VIII. The Apostle has now again reached a climax in his argument similar to that in the opening of Romans 5. His subject is once more the blissful condition of the Christian who has made full use of the means of grace offered to him. This is now worked out at length and in detail. The eighth chapter... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE. — The Apostle had already, at the end of the last chapter, “touched the confines” of that state of deliverance and of liberty which he is now going on to describe. The opening of this chapter is, therefore, connected in form with the close of the last. The intervention of Christ puts an e... [ Continue Reading ]
(1-11) A result is thus attained which the law of Moses could not accomplish, but which is accomplished in the gospel. The Christian is entirely freed from the law of sin and death, and from the condemnation that it entails. But he is so upon the condition that this freedom is for him a reality — th... [ Continue Reading ]
A statement of the great antithesis, of which the rest of the section is a development, between the law of the Spirit of life and the law of sin and of death. THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE. — A phrase defining more fully the mode in which the union with Christ becomes operative in the believer. It... [ Continue Reading ]
How was I freed? Thus. Precisely on that very point where the law of Moses showed its impotence — viz., in the attempt to get rid of sin, which it failed to do because of the counteracting influence of the flesh — precisely on this very point God interposed by sending His Son in a body of flesh simi... [ Continue Reading ]
The consequence of this was a great change. Hitherto the Law could not be kept because of the antagonistic influence of the flesh; henceforth it may be kept for the reason that this influence has ceased and that its place is taken by the influence of the Spirit. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS. — The just requir... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT ARE ... — Those who not only walk (direct their conduct) according to the promptings of the flesh, but who are in themselves and in the whole bent of their dispositions the slaves of these promptings. DO MIND THE THINGS OF THE FLESH. — Their whole mental and moral activity is set upon not... [ Continue Reading ]
(5-8) Further description of the antithesis between flesh and spirit in regard to (1) their object, Romans 8:5; (2) their nature, Romans 8:7; (3) their end, Romans 8:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Translate, _For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace._ To think of nothing but the gratification of the senses, is in itself death — that dead condition of the soul which issues in eternal death; and, on the other hand, to have the thoughts and affections gove... [ Continue Reading ]
The carnal mind is death — because it implies enmity with God, and enmity with God _is_ death.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN ... — Rather, _and._ Neither can it be expected that those who are absorbed in the things of sense should be able to please God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Such is not your case — if at least the Spirit of God and of Christ dwells in you, as it should in every Christian. THE SPIRIT OF GOD ... THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. — It is to be observed that these two terms are used as convertible. The Spirit of Christ is indeed the presence of Christ Himself in the s... [ Continue Reading ]
The results of the presence of Christ in the soul. THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN. — Here the word is evidently used of physical death. The doom entailed by sin still, indeed, attaches to the body — but only to the body. The body, indeed, must die, but there the hold of sin upon the Christian ends... [ Continue Reading ]
And this vitality extends beyond the grave. It will even react upon that material body which had just been spoken of as given over to death. Die it must; but the same Spirit to which the soul owes its life will also reinfuse life into the dead body, just as the body of Christ of Himself was raised f... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE DEBTORS. — _We are under an obligation._ Observe that in the lively sequence of thought the second clause of the antithesis is suppressed, “We are under an obligation, not to the flesh (but to the Spirit).”... [ Continue Reading ]
(12-17) These verses form a hortatory application of the foregoing, with further development of the idea to live after and in the Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE THROUGH THE SPIRIT ... — If under the influence of the Spirit you reduce to a condition of deadness and atrophy all those practices to which the impulses of your material nature would prompt you.... [ Continue Reading ]
(14-17) This life in the Spirit implies a special relation to God — that of sons. I say of sons; for when you first received the Holy Ghost it was no spirit of bondage and reign of terror to which you were admitted, but rather the closest filial relation to God. This filial relation is attested by t... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIRIT OF BONDAGE. — The Greek corresponds very nearly to what we should naturally understand by the English phrase, “such a spirit as would be found in slaves.” The word “spirit” varies much in meaning in these verses. Here it is the “dominant habit or frame of mind;” in the next verse it is used b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT ITSELF BEARETH WITNESS. — What is the nature of this concurrent testimony? It would seem to be something of this kind. The self-consciousness of the believer assures him of his sonship. The relation in which he feels that he stands to God he knows to be that of a son. But, besides this he... [ Continue Reading ]
One characteristic of the son is that he is his father’s heir. So it is with the Christian. He, too, has an inheritance — an inheritance of glory which he will share with Christ. But he must not be surprised if, before sharing the glory, he also shares the sufferings. SUFFER WITH HIM. — All who suf... [ Continue Reading ]
(18-25) The mention of “suffering” and of “glory” recalls the Apostle to a sense of his own position — what he had to go through, and what was the hope that he had to animate and encourage him. A vivid impression of the stormy life of the Apostle at this period is given by Acts 19:23; 2 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
