PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans
Hodge, Charles, 1797–1878 · 193,921 words · 491 reading sections
DOCTRINES.
1. Love is the fulfilling of the law; it leads to the avoiding of every thing injurious to our neighbour, and to sedulous attention to every thing adapted to promote his welfare, v. 9. 2. The relation in which Christians stand to each other is that of mem- bers of the same family. As, however, it is not a relation con…
291 wordsSECTION 422ROMANS 12:9—21. 303
far from being a man such as God approves who does not " rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep," v. 15. 6. A wrong estimate of ourselves is a fruitful source of evil. Viewed in relation to God, and in our own absolute insignificance, w^e have little reason to be wise or important in our own c…
186 wordsSECTION 423REMARKS.
1. Christians should never forget that faith without works is dead. It is not more important to believe what God has revealed, than to do what he has commanded. A faith therefore which does not produce love, kind- ness, sympathy, humility, the forgiveness of injuries, &c. can do us little good, vs. 9 — 21. 2. It is pe…
324 wordsSECTION 424304 ROMANS 13: 1—14.
was afforded by his conduct under persecution. " He was led as a lamb to the slaughter ;" "when he was reviled, he reviled not again ; when he suffered, he threatened not." Even martyrs dying for the truth have not always been able to avoid the prediction of evil to their persecutors ; so much easier is it to abstain f…
190 wordsSECTION 425CONTENTS.
This chapter treats mainly of our political duties. From v. 1 to v. 7 inclusive, the apostle enforces the duties which we owe to civil mao-is- trates. From v. 8 to v. 11, he refers to the more general obligations under which Christians are placed, but still with special reference to their civil and social relations. Fr…
72 wordsSECTION 426CHAP. 13: 1—14.
*Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God : the powers that be are ordained of God. ^Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God : and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation, ^por rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil…
177 wordsSECTION 427ROMANS 13: 1—14. 305
torn; fear to whom fear ; honour to whom honour. ^Owe no man any thing, but to love one another ; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. ^For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not steal. Thou shall not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet ; and if there he any other c…
188 wordsSECTION 428ANALYSIS.
The duty of obedience to those in authority is enforced, I. By the con- sideration that civil government is a divine institution, and, therefore, resistance to magistrates in the exercise of their lawful authority is dis- obedience to God, vs. 1, 2. 2. From the end or design of their appoint- ment, which is to promote …
196 wordsSECTION 429COMMENTARY.
(1) Let every soul he subject to the higher powers. The expression every soul is often used as equivalent to every one ,- it is at times, how- ever, emphatic, and such is probably the case in this passage. By higher powers is most commonly and naturally understood those in authority, without reference to their grade of…
160 wordsSECTION 430306 ROMANS 13: 1—14.
comparison with another, but they are spoken of as being over other men who are not in office. There was peculiar necessity, during the apostolic age, for inculcating the duty of obedience to civil magistrates. This necessity arose in part from the fact that a large portion of the converts to Christianity had been Jew…
556 wordsSECTION 431ROMANS 13: 1—14. 307
an obvious conclusion from the preceding. If disobedience is a sin, it will be punished. The word rendered darmiation means here simply punishment, which is also the old meaning of the word damnation. As this word, however, has become restricted to the final and eternal con- demnation of the wicked, it is now unsuited …
1,123 wordsSECTION 432ROMANS 13: 1—14. 309
and honour are generally considered in this connexion as differing only in degree, the former expressing the reverence to superiors, the latter the respect to equals. (8) Owe no man any thing, hut to love one another, &c. That is, acquit yourselves of all obligations, except love, which is a debt which must remain eve…
543 wordsSECTION 433310 ROMANS 13: 1—14.
Heb. 11 : 12. 1 Cor. 6 : 6. Eph. 2 : 8. Knowing the time, i. e. consider- ing the nature and character of the period in which we now live. The original word does not mean time in the general, but a portion of time considered as appropriate, as fixed, as short, &c. &c. Paul immediately explains himself by adding, that n…
583 wordsSECTION 434ROMANS 13: 1—14. 311
this verse, to each of which two words are appropriated, viz. intem- jterance, impurity, and discord. Rioting and drunkenness belong- to the first ; the word appropriately rendered rioting is used both in reference to the disorderly religious festivals kept in honour of Bacchus, and to the common boisterous carousing* …
248 wordsSECTION 435DOCTRINES.
