PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Romans
James Barmby [1822-1897] · 439,030 words · 478 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 361
THE Oan~BTIAN'e SERVICE. "Not slothful (or,' remise') in diligenCP,," "Bueine&B" is n. mlslea.dmg term, as H seeme to refer to the occupation by which a man gains hie livelihood. It is a quality or habit which is thus designated. I. With regard to the scopo for diligence, there is no limitation; except that, ae a matte…
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he IIOCIOUDtlid lukewarm. How displeasing to the great Head of the 0huroh are euoh chal'll('t«II nl.'led llOlll'OOly be said ; his word to them is, " I would thou wert cold or hC1t I" When you &re oarelesa as to vour spiritual stl\te, indifferent to God's Word nnd tC1 th_e exercii:es of prayer and praise: negli~nt an…
900 wordsSECTION 363The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 363
ocldreesed to deities morolly imperfect and capricious, were faithless fitful and nnin- fluentiol even upon their own noture. It is the glory of Christianity to ha've chanued oil this. .Among the lowliest of the Saviour's followers we find fortitude in the enduronce of offliction, orising from the conviction that it…
840 wordsSECTION 364The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 364
thl' Rdmc,nition to prayer is introouccd hel'O with a special purpose in view, It le intl'nded to }X'int out t.o us that the demeanour here commended can only be main- ~inl".'-1 through cultivating a prayerful spirit. It Is not easy, whilst pursuing this p1lgr1mage, to be patient amidst its difficulties, to be joyful w…
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out from on high, irnitatecl their L'lrd's ex:a.mple. Oflioors were appointed in th'3 BOCie- tles for the ~inist, a.tion of a.lms;. gi~ts were volunt3:ril_y made for the support of the p~o~; collect1ons were made for indigent fellow:Chr1et1ane; men were raised up whose ministry ns hosts we.a deemed worthy of apostolic …
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II. Tm: FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN SY)[PATHY, Our religion lays the deep bl\sis of all virtues in the character of God and in the redemption of Christ. The New Testa- ment always, in admonitions a.s to conduct, either states or assumes this principle. Whatever is right is commended to us e.s the will of God. Christ die…
898 wordsSECTION 367The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 367
•the p1rsecutocl, wHh tho eone ancl daughters of affliction, let ns sympathize with OhriHtio.n forwo.rclnees and sincerity. And let it not be forgotten that sympathy will, in many cases, evince itself in practical forms. There are some, who a.re in elevated positions, towards whom we can show, when they a.re in grie…
864 wordsSECTION 368The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 368
for tbl' ~x-isl influence of Christ.ians being felt by all around. .Not merely within the i'aie ?f Christian socil'ty, not merely amongst personal friends nnd aasociatee, but iu tbl' sight of all men, uprightness and honour should express the po,ver of religion, The advantages accruing to the world in consequence of su…
832 wordsSECTION 369The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 369
over-conficlenco, and to ~he negl~t of necessary mea.ns c-.f _defence. They ;may then be t11ke°: una.w_ares_, and bemg surpneed may succumb to tl1e1r foe; or in IIDY ca.!!e the foo !1rny !n o.11 hkehhood go.in an advantage over them. An example is gi--ren by St. Paul lD this passage. There is a natural tendency to reve…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-The lit1ing sacryio& In the oldest reoords that can be found of the various nations of the e.'U'th, sacrifice is always fonnd to have formed part of their religious sernces. Thus we find an idea universally existing that something was needed to obtain pardon for guilt, and to expre…
876 wordsSECTION 371The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 371
wo.y to tho demo.nd of p11tric,tism and of duty. And shall not the Christian soldier encrifico o.11 oarthly affections rather than be unfaithful to Ghrist? Shall he rnt hear the voice of Jesus o.bove all e11rthly voices? Of such complete self-denial Christ him- eolf has gi~en ~ls ~he best em~ple. "~~ pie~ not himself."…
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,ery c\ueless in regnrd to the spiritual instruction of their children. Let us not boar the world's likC'ness. "Come ye out from among them, and be yo separate;" "Bo not conformed t-o this world." II. LIKE:S-El'S TO Goo. "But be yo t.rangformed by the renewing of your mind." 1. Th,~. ,s the way to drive out W·eness f.…
