PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible — Romans
Gill, John, 1697-1771 · 223,677 words · 179 reading sections
Romans 1:1
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Romans 1:1 INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS Though this epistle is in order placed the first of the epistles, yet it was not first written: there were several epistles written before it, as the two epistles to the Thessalonians, the two to the Corinthians, the first epistle to Timot…
2,307 wordsSECTION 2Romans 1:2
Romans 1:2 Ver. 2. Which he had promised afore,.... The Gospel is here further commended from the antiquity it: it was no novel doctrine, an upstart notion, but what God had conceived in his own breast from eternity. This mystery was hid in him from the beginning of the world, and was ordained before the world was; in…
191 wordsSECTION 3Romans 1:3
Romans 1:3 Ver. 3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,.... These words are in connection with "the Gospel of God", Ro 1:1, and express the subject matter of it, the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord; for Christ, as the Son of God, the Saviour of sinners, the only Mediator between God and men, who is Lord both of…
329 wordsSECTION 4Romans 1:4
Romans 1:4 Ver. 4. And declared to be the Son of God,.... Not made as he is said to be before, when his incarnation is spoken of; nor did he begin to be the Son of God, when he was made of the seed of David, but he, the Son of God, who existed as such, from everlasting, was manifested in the flesh, or human nature: an…
392 wordsSECTION 5Romans 1:5
Romans 1:5 Ver. 5. By whom we have received grace and apostleship,.... That is, either by the Holy Spirit, from whom all grace and gifts come, qualifying for the discharge of any office; or by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is full of grace and truth, has received gifts for, and gives them to men to fit them for whatsoeve…
561 wordsSECTION 6Romans 1:6
Romans 1:6 Ver. 6. Among whom are ye also,.... The Romans, though they were the chief, were among the nations of the world to whom the apostles were sent; and since Paul was called to be an apostle, and had, as others, grace and apostleship, and particularly the apostleship of the uncircumcision, or was ordained a tea…
329 wordsSECTION 7Romans 1:7
Romans 1:7 Ver. 7. To all that be in Rome,.... These words contain both the inscription of the epistle, and the apostle's usual salutation, as in all his epistles, The inscription of it is not to the Roman emperor; nor to the Roman senate, nor to all the inhabitants in Rome; but to all the saints there, whether rich o…
582 wordsSECTION 8Romans 1:8
Romans 1:8 Ver. 8. First, I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for you all,.... After the inscription and salutation, follows a thanksgiving, which begins the epistle: it is usual with the apostle in all his epistles to make requests for the churches, with thanksgivings for mercies; his view in it was, to glorify God…
442 wordsSECTION 9Romans 1:9
Romans 1:9 Ver. 9. For God is my witness, whom I serve,.... These words are an appeal to God, and carry in them the nature and form of an oath; the reason of the apostle's using it was, because he was personally unknown to the Romans, and they to him, and so might doubt of his affectionate regard unto them; and theref…
336 wordsSECTION 10Romans 1:10
Romans 1:10 Ver. 10. Making request, if by any means now at length,.... A principal thing, which be incessantly and importunately requested at the throne of grace, was, that he might have an opportunity of coming to them; that God in his providence would open a way for him; and that he might have a safe and comfortabl…
105 wordsSECTION 11Romans 1:11
Romans 1:11 Ver. 11. For I long to see you,.... Not the city of Rome, which was one of Austin's three wishes to have seen in its glory; nor the emperor of it, nor the senate in it, nor its populous inhabitants, fine buildings, riches and grandeur; but the poor saints there, which were the excellent men of the earth, o…
359 wordsSECTION 12Romans 1:12
Romans 1:12 Ver. 12. That is, that I may be comforted together with you,.... This is a further explanation of his view, in being desirous of coming to them, and preaching: the Gospel among them; for what makes for establishment, makes for comfort; and what makes for comfort, makes for establishment; and when souls are…
180 wordsSECTION 13Romans 1:13
Romans 1:13 Ver. 13. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren,.... The apostle calls them brethren, because many of them were Jews, his brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh, and all of them were his brethren in a spiritual relation; and this he does to express his affection to them, and engage their attentio…
372 wordsSECTION 14Romans 1:14
Romans 1:14 Ver. 14. I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians,.... The meaning is, that he was obliged by the call he had from God, the injunction that was laid upon him by him, and the gifts with which he was qualified, to preach the Gospel to all sorts of men; who are here distinguished into Greeks an…
343 wordsSECTION 15Romans 1:15
Romans 1:15 Ver. 15. So, as much as in me is, I am ready,.... This explains what he was a debtor to one and another for, namely, to preach the Gospel; expresses the readiness of his mind to that work, whatever difficulties lay in his way; and declares what a willing mind he had to preach it also to the Romans, as els…
