CHAPTER II. _The apostle shows that the Jew, who condemns the Gentiles, and_ _considers them utterly unworthy of the blessings of the Gospel,_ _is inexcusable, because he is guilty of the same crimes; and_ _therefore shalt not escape the righteous judgment of God_, 1-3. _It is an awful thing to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:2. _WE ARE SURE THAT THE JUDGMENT OF GOD_, c.] God is impartial, and will punish sin wheresoever he finds it. _Transgression_ in a _Jew_ is not less criminal than _iniquity_ in a _Gentile_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:4. _OR DESPISEST THOU THE RICHES OF HIS GOODNESS_] Wilt thou render of none effect that marked benevolence of God towards thee which has given so many superior advantages, and that _forbearance_ which has tolerated thy many miscarriages, and that _long-suffering_ which, after repeated... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:5. _BUT AFTER THY HARDNESS_] Occasioned by thy long course of iniquity. _And impenitent heart_ - produced by thy hardness, through which thou art callous to the calls and expostulations of conscience. _Treasurest up_ - continuest to _increase thy debt_ to the Divine justice, which wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:6. _WHO WILL RENDER_] Who, in the day of judgment, will reward and punish every man according as his life and conversation have been.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:7. _TO THEM_, c.] In this manner will God, in the great day, dispense punishments and rewards: 1. He will give eternal life to them who, in all the _trials_ and _difficulties_ of the present state, have _persevered_ in _well doing_-seeking for and expecting _glory, honour_, and _immo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:8. _BUT UNTO THEM_, c.] 2. He will manifest his _indignation_, and inflict _wrath_ - punishment, on all who are _contentious_ - who obstinately dispute against the truth, and _obey_ _unrighteousness_ - who act under the influence of the principle of sin, and not under the influence o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:9. _TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH_] Misery of all descriptions, without the possibility of escape, will this righteous Judge inflict upon every impenitent sinner. The _Jew first_, as possessing greater privileges, and having abused greater mercies; and also on the _Gentile_, who, though he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:10. _BUT GLORY, HONOUR, AND PEACE_] While the finally impenitent Jew and Gentile shall experience the fullest effects of the righteous indignation of the supreme Judge, even man that _worketh good_-that lives in a conscientious obedience to the _known_ _will of God_, whether he be _Je... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:11. _FOR THERE IS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD._] The righteous Judge will not act according to any principle of _partiality_; the _character_ and _conduct_, alone of the persons shall weigh with him. He will take no wicked man to glory, let his nation or advantages be what they ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:12. _FOR AS MANY AS HAVE SINNED WITHOUT LAW_, c.] They, viz. the _Gentiles_, who shall be found to have transgressed against the mere _light of nature_, or rather, _that true light that lighteth_ _every man that cometh into the world_, John 1:9, shall not come under the same rule with... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:13. _FOR NOT THE HEARERS OF THE LAW_, c.] It does not follow, because one people are favoured with a Divine revelation, that therefore _they_ shall be _saved_ while the others who have not had that revelation, shall finally perish: this is not God's procedure; where he has given a _la... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:14. _FOR WHEN THE GENTILES, WHICH HAVE NOT THE LAW_, c.] Nor does it follow that the Gentiles who have not had a Divine revelation, shall either perish, because they had it not or their unrighteous conduct pass _unpunished_, because not having this revelation might be considered as an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:15. _WHICH SHOW THE WORK OF THE LAW_] In acting according to justice, mercy, temperance, and truth, they show that the great object of the law, which was to bring men from injustice, cruelty, intemperance, and falsity, is accomplished so far in them: their conscience also bearing wit... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:16. _IN THE DAY WHEN GOD SHALL JUDGE_] And all this shall be farther exemplified and proved in the day when God shall judge the _secrets of men by Jesus Christ_; which judgment shall be according _to my Gospel_-according to what I am now laying down before you, relative to the _impart... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _BEHOLD, THOU ART CALLED A JEW_] What the apostle had said in the preceding verses being sufficient to enforce conviction on the conscience of the Jew, he now throws off the cover, and openly argues with him in the most plain and nervous manner; asserting that his superior knowledge, privi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _KNOWEST HIS WILL_] Hast been favoured with a revelation of his own will, immediately from himself. _THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE EXCELLENT_] τα δισφεροντα, _The things_ _that differ_-that revelation which God has given of himself makes the nicest _distinctions_ between _right_ and _wrong_; b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _AND ART CONFIDENT_, c.] In consequence of all these religious advantages, ye believe that ye are able to teach others, and to be _guides_ and _lights_ to the _bewildered, darkened Gentiles,_ who may become proselytes to your religion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _AN INSTRUCTER OF THE FOOLISH_, c.] Ye believe the Gentiles to be _babes_ and _fools_ when compared with yourselves that ye alone possess the only _true knowledge_; that ye are the only _favourites_ of Heaven; and that all nations must look up to you as possessing the only _form of knowled... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _THOU THEREFORE_] Dr. Taylor has paraphrased this and the three following verses thus: "What signify your pretensions to knowledge, and the office of teaching others, if you have no regard to your own doctrine? What are you the better for preaching against _theft_, if you are a _thief_ yo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _FOR THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED_, .] In _Debarim_ _rabba_, sect. 2, fol. 251, it is said:-"The rulers destroy the influence of their own words among the people and this is done when a rabbin, sitting and teaching in the academy, says, Do not take usury, and himself takes it; do not comm... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _FOR CIRCUMCISION VERILY PROFITETH_] It is a blessing to belong to the Church of God and wear the sign of the covenant, provided the terms of the covenant are complied with. _BUT IF THOU BE A BREAKER OF THE LAW_] If thou do not observe the conditions of the covenant, the outward sign is b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _THEREFORE IF THE UNCIRCUMCISION_, c.] If the _Gentile_ be found to act according to the _spirit_ and _design_ of the _law_, his acting thus uprightly, according to the light which God has afforded him, will be reckoned to him as if he were circumcised and walked agreeably to the law.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _AND SHALL NOT UNCIRCUMCISION, WHICH IS BY NATURE_] And shall not the Gentile, who is εκ φυσεως, according to the _custom of his country_ - who is, _by birth_, not obliged to be circumcised. _IF IT FULFIL THE LAW_] If such a person act according to the spirit and design of the law; _judge... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _FOR HE IS NOT A JEW_] A genuine _member of the Church_ of God, who has only an _outward_ profession. _NEITHER_ IS THAT _CIRCUMCISION_] Circumcision is a rite which represents a _spiritual_ thing, viz. the change and purification of the heart, as may be seen, Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 4:6, J... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Romans 2:29. _BUT HE IS A JEW_] A true member of the Church of God. _WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY_] Who has his heart purified, according to what God has uniformly prescribed by his prophets; see above: for _circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit_, εν πνευματι _by_ _the Spirit_ of God, who is t... [ Continue Reading ]