XI. The eleventh chapter may be divided into three sections; still dealing with the rejection of Israel, and containing (1) Romans 11:1, limitations and qualifications to this; (2) Romans 11:11, compensations; (3) Romans 11:25, consolations; the whole being closed with a doxology.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAY THEN. — Are we to infer from the language of Isaiah just quoted that God has cast away his people? Far be the thought. The Apostle is himself too closely identified with his countrymen to look upon it with anything but horror. I ALSO. — This appeal to his own descent from Abraham seems to be... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HE FOREKNEW. — This must not be pressed too far, as implying an absolute indefectibility of the divine favour. God, having in His eternal counsels set His choice upon Israel as His peculiar people, will not readily disown them. Nor is their case really so bad as it may seem. Now, as in the day... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM LEFT ALONE — _i.e.,_ of the prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE IMAGE OF BAAL. — The name “Baal” is here, as frequently in the LXX., in the feminine gender, and it is to account for this that our translators have inserted the word “image.” How the feminine really came to be used is uncertain. Some have thought that the deity was androgynous, others have c... [ Continue Reading ]
As there was a remnant then, so also is there a remnant now. That there should be so is due not to any human merit on the part of those exempted from the fate of their nation, but to the spontaneous act of the divine grace selecting them from the rest. These two things,” grace” and “works,” really e... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF BY GRACE. — The true text of this verse differs considerably from that which is translated in the Authorised version, “But if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more seen to be grace.” The preservation of the remnant cannot be due to grace and works at the same time... [ Continue Reading ]
What is the result? Not only did Israel fail to obtain the salvation which it sought, and which the select few succeeded in obtaining, but it was consigned to a state of complete spiritual apathy and torpor, and its very blessings became a curse and a snare. WERE BLINDED. — An erroneous translation,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF SLUMBER. — This phrase, again, has a curious history. Etymologically, the word translated “slumber” would seem to agree better with the marginal rendering, “remorse.” It comes from a root meaning to “prick or cut with a sharp instrument.” There happens to be another root somewhat simil... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SAITH. — It appears highly improbable that this Psalm was really written by David. Nor can the Davidic authorship be argued strongly from this passage, as “David” merely seems to stand for the Book of Psalms, with which his name was traditionally connected. St. Paul is quoting freely from... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED. — In the Apostle’s sense, “Let them be spiritually blinded, incapable of discerning or receiving the truth, and let their backs be bowed with the yoke of spiritual thraldom!” The Hebrew is, “Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not, and make their loins continually t... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews did, indeed, stumble at the stumbling-block mentioned in Romans 9:32. Many were offended at Christ. But did their stumbling involve their utter and final ruin? It had a far more beneficent purpose than that. It brought salvation to the Gentiles, and it did this only to react as an incentive... [ Continue Reading ]
(11-24) In this section the Apostle goes on to consider further the bearings of the rejection, and here, first (Romans 11:11), he considers the more hopeful side of it as regards the Jews themselves; their fall was not to be final, and there was every reason to think that their reconversion would mo... [ Continue Reading ]
And if the fall of the Jews had such good results, much more might be expected from their reinstatement. DIMINISHING... FULNESS. — It is, perhaps, difficult to suggest a better translation. The Apostle seems to have in view not only the supersession of the Jews by the Gentiles, but also, under the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES. — The connecting particles in this verse must be altered according to an amended reading. “For” should be omitted, a full stop placed after “Gentiles,” and “then” inserted after “inasmuch.” “I speak to you Gentiles” — spoken with something of a pause. “Inasmuch then” (or... [ Continue Reading ]
(13-16) In this I am speaking to you Gentiles. It is you who will benefit by the restoration of the Jews. And this is the real reason why, as Apostle of the Gentiles, I make the most of my office. I do it in order to incite to emulation my own countrymen, knowing that the effects of their rejection... [ Continue Reading ]
RECONCILING OF THE WORLD. — The gospel could not be preached to the Gentiles until it had first been offered to and rejected by the Jews. Hence the casting away of the Jews might be said to have caused the reconciling of the rest of the world. LIFE FROM THE DEAD. — The reconversion of the Jews will... [ Continue Reading ]
And we have the strongest reason for believing in this reconversion of the Jews. Their forefathers were the first recipients of the promise, and what they were it is only natural to hope that their descendants will be. When a piece of dough is taken from the lump to make a consecrated cake, the cons... [ Continue Reading ]