887 wordsSECTION 373The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 373
in Obrist, and every one members one of another" (ver. 6). There we l,ave diversity. 'l'b~re is. room for di_versHy in Jhe Church of Christ-for valied forms of wor~hip, for varied views of doctrme, for varied methods of Church government. A dull unifr,rmity is undesirable. "Acts of Uniformity" only made more diversity,…
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confident'E' bc-tween mAn and mAn. They destroy don1csUo pence, eoolnl interoourse, and commercial morality. Truthfulness And sincerity Are muoh needed. II. DJFCBTMINATION. "Abhor t.hat which is evil; cleave to that which ia good" (ver. ~). The spirit of indifference is another prevalent evil·of our time. "Woe unto th…
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love thy neighbour better than thyself." It is not so. The comm.and is "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." ' "To thine own self be trne, And It must follow, as the night the nay, Thou canst not then be false to BDy i.aan." The apostle enumerates some duties which the Christian owes to hilllBelr. I. DILIGF…
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Such, then, are the Christian's duties to himself. Diligence. El\rncstness. Ro\igious spirit. Hopefulness. Patience. Prayerfulness. Let us cultivate them.-0. H, I. Ver. 21.-7"e Ohristian'11 assumnce and tM Christian's duty. "Be not overcome of en!, but o'\"ercome evil with good." There is a great danger to the spiritu…
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~cars witnes~ to the power of Divine grace. It is a protest against worldliness, ungod- liness, and Bin, If the perRonal character of every professing Christian was what it ought to be, what a power for good the Church of Christ would exercise! By dning good also. Ignorance and error are to be overcome by the activity …
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educRtes us t.o itself if we yield; lt restrRins us as with iron bl\nds if we attempt to break Rway. And the current of our own nRture sets with the stream (Eph, ii. 2, 3). Self-seeking; self-pleasing, Not only are the lusts (l.,,.,8up.Ca,) of the flesh worldwards, themseln>s c.outrollable if the inner life were right;…
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Ohriet ie beet advanced when ee.ch one does ee.rneetlywhe.t he can do beet. The a.r.J0,th 10.ys, "Use your own sanctified girts to the beet of your ability, so will God be well- ].lee.eed, and your brethren and the world be blessed." 1. Prophecy: the spiritual insigl, t the.t apprehends with increasing clearness God's …
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Ver. 1.-" .A living sac,;fioe." The text suggests to us the spiritul\l teacher's plBt- form. He does not so much command or threaten I\S "beseech his brethren." Various terms are, indeed, used in the Authorized Version to translate the word traptUta>..lo,, But the feature of the word is speaking to some one for a pa.rt…
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path of flowery ease-that the mountains should be levelled and the valleys raised to fo.cilitate your progress I At the aHar say, "I feel the cord that binds me; the knife is keen that severs the tender flesh; the flames are hard tQ bear; but withal I can rejoice tho.t I am exalted to the honour of a holocaust accepted…
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The will of God may be traoed in his works and ways, in oreatton and providenoe ; but Jesus Christ. in the Scriptl11'88 is to us the fullest revelation grantod of the mind of fu-.d, a.nd by etudying hin:i ie the conscionoo quickened, the reason enlightenod, the !Ufection l!l\nctified. Christianity thus works from wi…
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ohllngeful notes of the nightingale? or the robin refuse to chirp merrily in the winter because ho cannot undertake the long flight of the swallow? Shall the violet with- hold its delicious fragrance because the sunflower is so conspicuously gorgeous? or the lofty elm not clap its hands in praise of God because of ita …
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he hRS 't>een endowed. There is a basis for sympathy in our physical nature. Tho appearance of one man acts and reacts on his companions. The mirthful induces merriment in the company, and the entrance of a gloomy countenance damps the spirit~ of e. whole party. Infants are quickly affected by the attitude of those …
