What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision? [Paul's argument was well calculated to astonish the Jews. If some notable Christian should argue conclusively that the Christian and the infidel stood on an equal footing before God, his argument would not be more startling to... [ Continue Reading ]
Much every way: first of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. [To the circumcised Jew God had given the Scriptures. The law, the Psalms, the prophets were his, with all the revelations and promises therein contained. They revealed man's origin, his fall and his promised redemption;... [ Continue Reading ]
For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?... [ Continue Reading ]
God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written [Psalms 51:4], _That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment_. [True, the Jew, by unbelief, had failed to improve his advantage in possessing the Scriptures; but that d... [ Continue Reading ]
But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.) [I am not expressing my own views, but those of the man who objects to the truth I am presenting.]... [ Continue Reading ]
God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?... [ Continue Reading ]
But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?... [ Continue Reading ]
and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just. [But some of you Jews, objecting to my argument, will say, "According to your statements, the unbelief and disobedience of us Jews, with reference to God's S... [ Continue Reading ]
What then? Are we [Jews]_ better than they?_ [The Gentiles.] _No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin_ [Having met the effort of the Jew to make an exception in his case, as set forth in Romans 3:5; the apostle now reaffirms his original... [ Continue Reading ]
as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;... [ Continue Reading ]
There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;... [ Continue Reading ]
They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one [Psalms 14:1-3; Psalms 53:1-3]:... [ Continue Reading ]
Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit [Psalms 5:9]: _The poison of asps is under their lips_ [Psalms 140:3]:... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness [Psalms 10:7]:... [ Continue Reading ]
Their feet are swift to shed blood;... [ Continue Reading ]
Destruction and misery are in their ways;... [ Continue Reading ]
And the way of peace have they not known [Isaiah 59:7-8]:... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no fear of God before their eyes. [Psalms 36:1. The above quotations are placed in logical order. "The arrangement is such," says Meyer, "that testimony is adduced: first, for the state of sin generally (Romans 3:10-12); second, the practice of sin in word (Romans 3:13-14) and deed (Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law [i. e., to the Jews]; _that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God_ :... [ Continue Reading ]
because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin. [Having, by his quotations from the Old Testament, shown that the Jew was sinful, the apostle sets forth the result of this sin. Does the law provide any remedy? Is the Jew righ... [ Continue Reading ]
But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets [Having shut up all under condemnation for sin under the law with its works, Paul turns now to point all to freedom and justification under the gospel with its grace. This section of t... [ Continue Reading ]
even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;... [ Continue Reading ]
for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;... [ Continue Reading ]
being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus [The apostle adds four additional details, viz.: 1. This, justification is conditional, being obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. 2. It is bestowed upon Jew and Gentile without distinction, for both classes, havin... [ Continue Reading ]
whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;... [ Continue Reading ]
for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus. [God set forth (or exhibited in his blood on the cross) Jesus Christ to be a propitiatory sacrifice (i. e., a sacrifice which would justify God in pa... [ Continue Reading ]
Where then is the glorying? [Romans 2:17; Romans 2:23] _It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith_. [In all that portion of this Epistle embraced between 2:17-3:20, Paul has been demolishing the boastful spirit of the Jew. As he ends his successful argument, he paus... [ Continue Reading ]
We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also :... [ Continue Reading ]
if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. [Therefore, as the conclusion of the whole argument, we reckon that every man, be he Jew or Gentile, is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. If only those who kept the law o... [ Continue Reading ]
Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law. [Does the conclusion, proved by my argument, make the law of none effect? God forbid: on the contrary, it establishes the law by clearing it of misunderstanding. It was given to show that no man could attain... [ Continue Reading ]