Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. Ver. 1. _Therefore thou art inexcusable_] Though thou have no pleasure in them that do evil, as Romans 1:32, but dost super... [ Continue Reading ]
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. Ver. 2. _Which commit such_] As Cato, Romans 2:1, whom yet Velleius affirmeth to have been _hominem virtuti simillimum._ But God judgeth not as man.... [ Continue Reading ]
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Ver. 3. _Thinkest thou_] This is preaching to the conscience, to the quick. Our exhortations should be as forked arrows to stick in men's hearts; and not wound only... [ Continue Reading ]
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Ver. 4. _The goodness of God_] Gr. το χρηστον, his native goodness, ready to be employed to the behoof and benefit of the creature, Titus 3:4. Now as the... [ Continue Reading ]
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Ver. 5. _Treasurest up unto thyself_] _Sicut mittentes pecuniam in gazophylacium, quod, ubi iam impletur, confringitur, _ saith Stella upon Luke. In... [ Continue Reading ]
Who will render to every man according to his deeds: Ver. 6. _Who shall render_] The Papists hence infer merit of works. But it is well observed that the Church in the Canticles is nowhere described by the beauty of her hands, or fingers. Christ concealeth the mention of her hands, that is, of her... [ Continue Reading ]
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: Ver. 7. _Who by patient continuance_] Or, by suffering persecution for righteousness' sake. Gordus the martyr said, "It is to my loss, if you bate me anything in nay sufferings." _Maiora certam... [ Continue Reading ]
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Ver. 8. _But unto them that are contentious_] That wrangle and thwartle against clearest truths, searching the devil's skull for carnal arguments, as those Athenians,Acts 17:16,21; being... [ Continue Reading ]
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; Ver. 9. _Of the Jew first_] _Qui ideo deteriores sunt, quia meliores esse deberent._ Who are therefore worse, because they should be better. Salvian.... [ Continue Reading ]
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: Ver. 10. _Peace_] Safety here and salvation hereafter. _ To every man that worketh good_] Yet not for his work's sake, because no proportion between the work and the wages; no more than between... [ Continue Reading ]
For there is no respect of persons with God. Ver. 11. _For_] _See Trapp on "_ Act 10:34 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; Ver. 12. _Perish without law_] Or, though they had no written law, as that of Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
(For not the hearers of the law _are_ just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Ver. 13. _But the doers of the law_] The Scriptures are _verba vivenda non legenda, _ as Egidins, Abbot of Nuremberg, said of the 119th Psalm. _Boni Catholici sunt qui et fidem integram sequunfur, et... [ Continue Reading ]
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Ver. 14. _Do by nature, &c._] Velleius saith that Cato was _Homo virtuti simillimus, cui id solum visum est rationem habere, quod haberet iustiam, omnib... [ Continue Reading ]
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and _their_ thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) Ver. 15. _Their thoughts meanwhile_] Or, between whiles: or in every interim of this life, μεταξυ. Other faculties may rest; an... [ Continue Reading ]
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Ver. 16. _According to my gospel_] Which promiseth heaven to believers. This is comfort to those that are faithful in weakness, though but weak in faith. The sentence of the last day shall be but a more manif... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, Ver. 17. _Restest in the law_] So spending thy time in a still dream, but thou shalt have sick waking, then when God shall send out summons for such sleepers. Men dream their Midianitish dreams, and tell them for la... [ Continue Reading ]
And knowest _his_ will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; Ver. 18. _Being instructed out of the law_] Gr. κατηχουμενος, Being well catechised and principled, thou art able to discern the doctrines, and choose the best. Luther somewhere professeth him... [ Continue Reading ]
And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, Ver. 19. _Of the blind_] The Chinese say that all other nations see but with one eye, they with two. The Pharisees were called _Pekachin_ _aperti, _ open-eyed: because they only saw. One of them was... [ Continue Reading ]
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Ver. 20. _Which hast the form of knowledge_] A platform of wholesome words, a system, a method artificially moulded, μορφωσις, such as tutors and professors of arts and sciences have, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Ver. 21. _Teachest thou not thyself?_] He that knows well and does worse is but as a whiner which carrieth a torch in his hand to show others his own deformities. I have re... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Ver. 22. _Thou that sayest_] Hypocrites can talk of religion, as if their tongues did run upon pattens, they are fair professors, but foul sinners; as was that carnal... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? Ver. 23. _Through breaking_] By shooting short, or beyond, or wide of the mark; by omission, commission, or failing in the manner.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Ver. 24. _For the name of God, &c._] Heretics and hypocrites do still with Judas deliver up the Lord Christ to the scoffs and buffetings of his enemies. Augustine (De Civ. Dei, i. 52) complains of the ancient hereti... [ Continue Reading ]
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Ver. 25. _If thou keep the law_] Which thou art thereby bound to do, either by thyself, or by thy surety Christ Jesus. _ Thy circumcision is made uncircumcision_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? Ver. 26. _If the uncircumcision_] Which it can never do. But admit it could, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? Ver. 27. _Judge thee_] Men's guilt is increased by their obligations, as was Solomon's in departing from Gad, who had appeared unto him twice, 1 Kings 11:9... [ Continue Reading ]
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither _is that_ circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: Ver. 28. _Neither is that circumcision_] See Colossians 2:11. _See Trapp on "_ Col 2:11 _"_ Inward circumcision is (as Origen describeth it) _Purgatio animae et abiectio vitiorum, _ or (as St... [ Continue Reading ]
But he _is_ a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision _is that_ of the heart, in the spirit, _and_ not in the letter; whose praise _is_ not of men, but of God. Ver. 29. _Which is one inwardly_] An Israelite indeed, John 1:47, that hath put away the foreskin of his heart, Jeremiah 4:4. That wor... [ Continue Reading ]