1. Civil government is a divine institution, i. e. it is the will of God that it should exist, and be respected and obeyed, v. 2. 2. While ' government is of God, the form is of men.' God has never enjoined any one form obligatory on all communities; but has simply laid down certain principles, applicable to rulers an…
284 wordsSECTION 436312 ROMANS I?.: 1—14.
them to do any tiling contrary to the will of God, There are cases therefore, in which disobedience is a duty. How far the rightful au- thority of rulers extends, the precise point at which the obligation tc obedience ceases must often be a difficult question, and each case must be decided on its own merits. The same d…
1,077 wordsSECTION 437314 ROMANS 14: 1— '23
5. Did genuine Christian love prevail, it would secure the right discharge, not only of the duties of rulers towards their subjects and of subjects towards their rulers, but of all the relative social duties of life ; for he that loveth another fulfilleth the law, vs. 7, 8. 6. The nearness of eternity should operate o…
126 wordsSECTION 438CONTENTS.
As in chapter 12, Paul had insisted principally upon moral and reli- gious duties, and in chapter 13, on those of a political character, he here treats particularly of the duties of church members towards each other, in relation to matters nx)t binding on the conscience. There are two points specially presented ; the f…
97 wordsSECTION 439CHAP. 14: 1—23.
*Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, lut not to doubtful disputa- tions. ^For one believeth that he may eat all things : another, who is weak, eateth herbs. ^Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. ^Who art thou that j…
228 wordsSECTION 440ROMANS 14: 1—23. 315
judge thy brother ? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother 1 for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. ^*For it is written, ^s I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. ^^So then every one of us shall give account of himself to Ood. *^Let us not ther…
299 wordsSECTION 441ANALYSIS.
Scrupulous Christians, whose consciences are weak, are to be kindly received, and not harshly condemned, v. 1. This direction the apostle enforces in reference to those who were scrupulous as to eating particular kinds of meat, and the propriety of neglecting the sacred days appointed in the law of Moses. Such persons …
252 wordsSECTION 442816 ROMANS 14: 1—23.
a thing is not wrong in itself, it is right for us to indulge in it. Oui liberty is to be asserted, but it is to be exercised in such a way as not to injure others. We must not put a stumbling-block in our brother's way, V. 12. This consideration of others in the use of our liberty is enforced, 1. From the great law o…
227 wordsSECTION 443COMMENTARY.
(1) Him that is weak in faith receive, hut not to doubtful disputafioruf. This verse contains the general direction that weak and scrupulous bre- thren are to be kindly received, and not harshly condemned. TVeak in faith, i. e. weak as to faith. Faith here means persuasion of the truth ; a man may have a strong persuas…
336 wordsSECTION 444ROMANS 14: 1—23. 317
this direction by showing them that they had no right to sit in judgment on their brethren in such matters. (3) For one believeth he may eat all things : another, who is weak, eateth herbs. This is an iUustration of the weakness of faith to which the apostle refers in v. 1. It was a scrupulousness about the use of thi…
549 wordsSECTION 445318 ROMANS 14: 1—23.
To his own master he siandeth or falleth, i. e. it belongs to his own master to decide his case, to acquit or to condemn. These terms are often used in this judicial sense, Ps. 1:5. 76 • 7. Luke 21 : 36. Rev. 6 : 17. Pea, he shall he holden up : for God is abie to make him stand, i. e. he shall stand, or be accepted, f…
570 wordsSECTION 446ROMANS 14: 1—23. 319
to the will of God, and, therefore, although some from weakness or igno- rance may err as to the rule of duty, they are not to be despised or cast out as evil. The strong should not condemn the scrupulous, nor the scrupulous be censorious towards the strong. This is a fourth argument in favour of the mutual forbearance…
602 wordsSECTION 447320 ROMANS 14; 1—23.
