THE REJECTION OF ISRAEL NO DISPARAGEMENT OR DISPROOF OF THE GOSPEL The Apostle sorrows over the exclusion of Israel (Romans 9:1), but their exclusion does not involve any breach of God's promises, for He always made a selection, even among the members of the chosen family (Romans 9:6). This cannot b... [ Continue Reading ]
IN CHRIST] see on Romans 6:11; Colossians 3:9. IN THE HOLY GHOST] i.e. under His influence.... [ Continue Reading ]
I COULD WISH] i.e. if it were lawful and possible. ACCURSED] RV 'anathema,' reproducing the Gk.: cp. 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8.; The word is used in LXX of that which is devoted to God, either as an offering (cp. Leviticus 27:28.), or for destruction as evil: cp. Joshua... [ Continue Reading ]
ISRAELITES] 'Israel' being the name given by God to Jacob, 'Israelite' described the Jew as the inheritor of God's promises: cp. Romans 11:1; 2 Corinthians 11:22. ADOPTION] i.e. of Israel by God as first-born son among other nations: cp. Exodus 4:22. GLORY] i.e. the light by which God's presence was... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM, etc.] RV 'of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh.' GOD] cp. John 1:1; John 10:30; Colossians 2:9. 6-13. Jewish opponents argued that the privileges enumerated in the last section were guaranteed to them as a nation, unless God broke His word. St. Paul replies that God is not bound to th... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'But _it is_ not as though the word of God hath come to nought.' ISRAEL] in the sense of inheritors of the promise. OF ISRAEL] i.e. by physical descent from Jacob.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEED OF ABRAHAM] i.e. by natural descent. CHILDREN] i.e. inheriting privilege. In ISAAC, etc.] from Genesis 21:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN OF THE FLESH] i.e. those born into the family in the course of nature. CHILDREN OF GOD] i.e. partaking of the 'adoption' to special privilege spoken of in Romans 9:4. OF THE PROMISE] i.e. born in fulfilment of a promise: cp. Galatians 4:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD] RV 'a word.' AT THIS TIME] i.e. at this season next year (Genesis 18:10).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PURPOSE] i.e. the purpose of salvation which existed in God's mind before creation: cp. Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:9.; 2 Timothy 1:9. ACCORDING TO ELECTION] i.e. the method by which God carries out His purpose is the selection of individuals and nations to be its instruments. So the Jews were sele... [ Continue Reading ]
From Genesis 25:23..... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVED.. HATED] cp. Malachi 1:2. which refers to the nations of Israel and Edom, and expresses the historical fact that Israel had privileges which were denied to Edom. 'Hated' implies decided rejection, but not vindictiveness: cp. Luke 14:26 with Matthew 10:37. There is no reference to eternal salva... [ Continue Reading ]
From Exodus 33:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
RUNNETH] i.e. as a racer strives.... [ Continue Reading ]
From Exodus 9:16. RAISED THEE UP] i.e. as king. St. Paul quotes Scripture to show that it was simply due to God's choice that Pharaoh, not some one else, was to be a world-wide example of God's power in punishment. It was not because of Pharaoh's nationality. The Apostle confines himself, here, to o... [ Continue Reading ]
HARDENETH] cp. Exodus 4:21. God is said to harden, because He has made man so that, by the constitution of his nature, hardening follows persistent disobedience. 19-29. It is now objected that if God's will is irresistible, He ought not to blame the Jews. The answer is that, first, it is presumptuo... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL THE THING] cp. Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 45:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
POWER] RV 'a right': cp. Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:6. HONOUR.. DISHONOUR] not referring to final salvation or condemnation, but to the inequalities of life. Nations as well as individuals are called to duties and positions of greater or less honour: cp. 2 Timothy 2:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
LONGSUFFERING] cp. Romans 2:4. VESSELS] the metaphor of the potter continued. OF WRATH] i.e. deserving wrath. FITTED] St. Paul does not say, 'God had made them fit for destruction' (contrast 'afore prepared,' Romans 9:23). They had become 'fitted for destruction,'because, being intractable under the... [ Continue Reading ]
MIGHT MAKE KNOWN] cp. Romans 11:11. OF MERCY] i.e. experiencing mercy. PREPARED] cp. Romans 8:28. 25, 26. From Hosea 1:10; Hosea 2:23 passages used freely and typically; originally speaking of the restoration of the Ten Tribes, who had become like those who were not God's people. 27, 28, 29. From... [ Continue Reading ]
A REMNANT] RV 'it is the remnant that shall be saved.'... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'for the Lord will execute his word' (i.e. sentence) 'upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short,' i.e. making it conclusive and brief. 30-33. The Jews have been rejected because they sought acceptance with God in their own way by meritorious works. They had not that faith which would mak... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOWED.. ATTAINED] as a runner in a race: cp. Philippians 3:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW] RV 'a law.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW] RV 'by works.' FOR] RV omits. STUMBLING STONE] cp. 1 Corinthians 1:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
A combination of two passages. In Isaiah 28:16 the prophet spoke of a foundation stone which God was laying, and which would give a sense of security to those who trusted His promise. In Isaiah 8:14 the prophet spoke of Jehovah as being a stumbling-block to the unbeliever. St. Paul combines the two... [ Continue Reading ]