Romans 15:1-7. The same subject: the Lord's example in the matter 1. _We then_, &c. This chapter and the next have been suspected and discussed by some foreign critics, as either (_a_) out of place written by St Paul, but not originally for Roman Christians; or (_b_) as being, in whole or part, late... [ Continue Reading ]
_for his good to edification_ These words taken together perfectly define the principle of Christian _complaisance_. Cp. 1 Corinthians 10:33, and contrast Galatians 1:10, where St Paul treats the case of radically false doctrine, not, as here, a question of secondary practice. "_Edification:_" see o... [ Continue Reading ]
_For even Christ_ Here first in the Epistle St Paul explicitly quotes the Lord's Example. He soon repeats the reference, Romans 15:7. The main burthen of the Epistle has been His Sacrifice; but the more the Sacrifice is apprehended, the more powerful will the Example be felt to be. It will emphatica... [ Continue Reading ]
_For whatsoever things_, &c. St Paul takes occasion from his last quotation to state a great principle; namely, that the O. T. was throughout designed for the instruction and establishment of N. T. believers. "_Our_," just below, is emphatic. On the principle, cp. 2 Timothy 3:15-17. It is almost ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the God of patience_, &c. Lit. OF THE PATIENCE, &c.; i.e. that now in question. Here is a subtle and beautiful sequence of thought. From patience and comfort, and the hope of glory, St Paul passes at once to the duty of affectionate unanimity. The stronger was the sense of peace and hope in eac... [ Continue Reading ]
_that ye may glorify God_ Whose praise is the ultimate aim of all His gifts to His people. Cp. on Romans 11:33-36. See, on the holy unanimity enjoined here, Philippians 3:15-16. _God, even the Father_ Far better, THE GOD AND FATHER. Same words as 2 Corinthians 1:3; Eph 1:3; 1 Peter 1:3. See John 20... [ Continue Reading ]
_receive ye_, &c. See on Romans 14:1. Cp. Colossians 3:13. _as Christ also received us_ "He receiveth sinners," to be His "brethren." Better, perhaps, RECEIVED YOU. _to the glory of God_ Christ received us "to the praise of the glory of His Father's grace;" Ephesians 1:6. But possibly a comma shou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now I say_ Better, on documentary evidence, FOR I SAY. St Paul here expounds the words "Christ received you," by shewing the bearing of the Lord's Work on the salvation alike of Jewish and Gentile believers. And in so doing he reminds the two Sections of the holy Bond in which they stood united. _... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord's example enforced by a view of the equal bearing of His work on Jewish and Gentile believers... [ Continue Reading ]
_and_ Lit. BUT. A slight contrast or correction is implied; "to confirm indeed the promise given to Israel, _but also_to bring in mercy for the Gentiles." _for his mercy_ Lit. FOR MERCY. The word "mercy" is here used, perhaps, with reference to the previous position of the _Gentiles_as "strangers f... [ Continue Reading ]
_he saith_ Or, better. IT SAITH; i.e. the Scripture. _Rejoice_, &c. Deuteronomy 32:43. Verbatim with LXX. The word "_with_" is not in the Hebrew Received Text; which may be rendered either "Praise His people, ye nations," (i.e. congratulate them on His saving goodness;) or "Rejoice, ye nations", wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Praise the Lord_, &c. Psalms 117 (LXX. 116):1. Nearly verbatim with LXX. See Romans 15:2 of the Psalm, where the steadfastness of the "_mercy_" and the "_truth_" of God is given as the cause of the praise. _laud him_, &c. Perhaps better, (with another reading,) LET ALL THE PEOPLES LAUD HIM.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a root_ Lit. THE ROOT. The quotation is from Isaiah 11:10: verbatim with LXX. The Heb. reads, "It shall come to pass … the root of Jesse, which standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto it (or Him) shall the Gentiles seek." Here the LXX. forms a sufficient rendering of the substance of the Heb.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the God of hope_ Lit. OF THE HOPE; i.e. of _our_hope, the special hope in question; the Christian's hope of glory. So just below, THAT YE MAY ABOUND IN THE HOPE. St Paul takes up the last word of the last quotation, and applies it in this expression of holy and loving desire. He ceases now to spea... [ Continue Reading ]
Commendation of the Christian maturity of the Roman believers: yet St Paul writes to them with the authority of the commissioned and laborious Apostle of the Gentiles 14. _And_ Lit., and better, NOW; the word of transition. _I myself also_ i.e. as well as others, by whom "your faith is spoken of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have written_ Lit. I WROTE; the "epistolary past." _the more boldly_ Lit. MORE BOLDLY; i.e., in our idiom, SOMEWHAT BOLDLY. _in some sort_ More lit., and better, IN PART; i.e. HERE AND THERE. He refers to occasional passages such as Romans 6:17-21; Romans 9:19-20; Romans 11:19-21; Romans 11:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the minister_ The Gr. word (not the same as that in e.g. Romans 15:8,) is the original of our word _liturgy;_and is the same as in Romans 13:6; Philippians 2:25; Hebrews 1:7; Hebrews 8:2; &c. The word in Biblical Greek has a frequent sacerdotal reference; which is certainly present here, as the res... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have therefore_, &c. Lit., with the best reading, I HAVE THEREFORE MY EXULTATION IN CHRIST JESUS AS TO THINGS GOD-WARD. The words "_I have_" are slightly emphatic, indicating the reality of his commission, labours, and success; and so the reality of his right to speak as a Teacher to the Roman Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I will not dare_, &c. This ver. may be paraphrased, "To justify this exultation, I _need not presumptuously intrude_on the work of others, putting in a false claim to credit for that work: I need only speak of what Christ has done through my personal efforts, both of preaching and miracle, in b... [ Continue Reading ]
