VIII.
The Apostle has now again reached a climax in his argument similar to
that in the opening of Romans 5. His subject is once more the blissful
condition of the Christian who has made full use of the means of grace
offered to him. This is now worked out at length and in detail. The
eighth chapter... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE. — The Apostle had already, at the end of the last
chapter, “touched the confines” of that state of deliverance and
of liberty which he is now going on to describe. The opening of this
chapter is, therefore, connected in form with the close of the last.
The intervention of Christ puts an e... [ Continue Reading ]
(1-11) A result is thus attained which the law of Moses could not
accomplish, but which is accomplished in the gospel. The Christian is
entirely freed from the law of sin and death, and from the
condemnation that it entails. But he is so upon the condition that
this freedom is for him a reality — th... [ Continue Reading ]
A statement of the great antithesis, of which the rest of the section
is a development, between the law of the Spirit of life and the law of
sin and of death.
THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE. — A phrase defining more fully the
mode in which the union with Christ becomes operative in the believer.
It... [ Continue Reading ]
How was I freed? Thus. Precisely on that very point where the law of
Moses showed its impotence — viz., in the attempt to get rid of sin,
which it failed to do because of the counteracting influence of the
flesh — precisely on this very point God interposed by sending His
Son in a body of flesh simi... [ Continue Reading ]
The consequence of this was a great change. Hitherto the Law could not
be kept because of the antagonistic influence of the flesh; henceforth
it may be kept for the reason that this influence has ceased and that
its place is taken by the influence of the Spirit.
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS. — The just requir... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT ARE ... — Those who not only walk (direct their conduct)
according to the promptings of the flesh, but who are in themselves
and in the whole bent of their dispositions the slaves of these
promptings.
DO MIND THE THINGS OF THE FLESH. — Their whole mental and moral
activity is set upon not... [ Continue Reading ]
(5-8) Further description of the antithesis between flesh and spirit
in regard to (1) their object, Romans 8:5; (2) their nature, Romans
8:7; (3) their end, Romans 8:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Translate, _For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the
Spirit is life and peace._ To think of nothing but the gratification
of the senses, is in itself death — that dead condition of the soul
which issues in eternal death; and, on the other hand, to have the
thoughts and affections gove... [ Continue Reading ]
The carnal mind is death — because it implies enmity with God, and
enmity with God _is_ death.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN ... — Rather, _and._ Neither can it be expected that those
who are absorbed in the things of sense should be able to please God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Such is not your case — if at least the Spirit of God and of Christ
dwells in you, as it should in every Christian.
THE SPIRIT OF GOD ... THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. — It is to be observed
that these two terms are used as convertible. The Spirit of Christ is
indeed the presence of Christ Himself in the s... [ Continue Reading ]
The results of the presence of Christ in the soul.
THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN. — Here the word is evidently used
of physical death. The doom entailed by sin still, indeed, attaches to
the body — but only to the body. The body, indeed, must die, but
there the hold of sin upon the Christian ends... [ Continue Reading ]
And this vitality extends beyond the grave. It will even react upon
that material body which had just been spoken of as given over to
death. Die it must; but the same Spirit to which the soul owes its
life will also reinfuse life into the dead body, just as the body of
Christ of Himself was raised f... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE DEBTORS. — _We are under an obligation._ Observe that in the
lively sequence of thought the second clause of the antithesis is
suppressed, “We are under an obligation, not to the flesh (but to
the Spirit).”... [ Continue Reading ]
(12-17) These verses form a hortatory application of the foregoing,
with further development of the idea to live after and in the Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE THROUGH THE SPIRIT ... — If under the influence of the Spirit
you reduce to a condition of deadness and atrophy all those practices
to which the impulses of your material nature would prompt you.... [ Continue Reading ]
(14-17) This life in the Spirit implies a special relation to God —
that of sons. I say of sons; for when you first received the Holy
Ghost it was no spirit of bondage and reign of terror to which you
were admitted, but rather the closest filial relation to God. This
filial relation is attested by t... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIRIT OF BONDAGE. — The Greek corresponds very nearly to what we
should naturally understand by the English phrase, “such a spirit as
would be found in slaves.” The word “spirit” varies much in
meaning in these verses. Here it is the “dominant habit or frame of
mind;” in the next verse it is used b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT ITSELF BEARETH WITNESS. — What is the nature of this
concurrent testimony? It would seem to be something of this kind. The
self-consciousness of the believer assures him of his sonship. The
relation in which he feels that he stands to God he knows to be that
of a son. But, besides this he... [ Continue Reading ]
One characteristic of the son is that he is his father’s heir. So it
is with the Christian. He, too, has an inheritance — an inheritance
of glory which he will share with Christ. But he must not be surprised
if, before sharing the glory, he also shares the sufferings.
SUFFER WITH HIM. — All who suf... [ Continue Reading ]
(18-25) The mention of “suffering” and of “glory” recalls the
Apostle to a sense of his own position — what he had to go through,
and what was the hope that he had to animate and encourage him. A
vivid impression of the stormy life of the Apostle at this period is
given by Acts 19:23; 2 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
REVEALED IN US. — _Upon us_ — _i.e.,_ reaching to us, and
illumining and transfiguring us. The Coming of Christ is always thus
conceived of as a visible manifestation of glory in those who take
part in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor is ours a merely isolated hope; we have our place —
“Mid onward sloping motions infinite,
Making for one sure goal.”
