A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE; he first places himself with the whole body of believers as "a servant of Jesus Christ," and then, in accordance with his usual custom, asserts his apostolic calling; for when he writes to a church he wishes to do so with the authority of an apostl... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HE HAD PROMISED AFORE; he is careful to show at the outset that the gospel is no new religion, but the fulfilment of the promises made in the Old Testament to the fathers.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEED OF DAVID; a descendant of David. ACCORDING TO THE FLESH; as to his human nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
DECLARED-WITH POWER; powerfully, conclusively manifested to be THE SON OF GOD-ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS; as to his divine nature. The words, "according to the Spirit of holiness," stand in contrast with the words, "according to the flesh," and seem to denote the divine Spirit of Christ, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
BY WHOM; Jesus Christ. GRACE AND APOSTLESHIP; the office of apostle, with that special grace which qualifies us to discharge its duties aright. Ephesians 3:8. In using the word "we," he joins himself with the other apostles. FOR OBEDIENCE; that men of all nations might be led to obey Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE-PEACE; in this apostolic prayer Jesus Christ is joined with the Father as the source from which grace and peace flow; which could not be, were he not equal with the Father in power and glory. Grace is the favor of God bestowed on men through Jesus Christ, and peace is its effect. Grace and pea... [ Continue Reading ]
TO COME UNTO YOU; for the apostle had not yet been in Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIRITUAL GIFT; in the widest sense, including all that spiritual edification that comes from the Holy Spirit through the communication of the truth. ESTABLISHED; in the faith and practice of the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY BE COMFORTED TOGETHER WITH YOU; lest he should seem arrogant in making himself a mere giver of spiritual good, he explains that he means the mutual edification of himself and the Roman Christians by their mutual intercourse. Christian intercourse is earnestly desired by Christian hearts,... [ Continue Reading ]
LET; hindered. SOME FRUIT; be the means of good in Rome, as he had been in other places.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM DEBTOR; he was under obligation in consequence of what Christ had done for him. GREEKS AND BARBARIANS-WISE AND UNWISE; polished and rude, learned and ignorant. When Christ imparts to any one the blessings of his grace, it lays him under peculiar obligations to do good as he has opportunity; es... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS THE POWER OF GOD; that through which he exerts his saving power on all who believe and obey it. JEW FIRST; the gospel was first preached to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. As the gospel is the means by which God exerts on men his saving power, it should be preached to all people; and as neith... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREIN IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD REVEALED FROM FAITH TO FAITH; in the original the words "from faith" are the same that are often elsewhere rendered "of faith," chap Romans 4:16; Romans 10:6; GALATIANS 3:7; Galatians 3:9; Galatians 3:12; and they may be so rendered here. This will give the follow... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED; the word "for" connects this verse immediately with the preceding, as much as to say, There is need of such a righteousness as the gospel reveals, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, etc. He then proceeds to show, in the remainder of the chapter, how the G... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN; the character of God as manifested in his works. GOD HATH SHOWED IT; in creation and providence.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE CREATION; ever since the creation. HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GODHEAD; his divinity, and worthiness of being loved, adored, and obeyed. WITHOUT EXCUSE; having no reason for disobeying him. All to whom God has manifested himself in creation and providence, who do not worship him and are not tha... [ Continue Reading ]
KNEW GOD; knew so much of him as to know that they ought to worship and serve him. GLORIFIED HIM NOT; did not honor and obey him as God. VAIN IN THEIR IMAGINATIONS; senseless and wicked in their thoughts and reasonings about the proper object of worship. FOOLISH HEART; their perverse, wicked mind... [ Continue Reading ]
PROFESSING THEMSELVES TO BE WISE; pretending to great wisdom. BECAME FOOLS; exhibited the greatest folly.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHANGED; exchanged the one only living and true God for images of birds, beasts, and reptiles. The doing of what persons know to be wrong blinds their minds, hardens their hearts, and makes them more wicked than they were before. As a punishment for their sins, God often suffers them to commit other... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD ALSO; as a punishment for their sins in thus dishonoring him, abandoned them to the dominion of corrupt desires, appetites, and passions; and suffered them to commit the vilest abominations to their ruin.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD INTO A LIE; the true God for an idol, or false god. MORE THAN; instead of. BLESSED FOR EVER; worthy of eternal love and praise.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS CAUSE; because of their wickedness in not worshipping him and in worshipping idols.... [ Continue Reading ]
REPROBATE MIND; a mind abhorred of God, and upon which his curse rests. NOT CONVENIENT; not fit or proper, a disgrace to human nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THE JUDGMENT OF GOD; their desert of his wrath. WORTHY OF DEATH; justly exposed to it. DO THE SAME; commit the crimes mentioned. HAVE PLEASURE; are pleased with others who commit them and encourage them in their crimes. The history of the world in all ages shows, that all means to overcom... [ Continue Reading ]