92 wordsSECTION 16Romans 1:16
Romans 1:16 Ver. 16. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ,.... The reason why he was so ready and willing to preach it, even where he ran the greatest risk of his character and life, was, because it was "the Gospel of Christ" he preached, and he was not ashamed of it. This supposes that some were, though the a…
5,060 wordsSECTION 17Romans 2:1
Romans 2:1 INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 2 This chapter contains, in general, a vindication of the justice and equity of the divine procedure against men, such as are described in the preceding chapter; and a refutation of the several pleas that might be made by the Gentiles, who had not the law, and by the Jews who had it;…
1,410 wordsSECTION 18Romans 2:2
Romans 2:2 Ver. 2. But we are sure that the judgment of God,.... By "the judgment of God", is not meant what is exercised on and towards men in this life, but what will follow after death; which is called judgment to come, is represented as certain, will be universal as to persons and things, and is here called "the j…
186 wordsSECTION 19Romans 2:3
Romans 2:3 Ver. 3. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same,.... Some men may be so vain as to imagine, that though they do the same things which they condemn in others, they shall escape the judgment of God: but such will find themselves most sadly mistaken; there is …
113 wordsSECTION 20Romans 2:4
Romans 2:4 Ver. 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness,.... The apostle anticipates an objection against what he had said, taken from the prosperity of these persons; who might conclude from thence, that they were not so wicked as he had represented them; and that they should escape the judgment of God, other…
508 wordsSECTION 21Romans 2:5
Romans 2:5 Ver. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart,.... The apostle goes on to show, that such persons who promise themselves impunity on the score of prosperity, shall not always go unobserved and unpunished; for there is a day of wrath and righteous judgment hastening on, and will take place after they h…
447 wordsSECTION 22Romans 2:6
Romans 2:6 Ver. 6. Who will render to every man according to his deeds. God will be the Judge, who is righteous, holy, just, and true; every man in particular will be judged; as the judgment will be general to all, it will be special to everyone, and will proceed according to their works; for God will render to wicked…
193 wordsSECTION 23Romans 2:7
Romans 2:7 Ver. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing,.... These words are descriptive of one sort of persons, to whom God will render according to their works; and must be understood not of the Gentiles, the best and most moralized among them; for they sought after worldly things, after human wisdom, an…
441 wordsSECTION 24Romans 2:8
Romans 2:8 Ver. 8. But unto them that are contentious,.... This is a description of the other sort of persons to whom God will render according to their deeds, "who are of the contention"; who contend for victory, and not truth; strive about words to no profit; are quarrelsome, and sow discord among men, and in church…
132 wordsSECTION 25Romans 2:9
Romans 2:9 Ver. 9. Tribulation and anguish,.... These, with the foregoing words, are expressive of the second death, the torments of hell, the worm that never dies, and the fire that is not quenched: which will fall upon every soul of man that doth evil; whose course of life and conversation is evil; for "the soul th…
93 wordsSECTION 26Romans 2:10
Romans 2:10 Ver. 10. But glory, honour, and peace,.... Which are so many words for the everlasting happiness of the saints; which is a "crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1Pe 5:4); an honour exceeding that of the greatest potentates upon earth, since such that enjoy it will be kings and priests, and sit with Christ…
154 wordsSECTION 27Romans 2:11
Romans 2:11 Ver. 11. For there is no respect of persons with God. It will not come into consideration, at the day of judgment, of what nation men are; or from what parents they are descended; nor of what age and sex persons be; nor in what state and condition they have lived in this world; nor will it be asked to what…
430 wordsSECTION 28Romans 2:12
Romans 2:12 Ver. 12. For as many as have sinned without law,.... This is an instance of the strict justice of God, and proves him to be no respecter of persons; for the Gentiles, who were "without law", the written law of Moses, not without the law of nature in their breasts, nor without some civil laws and statutes o…
311 wordsSECTION 29Romans 2:13
Romans 2:13 Ver. 13. For not the hearers of the law are just before God,.... The apostle here shows, that the Jews were justly condemned, notwithstanding their having and hearing of the law; since hearing without doing it, will never denominate persons righteous in the sight of God, however it might recommend them in …
456 wordsSECTION 30Romans 2:14
Romans 2:14 Ver. 14. For when the Gentiles which have not the law,.... The objection of the Gentiles against their condemnation, taken from their being without the law, is here obviated. The apostle owns that they had not the law, that is, the written law of Moses, and yet intimates that they had, and must have a law,…
354 wordsSECTION 31Romans 2:15
