PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Romans
James Barmby [1822-1897] · 439,030 words · 478 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 61
repl'('i;._'uhl Ii n:- of lR w ; but he bRd hen<-e t.he expressioM in these verscR cRll for con- been lC'li to Rn R bst-ra<-t <'Onl'eption, e'l"er mdt'rat.ion. (I) Whl\t ia me1rnt by Tb tp-yov before bis mind, of law "" repre8C'.nting the .,.o;; voµ.oi,. roid to be "WJ·ithm in their princ-iple of enction of full obe…
1,117 wordsSECTION 62The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 62
wltneee to the ohoracter of his deeds, or Testoment, ·e.8 well e.s by Roman writer,,, rather, with his deeds beore witnees for or the term 'EfJpciio, being Rpplied in th!'l New ogoinst himself: his thoughts are as o.dvo- Testament (usually o.t Je-,~t) to dfatingoish oa.tes on both sides, o,rguing for condemna.tion t…
1,040 wordsSECTION 63The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 63
repreeenbltion in oonoret.e form of 1.-nowlerlg-e heathen templGB-ft practioo whioh Jewish nnd troth. The Jew had that; and the Z<'l\lota, in t.heir professed abhorronco of Law ifF<'lf is by no means disparngro bc- idolatry, might be addioted to when they oame the Jew presumed on it without keep- hl\d opportunity. A…
1,063 wordsSECTION 64The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 64
When Jew he.d come to be the peculfar de- an4 otroummlon ii the.t of the heart, in the signa.tlon of tho cliilclren of the covenant, llpirit, not In the letter (or, iA gpirit, Mt m persons were said to become Jewa by cir- letter. Both the nouna, ,n,e6µ"'"' e.nd 7p&µ- oumoision. Thus Eeth. viii.17, "And many µaT<, he…
1,238 wordsSECTION 65The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 65
Vera 4-S.-Long-sujjeri11g. It is certain that we live under a moral government ad.ministeed by a holy and righteons Ruler, of infinite knowledii:e and irresistible power. Yet there are sinful men who, while admitting this to be the case, live as if they believed that government and retribution had no reference to th…
549 wordsSECTION 66The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 66
must be saved upon the same terms-terms honoumblo to God, and beneficial to human nature nnd human society. IV. Tum PURPOSE AND USE Oll' Gon's LONG-BUFFERING. After all that has been said, it must yet be insisted upon that the attribute of Deity here referred to by the o.po~tle is o. glorious and blessed o.ttribute, a…
820 wordsSECTION 67The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 67
IT. Drrn,7> l'M:PARTULrrY AFFORDS KOST IMPORTANT LEBBO:t;B TO ALL TO WJJOM THE W,,RD OF G,.,n rs PREACHED. 1. Here is a rebuke addressed tu the proud the solf- rigbtN,us, the self-confideut, to all who deem themselves the fuvourites of He~ven, and who indulge t.he persuasion that they are in possession of some speoial …
842 wordsSECTION 68The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 68
the cBuse it ie hie profeeeed busineee to further and to advocate. To him is committed, ne it were, the custody of monotheism; he ie called upon to witness to the Divine nnture Bnd charncter, as contrasting with the conceptions of their deities cherished by tbo heathen. And lo I he becomes, by his immorality, the occas…
856 wordsSECTION 69The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 69
religi(lus life and efficiency. And it is most n11tural that, iri the minds of the unthink- ing and the worldly, the symbol should t.ake the place of the truth It symbolizes, the letter should overgrow the spirit, and officfalism should substitute ministry. Certainly this is what happened in the case of Judaism. And a…
1,043 wordsSECTION 70The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 70
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-4.-The goodness of God. The great object of St. Paul, in these opening chapters of Romans, is to show the world's need of a Saviour. In the first chapter he has shown the inexcusableness of the heathen, and their fallen and lost condition. But he remembers that he is writing to Jew…
684 wordsSECTION 71The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 71
• I know that blossings undesorved H11ve mnrkt,d my erring traok; ThRt. wheresO<''or 1i1y feet h1wo swerved, His chutening turned me baok. " That more e.nd more e. providence Of love is undersl;ood, Me.king the springs of time and sonae Sweet with eterne.l good. •The.t dee.th seems but a oovered way Whioh open…
724 wordsSECTION 72The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 72
on your hee.d, and melts down, by deede of kindness and a forgivinu spirit the hardneaa of your heart. la it not a picture of how God deals with men? We 'have sinned. He has borne with us. We have stood condemned 68 guilty sinners in the presence of a broken Lo.w. He has sent his own Son to redeem, to justify, to eave …