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of the Illustration and commentary Cumiebed by the beneficent life and self-sacrificing denth of the great Preacher. I, Tmll MOMEN'l'OUB ooNFLIOT. "Be not overcome of evil." A man bas ooen wron"ed 0 by hie neighbour. The feeling of injury begets a desire for retaliation. The rese nt- rnent is just, ie a testimony to t…
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, el'I.'. 1--3.-Indit,idual~ After the lengthened exposition of the Divine" mercies" given in the preceding eleven chapters, the apostle feels himself in a position to apply the truth and enforce Ohristian morals. He acoordingly proceeds to base his exhorta- tion upon the "mercies of God," and the first matter he ur…
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lakes to flight, the honest mnn is up in nnns (rlsiste), the f!emi-Christian fr~ts. All sny it is impossible, or nt least it is too difficult. Anrl St. Paul crmtenrh that it is reasonable I Yes, rensonablo, and irrational, senf!eless, absurd, to refuse Gr,,! 1mch a worship (culte). In fact, to refuse it to him is to re…
913 wordsSECTION 388The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 388
Fc'r th<' RP<'st.le is not here speaking of hmmm nnturo in its soole.1 e.epeots, as wo ftnd it so p0""Nfully expounded for us in Bishop Butlor's • Sermons upon Human Nature,' but in its Church aspect, the relation of the individue.1 to the one body which he.a He organic existence " in Christ." The npostle would have…
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thorough~ess should charaoterize the di~co~11~ ju~t 118 well 118 the prophetical office. 8. Teaclwng. Now, the office of teacher 1B distmgu1shed frorn that of prophet in such passagos as 1 Cor. xii. 28; Eph. iv. 11. It has been suggested that the prophetical office ~mpli_es inspir~ti?n, w~lle the tcac~er'e only the …
888 wordsSECTION 390The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 390
t.ian spirit beoomes in presence of the severe competition going on nround lt, whon It la 1.1e11n exerting itself to honour others rather than to honour itself I It la this solf- effacement which the world cannot understitnd. II. LIFE IN EARNEST. (Vers. 11-13.) Now, when a Christian declines honour, and seeks to pu…
1,003 wordsSECTION 391The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 391
EXPOSITION. seem to themselves above the po,ren and CHAPTER XIIl. institutions of the unbelieving world. which Vere. 1-8.-From admonitions to keep were so soon to pass away. Sl Paul him- peace, if possible, with all men, whether or self condemned resort to heathen tn1nma.ls not within the Christian circle, and to ac…
656 wordsSECTION 392The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 392
apol~a f'l'O .fid, Ftta to the m,:,tropolis of of oopitnl punishment, such u ho aleo ox. the world Rnd the - t of government, it p?('ssed distinctly, Aots xxv. 11): for ho ia "WBS fitting that he shonld express olenrly the miniater of God, an avenger to exocuto wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wrath the attitude of…
1,014 wordsSECTION 393The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 393
tioulnr, though tl10 lnstcmoes of tmnegrossion "the Lor<l delllycth his Cl)ming," anrl ma.y tluit follow 1uo from the Dece.Iogno. 'fhe still dela.y it, yet to each of us at least this idtio. of tho po.ss11ge is but a co.rrying out present world is fast pasRing A.way, and th'l of our Lord's so.ying, Mo.tt. u:ii. 89, 40.…
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whereof RI'(' to be 1>11f on. M a new invest- in rioting and dnmken.n.e11, not in ohl\mber- ment. the gfflN'S 11nd nrtuee, 1111pplied to us l.nlf and wantonne■■, not in ■trlfe and &.:>m the region of light, whioh oonstit.ute envying (mther,jealouev, denoting joolous the Chril!tian <' hRl'ftot~r ( ef. l The.."ll. v. …
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HOMILETIOS. Vers. 1-7.-LogaUy. There was danger, in the first age of Christianity, lest the nature of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus should be misunderstood even by its subjects, ana misrepresent.ed by those without.. A spiritual empire was a new conception, and carnal minds were prone to confound the dominion over sou…
873 wordsSECTION 396The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 396
Vers. 8-10.-Love and law. To the unthinking, and at first sight, there seems a contradiction between law, which expresses authority, and is sanctioned by force, and love, which is spontaneous, and is of the heart. Christ himself, however, brought the two into harmony when he said, "If ye love me, keep my commandment…