might he Lord both of the dead and living. The dominion which Christ, as Mediator or Redeemer, exercises over his people, and which they gladly recognise, is the result of his death and resurrection. By his death he purchased them for his own, and by his resurrection he at- tained to that exalted station which he now o…
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* As, therefore, God is the supreme Judge, and we are to render our ac- count to him, we should await his decision, and not presume to act the part of judge over our brethren.' (13) Let us not, therefore, judge one another any more; but judge this, rather, that no man put a stumMing'hlock, or an occasion to fall, in h…
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* If thy brother, imboldened by thy example, is led to do what he thinks wrong-, and is thus rendered miserable,' &c. Or, 'If thy brother, by thy example, is injured (by being led into sin), thou walkest uncharitably.' This interpretation is perhaps better suited to the latter clause of the verse. Destroy not. These wo…
567 wordsSECTION 450ROMANS 14: 1—23. 323
practice in reference to unessential points should not be allowed to disturb the harmony of Christian intercourse. It is to be observed that the exercise of the virtues here spoken of, is represented by the apostle as a service rendered to Christ; "he that in these things serveth Christ, &c.," which implies that Christ…
554 wordsSECTION 451324 ROMANS 14: 1—23.
(22) Hast thou faith ? have it thyself before God. Happy is he thai condemneih not himself in that which he alloweth. Paul presents in this verse, more distinctly than he had before done, the idea that he required no concession of principle or renunciation of truth. He did not wish them to believe a thing to be sinful …
596 wordsSECTION 452DOCTRINES.
■ 1. The fellowship of the saints is not to be broken for unessential matters ; in other words, we have no right to make any thing a term of Christian communion which is not inconsistent with piety. Paul evi- dently argues on the principle that if a man is a true Christian he should be recognised and treated as such. I…
572 wordsSECTION 453326 ROMANS 14: 1—23.
the synagogue. The cases therefore are not parallel. When we do what we think God has forbidden, we are evidently guilty of disobedience or contempt of the divine authority. But when we do what we think he has required, we may act under a culpable mistake ; or, although we may have the judgment that the act in itself i…
184 wordsSECTION 454REMARKS.
1. Christians should not allow any thing to alienate them from their brethren, who afford credible evidence that they are the servants of God. Owing to ignorance, early prejudice, weakness of faith, and other causes, there may and must exist a diversity of opinion and practice on minor points of duty. But this diversit…
348 wordsSECTION 455ROMANS 14: 1—32. 327
of God. Multitudes who would be shocked at the thought of eating meat during Lent, comnait the greatest moral offences without the slightest compunction. It is, therefore, of great importance to keep the conscience free ; under no subjection but to truth and God. This is necessary, not only on account of its influence …
555 wordsSECTION 456328 ROMANS 15: 1—13.
most important principle to be appealed to in support of benevolent enter- prises. It comes in aid, and gives its sanction to all other right motives, but we find the sacred writers appealing most frequently to the benevo- lent and pious feelings ; to the example of Christ; to a sense of our obli- gations to him ; to t…
231 wordsSECTION 457CONTENTS.
This chapter consists of two parts. In the former, vs. I — 13, the apostle enforces the duty urged in the preceding chapter by considera- tions derived principally from the example of Christ. In the latter part, vs. 14 — 33, we have the conclusion of the whole discussion, in which he speaks of his confidence in the Rom…
87 wordsSECTION 458CHAP. 15: 1—13.
=^We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ^Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. ^For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written. The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. *For whatsoever things were writte…
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minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus : ^that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also re- ceived us to the glory of God. ^Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God,…
349 wordsSECTION 460COMMENTARY.
(1) We then tliat are strong ought to hear the infirmities of the weak^ and not to please ourselves. The separation of this passage from the preceding chapter is obviously unhappy, as there is no change in the subject. 'As the points of difference are not essential, as the law of love, the example of Christ, and the ho…
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how he himself acted in relation to this subject. And not to please our' selves ,• we are not to do every thing- which we may have a right to do and make our own gratification the rule by which we exercise our Chris- tian liberty. (2) Let each one of us please his neighbour, for his good to edifica- tion. The principl…
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through that patience and consolation which the scriptures produce ;' or the words through patience may be disconnected from the word scrips tures, and the sense be, ' that we, through patience, and through the con- solation of the scriptures,' &c. The former method is the most com- nionly adopted, and is the most natu…
554 wordsSECTION 463332 ROMANS 15: 1—13.
motives, the kindness of Christ towards us, and the promotion of the divine glory. (8) Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. This verse follows as a confirmation or illustration of the preceding. Now 1 say, i. e. this I mean.…
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ye people. This passage is from Ps. 117 : 1, and strictly to the apostle's purpose. (12) And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he thai shall rise to rule over the Gentiles ,• in him shall the Gentiles trust, Isa. 11 : 1,10. This is an explicit prediction of the dominion of the Mes- siah over oth…
389 wordsSECTION 465CHAP. 15: 14—33.