920 wordsSECTION 73The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 73
II. Tm;; PER.."OKS JUDGED. That Judgment no one can escape. "Who will render to etwy man acrording to his deeds ' (ver. 6). Many escape here on earth the just reITT1.rd of their deeds. Gross crimes are perpetrated, and the murderer escapee the jnst sentence of the law; the defrauder and the betrayer and the slanderer o…
885 wordsSECTION 74The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 74
they do not want to have H while they live, yet, recognizing tbe importance of eternity o.nd the judgment, they wo.nt to have it before they die. Hence men who never think of religion in their hours of health and activity, will send for tbe minister when they o.re on a bed of sickness. Hence you have such cases as that…
932 wordsSECTION 75The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 75
form C1f r<'ligion insteRd of foe r<'~lity. PRul shows them the ueelessnoss of this. The fr>nn t$ fl,<(ft1l along ,rith the reality. But without the reality the form is utterly me- le,<.•. "For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the Law: but if thou be II breo.ker of the Lnw, thy circumcision is m11de uocircum…
931 wordsSECTION 76The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 76
"Some will he.to tl1ee, some will love thee, Some will flo.tl.er, eome will elight. Ceo.so from mo.n, e.nd look above thee ; Trust in God, e.nd do the right." Me.y we ea.meetly and diligently cultivate this true religion. "For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly ; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in …
854 wordsSECTION 77The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 77
The Gentile llhRll perish Recording to the me11Sure of hie sin; the Jew according to the mea~ur,' of bis. For law must pass into life, otherwise it is void and useless, BI\Ve for oondemnat.ion. We hRve here-the Gentiles and the Je,ve in their respective relations to Law; and the supreme sin of the Jews. l. THE GEN'l'I…
876 wordsSECTION 78The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 78
people. Bo baptism and the Lord's Supper now. 2. Relative val/ll,e, An attestation of spirituo.l truths can be emphasized by an outward sign. So circumcision spoke force- fully to the heathen around, and so perhaps baptism and the Lord's Sapper have 1111ch use now. II. A TRUE SPIRITUALISM, That, however, which is educ…
832 wordsSECTION 79The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 79
lffluld make us Mbamed of our bebAnour tbllt we may mourn and !\mend. 'l'here la no hope of reforu1Ation as long IIS t-be pachyderm of eelf-complacenoy is not pierced with the c-0mpunction of responsibility. IT. THE -~~i::t 001'.;EQUENCE TO THE IMI'ENITE1'"'T. They aggravate tlieir punish- ment. The pent-up storm b…
836 wordsSECTION 80The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 80
they become the slaves of unrighteousneas; and a hard master and terrible paymaster doea unrlghteouenese prove. The judgment of God will proceed on easily intdligible principles, It le not difficult for men to decide whether they are working good or working evil, It ie not reaching a conclusion after abstract speculati…
855 wordsSECTION 81The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 81
Tht>re Clught to be no Bild hiRtus between our declarations and our aplrltual conduct. We must not only be finger-posts, but guides-" lest, having preached to othera, we oUJ'Belves become 011Stawa.ys." • The lore of Obrist and hia apostles twelve He taught, but first he followed it himself." If we are the channels of…
745 wordsSECTION 82The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 82
eymbolio o.cte of o. religion thus lend impreesive definiteness to onr inward decisiom. 2. The union of Christians is assisted by participation in the same rites. Attending the eame gatherings, affixing the same badge to the breast, cements the convicti1m of brotherhood, and renders co-operation possible. 3, The honour…
840 wordsSECTION 83The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 83
deal~ "«"ith sinful men, we shall find that his 86tlffl! fudgmmts have alwl\ye had ~ t r.-ascm. In the present inst&nce, the critic vindicates the Divine procedure. A~ h<.> declares the Gentiles to have suft"ered rightly, he really becomes the ohampion of Gcid, s.J.tbough in doing so he, 1LS the apostle 8hows, condemns…
904 wordsSECTION 84The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 84
porsonal clnime. He puts away the idea of merit in individuals, becauRe all are guilty before him, and bases his judgrnent upon the one consideration of state, with its resultant outcome, either good works or bacl. Now, this was what a Jew found it hard to accept. He thought, as a thorough-bred Jew, he ought to be BCCe…
