Romans 1:2

(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) WHICH HE HAD PROMISED AFORE BY HIS PROPHETS IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. Though the Roman church was Gentile by nation (see the note at ), yet, as most of them had been proselytes to the Jewish Faith, they are here reminded that in embracing the Gospel they had not cast off Moses and the prophets, but only yielded themselves the more intelligently and profoundly to the testimony of God in that earlier Revelation (Acts 13:32). () Christ-as THE SEED OF DAVID and THE SON OF GOD-the Grand Burden of the Gospel...

2._Which he had before promised_, _etc. _— As the suspicion of being new subtracts much from the authority of a doctrine, he confirms the faith of the gospel by antiquity; as though he said, “Christ came not on the earth unexpectedly, nor did he introduce a doctrine of a new kind and not heard of before, inasmuch as he, and his gospel too, had been promised and expected from the beginning of the world.” But as antiquity is often fabulous, he brings witnesses, and those approved, even the Prophets of God, that he might remove every suspicion. He in the third place adds, that their testimonies were duly recorded, that is, in the Holy Scriptures. We may learn from this passage what the gospel is: he teaches us, not that it was promulgated by the Prophets but only promised. If then the Prophets promised the gospel, it follows, that it was revealed, when our Lord was at length manifested in t...

1-7 The doctrine of which the apostle Paul wrote, set forth the fulfilment of the promises by the prophets. It spoke of the Son of God, even Jesus the Saviour, the promised Messiah, who came from David as to his human nature, but was also declared to be the Son of God, by the Divine power which raised him from the dead. The Christian profession does not consist in a notional knowledge or a bare assent, much less in perverse disputings, but in obedience. And all those, and those only, are brought to obedience of the faith, who are effectually called of Jesus Christ. Here is, 1. The privilege of Christians; they are beloved of God, and are members of that body which is beloved. 2. The duty of Christians; to be holy, hereunto are they called, called to be saints. These the apostle saluted, by wishing them grace to sanctify their souls, and peace to comfort their hearts, as springing from t...

Verse Romans 1:2. _WHICH HE HAD PROMISED AFORE_] Both in the _law_ and in the _prophets_ God showed his purpose to introduce into the world a more _perfect_ and _glorious_ state of things; which state was to take place by and under the influence of the Messiah, who should bring life and immortality to light by his Gospel....

WHICH HE HAD PROMISED AFORE - Which gospel, or which doctrines, he had before announced. BY THE PROPHETS - The word “prophets” here is used to include those who wrote as well as those who spake. It included the teachers of the ancient Jews generally. IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES - In the writings of the Old Testament. They were called holy because they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and were regarded as separated from all other writings, and worthy of all reverence. The apostle here declares that he was not about to advance anything new. His doctrines were in accordance with the acknowledged oracles of God. Though they might appear to be new, yet he regarded the gospel as entirely consistent with all that had been declared in the Jewish dispensation; and not only consistent, but as actually promised there. He affirms, therefore:...

EXPOSITION ROMANS 1:1 I. INTRODUCTORY. ROMANS 1:1 A. _Salutation_ with long interposed parenthesis, suggested by "gospel of God." The parenthesis, expressing thoughts of which the writer's mind is full, intimates the purport of the coming treatise. It also intimates his claim, afterwards more fully asserted (Romans 15:15, seq.), to demand a hearing from the Roman Church. It is St. Paul's way, when full of an idea, thus to interrupt his sentences at the suggestion of a word. Somewhat similar interpositions are found in the opening salutations of Galatians and Titus, especially in the latter; but this is peculiar for its l

WHICH HE HAD PROMISED AFORE,.... The Gospel is here further commended from the antiquity it: it was no novel doctrine, an upstart notion, but what God had conceived in his own breast from eternity. This mystery was hid in him from the beginning of the world, and was ordained before the world was; in time God was pleased to make it known to the sons of men; he "promised" it, he spoke of it, and declared it BY HIS PROPHETS, Isaiah and others, "afore" the Apostle Paul was called forth to be a preacher of it; which promise, or promises of it, lie IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES; the books of the Old Testament, so called from the author, matter, and usefulness of them. The apostle speaks in the language of his nation, for the Jews frequently call the Bible, writings, Holy Ones; "for", say they, כל כתובים קדש, "all the Scriptures are holy" c, and style them, כתבי הקדש, "Scriptures of holiness", or ho...

Romans 1:1. _Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,_ Paul has many titles, and he delights to mention them in writing to these Christians at Rome. He puts first his highest title: «A servant of Jesus Christ.» He glories in being a servant of the crucified Christ, a servant of him who was despised and rejected of men; so do we. Paul was called out from among men, effectually «called» of God «to be an apostle, separated» set apart «unto the gospel of God.» He believed that he was separated for that purpose at his birth; but he was specially «separated unto the gospel of God» on the road to Damascus. It is a happy thing when a minister feels that he has nothing to do with anything else but the gospel; that commands all his thought, all his talent, all his time....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. DOCTRINAL. THE SALVATION OF GOD. Chapter 1-8. CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The Apostle and the Gospel of God. (Romans 1:1 .)_ 2. The Greeting. (Romans 1:7 .) 3. The Apostle's Prayer and Desire. (Romans 1:8 .) 4. The Great Theme Introduced. (Romans 1:16 .) Romans 1:1 The introduction to the Epistle is unsurpassed by any other Epistle. Every word should be carefully studied. The writer introduces himself first of all as a servant (literally: slave) of Jesus Christ and called an apostle. Notice that in...

THE ADDRESS is elaborate, for Paul is introducing himself to a strange community; and stately, as befits Christ's ambassador approaching the imperial city. Romans 1:1 f., Romans 1:5 f. He is an apostle by (God's) calling not by his own will (1 Corinthians 9:16 f.) or human choice (Galatians 1:1)set apart to be a messenger of God's good news, which had been the burden of prophetic scriptures; his apostleship aims at bringing all the nations, amongst whom the Romans are conspicuous (_cf._ Romans 1:8), unto obedience of faith....