INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 12 The doctrines concerning predestination, justification, c. being established, the duties of religion are built upon them, and enforced by them in this and the following Chapter s. The apostle first exhorts all the members of the church in common to a regard to the worship... [ Continue Reading ]
I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD,.... The apostle having finished the doctrinal part of this epistle, proceeds to that which is more practical; and enforces the several duties of religion, upon the principles he had before laid down, a method generally observed by him in all... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD,.... By this world is meant, either the Mosaic dispensation, and Jewish church state, so called in opposition to עולם הבא, "the world to come", the Gospel dispensation; in which there were a worldly sanctuary, and the rites and ceremonies of which are styled the ru... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN UNTO ME,.... The Ethiopic version reads, the grace of God: and so two of Stephens's copies. By which the apostle intends, not that internal grace which was wrought in his soul; nor the Gospel of the grace of God, which he preached; nor the gifts of grace, which qua... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS IN ONE BODY,.... The apostle illustrates what he said last concerning God's dealing to every man the measure of faith, by comparing the church of Christ to an human body, which is but one, and has many members in union with it, and one another; and which are placed in an... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE BEING MANY ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST,.... This is the application of the above simile. The chosen of God, the redeemed of Christ, and those that are justified by his righteousness, and sanctified by his Spirit; though they are but few in comparison of the men of the world, but considered in thems... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING THEN GIFTS, DIFFERING,.... As in a natural body, the various members of it have not the same office, and do not perform the same actions, thus they have not the same, but different faculties; one has one faculty, another another; the eye has the faculty of seeing, the ear of hearing, c. thus... [ Continue Reading ]
OR MINISTRY, [LET US WAIT] ON OUR MINISTRY,.... The word διακονια sometimes signifies the whole ecclesiastical ministry, even the office of apostleship, as well as the ordinary ministration of the Gospel; see Acts 1:17; but here "deaconship", or the office of ministering to the poor saints, as in A... [ Continue Reading ]
OR HE THAT EXHORTETH, ON EXHORTATION,.... This is the other branch of prophesying or preaching, and which is more practical, and lies in giving a word of exhortation to the saints, as their particular cases call for; for as prophets were teachers, Acts 13:1; so also exhorters, Acts 15:32; and one co... [ Continue Reading ]
LET LOVE BE WITHOUT DISSIMULATION,.... The apostle having given out suitable exhortations to the officers of this church, ministers and deacons, proceeds to stir up to the exercise of grace, and the discharge of such duties as were common to all the members of the church; and begins with "love", whi... [ Continue Reading ]
BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE,.... This is one branch of that love, before advised to, which should be unfeigned, and without guile and deceit. The objects of this grace are "brethren", not in such sense as all the descendants of Adam are, or men of the same country be, or... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SLOTHFUL IN BUSINESS,.... Meaning not worldly business, or the affairs of life; though slothfulness in this respect is scandalous to human nature, and especially in persons under a profession of religion; men should diligently pursue their lawful callings for the support of themselves and famili... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICING IN HOPE,.... Of the glory of God, than the hope of which nothing can make a believer more cheerful in this world; the saints' joy is therefore called the "rejoicing of the hope", Hebrews 3:6. This is placed between serving the Lord, and being patient in tribulation; for nothing tends more... [ Continue Reading ]
DISTRIBUTING TO THE NECESSITY OF SAINTS,.... Or "communicating", as many versions render the word; "distributing" more properly belongs to the officers of the church, the deacons, and communicating to the members of it in common. All men in general are to be relieved that are in want, even our very... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THEM WHICH PERSECUTE YOU,.... It is the lot of God's, people in this world to be persecuted by the men of it, in some shape or another, either by words or deeds; either by reviling and reproaching them, and speaking all manner of evil of them; or by hindering them the free exercise of religiou... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE WITH THEM THAT DO REJOICE,.... Not in anything sinful and criminal, in a thing of nought, in men's own boastings; all such rejoicing is evil, and not to be joined in; but in things good and laudable, as in outward prosperity; and to rejoice with such, is a very difficult task; for unless per... [ Continue Reading ]
BE OF THE SAME MIND ONE TOWARDS ANOTHER,.... Which is not to be understood of the sameness of their judgment, or of their agreement in sentiments, espousing the same doctrines, observing the same ordinances, and in the same manner, and attending to the same form of discipline; but of their having th... [ Continue Reading ]
RECOMPENCE TO NO MAN EVIL FOR EVIL,.... Neither evil words for evil words, railing for railing; nor evil deeds for evil deeds, one ill turn for another; nor the evil of punishment for the evil of fault, unless it be by persons, who under God have an authority to inflict it; as the civil magistrate,... [ Continue Reading ]
IF IT BE POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS LIETH IN YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY,.... Or be at peace, seek after peace, pursue it, and cultivate it: WITH ALL MEN; with those that we are immediately concerned with, in a natural relation; so husbands should live peaceably with their wives, and wives with their husbands; p... [ Continue Reading ]
DEARLY BELOVED,.... This affectionate appellation the apostle makes use of, expressing his great love to them, the rather to work upon then, and move them to an attention to what he is about to say; which they might assure themselves was in great tenderness to them, for their good, as well as the gl... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER, FEED HIM,.... These words are taken from Proverbs 25:21, and to be understood, as a Jewish o writer observes, כמשמעו, according to "their literal sense"; though some of the Rabbins explain them in an allegorical way, of the corruption of nature. The Alexandrian copy... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT OVERCOME OF EVIL,.... Neither of the evil one, Satan, who is very busy to stir up the corruption of nature to an hatred of enemies, and to seek revenge; but give no place nor heed unto him, resist him, and he will flee from you, James 4:7; "put on the whole armour of God", Ephesians 6:11, whe... [ Continue Reading ]