896 wordsSECTION 85The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 85
~ived !I €'.6neral enlightenment through the Law . . Not only so, but they believed in their mission; they were t-0 be guides of the blind, lights· to those in darkness, correct-Ors (-•~•I/ff/>') of the foolish, teachers of babes, having at least the form (µ&p,po,rr,11) of knowledge and of truth in the Law. lu short, …
1,046 wordsSECTION 86The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 86
CHAPTER m. to the Jew. And (2) it eome (more or fewer, it maf;l-..ers not) have failed to rrnlize V81'11. 1-8.-(2) Certain objectiom with these advantages, it has been their fault. regard t.o the Jews suggested and met. In not God's. It is man's unfaithfulness, not this pBB86ge, before proceeding with his his, that h…
642 wordsSECTION 87The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 87
:><lions Tiew (whioh we Christiana IL1'8 by 2-l ; oh. iv. 20 ; xi. 20, 28; 1 Tim. i. 18; eome falt>ely eroneed of holding) that we 2 Tim. ii. IS). Still, it is to be obsorved may do enl that good mar oome. th11t in,the passage before us &tr1n/11 in man is opposed to winar in God, so e.s to suggea& ,e!"l'. 1, 2.-What …
1,094 wordsSECTION 88The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 88
or tlrn LXX. mE1y be nnclerstood passively if the Jew's supposed plea were valid, in tho eonHo ot' Goel being callecl to r,ccount, Nay, in that case, the ap,,etle gooa on to ns mon might be, for the justice o! his deal- sa:r, he, or any of us, might justify all wrtmg- ings; or, perhaps, in a middle seuae for d01ng for …
1,062 wordsSECTION 89The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 89
(anything) in our ~jfl'MlJ f-whiah he main J?Oint of all the quotation& is thnt mRintBim (though not oonolusively) to be which 18 brought out in tho next vorso, vim. the only proJ)(>r sense of the middle verb--- that they hl\,l roferenoo, not to the Gentile c,r (,,~ in the Authori11ed Version), .Are ,oe world, but t…
1,019 wordsSECTION 90The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 90
a.nd on a different principle, from thGt of "praise " or "honour," I Thess. ii. 6 is lnw. 'fhe principle of la.w is to onjoin a.ad a.dd11ccd (oi;.,., ('1-r•vv-ru iv dv9p,{,,,,ou 36!a:v); forbid, and to require complete obedience; also Jolin v. 44 (Llo&(u 1rapit a.Jv,:(1>..,,,., >..al'~J.- but Ja.w, even a.a exhibited i…
1,168 wordsSECTION 91The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 91
dinnihls," Bl'nirel on Heb. i. 3), which man, to a pel'BOn. lb! ordine.ry use in the LXX, th1',ugh i;in, fulls short of. ( as e.leo Heb. ix. 5) is to designe.te the lid of Vers. 24-26.-lleing jutifted freely by the IIJ'k (i.e. the mercy-seat), the noun l,rl0,µ11 his graoe throqh the redemption that (whioh is added E…
1,060 wordsSECTION 92The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 92
meaning will be that he wu set forth (or justiftoation). It h excluded. By what purposed) na CLn IA.oo"r/ip,011, CLvailable for 118 manner of (,rolou) law t Of workll t Nay, through fCLith, o.nd oonetsting in the offering but by the law of faith. Is it, then, here of himself-in tho shedcling of his 01011 blood. impl…
1,090 wordsSECTION 93The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 93
p.gaimrt p<>lytheism, but that t.he one G<>d nflcr whnt lrns been Bl\id ribout jusliflontton i, on<' and the Mme to all. romprehendin~ being Xc»plt ,,&µ011. Do we then mnlto out Rll in the <'mbmoo of his own essentinl our revealed Ll\w, whioh we hnve 11cco11utod unit<". God'@ unit" invoked in ~t.. Paul's BO holy l\nd D…
921 wordsSECTION 94The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 94
Bt. Paul supposes some reader, convinced by what be baa said of the p0ssibility of gaining no benefit by advantagee enjoyed, to tnm completely round and to ask what odvantoges accrue to those who enjoy wb11t seem to be remarkable privik<Tes. "What odv1mtage, then, bath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?" A…
1,569 wordsSECTION 95The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 95
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vera. 1-8.-Tlte dijfkulties of Dwim revelation, Jewish '1/A'/,belief, and Divine fastir,e, TLe apostle, in the twu preceding chapters, has now tihown that both Jews and Gentilot lltlwd er-' the &a.me platform 118 regards their need of a Saviour, Both are alike eiml.en en, w, 1-81,] THE E…
963 wordsSECTION 96The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 96
if our unright.eommM! commend the rlghtoousness of God, what she.II we eo.y? Is God unri~hteous who ta.keth vengeo.nce? (I speak &Sa man.) God forbid: for then h0w ~h11.ll God judge the world?" (vers. 5, 6). 1. God judges not consequences, but c:harocler. He looks at the heart and at the motives. The Jews' unbelief …
