Romans 10:1

Brethren [Seven times in this Epistle Paul thus addresses the brethren at Rome generally (Romans 1:13; Romans 8:12; Romans 11:25; Romans 12:1; Romans 15:14; Romans 15:30; Romans 16:17). Twice he thus addresses the Christian Jews (Romans 7:1; Romans 7:4), and this "brethren" is evidently a third time they are especially spoken to. So thought Chrysostom, Bengel, Pool, Alford, Barnes, Hodge, etc. "Dropping now," says Bengel, "the severity of the preceding discussion, he kindly styles them brethren"], my heart's desire [literally, "my heart's eudokia, or good pleasure, or good will" (Luke 2:14; Ephesians 1:5-9; Philippians 1:15; Philippians 2:13). At Matthew 11:26; and Luke 10:21; it is translated "well pleasing"; at 2 Thessalonians 1:11; the literal "fulfil every good pleasure of goodness" is translated, "fulfil every desire of goodness." Eudokia does not mean desire, but we have no English word which better translates Paul's use of it. Stuart conveys the idea fairly in a paraphrase "the benevolent and kind desire"] and my supplication to God is for them [the Israelites], that they may be saved. [Those who tell our faults and foretell their punishment usually appear to us to be our enemies. Paul described the sin and rejection of Israel so clearly that many of them would be apt to think that he prayed for their punishment. This did him gross wrong. Every time the Evangelist denounces sin from love toward the sinner. (Comp. Galatians 4:16) As to the apostle's prayer, it showed that his conception of foreordination was not Calvinistic. It would be of no avail to pray against God's irrevocable decree; but it was very well worth while to pray against Jewish stubbornness in unbelief, trusting to the measureless resources of God to find a remedy. So the remark of Bengel is pertinent, "Paul would not have prayed, had they been utterly reprobates." Paul's prayer being in the Spirit (Romans 9:1) was a pledge that no fixed decree prevented God from forgiving, if Israel would only repent and seek forgiveness.]