Romans 1:2

Which he had promised afore,.... The Gospel is here further commended from the antiquity it: it was no novel doctrine, an upstart notion, but what God had conceived in his own breast from eternity. This mystery was hid in him from the beginning of the world, and was ordained before the world was; in time God was pleased to make it known to the sons of men; he "promised" it, he spoke of it, and declared it

by his prophets, Isaiah and others, "afore" the Apostle Paul was called forth to be a preacher of it; which promise, or promises of it, lie

in the Holy Scriptures; the books of the Old Testament, so called from the author, matter, and usefulness of them. The apostle speaks in the language of his nation, for the Jews frequently call the Bible, writings, Holy Ones; "for", say they, כל כתובים קדש, "all the Scriptures are holy" c, and style them, כתבי הקדש, "Scriptures of holiness", or holy Scriptures d.

c Misn. Yadaim, c. 3. sect. 5. d Misn. Parah, c. 10. sect. 3. T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 116. 2.