IV. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THIS SALVATION, AND THE HISTORICAL ORDER OF ITS APPLICATION. The gospel is God's power unto salvation, to the _Jew first_, and also to the _Gentile_ (chap. Romans 1:16): The unbelief of the Jews seemed to invalidate the Apostle's statement respecting the universality of this... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:1. BRETHREN. This term of affection, though not addressed to Jewish readers, was probably suggested by Paul's feeling toward them; his severity was consistent with love; comp. Romans 9:1, etc., 1 Corinthians 9:20; Galatians 3:15. THE DESIRE, lit., ‘good pleasure,' not, ‘good will;' the la... [ Continue Reading ]
II. _Proof that the Jews were Excluded through their Unbelief._ The section may be divided into four paragraphs: The Jews with all their religious zeal failed to recognize (1.) Christ as the end of the law (Romans 10:1-4); (2.) the _gratuitous_ character of salvation (Romans 10:5-11); (3.) the _uni... [ Continue Reading ]
2. MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY: THE JEWS EXCLUDED THROUGH THEIR OWN UNBELIEF. For convenience we may divide this passage into two sections: (I.) Chap. Romans 9:30-33 sets forth the fact that the Jews had not attained to righteousness because they rejected God's way of obtaining it, namely, by faith. The r... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:2. FOR I BEAR THEM WITNESS. The reason for his desire and prayer is the fact to which he now bears his testimony. THEY HAVE A SEAL FOR GOD, _i.e.,_ of which God is the object, not great zeal, or, godly zeal. Their zeal was religious, conscientious, but misdirected. BUT NOT ACCORDING TO... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:3. FOR THEY. In Romans 10:3-4, we have the proof from fact, that their religious zeal was ‘not according to knowledge.' The thought, however, in contrast with Romans 10:1, as already indicated. NOT KNOWING, or, more exactly, ‘being ignorant of' (as in E. V.), but ‘not knowing' preserves... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:4. FOR CHRIST IS THE AND OF THE LAW. The emphatic word is ‘end'; its meaning, however, is open to discussion. Explanations: (1.) Christ is the _object,_ or _aim,_ of the law. This may be expanded in two ways: _(a.)_ The end of the law was to make men righteous, and this end was accomp lish... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:5. FOR. Here the Apostle enters upon a proof from the Old Testament, of his position that the one way of salvation is by faith (Romans 10:5-11). He cites the law against the law as a way of obtaining righteousness. Other citations follow, in support of similar positions. But this verse, in... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:6. BUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH. (‘Which is' may be omitted; the form in the similar expression of Romans 10:5 is fuller.) As already indicated, ‘but' introduces a contrast with the other ‘righteousness' of doing (Romans 10:5). The personification is quite natural. SAITH THUS; not, ‘sp... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:6-8. The language from ‘Say not in thy heart' (Romans 10:6) to ‘in thy heart' (Romans 10:8), is that of Moses in Deuteronomy 30:12-14, according to the LXX., with variations and interpolated explanations. The question then arises: How are we to understand Paul's use of the passage? The ans... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:7. WHO SHALL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS? LXX. ‘Who shall pass through into beyond the sea?' The descent of Christ to the realm of the dead ‘is in any case the _undoubted presupposition,_ which led Paul to substitute the words of our passage for those of the original' (Meyer). The next clause c... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:8. BUT WHAT SAITH IT. This is inserted to introduce the positive statement of Moses; but ‘it' here refers to ‘the righteousness of faith' (Romans 10:6). THE WORD IS NIGH THEE, etc. (comp. the LXX. as given above). IN THY MOUTH, AND IN THY HEART. These terms explain how the word is nigh... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:9. BECAUSE. The word may mean ‘that' (as in E V.), indicating the purport of the word preached, but ‘because' is preferable here. We have then a proof that ‘the word is nigh.' IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MONTH. This is placed first, to correspond with ‘in thy mouth' (Romans 10:8); aft... