I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, Ver. 1. _I say the truth, &c._] As any one is more assured of his own salvation, the more he desireth the salvation of others. Charity is no churl; as we see here in Paul.... [ Continue Reading ]
That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. Ver. 2. _Continual sorrow_] Such as a woman in travail hath, οδυνη. So Galatians 4:19 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Ver. 3. _Were accursed_] Devoted to destruction, αναθεμα, as those malefactors among the heathens were, that in time of common calamity were sacrificed to their infernal gods, for pacifying th... [ Continue Reading ]
Who are Israelites; to whom _pertaineth_ the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service _of God_, and the promises; Ver. 4. _The adoption_] For Israel was God's firstborn, and so "higher than the kings of the earth," Psalms 89:27 . _ And the glory_] The... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose _are_ the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ _came_, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Ver. 5. _Of whom is Christ_] This is as great an honour to all mankind (how much more to the Jews!) as if the king should marry into some poor family of his subjects.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they _are_ not all Israel, which are of Israel: Ver. 6. _Not as though the word_] That word of promise, Romans 9:4, which is sure hold, "Yea and Amen." _ For they are not all Israel_] _Multi sacerdotes, et pauci sacerdotes, _ Many priests a... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, _are they_ all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Ver. 7. _Neither because they are_] This profiteth them no more than it did Dives that Abraham called him son.... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these _are_ not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Ver. 8. _The children of the promise_] Abraham by believing God's promise, begat, after a sort, all believers, yea, Christ himself, the head of his seed,... [ Continue Reading ]
For this _is_ the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. Ver. 9. _At this time_] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 18:10 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And not only _this_; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, _even_ by our father Isaac; Ver. 10. _But when Rebecca_] She, and not Isaac, is named, because she received the oracle, whether from the mouth of Melchisedec or some other way, I have not to determine.... [ Continue Reading ]
11 (For _the children_ being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) Ver. 11. _For the children, &c._] Here the apostle wadeth into that _profundum sine fundo, _ bottomless subject, predes... [ Continue Reading ]
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. Ver. 12. _Shall serve_] Servitude came in with a curse, and figureth reprobation, Genesis 9:25; Joh 8:34-35 Galatians 4:30 .... [ Continue Reading ]
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Ver. 13. _Esau have I hated_] _i.e._ I have not loved him, but passed him by; and this preterition is properly opposed to election. _ As it is written_] Malachi is alleged to explain Moses. It was rightly observed by Pareus (in the close... [ Continue Reading ]
What shall we say then? _Is there_ unrighteousness with God? God forbid. Ver. 14. _ls there_] Carnal reason dares reprehend what it does not comprehend. (Para.)... [ Continue Reading ]
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Ver. 15. _I will have mercy, &c._] _Dei voluntas est ratio rationum, nec tantum recta, sed regula._ The will of God is the rule of his plan, neither only right but his rule... [ Continue Reading ]
So then _it is_ not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Ver. 16. _So then it is not, &c._] _Nec volentis, nec volantis_ (as a nobleman gave it for his motto), though a man could run as fast as a bird can fly.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Ver. 17. _Raised thee up_] For a vessel of wrath, and an instance of my justice.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will _have mercy_, and whom he will he hardeneth. Ver. 18. _Therefore_] God being a free agent, cannot be unjust; he is bound to none. _ Whom he will, he hardeneth_] There is a threefold hardness of the heart: 1. Natural and hereditary, whereby all men are by nat... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Ver. 19. _Why doth he yet find fault_] _Queritur, _ Complain, saith the Vulgate; which interpretation deceived Aquinas, as if it had been written _Quaeritur._ Be sought for.Luke 15:8. Gregory the Great and other... [ Continue Reading ]
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed _it_, Why hast thou made me thus? Ver. 20. _That repliest against God_] Gr. Ανταποκρινομενος, chattest and wordest it with him?... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Ver. 21. _Of the same lump_] The apostle alludeth to man's creation, and therehence ascendeth to God's eternal decree of predestination.... [ Continue Reading ]
_What_ if God, willing to shew _his_ wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: Ver. 22. _Fitted to destruction_] _Non dicit Deum eos aptasse ad interitum, ne videretur dicere Deum eis indidisse peccatum, quo ad exitum praeparentu... [ Continue Reading ]
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Ver. 23. _And that he might_] He rejected some, that his mercy might the more appear in the election of others. _ The riches of his glory_] That is, of his mercy wherein he princip... [ Continue Reading ]
Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? Ver. 24. _Even us_] Not me Paul only hath he assured of vocation, and so consequently of election to eternal life.... [ Continue Reading ]
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. Ver. 25. _And her beloved_] Jeremiah 12:7. God calls the Church the beloved of his soul, or (as the Septuagint and Vulgate read it) his beloved soul, την ψυχην την ηγαπημενην .... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall come to pass, _that_ in the place where it was said unto them, Ye _are_ not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. Ver. 26. _The children, &c._] This is such a royalty, John 1:12, as the apostle worthily wondereth at, and sets an _Ecce_ Behold, upon it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: Ver. 27. _A remnant_] Reserved for royal use. _Diaconos paucitas honorabiles fecit_ saith Jerome. _Sic et sanctos, _ say I... [ Continue Reading ]
For he will finish the work, and cut _it_ short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. Ver. 28. _A short work_] When once he sets to work to cut off hypocrites.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. Ver. 29. _Except the Lord of Sabaoth_] That is, of hosts. God is commander-in-chief of all creatures. The Rabbis well observe that he hath _Magnleh Cheloth, _ and _Matt... [ Continue Reading ]
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. Ver. 30. _Which is of faith_] Faith wraps itself in the righteousness of Christ, and so justifieth us.... [ Continue Reading ]
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Ver. 31. _The law of righteousness_] That is, the righteousness of the law.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore? Because _they sought it_ not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Ver. 32. _For they stumbled_] So they do to this day. So do Papists and carnal Protestants, _Non frustra Lutherus in libris toties vaticinatus videtur, sese vereri dic... [ Continue Reading ]
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Ver. 33.] _See Trapp on "_ 1Pe 2:6 _"_ Shall not be ashamed] That is, shall be confirmed, comforted, established. The Scripture loves to speak with the least in promis... [ Continue Reading ]