Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Nolldny can Sever vt, from the Love of Christ. KOMANS IX. Paul's Sorrow for his Breihren, the Jews. they also wliom thou liast given me be wiLh me v/hei'f I ma can lie have the peace of one who is justified witliout the holiness of one who is saved' (u. 29, .30). [HoDGE.j (5.) However difficult it may be for finite minds to comprehend tlie emolioiis of the Divine mind, let us never lor a moment doubt tiiat in " not sparing His own Sun, but delivering Him up for us ail," God made a real sacrifice of all that was dearest to his lieart, ami that in .so doing He meant for ever to assure His people that all oilier things which they need—inasmuch as they are nothing to this stupendous gift, and indeed but the necessary sequel of it— will in due time be fortlicoming (v. 32). ((j.) In return for such a sacrilice on God's part, what can be considered too great on ours? (7.) If there could be any doubt as to the meaning of tlie all-important word " J i;bTIFIOATION" in tills Epistle—whether, as the Church of liome teaches,aud many others affirm, it means 'in/using righteousness into the unlioly, so as to make them right- ' (see on Jolm 17. 24 j. But in what form this will is expressed is as imdiscovei'able as it is uiiinipoi'tant. 35, 3ti. Wlto sliall &ep:cvate us froitt tlie love of Clkilst i This does not mean ' our love to Clirist,' as it', Who shall liiiuler us irom loving Christ? but 'Christ's love to us,' as is clear Ironi the closing words of tlie chapter, which refer to tlie same subjL-ct. Nor would tlie other sense harmonize with the scope of the chapter, which is to exhibit the ample ground of the believer's confidence ii; Christ. ' It i.s no ground of confidence to assert, or even to feel, that we will never forsake Clirist; but it is the strongest ground of assurance to be convinced that His love will never change.' [Hodge.] sliall ti-ilimlulioii . . . q. d., 'None of these, nor all together, how terrible soever to the flesh, are tokens of God's wratii, or the least ground for doubt of His love.' From wliom could such a question come better than from one who had himself for Christy's sake endured so much? (See 2 Corinthians 11. U-ii;!; 1 Coiinthians 4. 10-13.) The apostle says not (.remarks Calvin nobly) ' What,' but " Wlio," just as if all creatures and all atllictious were so many gladiators taking arms against eous,' or, according to Protestant teacl.ing, ' absolviny, acqnillinrj, or pronouncing righteous the guilty:' v. 33 ought to set sucii douiit entirely at rest. For the apostle's question in this verse is, "\\'ho shall bring a chart/e against God's elect?"—in other words, 'Who shall pronounce' or 'hold them guilty i' seeing that "God juslijies" thein: showing beyond all doubt, that to"juslify" was intended to express precisely the opposite of ' holding guilty ;' and consequently (as Calvin triumpliantiy argues) that it means ' to absolve from the charge ofguilt.' (8.) If there could be any reasonable doubt in what light the death of Christ tlie Christians. [THOLUCK.] As it is -ivi-itttw, For tlay sitke, itc.—Psalm 44. 22—quoted as descriptive of wnat God's faithful people may expect from their enemies at any period when their hatred of rigliteousiiess is roused, and (here is nothing to restraiu it ^see Galatians 4. 2y). 37. Nay, in all tiiese tltiiigs arc more titan coiiqiitrois, tJirougli liiivi tSiat loved us—not " We are so Is to be regarded in this Epistle, i;. 34 ought to set that doubt entirely at rest. For there the apostle's question far fronr being conquered by them, that they do us much good' [Hodge]; for though this be triu', the word means simply, 'We are pre-emiueiilly conquerors.' See on ch. is, Who shall "condemn" God's elect, since " Christ died" lor them; sliowing beyond all doubt (as Philifpj justly argues) that it was the expiatory character of that death which the apostle had in view. (9.) What an afl'eeting view of tlie love of Christ does it give us to learn, that His greatest nearuKS.v to God and most powerful interest with Him—as "seated on His right hand"— is employed in behalf of His people here below (u. 34)! (10.) 'Tlie whole universe, with all that it contains, so far as it is good, is the friend and ally of the Christian ; and, so far as it is
5. 2U. And so far are they from "separating us from Chrisfs love," that it is just " through Him that loved us" that we are victorious over them. 38, ^y. Fori am persuaik-d, tliat neillier tleatU, inuilife, nor aiigeli, nor ]:riiiieiyalities, nor powers—whetlier good or bad. But as the bad are not called "angels," or "principalities,"' or " powers,'" save with some addition to show lliat such are meant (iNIatthew 2.5. 41 ; Colossians 2.15; Kphesians (j.