427 wordsSECTION 397The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 397
that the one way to the cherishing of Divine love is tho reception of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Manifest.'ltion of Divine love to human hearts, "Wo love him, because he first loved us;" "He that loveth God loveth his brother also." Vel:'11. 11-14.-.A sf4rlUng svmmons. The admonition of this passa…
1,186 wordsSECTION 398The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 398
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. ' Vere. 1-7.-_77ie Christian as citizen. The duty of Christians as citizens is in our day not sufficiently recognized. Many Christians keep aloof from public life and the duties of citizenship because of the political corruption and party strife which are so common. Others, again, enter in…
462 wordsSECTION 399The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 399
Jurynurn will be a11ked, " H&'99 you rendered a verdict acoordlng to the evldenoe 'I'" The ~,,,ereign mll be asked, "Have you been faithful to your ooronation vows?" Th~Fo~ the (JhtMian should pray for rolers. "For kings, and for all that e.ro in authority; that we may lead a quiet 'and peaceable life in all godliness…
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would ho.ve us believe that Sunday closing is a failure. But it is thr:,ge who want such movements to fail that usually originate 1111ch a cry. There is no failure in the foroes of right. Failure is written on the forces of sin. Its night is far spent. (2) The clouds of mystery will soon be lifted. There are difficult…
888 wordsSECTION 401The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 401
the ~ririt in which such obedient and loyal conduct should be exercised la the spirit of r<'_wrence 11nd honour._ For even in state duties the heart should be concerned equally w1!h thC' hfe.. 1. It 1s reasonable, then, that we: (1) Obey the laws in general well- d0mg.. For newed merely as a human institution of a u…
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Dut tho "Thou sh11lt not commit adultery" sounda in our eara a spoken law of Gr,d: tho rights of sru;~ed rel~tio~shif must b_e .C?nserv00; 3. The right of property. "Thon ehalt not stee.l. An mstmctive e.cq u1s1t1veness m man; he lords it over the world. 'l'his o.oquisitiv~ness sanctioned by God: "have ~ominion." Sa…
889 wordsSECTION 403The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 403
each one, this need? The works of dl\rkncss will cling to us, if we do not ever reso- lutely cast them off. We may for!!et that tho day is shining, nnd sink baok into our sleep. 1. The wc>rks of dlU'kness? Yes, such works as pertain to the corruption of the night-time of the world-base revelry, impure pleasures, pass…
888 wordsSECTION 404The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 404
by their natural hco.d, the father, so is the univers~l family named after and ruled by the r;rcat Father in heaven, whom earthly pa.rents are to copy. The fact that parents uso d_ologated authority lends weight and responsibility to their behaviour. J<'or the supormtendenco of Israel the seve~ty elders received a S…
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enj,,ined mRny kindly and beneficent 11cts, these positive precepts filling up the outline thunJen>,.-l. forth f:om the mount. The Saviour educed from the lawyer the statement thRt the Mos11ic LRw clearly enunciated the one principle underlying every regulation of i:,-..:iru c,mduct. "Thou she.It lo,e t.hv neighbour…
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as his advent shall be the rising again of the eun; the interval is summer niaht. Owr salva~ion ~• nearer than w~en we bega_n to believe, Faith commenced the process of sanct16cal1on, ushered us mto that kmgdom of God on earth, whose consummation, whose outward triumph and glory, are approaching. The apostle may have d…
853 wordsSECTION 407The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 407
,ers. 1-,.-Giti.zenship. From the admirable spirit which Christianity infuses into society, the apostle next takes us to the spirit which should regulate the believer's relations to the ci,il m&gistrat.e. It is most important that Christianity should leaven all these r<'lations to the powers that be. "I could not," …
868 wordsSECTION 408The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 408
the gospel, or to take pe.rt in pagan worship-he must resist even unto death (see AGts i_v. 19; v. 29). Most of the apostles suffered martyrdom for this principle" (so Shedd; m loc.). III. THE BELIEVER 18 EXPECTED TO BE LOYAL TO THE EXIl!TING GOVEBNllENT AS A MATTER OF OONSOIENOE, (Ver. 6.) We have already Been where …
