Romans 1:2

which he had promised afore This verse is not properly a parenthesis. See on Romans 1:3. The Promiseof the great Deliverer, running through the O. T., is one of the most wonderful of the phenomena of history. It was such that, beyond all question, it had brought the hope of Israel to an intense pitch just before, and at, the time of the birth and life of Jesus of Nazareth. See Bp E. H. Browne's Messiah Foretold and Expected, pp. 1 21.

by his prophets i.e., probably, by the Scripture-writers generally. In the O. T., history and prophecy are closely interwoven. In Hebrews 1:1, God's message to "the fathers," though "in divers manners," is allsent "through the prophets." The words here are nearly repeated, Romans 16:26, where the O. T. Scriptures are regarded as the great instrument, in apostolic hands, for spreading the Gospel.

in the holy scriptures Holy, because divinely planned and guided throughout. So 2 Timothy 3:14-15. The article is wanting in the Gr. (as it is in Romans 16:26, "prophetic writings"), and the translation might thus be "in holy writings" But the article is often omitted where the thing or class spoken of is unmistakable; and the word rendered "scripture" is so completely appropriated in N. T. to the contents of the definite inspired writings, that we must translate "theholy Scriptures."