Paul [π α υ λ ο ς]. A transcript for the Latin paulus or paullus, meaning little. It was a favorite name among the Cilicians, and the nearest approach in sound to the Hebrew Saul. According to some, both names were borne by him in his childhood, Paulus being the one by which he was known among the G... [ Continue Reading ]
Had promised afore [π ρ ο ε π η γ γ ε ι λ α τ ο]. Only here in the New Testament. Rev., He promised afore. Paul's Old Testament training is manifest. Naturally, in beginning the more precise description of the new revelation, he refers first to its connection with ancient prophecy. The verb ejpaggel... [ Continue Reading ]
Concerning His son. Connect with promised afore. Christ is the great personal object to which the promise referred.... [ Continue Reading ]
Declared [ο ρ ι σ θ ε ν τ ο ς]. Rev., in margin, determined. The same verb as in the compound separated in ver. 1 Bengel says that it expresses more than "separated," since one of a number is separated, but only one is defined or declared. Compare Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31 It means to designate one for... [ Continue Reading ]
We have received [ε λ α β ο μ ε ν]. Aorist tense. Rev., we received. The categorical plural, referring to Paul, and not including the other apostles, since the succeeding phrase, among all the nations, points to himself alone as the apostle to the Gentiles Grace and apostleship. Grace, the general g... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye also. As Romans among other Gentiles : not, called as I am called.... [ Continue Reading ]
In Rome [ε ν ρ ω μ η]. The words are omitted in a MS. Of the tenth or eleventh century, and in a cursive 14 of the eleventh or twelfth. The words ejn Efesw in Ephesus, are also omitted from Ephesians 1:1, by two of the oldest MSS. On which fact has arisen the theory that the Ephesian Epistle was enc... [ Continue Reading ]
First [π ρ ω τ ο ν μ ε ν]. Not above all, but in the first place. The form of the phrase leads us to expect a succeeding clause introduced by secondly or next; but this is omitted in the fullness and rapidity of Paul's thought, which so often makes him negligent of the balance of his clauses. Throu... [ Continue Reading ]
I serve [λ α τ ρ ε υ ω]. See on Luke 1:74. The word was used in a special sense to denote the service rendered to Jehovah by the Israelites as His peculiar people. See Romans 9:4; Acts 26:7. Compare Hebrews 9:1; Hebrews 9:6. As in his Philippian letter, Paul here appropriates the Jewish word for the... [ Continue Reading ]
I might have a prosperous journey [ε υ ο δ ω θ η σ ο μ α ι]. Rev., I may be prospered. The A. V. brings out the etymological force of the word. See on 3 John 1:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Some spiritual gift [τ ι χ α ρ ι σ μ α]. Note the modesty in some. Carisma is a gift of grace [χ α ρ ι ς] a favor received without merit on the recipient's part. Paul uses it both in this ordinary sense (ch. Acts 5:15; Acts 5:16; Acts 6:23), and in a special, technical sense, denoting extraordinary... [ Continue Reading ]
That is [τ ο υ ο υ δ ε ε σ τ ι ν]. The A. V. and Rev. omit de however, thus losing an important shade of meaning. That is is not merely an explanatory repetition of the preceding phrase, but modifies the idea contained in it. It is a modest and delicate explanation, by which Paul guards himself agai... [ Continue Reading ]
I would not have you ignorant. An emphatic expression calling special attention to what follows. Compare 1 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:13. Have some fruit [τ ι ν α κ α ρ π ο ν σ χ ω]. the phrase, compare ch. 6 22. A metaphorical statement of what is stated literally in ver. 11. Not equivalen... [ Continue Reading ]
Debtor [ο φ ε ι λ ε τ η ς]. All men, without distinction of nation or culture, are Paul's creditors, "He owes them his life, his person, in virtue of the grace bestowed upon him, and of the office which he has received." (Godet). Greeks - Barbarians. Gentiles without distinction. Paul takes the con... [ Continue Reading ]
To you also that are in Rome. To you refers to the christian Church, not to the population generally. In every verse, from 6 to 13, uJmeiv you refers to the Church.... [ Continue Reading ]
For [γ α ρ]. Marking the transition from the introduction to the treatise. "I am ready to preach at Rome, for, though I might seem to be deterred by the contempt in which the Gospel is held, and by the prospect of my own humiliation as its preacher, I am not ashamed of it." The transition occupies v... [ Continue Reading ]
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed [δ ι κ α ι ο σ υ ν η γ α ρ θ ε ο υ ε ν α υ τ ω α π ο κ α λ υ π τ ε τ α ι]. Rev., more correctly, therein is revealed a righteousness of God. The absence of the article denotes that a peculiar kind of righteousness is meant. This statement contains the... [ Continue Reading ]
For. All men require this mode of justification, for all men are sinners, and therefore exposed to God's wrath. The wrath of God [ο ρ γ η θ ε ο υ]. Not punishment, but the personal emotion. See on John 3:36. Ungodliness and unrighteousness [α σ ε β ε ι α ν κ α ι α δ ι κ ι α ν]. Irreligiousness an... [ Continue Reading ]
That which may be known [τ ο γ ν ω σ τ ο ν]. So A. V. and Rev., as equivalent to that which is knowable. But that which is knowable was not revealed to the heathen. If it was, what need of a revelation? Better, that which is known, the universal sense in the New Testament, signifying the universal o... [ Continue Reading ]
The invisible things of Him. The attributes which constitute God's nature, afterward defined as "His eternal power and divinity." From the creation [α π ο]. From the time of. Rev., since. Are clearly seen [κ α θ ο ρ α τ α ι]. We have here an oxymoron, literally a pointedly foolish saying; a saying... [ Continue Reading ]
Knowing - glorified not. "I think it may be proved from facts that any given people, down to the lowest savages, has at any period of its life known far more than it has done : known quite enough to have enabled it to have got on comfortably, thriven and developed, if it had only done what no man do... [ Continue Reading ]