834 wordsSECTION 97The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 97
In o.ccopting o.s scientific truthR what very often are pure speculations. If there is weakness anywhere, it would seem to be in disregarding the ~idence in nature that points to o. greo.t persono.l and inte1ligent First Cause, or the evidence in history that point• to a wise nod overruling Providence. "The fool bath s…
823 wordsSECTION 98The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 98
for 11haring once more the Divine glory, Two of these views of huma.n na.turo concern man as he is now. The one humbles, the other exalts him. On the one hand, me.n is put before us as he is by nature-fallen, sinful, lost. On the oiher ha.nd, he is put before m: as ON w1U1ts him to be, and RB God has done all he can…
999 wordsSECTION 99The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 99
nnd dio upon the oroBB. It we.e no deeire to depreciate hume.n natnre that caured God to give "hie only begotten Son, that whoeoever believeth on him 11hould not perish, but hove everlasting life." Ah no I When we speak of the depravity of human nature, of the fnll of man, of universe.I guilt and sinfulness, some pe…
904 wordsSECTION 100The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 100
God'f!. sight. That ie very true, says James, but let us be sure that we have a real faith. '!'here is no real faith except works go along with it. Thus James brings out 1w side of the truth: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." It is the exa~eration of this latter truth that mainl…
923 wordsSECTION 101The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 101
that, by the faith which leads to jW1titication, the apostle plainly means only such faitl! as directly results in good works. True jWltification implies sanctification. II. Tm1 TEACHING OJI' BT, JAMES, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." From what we have seen of Paul's teachi…
864 wordsSECTION 102The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 102
So t.hey l'('_ie<'ted t.he Christ; Pond bis death wns the world's life. '!'hey would not live l,y him: 11nd ." by their fe.ll BIIITI\tion Mme \!nto the Gentiles." Perhnps sooner than ,wuld otbennse he.ve been; perhaps more eflcct.ually. So were they, all unknowing drawing t.he chariot of his kingdom; so, e,cn now, is t…
878 wordsSECTION 103The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 103
of God "-objective, historical guilt. Before God's tribunal, in the heart and in history man is condemned. ' Lot ue thank God for hie severe de:1.linge, for they are in love. As in TITTlnyson's • May Queen,'" He taught me all the mercy,/or he alv,wed me all the ain." When the throne has become to us palpably the thron…
845 wordsSECTION 104The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 104
ii: smitt('n-smit.ten that tho rnce may be justified, But only a rolutive rl~teousnee8, as producti'I"(' again of actual righte<>usnt'ss, can be wrought by the ri~hteoueneee of God; nnd therefore the justifiCP.tion is for penitents, believing in Ohnst. And the TI'Ty fRith itself of penitents in a Christ who died. for s…
804 wordsSECTION 105The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 105
utter our impotence I But he stoop& to die for ue, and we receive forgiveness by faith• nnd, being in trustful and loving fellowship with hlm, we now can live by him. Tb~ "Law" of his llfe la established, not annulled, by faith.-T. F. L. Vere. 1, 2,-A ,acred trust. Qneetions break the even flow of a course of argument…
873 wordsSECTION 106The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 106
lamp unto my feeL," eto. They were II linily or11cles1" :M contrasted with the dim, unl'€rtain, impotent instructions of the nnillumlned world. They Imparted hope, intim11ted the mercy of God, and the possibility of pardon through eacrifioe, They taught a future life, eo that Martha could eay to our Lord, 11 I know …
842 wordsSECTION 107The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 107
from the plt of destruction that yawned beneath the feet of our sinful race. Holy boiugs who have kept their first estate may detect a wondrous pathos in the eonga of ransomed saints. The sentence, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread/ bas become e. blessing to our fallen humanity, for by toilsome effort we e…
838 wordsSECTION 108The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 108
way. They are not adjudged criminnl merely on the ground of A<lnm's fall, but they them~el,es cross the line which separates obedience from disobedience. Scripture, histor.y, and conscienoe testify to this fact. 2. By defect. They" fall short of the glory of God." Their past beh&,four hM been blameworthy, and their pre…
876 wordsSECTION 109The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 109