12; 2 Peter 2.4—except perhaps 1 Corinthians ti. 3), probal>ly the good are meant here, but merely as the same apostle supposes an angel Irom heaven to preach a lalse evil, is more than aconqu(!red foe' (i;.3.5-39). [Hodgk.] (11.) Are we who " have tasted that tile Lord is gracious," both "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation" gi/spel. (So the best interpreters.) nor tliiitjs present, nor tilings to come—no condition of the present life and none of the unknown possibilities of the life to come, nor anjo.'Sier creature (rather, 'created thing'—any otlier tiling in llie wliole created universe of Godjsliall be able to separate us, &c.—'All the terms liere are to be taken in tlieir most general sense, and need nocloser definition. The indetinite expressions are meant to denote (1 i'eter 1. 5), and embraced in the arms of Invincible
ZiOvef Then surely, while "building ourselves up on our most holy faith," and " praying in the Holy Ghost," only tlie more should we feel constrained to " keep ourselves in the luve of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 20, 21).
CHAPTER IX. all that can be thought of, and are only a rhetorical para-
Ver. i-.'{3. The BkaKjnq of the Foregoing Truths UPON ruK Condition and Destiny ok the Chosen People—Elkction—The Calling of the Gentiles. Too well aware thathe was regarded as a traitor to the dearplir;ise of the concept ion allnes.w' [OhUHAUHKy.] from the love of (xod, irliieSi is in Ciii'ist ilesiis our Lord Thus does this wonderful cliapter, with which ilie argument of the Kpisilc properly closes, leave us wlio are "justitied by faitii" in the arms of everlasting Love, whence no hostile power or conceivable event can ever tear us. "Behold what manner of hive is this?" And "what manner of iicrsons ought we to be," wlio are thus "blessed with all spiritual liiessiugs in Clirist?" SVole est interests of liis people (Acts 21.3;?; "22. 22; 2.5. 24), the apostle opens this division of his subject by. giving vent to ills real feelings with extraordinary vehemence of protestation. 1, a. I say lUe trutit in ("Sirist — as if sleepc-d in the spirit of Him wlio wept over impenitent and doomed Jerusalem (cl. ch. 1. 9; 2 Corinthians 12. 19; Philippiaiis I.S). niy consulence lieariikj; n«e xvltness lu (1.) There is a glorious consistency between the eternal purposes of God and the free agency of men, tliough the link of connection is beyond liuman, perhaps created, a|)prehension (w. 28). (2.) How ennot)liiig is the thought Uial the complicated movements of the Divine government of the world are all arranged in expressed furtliernnce of tlie "good" of God's chosen (u. 2K)! (:!.; To whatever conformity to the Son of God in dignity and glory, believers are or shall hereafter be raised, it will be the ' my coiiseicnce as quickened, illutlie Holy tiliost—(/. d., niiiialed, and even now under the direct operation of the Holy Ghost.' Tliat I Jiavc, Ac— 'That I have great grief ' sorrow') and unceasing anguish in my heart'—the bitter hostility of his nation to the glorious Gospel, and llie awful consequences of tJieir unbelief, weighing heavily and iiieessaiitly upon his spirit. 3. For I could wish tliat uiyself were accursed from Clirist f»ir (' ill behalf of) my breJIiren, luy kinsmen according (o the flesli— lu proportion as he felt himself severed fi'om his naliou, he seems to have realized all the more vividly their natu-
Joy of every one of them, as it is most lit ti uu, " tliat in all thingsHe sliould liavo tlie yre-eminciice" a-'olossiaus 1.
IK) (•t).29). (4.) '.\s there is a beautiful harmony and necessary connection between tlie several doctrines of grace, 80 must there bo a like harmony in the cliaraeter of tlie ral relationship. To explain away, the wish here expressed, as too strong for any Christian to utter or con-
Cliristian. Hecanjiot experi<>nce tlie joy and coiilideiiee flowing Irom his "U'l-tioii without the liumilily whicli the consideration of it-.-, being giatuiuius must produce ; uor ceive, some have rendered the opening words, '1 did wish,' r«(Wirintv it to his fornier uncnliglitened state; a