D. IMPUTED GUILT OF THE FIRST SIN (Ch. 5) We make no attempt (beyond what is said in the notes) to _clear up_this Doctrine, which approaches as nearly as well can be to _complete_mystery, and leans upon relations between the Head of an intelligent Race and that Race which are probably "knowable" by... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 5:1-11. The security and happiness of the state of Justification; its basis being the Divine Love 1. _Therefore being justified_ Here opens a leading section. The preliminaries are now over: The need of Justification is established; and its equal terms for Jew and Greek; and the fact that Fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_by whom_ Lit. THROUGH WHOM; the same construction as that just before. _also_ i.e. "we owe to Him our entrance to grace, _as well as_our standing in it." _we have access_ Lit. WE HAVE HAD; "we have found." The time-reference is to a past reception resulting in present possession. "_Access:_" lit.... [ Continue Reading ]
_but we glory_ For the present, St Paul puts the eternal future out of view again, in order that present grace may be better explained. "_We glory:_" same word as "rejoice" in Romans 5:2. Wonderful is the force of this repetition, in connexion with _tribulation!_ tribulations Lit. THE TRIBULATIONS;... [ Continue Reading ]
_experience_ The Gr. properly means "_a proof, a test_." So usually in N. T.: e.g. 2 Corinthians 8:2 (where E. V. "trial"), Romans 13:3 (where E. V. "proof"); Philippians 2:22 ("proof"). The word here cannot refer to the _testing of the believer by his Master_, for the next clause shews it is someth... [ Continue Reading ]
_hope_ Lit. THE HOPE; not any hope, but the hope thus produced. _maketh not ashamed_ Same word as Romans 9:33; 2Co 7:14; 2 Corinthians 9:4; nearly the same as Philippians 1:20; 2 Timothy 1:12. In all these passages the idea of _disappointment_is in the verb. So here: "the shame of disappointment ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_For when_, &c. From this ver. to Romans 5:11 St Paul expands the words "the love of God." He explains this love, as "poured out" by the Spirit, to be specially _redeeming and justifying love_. _without strength_ IMPOTENT to deliver ourselves from sin and judgment. The words are in contrast to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_, &c. The connexion is somewhat thus: "He died for the godless: a proof of unequalled love; for hardly will you find any one die for a just, a good, man; you may find such a case, but it will be rare." No marked distinction is meant between "_just_" and "_good_." Justice and goodness are equall... [ Continue Reading ]
_commendeth_ Same word as (for instance) Romans 16:1. Infinite condescension lies in this simple word. _his love_ Fully, HIS OWN LOVE; the love peculiar to Himself who is Love: perhaps too with a hint that it is uncaused by any previous love of ours for Him. _yet sinners_ "_Yet_" implies the graci... [ Continue Reading ]
_Much more_ i.e. as to our apprehension. After this amazing first step of unmerited love we can, with less _surprise_, rely on its gracious continuance. _now_ "As the case stands." _by his blood_ Lit. IN HIS BLOOD. If "_in_" is to be pressed, the idea may be that of washing, (Revelation 1:5,) thou... [ Continue Reading ]
_if_ i.e. AS. The hypothesis is also a fact. _enemies Personal_enemies; the proper force of the Gr. word. Cp. Colossians 1:21. See below on Romans 8:7. _reconciled to God_ On "reconciliation," see on Romans 5:1. Here certainly the idea of the _conciliation of man's will to God_(as a result of the P... [ Continue Reading ]
_not only so_ We shall not only be welcomed _then_, but we are permitted to feel _now_the bliss of our position. _we … joy_ Lit. JOYING; the participle. The meaning is practically the same as in E. V. Grammatically the word perhaps connects with "being reconciled;" q. d., "We shall surely be -saved... [ Continue Reading ]
The same subject, illustrated by the connexion of fallen man with Adam, and justified man with Christ 12. _Wherefore_, &c. Here begins an important section, closing with the ch. In point of language, and of links of thought, it is occasionally difficult, and moreover deals with the deep mystery of... [ Continue Reading ]
_for until the law_ This and the following verses are not a parenthesis: see on Romans 5:12. "_Until_" here practically = "_before_." The period "from Adam to Moses" is in view, the Law of Moses being taken as the first _elaborate_statute-giving of God for man. "Laws" existed long before Moses; e.g.... [ Continue Reading ]
_reigned_ See below, on Romans 5:21. The idea is of unquestioned dominion. _after the similitude_, &c. i.e. _by conscious transgression of express precepts_. The phrase thus exactly meets the case of infant-death, and also includes all other cases, supposed possible, in which no distinct violation... [ Continue Reading ]
_But not_ Here, after the parallel of Adam and Christ, is stated the glorious _difference_of the work of Christ. This occupies Romans 5:15-17. The difference is, the vastly greater _wonder_of His Work and its Result. _offence_ Lit. STUMBLING. Our word "offence" comes from the Latin for the same, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_And not_, &c. The line of thought here is less difficult if we take Romans 5:17 in close connexion, and read the words from "_for the judgment_" to "_unto justification_" as a parenthetic statement of the two facts before us. We may then paraphrase Romans 5:16-17 thus: "The Gift, in wonder and grea... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_, &c. "For" refers mainly to the last clause of Romans 5:16. The contrast of "one" and "many" is now dropped, but we find another contrast; that between the legal results of evil and the overflowing results of Divine goodness, the goodness which grants acquittal to the "ungodly." Q. d., "The fr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore_ In Romans 5:18-19 the argument, from Romans 5:12, is summed up as to its main substance; namely, the parallel of Adam and Christ; the illustration of the work of Christ by Adam's position in respect of his descendants and the effect on them of his sin. _as by the offence of one_ Better,... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_, &c. This verse is in close connexion with Romans 5:18. St Paul recurs to the central truth in view, now from this side now from that, so as to leave the one deep and distinct impression of the _vicariousness_of the unique Work of the Second Adam; the truth that the justification of all the ju... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover_ More simply, BUT, or (better) NOW. In this verse and 21 a new consideration comes in, almost independent of the chain of reasoning, but meant to illustrate the surpassing "abundance" of grace (Romans 5:15-17). _the law_ Lit. LAW; but probably the reference is definite, as implied by the... [ Continue Reading ]
_that as sin_, &c. More lit. THAT AS THE SIN REIGNED IN DEATH, SO ALSO MAY THE GRACE REIGN THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS, &c. "_The sin reigned in death:_" i.e., death was the expression of its power. Cp. Romans 5:12-14 and notes. "_May grace reign:_" such is the exact rendering, which should be kept, thoug... [ Continue Reading ]