WHAT ADVANTAGE ... - The design of the first part of this chapter is
to answer some of the objections which might be offered by a Jew to
the statements in the last chapter. The first objection is stated in
this verse. A Jew would naturally ask, if the view which the apostle
had given were correct, w... [ Continue Reading ]
MUCH EVERY WAY - Or, in every respect. This is the answer of the
apostle to the objection in Romans 3:1.
CHIEFLY - That is, this is the principal advantage, and one including
all others. The main benefit of being a Jew is, to possess the sacred
Scriptures and their instructions.
UNTO THEM WERE COM... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT IF SOME DID NOT BELIEVE? - This is to be regarded as another
objection of a Jew. “What then? or what follows? if it be admitted
that some of the nation did not believe, does it not follow that the
faithfulness of God in his promises will fail?” The points of the
objection are these:
* The... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD FORBID - Greek. Let not this be. The sense is, “let not this by
any means be supposed.” This is the answer of the apostle, showing
that no such consequence followed from his doctrines; and that
“if” any such consequence should follow, the doctrine should be at
once abandoned, and that every man,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF OUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS - If our sin. The particular sin which had
been specified Romans 3:3 was “unbelief.” But the apostle here
gives the objection a general form. This is to be regarded as an
objection which a Jew might make. The force of it is this:
* It had been conceded that some had not... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD FORBID - Note, Romans 3:4.
FOR THEN - If it be admitted that it would be unjust for God to
inflict punishment.
HOW SHALL GOD ... - How will it be right or consistent for him to
judge the world.
JUDGE - To “judge” implies the possibility and the correctness of
“condemning” the guilty; for if it... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF ... - This is an objection similar to the former. It is indeed
but another form of the same.
THE TRUTH OF GOD - His truth or faithfulness in adhering to his
threatenings. God threatened to punish the guilty. By their guilt he
will take occasion to show his own truth; or their crime will furn... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT RATHER - This is the answer of the apostle. He meets the
objection by showing its tendency if carried out, and if it were made
a principle of conduct. The meaning is, “If the glory of God is to
be promoted by sin, and if a man is not therefore to be condemned, or
held guilty for it; if this... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN? - This is another remark supposed to be made by a Jewish
objector. “What follows? or are we to infer that we are better than
others?
ARE WE BETTER THAN THEY? - Are we Jews better than the Gentiles? Or
rather, have we any preference, or advantage as to character and
prospects, over the Ge... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN - The apostle is reasoning with Jews; and he proceeds
to show from their own Scriptures, that what he had affirmed was true.
The point to be proved was, that the Jews, in the matter of
justification, had no advantage or preference over the Gentiles; that
the Jew had failed to keep t... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH - In the Hebrew Psalms 14:2, God is
represented as looking down from heaven to see, that is, to make
investigation, whether there were any that understood or sought after
him. This circumstance gives not only high poetic beauty to the
passage, but deep solemnity and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE ALL GONE OUT OF THE WAY - They have “declined” from the
true path of piety and virtue.
THEY ARE TOGETHER - They have at the same time; or they have equally
become unprofitable. They are as one; they are joined, or united in
this declension. The expression denotes union, or similarity.
BE... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR THROAT ... - This expression is taken from Psalms 5:9, literally
from the Septuagint. The design of the psalm is to reprove those who
were false, traitorous, slanderous, etc. Psalms 5:6. The psalmist has
the sin of deceit, and falsehood, and slander particularly in his eye.
The expressions her... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE MOUTH - Psalms 10:7. The apostle has not quoted this literally,
but has given the sense. David in the psalm is describing his bitter
enemies.
CURSING - Reproachful and opprobrious language, such as Shimei used in
relation to David; 2 Samuel 16:5, 2 Samuel 16:7.
BITTERNESS - In the psalm, dec... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR FEET ... - The quotation in this and the two following verses,
is abridged or condensed from Isaiah 59:7. The expressions occur in
the midst of a description of the character of the nation in the time
of the prophet. The apostle has selected a few expressions out of
many, rather making a refer... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTRUCTION - That is, they “cause” the destruction or the ruin of
the reputation, happiness, and peace of others.
