has come, now is the time when he manifests it. THAT HE MIGHT BE JUST - This verse contains the substance of the gospel. The word “just” here does not mean benevolent, or merciful, though it may sometimes have that meaning; see the Matthew 1:19 note, als... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE IS BOASTING THEN? - Where is there ground or occasion of boasting or pride? Since all have sinned, and since all have failed of being able to justify themselves by obeying the Law, and since all are alike dependent on the mere mercy of God in Christ, all ground of boasting is of course taken a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE - As the result of the previous train of argument. THAT A MAN - That all who are justified; that is, that there is no other way. IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH - Is regarded and treated as righteous, by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW - Without works as a meritori... [ Continue Reading ]
IS HE THE GOD ... - The Jews supposed that he was the God of their nation only, that they only were to be admitted to his favor. In these verses Paul showed that as all had alike sinned, Jews and Gentiles; and as the plan of salvation by faith was adapted to sinners, without any special reference to... [ Continue Reading ]
DO WE THEN MAKE VOID THE LAW - Do we render it vain and useless; do we destroy its moral obligation; and do we prevent obedience to it, by the doctrine of justification by faith? This was an objection which would naturally be made; and which has thousands of times been since made, that the doctrine... [ Continue Reading ]