I say then, (1) Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For (2) I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin. (1) Now the apostle shows how this doctrine is to be applied to others, remaining still in his propounded cause. Therefore he teaches us that all the Jews i... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) God hath not cast away his people which he (a) foreknew. (4) Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, (3) The second proof: because God is faithful in his league or covenant, even though men are unfaithful: so then, seeing that God... [ Continue Reading ]
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have (b) reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] (c) Baal. (b) He speaks of remnants and reserved people who were chosen from everlasting, and not of remnants that should be chosen afterwards: for they are not... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the (d) election of grace. (d) The election of grace is not that by which men chose grace, but by which God chose us of his grace and goodness.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) And if by grace, then [is it] (e) no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (5) Even though all are not elect and chosen, yet let those that are elected remember that they are freely chosen: and let tho... [ Continue Reading ]
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were (f) blinded (f) See (Mark 3:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of (g) slumber, eyes that they (h) should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. (6) And yet this hardness of heart does not come except by God's just decree and judgment, and yet without fault, when he so punishe... [ Continue Reading ]
And David saith, (i) Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: (i) As unhappy birds are enticed by that which is their sustenance, and then killed, and so did that thing turn to the Jew's destruction, out of which they sought life, that is, the l... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (7) God appointed this casting off of the Jews, that it might be an occasion to call the Gentiles: and again might turn this... [ Continue Reading ]
Now if the fall of them [be] the (k) riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their (l) fulness? (k) By "riches" he means the knowledge of the Gospel to everlasting life: and by the "world", all nations dispersed throughout the whole world. (l) Of... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, (m) I magnify mine office: (8) He witnesses by his own example, that he goes before all others in this regard. (m) I make noble and famous.... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], (n) but life from the dead? (n) It will come to pass that when the Jews come to the Gospel, the world will as it were come to life again, and rise up from death to life.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) For if the (o) firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root (p) [be] holy, so [are] the branches. (9) The nation of the Jews being considered in their head and root, that is, in Abraham, is holy, although many of the branches are cut off. Therefore in judging of our brethren... [ Continue Reading ]
(10) And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in (q) among them, and with them (r) partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (10) There is no reason why the Gentiles who have obtained mercy, should triumph over the Jews who condemn the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
(s) Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. (s) We may rejoice in the Lord, but in such a way that we do not despise the Jews, whom we ought rather to encourage to join in the good battle with us.... [ Continue Reading ]
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but (t) fear: (t) See that you stand in awe of God modestly, and carefully.... [ Continue Reading ]
For if God spared not the (u) natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee. (u) He calls them natural, not because they had any holiness by nature, but because they were born of those whom the Lord set apart for himself from other nations, by his league and covenant which he freely mad... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) Behold therefore the (x) goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] (y) goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (11) Seeing that the matter itself declares that election comes not by inheritance (although the fault i... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (12) Many are now for a season cut off, that is, are without the root, who in their time will be grafted in: and again there are a great number who after a certain manner, and with... [ Continue Reading ]
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by (z) nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a (a) good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree? (z) Understand nature, not as it was first made, but as it was co... [ Continue Reading ]
(13) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your (b) own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be (c) come in. (13) The blindness of the Jews is neither so universal that the Lord has no el... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) As concerning the (d) gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the (e) election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes. (14) Again, that he may join the Jews and Gentiles together as it were in one body, and especially may teach what duty the Gentiles owe to the Jews, he... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. (15) The reason or proof: because the covenant made with that nation of everlasting life cannot be frustrated or in vain.... [ Continue Reading ]
(16) For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: (16) Another reason: because even though they who are hardened are worthily punished, yet this stubbornness of the Jews has not so that there would be a hatred of that nation, but so that an entr... [ Continue Reading ]
For God hath concluded them (f) all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (f) Both Jews and Gentiles.... [ Continue Reading ]
(17) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his (g) judgments, and his (h) ways past finding out! (17) The apostle cries out as one astonished with this wonderful wisdom of God, which he teaches us to revere in a religious manner, and not curiously... [ Continue Reading ]
(18) For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (18) He bridles the wicked boldness of man in three ways: firstly, because God is above all most wise, and therefore it is very absurd and plainly godless to measure him by our folly. Secondly, because he is debtor to no... [ Continue Reading ]
Or who hath (i) first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (i) This saying overthrows the doctrine of foreseen works and merits.... [ Continue Reading ]
For of him, and through him, and to (k) him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen. (k) That is, for God, to whose glory all things are ascribed, not only things that were made, but especially his new works which he works in his elect.... [ Continue Reading ]