uncler a Divine diecipliae and education from tbe do.ye of Abraham down to the days of Christ. Not only so, but the revelation turned the minds of its possessors rowa.rds ~ho future, Rpeaking of o suffering as well as glorified Messiah, who was comin<t t-0 ~et up h!s kin~rlom. The revelation was th_us ~ founta.i~ of ho…
885 wordsSECTION 110The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 110
in a di■pen!llltion where much is reee"9d, ad a judgment to oome oan alone afford the opportunity of putting things right. Suppose, then, that the right to punish evtl-doera is denied on this ground of their contributing to God's glory; it is phtin that the whole idea of judpnent., either pNll!ent or to oome, must fall…
857 wordsSECTION 111The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 111
esrecl11.lly for Jews who had the Law, In order that every mouth miaht be stopped, and al the world brought in guiHy before God. By the deeds of the Law, CQnsequently, no flesh need expect to be justified in God's sight. One unvarying tale it bll.s been of guilt and condemn11.tion. All notion of merit must, conseque…
910 wordsSECTION 112The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 112
admittedly weut unpunished. Now, "~trnnge I\B it may "~\lear," to quote from n thoughtful wri_ter, "this very imperfection [iu the OKecution ol Justice] seems to be thu 111rongest possible proof that, in the nAxt world, vengeance will be fulfilled to the utmost. For observe, if we found t.hat every man in this life …
1,191 wordsSECTION 113The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 113
EXPOSITION. appears, not only from the drift of eh. iv., CHAPTER IV. but also from the word H~Jl4 in ,er. 2, Vere. 1-25.-(5) .A.braham himself ehoom eonnecting the thoaght with ..-~ii o6v 71 to ha11e been justified by faill,, and ,wt by 1tadx11a-u ; in eh. iii. 27. The line of :Works, believers being Ms true heirs. …
592 wordsSECTION 114The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 114
his natuml powers, mthont the gmce of Vere. 4, 11.-Now to him that worketh 11 God." Alfo!U,. following Meyer, BBytl t.hat the reward not reokoned of gn.oe, but of INl"T4 ,rd.p,ca 1s In oontrast to ,c11.,.a .,,.,.,{,µa., debt (literally, acoonU,ag to grace, but acaord- and thRt it "rt'fors to that department of our i…
1,088 wordsSECTION 115The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 115
principle n.pplicnblo to 1111, but on Iy the th~t believe, though they be In unciroum- blessedness to sinners of having their sins ohion, that righteou1ne99 might be reokoned forgiven, it mn.y be replied, firstly, that the unto tbe111 alao. And the father of ciroum- way in which the verses are introduced oision to t…
1,008 wordsSECTION 116The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 116
under Ds..-id and Solomon) over the whole matioally ponible (of, oh, ix. SB: x. 11), bul <'<'unl.n- from the MediternmC'l\n to the Unl\llowl\ble here, since hope oannot well be Euphi,tes, IU!. in Gen. xiii. H, 15; xv. 18, regarded u the obje()t of belief) to the en4 etl'. Bu~ their full soope trnnNlt•nde any he migh…
1,344 wordsSECTION 117The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 117
HOMILETICS. Ver. 11.-The fatherhoorl of .Abraham. It is remarkable that the whole of this chapter deals with Abraham-a proof, not only of the greatneas of Abraham's character, the conspicuousness of his position in the history of mankind, and the hold the grand figure of the patriarch possessed of the imagination of t…
649 wordsSECTION 118The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 118
IT. ABRAHAM IS THE FATHER OF THE FAITRFUL ESPECIALLY BECAUSE 1N HIM FAITH WAS SHOWN TO BE THE SPRING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. We are told by the apostle that Abraham's faith was reckoned to him for righteousness. This doctrine of imputa- tion ha.• been misunderstood, when it has been inferred from the teaching of the apostle …
850 wordsSECTION 119The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 119
strength in war, the self-confident man of bis strength of character. Such boastin" ia ·vsin. Man's estimate of hie own powers may seem absnrd to other bein"B · in the presonco of the Eternal and Almighty it is profane. Well dir\ the prophet'°speak the familiar words of warning, "Let not the strong man glory in bis str…
840 wordsSECTION 120The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 120
but by faith. Confidence in A.n unseen, but ever-present, Divine, almighty Helper, has been the principle of every truly Christi&n life. It bas brought pardon and ~eace to "the heart of the penitent; it has caused mauy "out of weakness to wax strong; ' it has brought light to those in darkness, and leading to those …
784 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.