_THE STRONG MUST BEAR WITH THE WEAK. WE MAY NOT PLEASE OURSELVES, FOR CHRIST DID NOT SO; BUT RECEIVE ONE THE OTHER, AS CHRIST DID US ALL, BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES. PAUL EXCUSETH HIS WRITING, PROMISETH TO SEE THEM, AND REQUESTETH THEIR PRAYERS._ _Anno Domini 58._ THE Apostle, in the 7th verse of this... [ Continue Reading ]
WE THEN THAT ARE STRONG, &C.— According to our translation, one would suppose that this verse is an inference from the latter part of the foregoing chapter:—as if it were, _We therefore who are strong,_ &c. whereas it is in the Greek, _But we who are strong:_ and it stands in immediate connection wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN— In Psalms 69:9. That this psalm was undoubtedly spoken of the Messiah, we learn from Romans 15:22 applied to Christ, John 19:28 and from the former part of the verse here cited; namely, _The zeal of thine house hath confirmed me,_ applied to Christ, John 2:17. And the Jews themselv... [ Continue Reading ]
GRANT YOU TO BE LIKE-MINDED— The original properly signifies, "To agree in an harmonious and affectionate manner;" and might be read, _Grant you_ or _give you the same mutual affection, according to the example of Jesus Christ._ See Raphelius, and Galatians 4:28, 1 Peter 1:15, Ephesians 4:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE MAY WITH ONE MIND, &C.— It does not appear how this can be otherwise understood than of public worship; and it shews, that _glorifying_ or praising God for his grace in Christ Jesus, is a principal part of Christian worship, in which all should join _with one mind and one mouth._... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE RECEIVE YE ONE ANOTHER— This cannot mean, "Receive one another into church communion;" for there is no appearance that the convert Jews and Gentiles separated communion in Rome, on account of differences about meats and drinks, and days. We should have heard more of it from St. Paul, if th... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I SAY THAT JESUS CHRIST, &C.— The connection of this and the next verse is evident, by only repeating in our own minds the words,_I say,_ at the beginning of the 9th, _Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision, on account of the truth of God, to confirm,_ or _make good the p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AGAIN HE SAITH, REJOICE, &C.— It would have been better to have rendered these words impersonally; _Again it is said:_ for according to our version, it seems as if the words quoted in this verse were written by the same person as those in the preceding verse; whereas the former are from the book... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST— Rather _hope,_ says Mr. Locke: not that there is any material difference in the signification of _trust_ and _hope,_ but the better to express and answer St. Paul's way of writing; with whom it is familiar, when he has been speaking of any virtue or grace, whereof Go... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I MYSELF ALSO AM PERSUADED, &C.— In this part of the chapter, the Apostle, with much complaisance, and to open the way still farther for a candid receptionofthe sacred truths which he had delivered, apologizes for writing this letter, and for the freedom that he had used, particularly with the G... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SOME SORT— 'Απο μερους. The word μερος is a part of any thing, or company of men; and may signify _part of_ or _a party_ among the people to whom the Apostle writes, or of whom he speaks; Romans 11:25, 2 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 2:5. That it has this sense here, and signifies the Gentile p... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE OFFERING-UP OF THE GENTILES, &C.— This sentiment seems to be taken from Isaiah 66:20. Themeaning is, "That the offering of the Gentiles to God, as a holy sacrifice, by my hands, may be acceptable to him; being sanctified and set apart by the Holy Spirit so plentifully communicated to them,... [ Continue Reading ]
THINGS WHICH PERTAIN TO GOD— We have the same phrase, Hebrews 5:1 where it signifies the things that were offered to God in the temple ministration. St. Paul, by way of allusion, speaks of the Gentiles in the foregoing verse, as an offering to be made to God; and then here he tells them, that he had... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO IIYRICUM— Though it is evident from this passage, that St. Paul, before the date of this Epistle, which was about the year 58, had preached the Gospel in these regions, it is observable that St. Luke takes no notice hereof in the history of the Acts; where he also omits to mention the journey w... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HAVE I LIVED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, &C.— _So have I been ambitious,_ &c. The Apostle could not mean that he scorned to come after any other Christian minister, especially after what we read of his going to preach the Gospel at Damascus, Antioch, and Jerusalem. It may signify, that, far from declin... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO SPAIN— It hence appears probable, considering the principle by which St. Paul chose to govern himself, of _not building on another man's foundation,_ that no Apostle had as yet planted any church in Spain; which very ill agrees with the "Legend of _St. James;"_ for, according to that, _he_ had... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW I GO UNTO JERUSALEM— He means (as appears from Romans 15:26.) to carry the money which he had collected among the Gentile Christians in Macedonia and Achaia, for the relief of the poor Christians at Jerusalem. This was an affair which lay near his heart, and about which he had taken much pai... [ Continue Reading ]
_ROMANS 15:28_. W_HEN—I HAVE PERFORMED THIS,_ &C.— _Dispatched this affair, and have secured to them this collection._ See Doddridge.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SHALL COME IN THE FULNESS OF THE BLESSING— He may be understood to mean here, that he should be able to satisfy them, that the forgiveness of sins was to be obtained by the Gospel; for that he shews, ch. Romans 4:6. And they had as much title to it by the Gospel, as the Jews themselves; which was... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE SPIRIT— "By that love, which is the genuine fruit of the Spirit." Some would explain this of the love which the Spirit of God bears to us, or the affection which we owe to that gracious Person. The words rendered _strive together with me,_ signify, "That you join your utmost... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY BE DELIVERED, &C.— How extreme their bigotry and rage were, appears from their behavior to him at the very time here referred to, Acts, xxi-xxiv. It was from a sense of the great importance of his life to the cause of Christianity, that he is thus urgent; else we may be assured, that he w... [ Continue Reading ]