_What shall we say then_ The apostle, in the preceding chapter, having shown the impossibility of man's being justified by the merit of his obedience to any law, moral or ceremonial, or any otherwise than _by grace through faith_, judged it necessary, for the sake of the Jews, to consider the case o... [ Continue Reading ]
_For what saith the Scripture?_ What is Moses's account of this matter? _Abraham believed God_ Namely, that promise of God, recorded Genesis 15:5, that he should have a seed numerous as the stars. As also the promise concerning Christ, mentioned Genesis 12:3, through whom all nations should be bless... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now to him that worketh_ All that the law requires; _is the reward not reckoned of grace_ Or mere favour; _but of debt_ It is due to his merit. Not that God can properly and strictly be a debtor to any creature, in respect of communicative justice; but if man had continued in that state of holiness... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even as David also_ David is fitly introduced after Abraham, because he also received and delivered down the promise; _describeth the blessedness_ or happiness _of the man_ Or affirms that the man is blessed, or happy; _unto whom God imputeth righteousness_ Or whom he accounts righteous, accepts as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cometh this blessedness_ Mentioned by Abraham and David; _on the circumcision_ Those that are circumcised only? _or upon the uncircumcision also?_ The _circumcision_ are the Jews, the members of God's visible church, and the _uncircumcision_ are the Gentiles, who are out of the visible church. In t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ After he was justified; _he received the sign of circumcision_ Circumcision which was intended to be a sign, or token, of his being in covenant with God, and an emblem of that circumcision of the heart, which, even under that dispensation of divine grace, was, and still is, necessary to salvat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore it_ The blessing; _is of faith, that it might be by grace_ That it might appear to flow from the free love of God; that God might magnify the riches of his grace, in proposing justification and eternal life to us, in a way that might, in multitudes of instances, be effectual. A righteousn... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who_, &c. In this paragraph the apostle first takes notice of the difficulties which stood in the way of Abraham's faith, and then of the power and excellence of it, manifested in its triumphing over them. _Against hope_ Against all probability; _believed in hope_ With an assured confidence, ground... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now it was not written_ In the sacred records, which are to reach the remotest ages; _for his sake alone_ Merely or chiefly to do a personal honour to that illustrious patriarch; _but for us also_ For our sakes likewise; namely, to direct, encourage, and establish us in seeking justification by fai... [ Continue Reading ]