I SAY THEN - This expression is to be regarded as conveying the sense of an objection. Paul, in the previous chapters, had declared the doctrine that all the Jews were to be rejected. To this a Jew might naturally reply, Is it to be believed, that God would cast off his people whom he had once chose... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD HATH SET CAST AWAY - This is an explicit denial of the objection. WHICH HE FOREKNEW - The word “foreknew” is expressive not merely of foreseeing a thing, but implies in this place a previous purpose or plan; see the note at Romans 8:29. The meaning of the passage is simply, God has not cast off... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, THEY HAVE KILLED ... - This is taken from 1 Kings 19:10. The quotation is not literally made, but the sense is preserved. This was a charge which Elijah brought against the whole nation; and the act of killing the prophets he regarded as expressive of the character of the people, or that they... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANSWER OF GOD - ὁ χρηματισμός ho chrēmatismos. This word is used no where else in the New Testament. It means an oracle, a divine response. It does not indicate the manner in which it was done, but implies only that it was an oracle, or answer made to his complaint by God. Such an answer, at... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THIS PRESENT TIME - In the time when the apostle wrote. Though the mass of the nation was to be rejected, yet it did not follow that all were to be excluded from the favor of God. As in the time of Elijah, when all appeared to be dark, and all the nation, except one, seemed to have become apostat... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF GRACE ... - If the fact that any are reserved be by grace, or favor, then it cannot be as a reward of merit. Paul thus takes occasion incidentally to combat a favorite notion of the Jews, that we are justified by obedience to the Law. He reminds them that in the time of Elijah it was because... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN? - What is the proper conclusion from this argument? “Israel hath not obtained.” That is, the Jews as a people have not obtained what they sought. They sought the favor of God by their own merit; and as it was impossible to obtain it in that manner, they have, as a people, failed of obtain... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING AS IT IS WRITTEN - That is, they are blinded in accordance with what is written. The fact and the manner accord with the ancient declaration. This is recorded in Isaiah 29:10, and in Deuteronomy 29:4. The same sentiment is found also substantially in Isaiah 6:9. The principal place referre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SAITH ... - This quotation is made from Psalms 69:22. This Psalm is repeatedly quoted as having reference to the events recorded in the New Testament. (See the note at Acts 1:2.) This quotation is introduced immediately after one that undoubtedly refers to the Lord Jesus. Psalms 69:21, “th... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE THEY STUMBLED THAT THEY SHOULD FALL? - This is to be regarded as an objection, which the apostle proceeds to answer. The meaning is, is it the design of God that the Jews should totally and irrecoverably be cast off? Even admitting that they are now unbelieving, that they have rejected the Mess... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE FALL OF THEM - If their lapse, or falling. If their temporal rejection and being cast off for a time has already accomplished so much. BE THE RICHES OF THE WORLD - The word “riches” means wealth, abundance of property; more than is necessary to the supply of our needs. Hence, it means also a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES - What I am saying respecting the Jews, I say with reference to you who are Gentiles, to show you in what manner you have been admitted to the privileges of the people of God; to excite your gratitude; to warn you against abusing those mercies. etc. As Paul also was appoi... [ Continue Reading ]
IF BY ANY MEANS - If even by stating unpleasant truths, if by bringing out all the counsel of God, even what threatens their destruction, I may arrest their attention, and save them. I MAY PROVOKE TO EMULATION - I may awaken up to zeal, or to an earnest desire to obtain the like blessings. This was... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THE CASTING AWAY OF THEM - If their rejection as the special people of God - their exclusion from their national privileges, on account of their unbelief. It is the same as “the fall of them;” Romans 11:12. BE THE RECONCILING OF THE WORLD - The word “reconciliation” καταλλαγή katallagē deno... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THE FIRST-FRUIT BE HOLY - The word “first-fruit” ἀπαρχή aparchē used here denotes the firstling of fruit or grain which was separated from the mass and presented as an offering to God. The Jews were required to present such a portion of their harvest to God, as an expression of gratitude a... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SOME OF THE BRANCHES - The illustration here is taken from the practice of those who ingraft trees. The useless branches, or those which bear poor fruit, are cut off, and a better kind inserted. “If some of the natural descendants of Abraham, the holy root, are cast off because they are unfruitfu... [ Continue Reading ]
BOAST NOT ... - The tendency of people is to triumph over one that is fallen and rejected. The danger of pride and boasting on account of privileges is not less in the church than elsewhere. Paul saw that some of the Gentiles might be in danger of exultation over the fallen Jews, and therefore cauti... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU WILT SAY THEN - Thou who art a Gentile. THE BRANCHES WERE BROKEN OFF ... - The Jews were rejected in order that the gospel might be preached to the Gentiles. This would seem to follow from what the apostle had said in Romans 11:11. Perhaps it might be said that there was some ground of exultat... [ Continue Reading ]