REVEALED IN US. — _Upon us_ — _i.e.,_ reaching to us, and illumining and transfiguring us. The Coming of Christ is always thus conceived of as a visible manifestation of glory in those who take part in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor is ours a merely isolated hope; we have our place — “Mid onward sloping motions infinite, Making for one sure goal.” The whole creation is looking earnestly and intently for the same manifestation of glory as ourselves. EARNEST EXPECTATION — A single word in the Greek, and a very striking one... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE CREATURE. — The Apostle gives the reason for this earnest expectation in the present state of nature; pointing out what creation _is._ If creation were perfect, and were fulfilling the noblest possible purpose, there would be no cause for looking forward hopefully to the future. WAS MADE SU... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE CREATURE. — The reason for the hope which survives through the degradation of nature; what creation _is to be._ BECAUSE. — Perhaps rather “that,” to be joined on to the end of the last verse, “in hope that creation, also,” &c. So Meyer and Ellicott. DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUP... [ Continue Reading ]
GROANETH AND TRAVAILETH. — In view of the physical evil and misery prevalent in the world, the Apostle attributes a human consciousness of pain to the rest of creation. It groans and travails _together, i.e.,_ every member of it in common with its kind. The idea of travailing, as in childbirth, has... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor is it only the rest of creation that groans. We Christians, too, though we possess the firstfruits of the Spirit, nevertheless inwardly groan, sighing for the time when our adoption as the sons of God will be complete, and even our mortal bodies will be transfigured. WHICH HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS... [ Continue Reading ]
Why do I say that we “wait for the adoption?” Because hope in the future is of the very essence of the Christian’s life. It was by hope that he was saved. Hope, at the time when he first believed, made him realise his salvation, though it is still in the future. This is, indeed, implied in the very... [ Continue Reading ]
If salvation were something that could be seen, something that could be grasped by sight, then there would be no room for hope. As it is we do _not_ see it; we _do_ hope for it; and, therefore, we patiently endure the sufferings that lie upon the road to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE. — While on the one hand the prospect of salvation sustains him, so on the other hand the Divine Spirit interposes to aid him. The one source of encouragement is human (his own human consciousness of the certainty of salvation), the other is divine. INFIRMITIES. — The correct reading is th... [ Continue Reading ]
A second reason for the patience of the Christian under suffering. The Spirit helps his weakness and joins in his prayers.... [ Continue Reading ]
God recognises the voice of His own Spirit, because the prayers that the Spirit prompts are in strict accordance with His will. WHAT IS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT. — What are the thoughts of the Spirit, and therefore what is the echo of those thoughts in the prayers that are offered to Him.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS. — Persecution and suffering included. WORK TOGETHER. — Contribute. There is a rather remarkable reading here, found in the Vatican and Alexandrian MSS., and in Origen, inserting “God” as the subject of the verb, and making “all things” the object. “God works all things with,” or “co-op... [ Continue Reading ]
(28-30) These verses contain a third reason for the patience of the Christian. He knows that whatever happens, all things are really working together for good to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW, HE ALSO DID PREDESTINATE. — The process already summed up under these two phrases is now resolved more fully and exactly into its parts, with the inference suggested that to those who are under the divine guidance at every step in their career nothing can act but for good.... [ Continue Reading ]
PREDESTINATE. — This is the term which seems most to interfere with human free-will. Foreknowledge does not interfere with free-will, because the foreknowledge, though prior in point of time, is posterior in the order of causation to the act of choice. A man does not choose a certain action because... [ Continue Reading ]
(31-39) Now follows the sublime and triumphant conclusion from the foregoing — expressed with passionate energy and with the most intense consciousness of the reality of a Christian belief in penetrating and sustaining the mind in all outward trials, however severe. Erasmus remarks on this, that “Ci... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL LAY ANY THING ...? — The punctuation and arrangement of these clauses are somewhat difficult. It seems best on the whole to connect together the two clauses at the end of Romans 8:33, and beginning of Romans 8:34. The whole passage to the end of the chapter will then form a continuous proo... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS CHRIST ... — The remainder of this verse is to be closely connected with the opening of the next. “He that died, rose, &c., is Christ: who then shall separate us from His love?” The two questions, “Who is he that condemneth?” and “Who shall separate us?” are really parts of the reply to the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LOVE OF CHRIST. — That is to say, the love which Christ has for us, not that which we have for Christ. SHALL TRIBULATION? — Comp. 2 Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 11:23. The Apostle is speaking from his own actual experience.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED. — The quotation is taken from Psalms 44:22, which was apparently written at some period of great national distress, at what precise period the _data_ do not enable us to say, but probably not earlier than Josiah. The sufferings of God’s people at all times are typical of... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY. — _Yet,_ or _But._ So far from being vanquished, we are conquerors: when we are weak then are we strong.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE ... — The enumeration that follows is intended to include (poetically rather than logically) every possible category of being, especially those unseen powers of evil against which the warfare of the Christian was more particularly directed. NOR PRINCIPALITIES. — Comp. Ephesi... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH. — No remoteness in space. (Comp. Psalms 139:8 _et seq._ “If I ascend up into heaven,” &c.) ANY OTHER CREATURE. — Any other created thing. THE LOVE OF GOD. — It is to be observed that for the shorter phrase, “the love of Christ,” the Apostle now substitutes the fuller but, as... [ Continue Reading ]