OLBGrk; ROMANS CHAPTER 12 ROMANS 12:1 Paul exhorteth to holiness and conformity to God's will; and to think soberly of the gifts allotted every man respectively. ROMANS 12:4,5 We are all members of one body in Christ, ROMANS 12:6 and should diligently exercise our several gifts for the common benefi... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD; do not fashion or accommodate yourselves to the corrupt principles, customs, or courses of worldly and wicked men; and what they are, you will find in ROMANS 13:13 EPHESIANS 4:18,19 1 PETER 4:3. You have somewhat the like counsel, EXODUS 23:2 1 PETER 1:14. BE YE TRANS... [ Continue Reading ]
Before he exhorted to a holy life in general, now he comes to more particular exhortations. I SAY; i.e. I enjoin and command; see GALATIANS 5:16. I do not only beseech you, as ROMANS 12:1, but I also require you, as one that hath authority. THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN UNTO ME:. _\see ROMANS 1:5\_ SEE PO... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 4,5. These verses are a reason against arrogancy. All Christians are MEMBERS OF ONE and the same _body; _ therefore, they should not pride themselves in their gifts, but employ them for the common good. It is with the church, the mystical body of Christ, as with a natural body that hath many me... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE POOLE ON "RO 1 2: 4 ... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING THEN GIFTS DIFFERING ACCORDING TO THE GRACE THAT IS GIVEN TO US; or, seeing we have different gifts and offices, according as the grace of God hath bestowed them upon us, let us use them aright. This is added to prevent pride and envy: none should be proud of that he hath himself or envy what... [ Continue Reading ]
MINISTRY; under this word are comprehended all ordinary ecclesiastical functions, which afterwards divideth into two sorts; the first relating to the word; the second, to other pious works. LET US WAIT ON OUR MINISTERING: the words, _let us wait, _ are not in the text, but fitly supplied: q.d. Let a... [ Continue Reading ]
EXHORTATION: see the notes on the foregoing verse. HE THAT GIVETH, LET HIM DO IT WITH SIMPLICITY; i.e. he that hath the office of collecting and distributing the church alms, (which was the deacons work or charge, ACTS 6:1, &c.), let him discharge it _with simplicity, _ or with _singleness of heart;... [ Continue Reading ]
The former exhortations respect church officers in particular; those that follow concern all Christians in general. He begins with _love, _ because that is a radical grace; other graces, and gracious actions, do spring from it, and must be accompanied with it. By _love_ here, you may understand the... [ Continue Reading ]
BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER; Christians ought to have such affection one to another, as parents have to their children, and as all creatures have to their young: so much the word here used imports. IN HONOUR PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER: this clause is expounded by PHILIPPIANS 2:3. It is exemplif... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SLOTHFUL IN BUSINESS; this clause may be expounded by ECCLESIASTES 9:10: q.d. In all the duties of thy particular and general calling, in every thing that respects the glory of God, thine own or neighbours good, take heed of slothfulness: see MATTHEW 25:26,27 HEB 6:12. FERVENT IN SPIRIT; this is... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICING IN HOPE; i.e. in hope of deliverance here in due time, and of eternal salvation hereafter: SEE POOLE ON "ROMANS 5:2". CONTINUING INSTANT IN PRAYER; be instant and constant in the duty. A metaphor from hounds, that give not over the game till they have got it: see LUKE 18:1 EPHESIANS 6:18 C... [ Continue Reading ]
NECESSITY; the word signifies uses. The saints must be succoured in things useful, as well as necessary. This apostle, in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, spends two whole Chapter s about this sort of charity, in relieving the poor saints; viz. 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1:15: see also GALATIANS 6:10 HEB... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THEM WHICH PERSECUTE YOU; i.e. pray for them, and wish well to them. This is borrowed from MATTHEW 5:44 LUKE 6:28: see the like in 1 PETER 3:9. This is commended to us by the example of Christ himself, ISAIAH 53:12 LUKE 23:34 1 PETER 2:23; of Stephen, ACTS 7:60; of Paul, and the primitive Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Be touched with your neighbour's good or evil, as if it were your own. The reason of this sympathy, or fellow feeling, is rendered by the apostle, 1 CORINTHIANS 12:26,27; Because we are members one of another, therefore, if _one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; _ and if one member... [ Continue Reading ]
BE OF THE SAME MIND ONE TOWARD ANOTHER: this exhortation respects not so much unity in judgment, as in affection: q.d. Bear the same good respect to others, as others bear to thee; let there be a mutual agreement in your desires and good wishes one for another: see ROMANS 15:5 PHILIPPIANS 2:2 1 PETE... [ Continue Reading ]
RECOMPENSE TO NO MAN EVIL FOR EVIL; our Saviour teacheth the same doctrine in other words, MATTHEW 5:39,40: see parallel places in PROVERBS 20:22 1 THESSALONIANS 5:15 1 PETER 3:9. See more against retaliating injuries and private revenge in the three last verses of this chapter. Revenge is so sweet... [ Continue Reading ]
The duty to which he exhorts in this verse, is a peaceable and quiet behaviour towards all men, as well infidels as Christians; those who are bad, as well as those who are good. The like exhortations we have, HEBREWS 12:14. And to the discharge of this duty he annexeth a double limitation; first: IF... [ Continue Reading ]
DEARLY BELOVED; he useth this friendly compellation, the better to persuade to the following duty, which is so hard to flesh and blood. AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES: you had an exhortation to this purpose, ROMANS 12:17; but considering the proneness of corrupt nature to private and personal revenge, he ren... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER, FEED HIM; IF HE THIRST, GIVE HIM DRINK: q.d. Instead of rendering evil for evil to thine adversary, do him good for evil: see following verse. THOU SHALT HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD; i.e. either make him relent, or bring down the greater vengeance from God upon him. This is... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is a Divine aphorism: therein the apostle anticipates an objection. Some might be ready to say, If we should follow this advice we should be counted cowards and dastards, &c. To this he answers, that it is the ready way to be triumphers and conquerors. By _evil, _ here, he means, the wron... [ Continue Reading ]