X. (1) MY HEART’S DESIRE. — Strictly, _the goodwill of my heart._ The earlier portion of this chapter is occupied with a more particular exposition of the cause of Israel’s rejection, which has been just alleged. They sought to do a hard thing — to work out a righteousness for themselves — instead... [ Continue Reading ]
A ZEAL OF GOD, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. — It would be difficult to find a more happy description of the state of the Jews at this period. They had “a zeal for God.” “The Jew,” said Josephus, “knows the Law better than his own name... The sacred rules were punctually observed... The great feas... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS. — See Romans 1:17; Romans 3:21. THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. — A righteousness founded on their own works.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE END OF THE LAW. — “End,” in the proper sense of termination or conclusion. Christ is that which brings the functions of the Law to an end by superseding it. “The Law pursues a man until he takes refuge in Christ; then it says, Thou hast found thine asylum; I shall trouble thee no more, now thou... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MOSES DESCRIBETH. — The Law required an actual literal fulfilment. Its essence consisted in works. “The man which _doeth_ these things shall live.” BY THEM. — The true reading is, probably, _in it_ — _i.e.,_ the righteousness just mentioned. “The man who doeth this righteousness” (according to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS. — In opposition to this righteousness of works, so laborious and so impracticable, the Apostle adduces another quotation to show that the righteousness which depends on faith is much easier and simpler. The original of the quotation has, indeed, a quite different application.... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE DEEP. — In the original, _beyond the sea._ The word which St. Paul uses is found in the LXX. for “the sea,” but here means _the abyss of Hades. _... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH. — Interesting as containing the earliest formal confession of faith; that in Acts 8:37 (see Note there) is not genuine. There is no opposition between the outward confession and the inward act of faith. The one is regarded as the necessary consequence and expre... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH. — _All_ who believe shall be saved, for, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SAME LORD OVER ALL IS RICH. — Rather, _for the same Lord_ (is Lord) ov_er all, abounding,_ &c. Christ is the Lord alike of Jew and of Gentile. (Comp. Ephesians 4:5.)... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD. — Originally, as meaning “of Jehovah,” but with especial reference to the Messianic Advent. Here, therefore, it is applied to our Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
(14-21) Thus there is a distinct order — belief, confession, invocation. But before either the last or the first of these steps is taken the gospel must be preached. The Jew, however, cannot plead that the gospel has not been preached to him. It _has_ been preached both to Jew and Gentile. Both Mose... [ Continue Reading ]
The happy consequences of this preaching were already intimated by the prophet Isaiah. PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. — These words are omitted in the group of oldest MSS., and should be left out in the text. The whole of the quotation is not given by St. Paul.... [ Continue Reading ]
Applying this condition of the necessity of preaching to the gospel, we nevertheless see that, as a matter of fact, all did not accept it. Just as Isaiah had said. The argument does not run quite smoothly. The Apostle has two thoughts in his mind: (1) the necessity that the gospel should be preached... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN FAITH COMETH. — Inference from the prophecy just quoted. Before men can believe, there must be something for them to believe. That something is the word of God, which we preach and they hear. It must be remembered that the word for “report” in Romans 10:16, and for “hearing” in Romans 10:17,... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE THEY NOT HEARD? — The relations of hearing to belief suggest to the Apostle a possible excuse for the Jews, and the excuse he puts forward interrogatively himself: “But, I ask, did they (the Jews) not hear?” Yes, for the gospel was preached to them, as indeed to all mankind. THEIR SOUND. — Her... [ Continue Reading ]
Did not Israel know that the preaching of the gospel would be thus universal, and pass over from them to the Gentiles? Yes, certainly, for Moses had warned them of this. FIRST. — In the order of time and of Scripture. I WILL PROVOKE YOU. — In requital for the idolatries of the Jews, Moses prophesi... [ Continue Reading ]
IS VERY BOLD. — Comes forward and tells them the naked truth. I WAS FOUND. — The original of the quotation referred to the apostate Israel; St. Paul here applies it to the Gentiles.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ISRAEL. — With regard to Israel. HE SAITH. — Isaiah, speaking as the mouthpiece of God. ALL DAY LONG. — This quotation is from the next verse to the preceding, and there is no such distinction in the persons to whom it is addressed as the Apostle here draws. GAINSAYING. — A people which refuse... [ Continue Reading ]