Romans 2:15 Ver. 15. Which show the work of the law written in their hearts,.... Though the Gentiles had not the law in form, written on tables, or in a book, yet they had "the work", the matter, the sum and substance of it in their minds; as appears by the practices of many of them, in their external conversation. Th…
304 wordsSECTION 32Romans 2:16
Romans 2:16 Ver. 16. In the day when God shall judge,.... These words are to be read in connection with Ro 2:13, and express the time when both Jews and Gentiles will be judged, called a "day", both because of the clearness and evidence of the judgment that will be made, and because a certain time is fixed, though not…
473 wordsSECTION 33Romans 2:17
Romans 2:17 Ver. 17. Behold, thou art called a Jew,.... From hence to the end of the chapter the Jews are particularly addressed; their several privileges and characters are commemorated, which by an ironical concession are allowed them; several charges are brought against them, even against their principal men; and t…
3,544 wordsSECTION 34Romans 3:1
Romans 3:1 INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 3 In this chapter are an answer to several objections which follow one upon another, relating to what the apostle had said concerning the equality of the Gentiles with the Jews; and various proofs out of the Psalms and Prophets, showing the general depravity and corruption of mankind…
1,264 wordsSECTION 35Romans 3:2
Romans 3:2 Ver. 2. Much every way,.... The circumcised Jew has greatly the advantage of the uncircumcised Gentile, Mynp lkm, "in all respects", du lk le, "on every side", as the Rabbins speak; phrases to which this in the text answers: chiefly; more especially, particularly, and in the first place; because that unto…
272 wordsSECTION 36Romans 3:3
Romans 3:3 Ver. 3. For what if some did not believe?.... It is suggested, that though the Jews enjoyed such a privilege, some of them did not believe; which is an aggravation of their sin, that they should have such means of light, knowledge, and faith, such clear and full evidences of things, and yet be incredulous: …
358 wordsSECTION 37Romans 3:4
Romans 3:4 Ver. 4. God forbid, yea, let God be true, but every man a liar,.... Let no such thing ever enter into the minds of any, that the truth of God can be, or will be made of none effect by the want of faith in man; let it be always asserted and abode by; that God is true, faithful to his word, constant in his pr…
855 wordsSECTION 38Romans 3:5
Romans 3:5 Ver. 5. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God,.... Hence it appears, that the unrighteousness of men commends the righteousness, or faithfulness of God; and yet all unrighteousness is sin; the wrath of God is revealed against it; and would exclude from heaven, were it not for pardon th…
361 wordsSECTION 39Romans 3:6
Romans 3:6 Ver. 6. God forbid, for then how shall God judge the world?] hlylx, "far be it"; such a notion is detestable and abominable, nor can it be fairly deduced from what is asserted; for it is the unrighteousness of his own people, on whom he takes no vengeance personally, and not the unrighteousness of others, o…
159 wordsSECTION 40Romans 3:7
Romans 3:7 Ver. 7. For if the truth of God,.... The "truth of God" is the same with "the righteousness of God", Ro 3:5, and means his faithfulness; of which it is hypothetically said, it hath more abounded; or has been more illustrated, through my lie to his glory: nothing is more opposite to truth than a lie; a lie…
798 wordsSECTION 41Romans 3:8
Romans 3:8 Ver. 8. And not rather, as we be slanderously reported,.... These are the apostle's own words, in answer to the objector he represented; and it is as if he should say, why do not you go on? why do you stop here? "and not rather" say, as we are evil spoken of, and our doctrine is blasphemed: and as some aff…
194 wordsSECTION 42Romans 3:9
Romans 3:9 Ver. 9. What then? are we better than they?.... The apostle returns to what he was treating of in the beginning of the chapter, and suggests, that though the Jew has the advantage of the Gentile, with respect to some external privileges, yet not with regard to their state and condition God-ward, and as in h…
484 wordsSECTION 43Romans 3:10
Romans 3:10 Ver. 10. As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. The several passages cited here, and in some following verses, are taken out of the Psalms and Isaiah; and are brought to prove, not only that the Jews are no better than the Gentiles, being equally corrupt and depraved as they; but also to s…
7,765 wordsSECTION 44Romans 4:1
Romans 4:1 INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 4 The apostle having, in the preceding chapters, proved that there is no justification before God by the works of the law, partly from the depraved state and condition that all men are in by nature, both Jews and Gentiles; and partly from the nature of the law itself, which discovers…
1,307 wordsSECTION 45Romans 4:2
Romans 4:2 Ver. 2. For if Abraham were justified by works,.... That Abraham was not, and could not be justified by works, is clear from hence, that if this was his case, he hath whereof to glory; which will be allowed him before men, on account of his pious life and conversation: but not before God; who saw all the …
268 wordsSECTION 46Romans 4:3