(17-24) The admission of the Gentile to the privileges of the Jew is no ground for boasting on his part. It is merely an _admission._ The Gentile is, as it were, a branch grafted into a stem that was none of his planting. Nor is his position absolutely secured to him. It is held conditionally on the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND. — Rather, _but._ AMONG THEM — _i.e.,_ among the branches of the olive-tree generally, both those which are broken off and those which are suffered to remain. This seems on the whole the more probable view; it would be possible to translate the words, _in place of them_ (the branches broken off... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU BEAREST NOT THE ROOT. — There can be no boasting, for the privileges which the Gentiles possess are derived, and not original.... [ Continue Reading ]
It might be possible for the Gentile to claim a special providence in his substitution for the Jew. He should rather be reminded that there is a condition — faith — which is attached to this substitution; this he must be careful to observe, or else he will lose all that he has gained.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED LEST ... — The better reading seems to be to omit these words, _neither will He spare thee. _... [ Continue Reading ]
As Providence had been appealed to, the Apostle states the true Providential aspect of God’s rejection of Israel. It had a double side — one of goodness towards the Gentile, one of deserved severity towards the Jew. But, at the same time, the fact that the covenant was made originally with the Jew,... [ Continue Reading ]
MYSTERY. — The word always means throughout St. Paul’s writings something which, though not to be known or fully comprehended by unassisted human reason, has been made known by direct divine revelation. It is therefore not to be taken in this passage in its usual sense, of something hidden and conce... [ Continue Reading ]
(25-32) There was a deep meaning underlying the temporary rejection of Israel, of which he has been speaking — a meaning which has hitherto been kept secret, but now to be revealed as a corrective to any possible pride on the part of the Gentiles.... [ Continue Reading ]
When this ingathering of the Gentiles is complete, then the turn of Israel will come round again, and the prophecies of their conversion will be fulfilled. THERE SHALL COME ... — This prophecy is peculiarly appropriate, as it refers to the exiles who had apostatised in Babylon. Then, as now, a part... [ Continue Reading ]
The second part of the quotation, “For (rather, _and_)_,_ this is my covenant with them,” &c., appears to be taken from the LXX. version of Isaiah 27:9. The connecting-links between the two are the removing of transgression from Jacob, and the form of the phrase, “This is my covenant with them.” (“T... [ Continue Reading ]
The real position of the Jews is this: They have been suffered to fall into a state of estrangement in order to make room for the Gentiles. But this does not abrogate God’s original choice of them. They are still His beloved people, for the sake of their forefathers, the patriarchs, if not for their... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT REPENTANCE. — Not to be revoked or withdrawn, not even to he regretted.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE NOT BELIEVED ... UNBELIEF ... NOT BELIEVED ... — Rather, _disobeyed_... _disobedience... disobeyed. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH YOUR MERCY — _i.e.,_ through the mercy vouchsafed to you. The sight of the admission of the Gentiles is to act as a stimulus upon the Jews, and so lead to a renewal of their faith and obedience.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unhappy as the fate of the world might seem, first the Gentiles and then the Jews being consigned to a state of disobedience, this has really had a merciful object in the end. It will lead to a happy and complete reunion, “one flock under one shepherd.” FOR GOD HATH CONCLUDED THEM ALL IN UNBELIEF. —... [ Continue Reading ]
RICHES. — The two substantives which follow may be taken as dependent upon “riches.” This is the construction adopted in the Authorised version, and is expressed by the use of the word “both.” Or all three substantives may be independent, _O the depth of the riches, and of the wisdom and knowledge o... [ Continue Reading ]
(33-36) This grand and comprehensive view of the divine purposes makes so deep an impression upon the Apostle that he breaks out into an impassioned ascription of praise, with which the first (doctrinal) portion of the Epistle is brought to a close.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHO HATH KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD? — The two clauses in this verse are illustrative of the wisdom and knowledge of God, just as the next verse is illustrative of His “riches.”... [ Continue Reading ]
The depth of God’s knowledge none can penetrate, and the counsels of His wisdom admit of no assessor. The means by which God works are not supplied to Him from without, but proceed from the boundless stores of His omnipotence.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF HIM, AND THROUGH HIM, AND TO HIM. — All things proceed from God, all things are made or wrought by Him, and all things exist for His glory, and to carry out His ends. It is a mistake to see in this, as some of the older commentators have done, an allusion to the Trinity. This can hardly be. The s... [ Continue Reading ]