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here that our Divine sonship is realized ; it is here that Christ-likeness begins, God ls love; and iu proportion 1\8 we are loving are we like Christ and his Father above,l II. WrrH THE CHRIST-LIKE LIFE HAS CEASED TO BE A DREAM. (Ver. 11.) This is tho C&l;le with the worldly ; they fancy they are "wide awake," and …
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EXPOSITION. thought it their duty to abstain from anunal CHAPTER XIV. food, and perhaps also from wine (vera 2, Vere. l'--23.-F. The duty of enlightened 21); and there is allusion also to obser,o.nce ChristianB towa'l'dB weak breth'l'en, From of certain days (ver. 5). The views that moral duties in general of Christ…
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n,:-:,insl the' risk of buying l\t the sh&rubles, any pollution, &nd that, if excommunicated, or p.qrt>tking in general sooiety of 'l"iBnds they were consequently oompelled to eat rom1C'<'ted mtb heathen enerifioos, m&de B herbs. (For what is known of them, see poiut of Rootaining from meat altogether, J osepbus, • …
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Hcgosippue wrote, llbetinenoe snob BB is word& are, "But see a.I.so the difference of lntimllted In this oho.pter WBB regBrded as the ea.use of the abstinence fr0m creatures B mBrk of superior sBncl;ity by some Ohris• he.ving life BB practised by the Pythagoree.na tillne. Furlher, in the • ApostolicBl Ce.nons' and b…
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from its f'08it.ion and from the following to Jewish de.ye of obligntion in geucrcil is verse, to him that ~at,,tl,. God hath re- not inconsistent with the npp1neut oondem- 1.'efred him to himself in Christ., whosoeYcr DA.tion of the obscrvnnoo of suoh days by may sit in iudgment on him. We obserrn Ohristia.ns in Ge…
1,052 wordsSECTION 414The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 414
eolveretur; resurgendo o.utem totam vitam longer walkellt oharitabl7 (literally, f},~mrrl- noetre.m in peoulium o.ocepit; morte igitnr ing oo looe,flrcharity; i.e. in oontinuing to BP,t et roeurreotlone sun promeritue est ut tam e.t ne.oght hie conscientious scroples). With ln morte qua.m in vito. glorim nomlnis ejus t…
1,309 wordsSECTION 415The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 415
HOMILETICS. Yers. 1~.-Ceremonial and spiritool reUgi.on. This passage is one of many instances occurring in St. Paul's writings in which circumstances of local and temporary int.erest suggest the st.atement of great moral truths and principles, applicable over a far lrider area. To us these questions-as to whether cer…
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ments which o.re naturo.1, o.nd the ecluco.tion and associations which Providence has secured to us, 8. Its opportunities; both of acquiring good and of doinc, gc,od. It is to be remembered that, Rtrictly speaking, it is not for thef!e, but for the°'use we make of th~m, tho.t we o.re responsible. We are to bear iu mind…
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tendency is t<> be found in the great fuct that ftll are &000un.table to O.Jd. Remomber. in~ thi!', we sh11U not, except where the authoritative eooiety, the ordinance of Hoaven, n,quires it, be willing t-0 pass sent.ence upon onr fellow-men. 1. THE F.~CT OF JUDGMENT. It is a fact to which consoience, and the con.at…
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which nro in harmony with the nature of God and the constitution of human society. 3, In the henrt of the subject-fay. Oheerfulness, serenity, happiness -these are the portion of the sincere believer in Christ, the loyal eubject of Christ. '" Rejoice ever- more I" is the Ohristian admonition; "al way rejoicing I" is th…
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1 liw, ~-<' shall lir<' also." 3. We d.etiend upon tlie Lo,-d's continual intercession. In bis intt'l\.'ession i~ ,,ur hope and assurance of nnswered prayor. 4. We depend upon fhf L<'r-;t~ ('()flfi11ttro !l'.'ff{; to V&. The Lord's day; the ,vord of tho Lord; the Lord's lh'll~; t h<' L.mi's Suppt>r ;-how much our sp…
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But God may havo 11s gre11t II work for you to do ae he had for them. What 1111 influ- enco for good Ohrietian parents may exercise upon their children, with far-reaching results to the world I The faithful eabbath-echool teacheT may leaven with gospel truth young minds that may yet control the destinies of II natio…
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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.