Romans 4:3 Ver. 3. For what saith the Scripture?.... This answers to bytkd yam, "what is that which is written" {c}? or what does the Scripture say? which is a way of speaking used by the Jews, when anything is proposed, which seems contrary to Scripture, as here justification by works does. A testimony from Scripture…
474 wordsSECTION 47Romans 4:4
Romans 4:4 Ver. 4. Now to him that worketh,.... The apostle illustrates the former case by two sorts of persons in this and the next verse, who have different things accounted to them, and in a different manner. The one is represented as working, the other not. By the worker is meant, not one that works from, and upon…
559 wordsSECTION 48Romans 4:5
Romans 4:5 Ver. 5. But to him that worketh not,.... Not that the believer does not work at all, but not from such principles, and with such views as the other; he does not work in order to obtain life and salvation; he does not seek for justification by his doings: but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly: or…
241 wordsSECTION 49Romans 4:6
Romans 4:6 Ver. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man,.... the apostle having instanced in Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, cites some passages from David, king of Israel, a person of great note and esteem among the Jews, in favour of the doctrine he is establishing; who in a very proper…
369 wordsSECTION 50Romans 4:7
Romans 4:7 Ver. 7. Saying, blessed are they,.... These words are cited from Ps 32:1, and contain the proof of the happiness of justified persons. In this citation the singular number is changed into the plural, to take in all sorts of men, Jews and Gentiles, and very agreeably to the sense of the original; for the wor…
434 wordsSECTION 51Romans 4:8
Romans 4:8 Ver. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. As he does not to those whom he justifies in Christ, and by his righteousness; for the sins of such he has imputed to his Son, as their surety; and he has bore them, took them away, having made full satisfaction for them; so that these persons…
148 wordsSECTION 52Romans 4:9
Romans 4:9 Ver. 9. [Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only]?.... That is, upon the circumcised Jews; are they the only persons that partake of this happiness? the word "only" is rightly supplied, and is in the Claromontane exemplar used by Beza, and in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions: or up…
127 wordsSECTION 53Romans 4:10
Romans 4:10 Ver. 10. How was it then reckoned?.... The Arabic version adds, "and when"; and the Ethiopic version reads it, "when was Abraham justified?" expressing the sense, not the words of the original text, with which agree the following questions: when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? that is, was h…
235 wordsSECTION 54Romans 4:11
Romans 4:11 Ver. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision,.... Or "the sign circumcision", as the Syriac version reads it, and so the Alexandrian copy, and two of Stephens's; that is, Abraham received at the hands of God, the commandment of circumcision, which was a "sign" or token of the covenant; not of grace, b…
4,844 wordsSECTION 55Romans 5:1
Romans 5:1 INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 5 The Apostle having clearly stated, and fully proved the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of faith, proceeds to observe the comfortable fruits and effects of this great blessing, known and enjoyed by the believer; as also the source and spring of it, the love of God, w…
1,529 wordsSECTION 56Romans 5:2
Romans 5:2 Ver. 2. By whom also we have access by faith,.... The access here spoken of is not to the blessing of justification; for though that is a grace which we have access to by Christ, and come at the knowledge of by faith, and enjoy the comfort of through it; and is a grace in which persons stand, and from which…
593 wordsSECTION 57Romans 5:3
Romans 5:3 Ver. 3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also,.... The tribulations of the saints are many and various, through the hatred of the world, the temptations of Satan, their own corruptions; and are the will of their heavenly Father; what Christ has foretold, and they expect; and here particularly d…
239 wordsSECTION 58Romans 5:4
Romans 5:4 Ver. 4. And patience experience,.... As tribulations tend to exercise and increase patience, so patience being exercised and increased, enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience; of the love and grace of God communicated to them at such seasons; of his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises; of his…
112 wordsSECTION 59Romans 5:5
Romans 5:5 Ver. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed,.... As a vain hope does, things not answering to expectation, it deceives, and is lost; but the grace of hope is of such a nature, as that it never fails deceives, or disappoints: it neither makes ashamed, nor have persons that have any reason to be ashamed of it; neithe…
294 wordsSECTION 60Romans 5:6
Romans 5:6 Ver. 6. For when we were yet without strength,.... The apostle having mentioned the love of God proceeds to give an instance, and which is a full proof and demonstration of it, which is, that in due time Christ died for the ungodly. That Christ died is certain; the death of Christ was foretold in prophecy,…
631 wordsSource & rights
Public domain; John Gill (1697–1771). Source item is marked Public Domain on Internet Archive.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.