_through mighty signs_, &c. Lit., and better, IN THE MIGHT OF SIGNS AND WONDERS, IN THE MIGHT OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD. The second clause seems to explain the first; q. d., "and that might was not mine, but of the Spirit." The "might _of signs_, &c." is the might (of influence and effect) resulting from... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea, so have I strived_ Better, BUT JEALOUSLY STRIVING SO, &C. The "but" adds a qualifying additional fact; that his line and area of action were determined, in a measure, by his aim to work only in untouched regions. This is partly to explain why, with all his vast range of travel, he had not yet... [ Continue Reading ]
_but as it is written_, &c. There is, obviously, an ellipsis. Q. d., "I have made it my principle to preach, not where Christ was named, but where that prediction would be verified -To whom He was not spoken of, &c." " The quotation is from Isaiah 52:15, verbatim with LXX., which paraphrases the Heb... [ Continue Reading ]
His work has hitherto kept him from personal visits to Rome: now it will lead him to the city: but first he must go to Jerusalem, on business of the Church. He requests prayer 22. _I have been much hindered_ Better, I WAS HINDERED FOR THE MOST PART; i.e. hindrances outweighed facilities: he was mor... [ Continue Reading ]
_place_ Evidently in the sense of _opportunity_. _parts_ REGIONS. Same word as 2 Corinthians 11:10; Galatians 1:21. He means, probably, in a large sense, Roman Europe east of the Adriatic; in which he had now "fulfilled" the Gospel. _a great desire_ The Gr. is the word that would be used of homesi... [ Continue Reading ]
_take my journey_ Lit., simply, TRAVEL. The Gr. does not, as the E. V. (" _my_journey") may seem to do, imply that this was a journey previously expected at Rome. But on the other hand it is almost certain that it was more or less definitely expected, considering that St Paul had such intimate frien... [ Continue Reading ]
_I go unto Jerusalem_ See Acts 19:21; Acts 24:17. _to minister_ i.e. to carry temporal relief. He gives a good, because wholly unselfish, reason for the new delay of his visit to Rome. This very journey to Jerusalem was in fact, in God's purpose, his way to Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For it hath pleased_, &c. Lit. FOR MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA WERE PLEASED. (The tense is aor., perhaps here an "epistolary past.") The verb rendered "were pleased" implies, as E. V. also does, not only a voluntary act but the act of a superior; in the sense in which the giver of bounty is the superior p... [ Continue Reading ]
_It hath pleased them verily_ Lit. FOR THEY WERE PLEASED; an exact repetition of the first words of Romans 15:26; a note of kindly irony. St Paul was far from thinking with _real_coldness of these gifts of Christian love: see 2 Corinthians 8:9. _and their debtors they are_ "_Debtors_" is emphatic.... [ Continue Reading ]
_sealed_ The metaphor is from a solemn ratification. St Paul, handing over to the Church at Jerusalem the "fruit," or proceeds, of the Macedonian and Achaian collections, would thereby finally _attest_it to be now the full property of the receivers: he would put the _seal of their ownership_upon it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I am sure_ Lit. BUT, or NOW, I KNOW. This "knowledge" was abundantly justified by the event. _in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ_ The words "_of the Gospel_" must be omitted. He is sure that he will come attended by the "fulness," the full range and variety, of "Christ's be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now I beseech you_, &c. For similar requests for prayer, see 2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 6:19; Col 4:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2. For the language of the request (" _strive_together, &c.") cp. Colossians 2:1-2; Colossians 4:12. _the love of the Spirit_ i.e. the love of saints... [ Continue Reading ]
_that I may be delivered_, &c. This prayer was granted, though not in the way expected. See Acts 21:31-32; Acts 23:12-24; Acts 25:2-4; Acts 25:12. The words here (cp. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2,) are among the many proofs of St Paul's naturally anxious and sensitive character, and that his faith and zeal... [ Continue Reading ]
_that I may come unto you_, &c. His coming might be hindered either by violence from "the unbelieving," or by revivals of controversy and prejudice among "the saints;" and the latter would also grievously mar the "joy" of his visit to Rome when at length that visit was made. Here again the event for... [ Continue Reading ]
_the God of peace_ So also Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20. In some of these passages, the Sacred Title indicates the peace of reconciliation (ch. Romans 5:1) with which God regards His people; in others, the peace of outwa... [ Continue Reading ]