**And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. ^^Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, *^that I should …
144 wordsSECTION 466334 ROMANS 15: 14—33.
the Spirit of God ; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ^"Yea, so have I strived to preach the g-ospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation : ^^but as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see : a…
340 wordsSECTION 467ANALYSIS.
The apostle, in the conclusion of his epistle, assures the Romans of his confidence in them, and that his motive for writing was not so much any idea of their peculiar deficiency, as the desire of putting them in mind of those things which they already knew, vs. 14, 15. This he was the rather entitled to do on account …
245 wordsSECTION 468COMMENTARY.
(14) And I myself also am persuaded of you, my hreihren, that ye uho are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admo- msh one another. Paul with his wonted modesty and mildness, apolo- gizes, as it were, for the plainness and ardour of his exhortations. They were given from bo want of confidence in t…
570 wordsSECTION 469336 ROMANS 15: 14—33. '
figurative sense. The sacrifice which they offer are the people, whom they are instrumental in bringing' unto God. Ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. This is the apostle's explanation of the preceding clause. * He was appointed a…
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of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought hy me. That is, * I will not claim the credit due to others, or appeal to results which 1 have not been instrumental in effecting.' It is to be remarked that the apostle represents himself as merely an instrument in the hands of Christ for the conversion of men ; the…
569 wordsSECTION 471338 ROMANS 15: U— 33.
of not preaching where Christ was before known, but in such a way as to accomplish the prediction that those who had not heard should under- stand.' The motive which influenced him in taking this course was, lest he should build upon another man* s foundation. This may mean either, lest I should appropriate to myself t…
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ness and respect; and also to make provision for his journey ; see Acts 15 : 3. 20 : 38. 1 Cor. 16:6. 2 Cor. 1 : 16. (25) But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints^ i. e, to supply the wants of the saints, distributing to them the contributions of the churches ; see Heb. 6:10; compare also Matt. 8 : 15. …
583 wordsSECTION 473340 ROMANS 15: 14—33.
he binds the hearts of Christians together, I beseech you,' &c. He ap peals, therefore, not only to their love of Christ, but to their love for hira self as a fellow Christian. That ye strive together with me, i. e. tha» ye aid me in my conflict by taking part in it. This they were to do bj their prayers. (31) That I …
531 wordsSECTION 474DOCTRINES.
1. The sacred scriptures are designed for men in all ages of the world, nd the the great source of religious knowledge and consolation, v. 4.…
26 wordsSECTION 475ROMANS 15: 14—33. 341
2. The moral excellencies which we are justly required to attain, and the consolations which we are commanded to seek in the use of appro- priate means, are still the gifts of God. There is, therefore, no incon- sistency between the d)ctrines of free agency and dependence, vs. 5, 13. 3. Those are to be received and tr…
548 wordsSECTION 476342 ROMANS 15: 14—33.
tecting him from danger, and for the Holy Spirit to influence the minds of the brethren in Jerusalem. This he would not have done were such petitions of no avail, vs. 30, 31. 1. The duty of a disinterested and kind regard to others in the exercise of our Christian liberty is one of the leading topics of this, as it is…
521 wordsSECTION 477ROMANS 16: 1—27. 343
increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he tha't watereth, but God that giveth the increase, vs. 19, 20. 8. It is the duty of those who have the means to contribute to the ne- cessities of others, and especially to the wants of those from whom they themselves have received good, vs. 26, 27. 9…
183 wordsSECTION 478CONTENTS.
In this concluding chapter Paul first commends to the church at Rome the deaconess Phebe, vs. 1, 2. He then sends his salutations to many members of the church, and other Christians who were then at Rome, vs. 3 — 16. He earnestly exhorts his brethren to avoid those who cause contentions ; and, after commending their ob…
81 wordsSECTION 479CHAP. 16: 1—27.
*I commend unto you Phebe, our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: ^that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you : for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. ^Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in C…
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Christ, and Stachys my beloved. ^^Salute Apelles, approved in Christ, Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. "^^Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus which are in the Lord. ^^Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in tne Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured …
353 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1851). Text from OCR of an original Internet Archive scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.