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:10. FOR WITH THE HEART, etc. This is an explanation of Romans 10:9. ‘The idea of _salvation_ is analyzed; it comprises two facts: being _justified_ and being _saved_ (in the full sense of the word). The first fact is specially connected with the act of _faith,_ the second with that of _con... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:11. FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH. Isaiah 28:16, already cited in chap. Romans 9:33. After the extended proof that ‘Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth,' the passage is introduced again to confirm that statement. Strictly speaking ‘for' furnishes a proof o... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:12. FOR THERE IS NO DISTINCTION (comp. chap. Romans 3:22) BETWEEN JEW AND GREEK, _i.e.,_ Gentile (comp. chap. Romans 1:18 and elsewhere). Proof of the universal ‘whosoever' (Romans 10:11). FOR ONE AND THE SAME IS LORD OF ALL; lit., ‘the same _is_ Lord of all.' Other constructions have bee... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:12-18. We mark these verses as a separate paragraph. In the previous verses the method of faith is shown to have been God's way of salvation in all ages; here it is declared to be His way for all people. It is _gratuitous_, hence _universal._ This way is _open_ to all (Romans 10:12-13) and... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:13. FOR EVERY ONE WHO. We thus indicate the full form of the Greek (differing from that of Romans 10:11). The citation is from Joel 2:32 _;_ comp. Acts 2:21, where the LXX. is even more closely followed. ‘For' is inserted, since the citation is introduced here as a proof of Romans 10:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:14. HOW THEY SHALL CALL, etc. In the case of the four verbs: ‘shall call,' ‘shall believe,' ‘shall hear,' ‘shall preach,' the subjunctive (deliberative) form is better supported. ‘They' throughout is indefinite. ‘Can' might be substituted for ‘shall,' but is perhaps too strong. The Apostle... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:15. EXCEPT THEY BE SENT. Sent by Christ is implied, but the main thought is, sent, ‘through the word of God' (Romans 10:17). Commissioned through the message they proclaim, as this citation from Isaiah indicates. AS IT IS WRITTEN (Isaiah 52:7), HOW BEAUTIFUL, etc. The four oldest manuscri... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:16. But, on the contrary, contrasting the preaching to all with the limited result, they, indefinitely used, though the application to the Jews is implied, DID NOT ALL HEARKEN TO THE GLAD TIDINGS. All who heard did not ‘hearken.' There is a verbal correspondence in the Greek also. Faith wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:17. SO THEN FAITH COMETH OF HEARING, _i.e.,_ from the announcement which is heard. ‘The heard preaching of the gospel brings about in men's minds faith in Christ' (Meyer). AND HEARING THROUGH THE WORD OF CHRIST. The weight of authority favors the substitution of ‘Christ' for ‘God.' ‘Word... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:18. BUT I SAY. The strongly adversative ‘but' introduces the answer to a possible objection, in excuse of the unbelief spoken of in Romans 10:16. DID THEY NOT HEAR? ‘They,' _i.e.,_ those who did not hearken; the Jews are meant, but not yet directly spoken of. The question in the Greek po... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:19. BUT I SAY; as in Romans 10:18, introducing a similar question, and another supposed excuse. DID ISRAEL NOT KNOW? This is the direct application to the Jews, who have been in mind throughout. The anticipated answer (as the original indicates) is a denial of the not-knowing, _i.e._, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:20. BUT (introducing another prophet) ISAIAH IS VERY BOLD AND SAITH. ‘But Isaiah even ventures to say' (Lange), or, he is emboldened, and hence he says. I WAS FOUND OF THEM, etc. Isaiah 65:1 is here cited, with transposed clauses; otherwise quite closely after the LXX., which changes ‘I w... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:21. BUT WITH RESPECT TO ISRAEL; not ‘to,' nor yet, ‘against' The contrast is between ‘Israel' and the Gentiles referred to in the prophecy (Romans 10:20). HE, _i.e._, Isaiah, speaking for God, as in the previous verse, SAITH (Isaiah 65:2). ALL DAY LONG I SPREAD OUT, etc. The order of t... [ Continue Reading ]