_THE SCRIPTURE SHEWETH THE DIFFERENCE BETWIXT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW, AND THAT OF FAITH: THAT NONE, WHETHER JEW OR GENTILE, WHO BELIEVE, SHALL BE CONFOUNDED; AND THAT THE GENTILES SHALL RECEIVE THE WORD, AND BELIEVE. ISRAEL WAS NOT IGNORANT OF THESE THINGS._ _Anno Domini 58._ IN what follow... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY HAVE A ZEAL OF GOD— See this _zeal_ of theirs for _God_ described, Acts 21:27; Acts 22:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS— That is, the method of salvation which is provided for mankind by the mercy and wisdom of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW, &C.— Here the Jew's argument is supposed. St. Paul, who was well acquainted with the notions of the Jews, and had often disputed with them, knowing well what the Jew would allege, for the sake of brevity puts in his answer, without formally stating the Jew's argument; a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD IS NIGH THEE— The original 'Ρημα, often signifies _word,_ but sometimes _affair, business;_ and so does דבר _deber_ in the Hebrew,—the word used by Moses, Deuteronomy 30:14. In this place the meaning seems to be, _the affair is nigh thee,_ (that is, is rendered easy and feasible,) _even in... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS, &C.— St. Paul had told them, Romans 10:4. (says Mr. Locke) that the end of the law was to bring them to life by faith in Christ, that they might be justified, and so be saved. To convince them of this, he brings three verses out of the book of the law itself, declaring th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH, &C.— In this and the two preceding verses, the Apostle intends to shew the nature and efficacy of the gospel faith and profession, in opposition to the mean opinion which the Jew might have of them, in comparison with the several branches of his dependence; and which, in his... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL, &C.— _Believing_ in Christ, or God, Romans 10:11 and _calling upon him,_ Romans 10:12 are in effect the same thing, as _calling upon God_ necessarilysupposes faith in him; and he who duly believes in Christ, has such a sense of his dependence upon divine grace, that he looks un... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW SHALL THEY PREACH, EXCEPT THEY BE SENT?— St. Paul is careful every where to preserve the esteem of his brethren the Jews. May not therefore this, with the two foregoing verses, be understood as an apology to them for professing himself an Apostle of the Gentiles, as he does by the tenor of this... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY HAVE NOT ALL OBEYED— This seems an objection of the Jews to what St. Paul had said, which he answers in this and the following verse. The objection and answer may stand thus: "You tell us, that you are sent from God to preach the Gospel. If it be so, how comes it that all who have heard, ha... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR SOUND WENT INTO ALL THE EARTH— As the passages in the Gospels and Epistles relating to the extensive spreading of religion during the dispensation or reign of the Messiah, have a reference to the ancient prophesies, this may be the full and proper import of them;—that, asthe Gospel is a scheme... [ Continue Reading ]
DID NOT ISRAEL KNOW?— In this and the next verses, St. Paul seems to introduce the Jews as arguing, that they did not deserve to be cast off, because they did not know that the Gentiles were to be admitted; and so might be excused if they did not embrace a religion wherein they were to mix with the... [ Continue Reading ]