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Ask a Questiona nation--Israel's national polity has been broken up by the Romans. But their preservation as a distinct people amidst violent persecutions, though scattered among all nations for eighteen...
Edom became politically extinct after the time of the Romans. uncovered his secret places--where he hid himself (Jer 49:8) and his treasures (Isa 45:3). I have caused that nothing should be so...
dragon--Hebrew, tanim, any large aquatic animal, here the crocodile, which on Roman coins is the emblem of Egypt. lieth--restest proudly secure. his rivers--the mouths, branches, and canals of the...
God of forces--probably Jupiter Capitolinus, to whom Antiochus began to erect a temple at Antioch [Livy, 41.20]. Translate, "He shall honor the god of fortresses on his basis," that is, the base of...
synagogue of the Libertines--Jewish freedmen; manumitted Roman captives, or the children of such, expelled from Rome (as appears from Josephus and Tacitus), and now residing at Jerusalem. Cyrenians...
From those without, the apostle now turns to those within the pale of revealed religion, the self-righteous Jews, who looked down upon the uncovenanted heathen as beyond the pale of God's mercies,...
for all have sinned--Though men differ greatly in the nature and extent of their sinfulness, there is absolutely no difference between the best and the worst of men, in the fact that "all have...
But to him that worketh not--who, despairing of acceptance with God by "working" for it the work of obedience, does not attempt it. but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly--casts himself...
But God commendeth--"setteth off," "displayeth"--in glorious contrast with all that men will do for each other. his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners--that is, in a state not of...
God forbid--"That be far from us"; the instincts of the new creature revolting at the thought. How shall we, that are dead, &c.--literally, and more forcibly, "We who died to sin (as presently to...
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh--"Once we were sold under sin (Ro 7:14); but now that we have been set free from that hard master and become servants...
For we are saved by hope--rather, "For in hope we are saved"; that is, it is more a salvation in hope than as yet in actual possession. but hope that is seen is not hope--for the very meaning of...
In this surpassing chapter the several streams of the preceding argument meet and flow in one "river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,"...
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children--"Not in the line of mere fleshly descent from Abraham does the election run; else Ishmael, Hagar's child, and even Keturah's...
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness--that is, for the justification of the guilty (see on Ro 1:17). and going about--"seeking" to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted...
For the scripture saith--in Isa 28:16, a glorious Messianic passage. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed--Here, as in Ro 9:33, the quotation is from the Septuagint, which renders those...
But they have not all obeyed the gospel--that is, the Scripture hath prepared us to expect this sad result. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?--that is,"Where shall one find a...
What then?--How stands the fact? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for--better, "What Israel is in search of (that is, Justification, or acceptance with God--see on Ro 9:31); this he...
And David saith--(Ps 69:23), which in such a Messianic psalm must be meant of the rejecters of Christ. Let their table, &c.--that is, Let their very blessings prove a curse to them, and their...
For if God spared not the natural branches--sprung from the parent stem. take heed lest he also spare not thee--a mere wild graft. The former might, beforehand, have been thought very improbable;...
As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes--that is, they are regarded and treated as enemies (in a state of exclusion through unbelief, from the family of God) for the benefit of you...
Let love be without dissimulation--"Let your love be unfeigned" (as in 2Co 6:6; 1Pe 2:22; and see 1Jo 3:18). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good--What a lofty tone of moral...
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power--"So that he that setteth himself against the authority." resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation--or,...
Render therefore to all their dues--From magistrates the apostle now comes to other officials, and from them to men related to us by whatever tie. tribute--land tax. custom--mercantile tax. fear...
For it is written--(Isa 45:23). As I live, saith the Lord--Hebrew, Jehovah. every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God--consequently, shall bow to the award of God upon their...
We then that are strong--on such points as have been discussed, the abolition of the Jewish distinction of meats and days under the Gospel. See on Ro 14:14; Ro 14:20. ought...not to please...
Yea, &c.--rather, "Yet making it my study (compare 2Co 5:9; 1Th 4:11, Greek) so to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was [already] named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation: but...
When therefore I have...sealed--that is, delivered over safely to them this fruit--of the faith and love of the Gentile converts I will come--"come back," or "return" by you into Spain--(See on Ro...