MISERY - Calamity, ruin.
IN THEIR WAYS - Wherever they go. This is a striking description not
only of the wicked then, but of all times. The tendency of their
conduct is to destroy th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WAY OF PEACE ... - What tends to promote their own happiness,
or that of others, they do not regard. Intent on their plans of evil,
they do not know or regard what is suited to promote the welfare of
themselves or others. This is the case with all who are selfish, and
who seek to gain their... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD - Psalms 36:1. The word “fear” here
denotes “reverence, awe, veneration.” There is no such regard or
reverence for the character, authority, and honor of God as to
restrain them from crime. Their conduct shows that they are not
withheld from the commission of iniquity by any... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WE KNOW - We all admit. It is a conceded plain point.
WHAT THINGS SOEVER - Whether given as precepts, or recorded as
historical facts. Whatever things are found in the Law. “The law
saith.” This means here evidently the Old Testament. From that the
apostle had been drawing his arguments, and hi... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW - By works; or by such deeds as the Law
requires. The word “Law” has, in the Scriptures, a great variety
of significations. Its strict and proper meaning is, a rule of conduct
prescribed by superior authority. The course of reasoning in these
chapters shows the sense in which... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW - The apostle, having shown the entire failure of all attempts
to be justified by the “Law,” whether among Jews or Gentiles,
proceeds to state fully the plan of justification by Jesus Christ in
the gospel. To do this, was the main design of the Epistle, Romans
1:17. He makes, therefore, in t... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD - The apostle, having stated that the
design of the gospel was to reveal a new plan of becoming just in the
sight of God, proceeds here more fully to explain it. The explanation
which he offers, makes it plain that the phrase so often used by him,
“righteousness of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED - This was the point which he had fully
established in the discussion in these chapters.
HAVE COME SHORT - Greek, “Are deficient in regard to;” are
lacking, etc. Here it means, that they had failed to obtain, or were
destitute of.
THE GLORY OF GOD - The praise or approbation of... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING JUSTIFIED - Being treated as if righteous; that is, being
regarded and treated as if they had kept the Law. The apostle has
shown that they could not be so regarded and treated by any merit of
their own, or by personal obedience to the Law. He now affirms that if
they were so treated, it must... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM GOD HATH SET FORTH - Margin, “Fore-ordained”
(προέθετο proetheto). The word properly means, “to place
in public view;” to exhibit in a conspicuous situation, as goods are
exhibited or exposed for sale, or as premiums or rewards of victory
were exhibited to public view in the games of the Greek... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THIS TIME - The time now since the Saviour has come, now is the
time when he manifests it.
THAT HE MIGHT BE JUST - This verse contains the substance of the
gospel. The word “just” here does not mean benevolent, or
merciful, though it may sometimes have that meaning; see the Matthew
1:19 note, als... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE IS BOASTING THEN? - Where is there ground or occasion of
boasting or pride? Since all have sinned, and since all have failed of
being able to justify themselves by obeying the Law, and since all are
alike dependent on the mere mercy of God in Christ, all ground of
boasting is of course taken a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE - As the result of the previous train of argument.
THAT A MAN - That all who are justified; that is, that there is no
other way.
IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH - Is regarded and treated as righteous, by
believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW - Without works as a meritori... [ Continue Reading ]
IS HE THE GOD ... - The Jews supposed that he was the God of their
nation only, that they only were to be admitted to his favor. In these
verses Paul showed that as all had alike sinned, Jews and Gentiles;
and as the plan of salvation by faith was adapted to sinners, without
any special reference to... [ Continue Reading ]
DO WE THEN MAKE VOID THE LAW - Do we render it vain and useless; do we
destroy its moral obligation; and do we prevent obedience to it, by
the doctrine of justification by faith? This was an objection which
would naturally be made; and which has thousands of times been since
made, that the doctrine... [ Continue Reading ]