The whole creation is looking earnestly and intently for the same
manifestation of glory as ourselves.
EARNEST EXPECTATION — A single word in the Greek, and a very
striking one... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE CREATURE. — The Apostle gives the reason for this earnest
expectation in the present state of nature; pointing out what creation
_is._ If creation were perfect, and were fulfilling the noblest
possible purpose, there would be no cause for looking forward
hopefully to the future.
WAS MADE SU... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE CREATURE. — The reason for the hope which survives
through the degradation of nature; what creation _is to be._
BECAUSE. — Perhaps rather “that,” to be joined on to the end of
the last verse, “in hope that creation, also,” &c. So Meyer and
Ellicott.
DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUP... [ Continue Reading ]
GROANETH AND TRAVAILETH. — In view of the physical evil and misery
prevalent in the world, the Apostle attributes a human consciousness
of pain to the rest of creation. It groans and travails _together,
i.e.,_ every member of it in common with its kind. The idea of
travailing, as in childbirth, has... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor is it only the rest of creation that groans. We Christians, too,
though we possess the firstfruits of the Spirit, nevertheless inwardly
groan, sighing for the time when our adoption as the sons of God will
be complete, and even our mortal bodies will be transfigured.
WHICH HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS... [ Continue Reading ]
Why do I say that we “wait for the adoption?” Because hope in the
future is of the very essence of the Christian’s life. It was by
hope that he was saved. Hope, at the time when he first believed, made
him realise his salvation, though it is still in the future. This is,
indeed, implied in the very... [ Continue Reading ]
If salvation were something that could be seen, something that could
be grasped by sight, then there would be no room for hope. As it is we
do _not_ see it; we _do_ hope for it; and, therefore, we patiently
endure the sufferings that lie upon the road to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE. — While on the one hand the prospect of salvation sustains
him, so on the other hand the Divine Spirit interposes to aid him. The
one source of encouragement is human (his own human consciousness of
the certainty of salvation), the other is divine.
INFIRMITIES. — The correct reading is th... [ Continue Reading ]
A second reason for the patience of the Christian under suffering. The
Spirit helps his weakness and joins in his prayers.... [ Continue Reading ]
God recognises the voice of His own Spirit, because the prayers that
the Spirit prompts are in strict accordance with His will.
WHAT IS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT. — What are the thoughts of the
Spirit, and therefore what is the echo of those thoughts in the
prayers that are offered to Him.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS. — Persecution and suffering included.
WORK TOGETHER. — Contribute.
There is a rather remarkable reading here, found in the Vatican and
Alexandrian MSS., and in Origen, inserting “God” as the subject of
the verb, and making “all things” the object. “God works all
things with,” or “co-op... [ Continue Reading ]
(28-30) These verses contain a third reason for the patience of the
Christian. He knows that whatever happens, all things are really
working together for good to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW, HE ALSO DID PREDESTINATE. — The process
already summed up under these two phrases is now resolved more fully
and exactly into its parts, with the inference suggested that to those
who are under the divine guidance at every step in their career
nothing can act but for good.... [ Continue Reading ]
PREDESTINATE. — This is the term which seems most to interfere with
human free-will. Foreknowledge does not interfere with free-will,
because the foreknowledge, though prior in point of time, is posterior
in the order of causation to the act of choice. A man does not choose
a certain action because... [ Continue Reading ]
(31-39) Now follows the sublime and triumphant conclusion from the
foregoing — expressed with passionate energy and with the most
intense consciousness of the reality of a Christian belief in
penetrating and sustaining the mind in all outward trials, however
severe.
Erasmus remarks on this, that “Ci... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL LAY ANY THING ...? — The punctuation and arrangement of
these clauses are somewhat difficult. It seems best on the whole to
connect together the two clauses at the end of Romans 8:33, and
beginning of Romans 8:34. The whole passage to the end of the chapter
will then form a continuous proo... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS CHRIST ... — The remainder of this verse is to be closely
connected with the opening of the next. “He that died, rose, &c., is
Christ: who then shall separate us from His love?” The two
questions, “Who is he that condemneth?” and “Who shall separate
us?” are really parts of the reply to the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LOVE OF CHRIST. — That is to say, the love which Christ has for
us, not that which we have for Christ.
SHALL TRIBULATION? — Comp. 2 Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 11:23.
The Apostle is speaking from his own actual experience.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED. — The quotation is taken from Psalms
44:22, which was apparently written at some period of great national
distress, at what precise period the _data_ do not enable us to say,
but probably not earlier than Josiah. The sufferings of God’s people
at all times are typical of... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY. — _Yet,_ or _But._ So far from being vanquished, we are
conquerors: when we are weak then are we strong.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE ... — The enumeration that follows is
intended to include (poetically rather than logically) every possible
category of being, especially those unseen powers of evil against
which the warfare of the Christian was more particularly directed.
NOR PRINCIPALITIES. — Comp. Ephesi... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH. — No remoteness in space. (Comp. Psalms 139:8
_et seq._ “If I ascend up into heaven,” &c.)
ANY OTHER CREATURE. — Any other created thing.
THE LOVE OF GOD. — It is to be observed that for the shorter phrase,
“the love of Christ,” the Apostle now substitutes the fuller but,
as... [ Continue Reading ]