INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 10
In this chapter are contained an account of the two righteousnesses of
faith and works, a summary of the Gospel of Christ, a description of
the grace of faith, in the nature, use, and means of it, and several
testimonies concerning the calling of the Gentiles; and whereas... [ Continue Reading ]
BRETHREN, MY HEART'S DESIRE,.... The apostle having suggested, that a
few of the Jews only should be called and saved; that the far greater
part should be rejected; that the Israelites who sought for
righteousness did not attain it when the Gentiles did, but stumbled
and fell at Christ, and would be... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I BEAR THEM RECORD, THAT THEY HAVE A ZEAL OF GOD,.... A zeal for
God; for the being and unity of God, against the polytheism and
idolatry of the Gentiles; for the word of God, the writings of the Old
Testament, of which they were zealous defenders and preservers, and
which they diligently read a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY BEING IGNORANT OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS,.... Either of the
righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel, which is no other than
the righteousness of Christ, and which they knew nothing of, the whole
Gospel being a sealed book, and wholly hidden from them; or of the
righteousness of God require... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW,.... The apostle here observes that
to them which had they known, would have regulated their zeal, removed
their ignorance and set them right, in that which they stumbled at,
and fell. By the "law" here, is not meant the ceremonial law, of
which, indeed, they were al... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. MOSES DESCRIBETH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF THE LAW,.... In
this, and some following verses, an account is given of the two
righteousnesses before mentioned, called their own and the
righteousness of God; and that chiefly in the words of Moses, which is
wisely done by the apostle, he and his... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 6, 7. BUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF FAITH,.... Or "with
respect to the righteousness of faith"; the other righteousness before
called the righteousness of God, because God is the author of it, here
the righteousness of faith, because that receives it,
SPEAKETH ON THIS WISE; the selfsame wr... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 10:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHAT SAITH IT,.... The Scripture; so some copies, and the Vulgate
Latin and Ethiopic version read, "what saith the Scripture?" the
Arabic version, "what dost thou say?" or "what saith he", Moses? for
what follow are manifestly his words, in Deuteronomy 30:14,
THE WORD IS NIGH THEE, EVEN IN THY... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS,.... That is,
if a man shall make a good, sincere, and hearty confession to God,
before the church and people of God, and before the world, that Christ
is his Lord and Saviour, whom he desires to serve, and to be saved by;
and this as arising... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS,.... The apostle
here explains the nature and use both of faith and confession; as true
faith does not lie in the bare assent of the mind to the Gospel, or
any truth contained in it, respecting the person and office of Christ,
so neither does it li... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH,.... Of this form of expression, or mode of
speaking, Romans 9:17. The passage referred to is
Isaiah 28:16, cited before in Romans 9:33; the view with which it is
produced is to prove the certain connection between faith and
righteousness, and confession and salvation; or in... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JEW AND THE GREEK,.... Some
reasons are here assigned, confirming the apostle's sense of the
prophet's words, that everyone that believes in Christ shall be saved;
for there is no distinction of nations, no superiority on account of
carnal descent, or fleshly p... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME THE LORD,.... This testimony is
taken out of Joel 2:32 and is brought to prove the truth of what the
apostle had just suggested, that all that call upon the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, will find him rich and plenteous in mercy, and
ready to dispense his grac... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW THEN SHALL THEY CALL ON HIM IN WHOM THEY, HAVE NOT BELIEVED?....
The apostle having observed, that whoever, Jew or Gentile, believe in
the Lord and call upon his name, shall be saved; and that the same
Lord was ready and willing to dispense his grace, without any
difference to them; suggests, th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HOW SHALL THEY PREACH, EXCEPT THEY BE SENT,.... There is no
proper, rightful, regular, and lawful preaching of the word without a
mission, which is either extraordinary, or ordinary; extraordinary
mission was such as the apostles themselves had; who, as they were
called to extraordinary service,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY HAVE NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL,.... Who hear it, and to whom
it is preached; for though ministers may be regularly sent forth, and
rightly preach the Gospel in the purity of it, yet there is no success
without the power of God attending it: ministers may preach, and men
may hear, and yet no... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEN FAITH COMES BY HEARING,.... That is, by preaching; for the
word hearing is used in the same sense as in the preceding verse; and
designs the report of the Gospel, or the preaching of the word, which
is the means God makes use of, to convey faith into the hearts of his
people; for preachers a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY, HAVE THEY NOT HEARD?.... ואני אומר, "but I say", is
a phrase frequently used by the Jewish doctors in disputation, either
in forming or answering objections. The Ethiopic version confines
these words to Israel, and reads, "have not Israel heard?" whereas
they are to be understood both of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY, DID NOT ISRAEL KNOW? etc.] Some supply the word "God", did
not Israel know God? verily, they did; they knew the being and
perfections of God, the unity of God, and the trinity of persons in
the divine essence; they knew the will of God, and the right way of
worshipping him; for they were... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ESAIAS IS VERY BOLD, AND SAITH,.... The apostle here produces
another testimony in proof of this, that the Israelites must needs
have some knowledge of this truth, the calling of the Gentiles; since
a famous prophet of theirs, Isaiah, also spake out with great freedom;
he did not mince the matte... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT TO ISRAEL HE SAITH,.... Or against Israel, or concerning Israel he
saith in the same prophecy in Isaiah 65:2.
ALL DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED FORTH MY HANDS, UNTO A DISOBEDIENT AND
GAINSAYING PEOPLE: very rightly does the apostle apply these words to
Israel, as he does the former to the Gentiles;... [ Continue Reading ]