WELL - True. It is true they were broken off; but in order to show that there was no occasion for boasting, he adds that they were not rejected in order to admit others, but because of their unbelief, and that their fate should have a salutary impression on those who had no occasion for boasting, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF GOD ... - If God did not refrain from rejecting the Jews who became unbelievers, assuredly he will not refrain from rejecting you in the same circumstances. It may be supposed that he will be quite as ready to reject the ingrafted branches, as to cast off those which belonged to the parent st... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THEREFORE ... - Regard, or contemplate, for purposes of your own improvement and benefit, the dealings of God. We should look on all his dispensations of judgment or of mercy, and derive lessons from all to promote our own steadfast adherence to the faith of the gospel. THE GOODNESS - The b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY ALSO - The Jews. IF THEY BIDE NOT ... - If they do not continue in willful obstinacy and rejection of the Messiah. As their unbelief was the sole cause of their rejection, so if that be removed, they may be again restored to the divine favor. FOR GOD IS ABLE ... - He has, * Power to res... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THOU - If you who are Gentiles. WERT CUT OUT OF - Or, if thou wert of the cutting of the wild olive-tree. WHICH IS WILD BY NATURE - Which is uncultivated and unfruitful. That is, if you were introduced into a state of favor with God from a condition which was one of enmity and hostility to... [ Continue Reading ]
IGNORANT OF THIS MYSTERY - The word “mystery” means properly what is “concealed, hidden, or unknown.” And it especially refers, in the New Testament, to the truths or doctrines which God had reserved to himself, or had not before communicated. It does not mean, as with us often, that there was anyth... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO - That is, in this manner; or when the great abundance of the Gentiles shall be converted, then all Israel shall be saved. ALL ISRAEL - All the Jews. It was a maxim among the Jews that “every Israelite should have part in the future age.” (Grotius.) The apostle applies that maxim to his own p... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT ... - This expression is found immediately following the other in Isaiah 59:21. But the apostle connects with it a part of another promise taken from Jeremiah 31:33; or rather he abridges that promise, and expresses its substance, by adding “when I shall take away their sins.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS CONCERNING THE GOSPEL - So far as the gospel is concerned; or, in order to promote its extension and spread through the earth. THEY ARE ENEMIES - The word “enemies” here stands opposed to “beloved;” and as in one respect, to wit, on account of “election,” they were still beloved, that is, belove... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE GIFTS - The favors or benefits which God bestows on men. The word χάρισμα charisma properly denotes any benefit which is conferred on another as a mere matter of favor, and not of reward; see Romans 5:15; Romans 6:23. Such are all the favors which God bestows on sinners including pardon, pe... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS YE - You who were Gentiles. IN TIMES PAST - Before the gospel was preached. This refers to the former idolatrous and sinful state of the pagan world; compare Ephesians 2:2; Acts 14:16. HAVE NOT BELIEVED GOD - Or have not obeyed God. This was the character of all the pagan nations. YET HAVE... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN SO HAVE THESE ... - That is, the Jews. THAT THROUGH YOUR MERCY ... - The immediate effect of the unbelief of the Jews was to confer salvation on the Gentiles, or to open the way for the preaching of the gospel to them. But its remote effect would be to secure the preaching of the gospel again... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD HATH CONCLUDED ... - The word translated here “concluded” sunekleise, is rendered in the margin “shut them all up together.” It is properly used in reference to those who are shut up in prison, or to those in a city who are shut up by a besieging army; 1 Macc. 5:5; 6:18; 11:65; 15:25; Joshua... [ Continue Reading ]
O THE DEPTH ... - This passage should have been translated “O the depth of the riches, and of the wisdom, and of the knowledge of God.” The apostle has three subjects of admiration. Our translation, by the word “both” introduced here, confines it to two. The apostle wishes to express his admiration... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHO HATH KNOWN? ... - This verse is a quotation, with a slight change, from Isaiah 40:13, “Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” It is designed to express the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God, by affirming that no being could teach him, or counse... [ Continue Reading ]
OR WHO HATH ... - The sentiment in this verse is found substantially in Job 41:11. “Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him.” The Hebrew word “prevented” means to anticipate, to go before; and God asks who has anticipated me; who has conferred favors on me before I have on him; who has thus l... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OF HIM - εξ αὐτοῦ ex autou; compare 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6. This expression doubtless means that he is the original source and fountain of all blessings. He is the Creator of all, the rich “fountain from which all streams of existence take their rise. The design of this verse is... [ Continue Reading ]