Chapter Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
R O M A N S.
CHAP. IX.
The apostle, having plainly asserted and largely proved that justification and salvation are to had by faith only, and not by the works of the law, by Christ and not by Moses, comes in this and the following chapters to anticipate an objection which might be made against this. If this be so, then what becomes of the Jews, of them all as a complex body, especially those of them that do not embrace Christ, nor believe the gospel? By this rule they must needs come short of happiness; and then what becomes of the promise made to the fathers, which entailed salvation upon the Jews? Is not that promise nullified and made of none effect? Which is not a thing to be imagined concerning any word of God. That doctrine therefore, might they say, is not to be embraced, from which flows such a consequence as this. That the consequence of the rejection of the unbelieving Jews follows from Paul's doctrine he grants, but endeavours to soften and mollify, Romans 9:1 - 15 . But that from this it follows that the word of God takes no effect he denies Romans 9:6 ), and proves the denial in the rest of the chapter, which serves likewise to illustrate the great doctrine of predestination, which he had spoken of Romans 8:28Romans 8:28 ) as the first wheel which in the business of salvation sets all the other wheels a-going.
Book Note Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete)
AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,
OF THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO
T H E R O M A N S.
I F we may compare scripture with scripture, and take the opinion of some devout and pious persons, in the Old Testament David's Psalms, and in the New Testament Paul's Epistles, are stars of the first magnitude, that differ from the other stars in glory. The whole scripture is indeed an epistle from heaven to earth: but in it we have upon record several particular epistles, more of Paul's than of any other, for he was the chief of the apostles, and laboured more abundantly than they all. His natural parts, I doubt not, were very pregnant; his apprehension was quick and piercing; his expressions were fluent and copious; his affections, wherever he took, very warm and zealous, and his resolutions no less bold and daring: this made him, before his conversion, a very keen and bitter persecutor; but when the strong man armed was dispossessed, and the stronger than he came to divide the spoil and to sanctify these qualifications, he became the most skilful zealous preacher; never any better fitted to win souls, nor more successful. Fourteen of his epistles we have in the canon of scripture; many more, it is probable, he wrote in the course of his ministry, which might be profitable enough for doctrine, for reproof, c., but, not being given by inspiration of God, they were not received as canonical scripture, nor handed down to us. Six epistles, said to be Paul's, written to Seneca, and eight of Seneca's to him, are spoken of by some of the ancients [ Sixt. Senens. Biblioth. Sanct. lib. 2] and are extant but, upon the first view, they appear spurious and counterfeit.
This epistle to the Romans is placed first, not because of the priority of its date, but because of the superlative excellency of the epistle, it being one of the longest and fullest of all, and perhaps because of the dignity of the place to which it is written. Chrysostom would have this epistle read over to him twice a week. It is gathered from some passages in the epistle that it was written Anno Christi 56, from Corinth, while Paul made a short stay there in his way to Troas, Acts 20:5 ; Acts 20:6 . He commendeth to the Romans Phebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrea Romans 16:1Romans 16:1 ), which was a place belonging to Corinth. He calls Gaius his host, or the man with whom he lodged Romans 16:23Romans 16:23 ), and he was a Corinthian, not the same with Gaius of Derbe, mentioned Acts 20:4 . Paul was now going up to Jerusalem, with the money that was given to the poor saints there; and of that he speaks, Romans 15:26Romans 15:26 . The great mysteries treated of in this epistle must needs produce in this, as in other writings of Paul, many things dark and hard to be understood, 2 Peter 3:16 . The method of this (as of several other of the epistles) is observable; the former part of it doctrinal, in the first eleven chapters; the latter part practical, in the last five: to inform the judgment and to reform the life. And the best way to understand the truths explained in the former part is to abide and abound in the practice of the duties prescribed in the latter part; for, if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, John 7:17 .
I. The doctrinal part of the epistles instructs us,
1. Concerning the way of salvation (1.) The foundation of it laid in justification, and that not by the Gentiles' works of nature Romans 1:32Romans 1:32 ), nor by the Jews' works of the law Romans 2:1 - 3Romans 2:1 - 3 ), for both Jews and Gentiles were liable to the curse; but only by faith in Jesus Christ, Romans 3:21 - 4Romans 3:21 - 4Romans 3:21 - 4Romans 3:21 - 4 . (2.) The steps of this salvation are, [1.] Peace with God, Romans 5:1 - 21Romans 5:1 - 21 . [2.] Sanctification, Romans 6:1 - 7Romans 6:1 - 7 . [3.] Glorification, Romans 8:1 - 39Romans 8:1 - 39 .
2. Concerning the persons saved, such as belong to the election of grace Romans 9:1 - 33Romans 9:1 - 33 ), Gentiles and Jews, Romans 10:1 - 11Romans 10:1 - 11 . By this is appears that the subject he discourses of were such as were then the present truths, as the apostle speaks, 2 Peter 1:12 . Two things the Jews then stumbled at--justification by faith without the works of the law, and the admission of the Gentiles into the church; and therefore both these he studied to clear and vindicate.
II. The practical part follows, wherein we find, 1. Several general exhortations proper for all Christians, Romans 12:1 - 21Romans 12:1 - 21 . 2. Directions for our behaviour, as members of civil society, Romans 13:1 - 14Romans 13:1 - 14 . 3. Rules for the conduct of Christians to one another, as members of the Christian church, Romans 14:1 - 15Romans 14:1 - 15Romans 14:1 - 15Romans 14:1 - 15 .
III. As he draws towards a conclusion, he makes an apology for writing to them Romans 15:14 - 16Romans 15:14 - 16 ), gives them an account of himself and his own affairs Romans 15:17 - 21Romans 15:17 - 21 ), promises them a visit Romans 15:22 - 29Romans 15:22 - 29 ), begs their prayers Romans 15:30 - 32Romans 15:30 - 32 ), sends particular salutations to many friends there Romans 16:1 - 16Romans 16:1 - 16 ), warns them against those who caused divisions Romans 16:17 - 20Romans 16:17 - 20 ), adds the salutations of his friends with him Romans 16:21 - 23Romans 16:21 - 23 ), and ends with a benediction to them and a doxology to God Romans 16:24 - 27Romans 16:24 - 27 ).
