THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL AND THE NEED OF THE WORLD. THE GUILT OF THE HEATHEN In his salutation the apostle emphasises his commission, and the greatness of the Person whose servant he is and who is the centre of his message (Romans 1:1). After expressing his desire to visit the Romans (Romans 1:8), h... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANT] A title used in the OT. of those devoted to a special work for God: cp. Joshua 24:29; Psalms 36 (title) Jeremiah 7:25; Daniel 9:11; Zechariah 3:8. St. Paul claims a similar place in the New Covenant. SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST] cp. OT. expression 'servant of God'; one of many undesigned testim... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID] Thus fulfilling prophecies, as Isaiah 11:1, and the expectation of the Jews (cp. Mark 12:35; John 7:42) that the Messiah would be descended from David: cp. Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
DECLARED] cp. Acts 13:33. SON OF GOD] For St. Paul's teaching on the person of Christ cp. Acts 8:3; Acts 8:32; Acts 9:5; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6; Colossians 1:15.; Colossians 2:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE] In Acts and Epistles this word usually means the unmerited favour of God, shown (1) in forgiveness and salvation, cp. Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7 as opposed to debt, cp. Romans 4:4, to works, cp. Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8., and to law, cp. Galatians 2:21; (2) in the call of the Gentiles, cp.... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED _TO BE_ SAINTS] lit. 'summoned saints.' 'Saint' means 'consecrated to God': cp. Exodus 22:31. In this sense all Christians are saints: cp. 1 Peter 2:9. 8-15. The Apostle greatly desires to visit Rome. PARAPHRASE. '(8) I thank God that your faith is so well known. (9) I constantly pray about... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVE] The Gk. word is used of the worship of God by people or priest. St. Paul's work of preaching the gospel was a priestly service, in which he offered the Gentiles as a sacrifice to God: cp. Romans 15:16. WITH] RV 'in.'... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE A PROSPEROUS JOURNEY] RV 'be prospered.' He knew his journey to Jerusalem would be dangerous, cp. Romans 15:30, but did not foresee that he would visit Rome as a prisoner: cp. Acts 27:24;... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIRITUAL GIFT] The term is sometimes used of the special endowments which accompanied the reception of the Holy Spirit: cp. 1 Corinthians 12-14. The meaning here is that St. Paul hopes the Romans may increase in faith and love through his teaching and influence. ESTABLISHED] i.e. strengthened in fa... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle will not assume superiority.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET] RV 'hindered,' i.e. by more pressing calls: cp. Romans 15:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
GREEKS] The Roman Christians were Greek-speaking for 250 years. To the Greek and Roman, all the rest of the world was BARBARIAN. 15. In me] Emphasis on 'me'; God might will otherwise. St. Paul was going to Jerusalem, and felt that his life would be in danger: cp. Romans 15:25.; Acts 20:22. 16, 17.... [ Continue Reading ]
ASHAMED] cp. 1 Corinthians 1:23. SALVATION] i.e. deliverance from dangers or enemies. So it signified the deliverance which the Messiah would bring: cp. Luke 1:69. Here it is such as belongs to a spiritual kingdom; and is from 'sin,' cp. Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:77 from 'wrath,' cp. Romans 5:9 from 'the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD] RV 'a righteousness of God.' A state of righteousness, or acceptance with God, to which man could not attain by his own efforts, but which God bestows upon him of His free grace. FROM FAITH TO FAITH] RV 'by faith unto faith,' i.e. given, on condition of faith, to those who... [ Continue Reading ]
WRATH] i.e. the steadfast indignation of God against sin. God 'would not love good, unless He hated evil, the two being inseparable '(Trench). REVEALED] by the state to which sin had brought the Gentile world, and by God's revelation of a coming day of wrath: cp. Romans 2:5. HOLD] RV 'hold down,' i.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWN.. IN THEM] i.e. nature teaches a knowledge of God, and man has the faculty of receiving the teaching.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM] RV 'since.' BY] RV 'through.' GODHEAD] RV 'divinity.'... [ Continue Reading ]
VAIN] i.e. foolish, empty. IMAGINATIONS] RV 'reasonings,' i.e. about God.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHANGED] i.e. exchanged. GLORY] i.e. the manifested power and goodness of God. INTO] RV 'for.' MAN] as in Greece and Rome, where even immorality was ascribed to the gods. BIRDS, etc.] as in Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE THEM UP] Those who forsake God, forsake Him who restrains evil and inspires good. Further, one sin leads to another, by natural consequence which is God's law: cp. Psalms 81:12; Acts 7:42. So the idolatry of success, money, pleasure, and luxury, often leads to gambling, dishonesty, and vice.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO] RV 'for that they.' CHANGED] RV 'exchanged.' TRUTH OF GOD] i.e. the true idea of God. INTO A LIE] RV 'for a lie,' i.e. for an idol, a false conception of God. MORE] RV 'rather.'... [ Continue Reading ]
AFFECTIONS] RV 'passions.'... [ Continue Reading ]
CONVENIENT] RV 'fitting.'... [ Continue Reading ]
DEBATE] RV 'strife.' WHISPERERS] I.E. secret slanderers.... [ Continue Reading ]
DESPITEFUL] RV 'insolent.' PROUD] RV 'haughty.'... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING] i.e. by conscience. JUDGMENT] RV 'ordinance.' HAVE PLEASURE IN] RV 'consent with.' A sign of 'complete victory over conscience, and complete callousness to the moral ruin of others' (Moule).... [ Continue Reading ]