Julian Period, 4771. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than con- Corinth. Vulgar Era, querors, through him that loved us. 58. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. § 31. ROM. ix. 1-5. The Apostle having now shewn the full claim of the Gentiles to the Privileges and Blessings of the Gospel, cautiously introduces the subject of the Rejection of the Jews-This truth he assures them, as in the Presence of Christ, the Holy Spirit bearing him witness, fills St. Paul with so much Grief and Anguish, that to prevent it he would willingly be cut off himself from the visible Church of God, or submit to the temporal Destruction that awaited them for their Disobedience, if by that means he could save his Kinsmen according to the Flesh-To conciliate them, and to engage their attention, he enumerates their glorious Privileges, their Adoption, as the Family of God, in the Covenant made with them at Horeb, the Glory of the Shechinah, with the Pillar and Cloud, the Covenants, and the giving of the Law, with its Ordinances and Rites -the Promises of Canaan, and of the Messiah's Kingdom-and their unblemished Genealogy, from whom the human Nature of Christ descended, who is God blessed for ever. 1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh : 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises: 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. § 32. ROM. ix. 6-9. The Objection that had been already proposed (chap. iii. 3.) Julian Period, 4771. Vulgar Era, 58. according to the Flesh, as in the case of Ishmael, were Corinth. 6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. By the instance of Esau and Jacob, the Apostle proves that 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to election, might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth ;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger : 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. $ 34. ROM. ix. 14-18. The Apostle continues his Argument by affirming, that the Julian Period, 4771. 59. God-The Israelites, after their Apostacy, might, had Corinth. it been God's pleasure, continued as a Nation, as the Vulgar Era, Egyptians were, for the Purpose of demonstrating, in their Destruction and Punishment, the Almighty power of God, and his hatred of Sin-The Apostle then intimates the rejection of the Jews, by asserting that the same free Gift of Mercy is still exercised, and the same exemplary Punishment will be inflicted, on those who continue and harden themselves in Sin, resisting, as the Egyptians did, the Evidences that were vouchsafed to them. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. § 35. ROM. ix. 19-29. The Apostle here introduces a Jew, as saying, if God acts 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ? Julian Period, 4771. Vulgar Æra, 58. 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the Corinth. same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction; 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrha. 36. ROM. ix. 30, to the end. x. 1-3. The Apostle having clearly represented the Rejection of the Julian Pe 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which Corinth. riod, 4771. followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteVulgarÆra, ousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 58. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law: for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For 1 bear them record, that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 1 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. § 37. ROM. X. 4-13. In order to convince the Jews of their error, with regard to 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above :) |