PAUL - The original name of the author of this Epistle was “Saul.” Acts 7:58; Acts 7:1; Acts 8:1, etc. This was changed to Paul (see the note at Acts 13:9), and by this name he is generally known in the New Testament. The reason why he assumed this name is not certainly known. It was, however, in ac... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HE HAD PROMISED AFORE - Which gospel, or which doctrines, he had before announced. BY THE PROPHETS - The word “prophets” here is used to include those who wrote as well as those who spake. It included the teachers of the ancient Jews generally. IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES - In the writings of the... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCERNING HIS SON - This is connected with the first verse, with the word “gospel.” The gospel of God concerning his Son. The design of the gospel was to make a communication relative to his Son Jesus Christ. This is the whole of it. There is no “good news” to man respecting salvation except what c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DECLARED - In the margin, “determined.” Τοῦ ὁρισθέντος Tou horisthentos. The ancient Syriac has, “And he was known to be the Son of God by might and by the Holy Spirit, who rose from the house of the dead.” The Latin Vulgate, “Who was “predestinated” the Son of God,” etc. The Arabic, “The Son... [ Continue Reading ]
BY WHOM - The apostle here returns to the subject of the salutation of the Romans, and states to them his authority to address them. That authority he had derived from the Lord Jesus, and not from man. On this fact, that he had received his apostolic commission, not from man, but by the direct autho... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG WHOM - That is, among the Gentiles who had become obedient to the Christian faith in accordance with the design of the gospel, Romans 1:8. This proves that the church at Rome was made up partly at least, if not mainly, of Gentiles or pagans. This is fully proved in the xvith. chapter by the na... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ALL THAT BE IN ROME - That is, to all who bear the Christian name. Perhaps he here included not only the church at Rome, but all who might have been there from abroad. Rome was a place of vast concourse for foreigners; and Paul probably addressed all who happened to be there. BELOVED OF GOD - Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST - In the first place, not in point of importance, but before speaking of other things, or before proceeding to the main design of the Epistle. I THANK MY GOD - The God, whom I worship and serve. The expression of thanks to God for his mercy to them was suited to conciliate their feelings, and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD IS MY WITNESS - The reason of this strong appeal to God is, to show to the Romans the deep interest which he felt in their welfare This interest was manifested in his prayers, and in his earnest desires to see them. A deep interest shown in this way was well suited to prepare them to receive... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKING REQUEST - It was his earnest desire to see them, and he presented the subject before God. IF BY ANY MEANS - This shows the earnest desire which he had to see them, and implies that be had designed it, and had been hindered; see Romans 1:13. NOW AT LENGTH - He had purposed it a long time, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I LONG TO SEE YOU - I earnestly desire to see you; compare Romans 15:23, Romans 15:32. THAT I MAY IMPART - That I may “give,” or communicate to you. SOME SPIRITUAL GIFT - Some have understood this as referring to “miraculous gifts,” which it was supposed the apostles had the power of conferring... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY BE COMFORTED ... - It was not merely to confirm them that Paul wished to come. He sought the communion of saints; he expected to be himself edified and strengthened; and to be comforted by seeing their strength of faith, and their rapid growth in grace. We may remark here, (1) That one e... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT OFTENTIMES I PURPOSED - See Romans 1:10. How often he had purposed this we have no means of ascertaining. The fact, however, that he had done it, showed his strong desire to see them, and to witness the displays of the grace of God in the capital of the Roman world; compare Romans 15:23. One in... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM DEBTOR - This does not mean that they had conferred any favor on him, which bound him to make this return, but that he was under obligation to preach the gospel to all to whom it was possible. This obligation arose from the favor that God had shown him in appointing him to this work. He was spe... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED ... - The Jews had cast him off, and regarded him as an apostate; and by the wise among the Gentiles he had been persecuted, and despised, and driven from place to place, and regarded as the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things 1 Corinthians 4:13, but still he w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR - This word implies that he is now about to give a “reason” for what he had just said, a reason why he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. That reason is stated in this verse. It embodies the substance of all that is contained in the Epistle. It is the doctrine which he seeks to establish;... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR - This word denotes that the apostle is about to give a reason for what he had just said. This verse commences the argument of the Epistle. an argument designed to establish the proposition advanced in Romans 1:17. The proposition is, that God’s plan of justification is revealed in the gospel. T... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE - The apostle proceeds to show how it was that the pagan hindered the truth by their iniquity. This he does by showing that the truth might be known by the works of creation; and that nothing but their iniquity prevented it. THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD - That which is “knowable” concernin... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM - The expression “his invisible things” refers to those things which cannot be perceived by the senses. It does not imply that there are any things pertaining to the divine character which may be seen by the eye; but that there are things which may be known of him, th... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THAT - The apostle here is showing that it was right to condemn people for their sins. To do this it was needful to show them that they had the knowledge of God, and the means of knowing what was right; and that the true source of their sins and idolatries was a corrupt and evil heart. WHEN... [ Continue Reading ]
PROFESSING THEMSELVES TO BE WISE - This was the common boast of the philosophers of antiquity. The very word by which they chose to be called, “philosophers,” means literally “lovers of wisdom.” That it was their boast that they were wise, is well known; compare Romans 1:14; 1 Corinthians 1:19, 1Co... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CHANGED - This does not mean that they literally “transmuted” God himself; but that in their views they exchanged him; or they changed him “as an object of worship” for idols. They produced, of course, no real change in the glory of the infinite God, but the change was in themselves. They forsoo... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE - That is, because they were unwilling to retain him in their knowledge, and chose to worship idols. Here is traced the practical tendency of paganism; not as an innocent and harmless system, but as resulting in the most gross and shameless acts of depravity. GOD GAVE THEM UP - He abandon... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD - This is a repetition of the declaration in Romans 1:23, in another form. The phrase, “the truth of God” is a Hebrew phrase, meaning “the true God.” In such a case, where two nouns come together, one is employed as an adjective to qualify the other. Most commonly the la... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CAUSE - On account of what had just been specified; to wit, that they did not glorify him as God, that they were unthankful, that they became polytheists and idolaters. In the previous verses he had stated their speculative belief. He now proceeds to show its practical influences on their c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LIKEWISE THE MEN ... - The sin which is here specified is what was the shameful sin of Sodom, and which from that has been called sodomy. It would scarcely be credible that man had been guilty of a crime so base and so degrading, unless there was ample and full testimony to it. Perhaps there is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE ... - This was the true source of their crimes. They did not choose to acknowledge God. It was not because they could not, but because they were displeased with God, and chose to forsake him, and follow their own passions and lusts. TO RETAIN GOD ... - To think of him,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING FILLED - That is, the things which he specifies were common or abounded among them. This is a strong phrase, denoting that these things were so often practiced as that it might be said they were full of them. We have a phrase like this still, when we say of one that he is full of mischief, etc... [ Continue Reading ]
BACKBITERS - Those Who calumniate, slander, or speak ill of those who are absent. Whisperers declare secretly, and with great reserve, the supposed faults of others. Backbiters proclaim them publicly and avowedly. HATERS OF GOD - There is no charge which can be brought against people more severe tha... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING - Inconsiderate, or foolish; see Romans 1:21. COVENANT BREAKERS - Perfidious; false to their contracts. WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTIONS - This expression denotes the lack of affectionate regard toward their children. The attachment of parents to children is one of the strongest in... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO KNOWING - That the Gentiles had a moral sense, or were capable of knowing the will of God in this case, is clear from Romans 2:14. The means which they had of arriving at the knowledge of God were, their own reason, their conscience, and an observation of the effects of depravity. THE JUDGMENT... [ Continue Reading ]