2. The following is a more detailed analysis of the epis- tle:
Salutation (i, 1-7). The apostle at the outset strikes the key-note of the epistle in the expressions "called as an apostle," "called as saiuls." Divine grace is everytliing, human merit nothing.
I. Personal explanations. Purposed visit to Rome (i, 8-15).
II. DooTiiiNAi, discussion (i, 10: xi, 30).
The general proposition. The Gospel is the salvation of Jew and Gentile alike. This salvation conies by faith (i, 10, IT). The rest of this section is taken up in establishing this thesis, and drawing deductions from It, or correcting misjipprehensions. (a.) All alike were under condeTnnation before the Gos- pel : The heathen (i, 18-32). The Jew (ii, 1-29). Objections to this statement answered (iii, 1-8). The position itself established from Scripture (iii, 9-20). (6.) A ri/jhteovstiess (justification) is revealed under the Gospel, which being of faith, not of law, is also uni- versal (iii, 21-26). Boasting is thereby excluded (iii, 27-31). Of this justification by faith Abraham is an example (iv,
1-25). Thus, then, we are justified in Christ, in whom alone we
glory (v, 1-11). This acceptance in Christ is as universal as was the con- demnation in Adam (v, 12-19). (c.) The moral consequences of our deliverance. The law was given to multiply sin (v, 20, 21). When we died to the law, we died to sin (vi, 1-14). The aboli- tion of the law, however, is not a signal for moral li- cense (ver. 15-23). On the contrary, as the law has passed away, so mnsl sin, for sin and the law are cor- relative ; at the same time, this is no disparagement of the law, but rather aproof of human weakness (vii, 1-25). So henceforth in Christ we are free from sin, we have the Spirit, and look forward in hope, tri- umphing over our present afflictions (viii, 1-39). (rf.) The rejection of the Jews is a matter of deep sorrow (ix, 1-5).
Yet we must remember —
(i.) That the jironiise was not to the whole people, hut only to a select seed (ix, 0-13). And the absolute purpose of God in so ordaining is not to be can- vassed by man (ver. 14-10). (ii.) That the Jews did not seek justification aright, and so missed it. This justification was promised hy faith, and is offered to all alike, tlie pieachiiig to the Gentiles being implied therein. The character and results of the Gospel dispensation are fore- shadowed ill Scripture (x, 1-21). (iii.) That the rejection ofthe Jews is not final. This rejection has been the means of gathering in the Gentiles, and through the Gentiles Ihey themselves will ultimately he brought to Christ (xi, 1-30).
III. PuACTioAt, exhortations (xii, 1 : xv, 13).
(a.) To holiness of life and to charity in general, the duty of obedience to rulers being inculcated by the way (xii, 1 ; xiii, 14).
(6.) More particularly against giving offence to weaker brethren (xiv, 1 ; xv, 13).
IV. Pkkbonai. matters.
(a.) The apostle's motive in writing the letter, and his
inleutiou of visitinir the Romans (xv, 14-33). (6.) Greetings (xvi, 1-23). CoNoi.raiON. 'The letter ends with a benediction and dox- ology (xvi, 24-27).
3. While this epistle contains the fullest and most systematic exjiosition of the apostle's teachiii;), it is at the same time a very striking expression of his rJmrac- ter. Nowhere do his earnest and affectionate nature, and bis tact and delicacy in handling unwelcome topics, appear more strongly than when he is dealing with the rejection of his fellow -countrj-men the Jews. See Pail.
VI. The Commentaries on this epistle are very nu- merous, as might be expected from its importance. For convenience, we divide them chronologically into two classes.
1. Ofthe many patristic expositions, but few are now extant. The work of Origen is preserved entire onlj' in a loose Latin translation of Kutinns (Oriff. [ed. De la Kue] iv, 458); but some fragments of the original are found in the Philocalia, and more in Cramer's Catena. The commentary on Paid's cjiistles printed among the works of Ambrose (ed. Ben. ii, App. p. 21), and hence bearing the name Ambrosiaster. is probably to be at- tributed to Hilary the deacon. Chrysostom is the most important among the fathers who attempted to inter- pret this epistle. He enters deeply and with psycho- logical acimien into the thoughts of the apostle, and expounds them with sublime animation (ed. ^lontf. ix, 425, edited separately by Field, and tran.sl. in the JA- brary ofthe Fathers [ Oxf. 1841 ], vol. vii ). Besides these gre the expositions of Paul's epistles by Pelagius (printed among Jerome's works [ed. Vallarsi], vol. xi, pt. iii, p. 135), by Primasius {Magn. Bibl. Vet. J'atr. vol. vi, pt. ii, p. 30), and by Theodoret (ed. Schulze, iii, 1). Augustine commenced a work, but broke oft" at i. 4. It bears the name Inchoata Expositio Epistohe ad Rom. (ed. Ben. iii. 925). Later he wrote Expositio quariin- dam Propositiomnn Epistolm ad Rom., also extant (ed. Ben. iii, 903). To these should be added the later Ca- tena of (Ecumenius (10th century), and the notes of Theophylact (11th century), the former containing val- uable extracts from Photiiis. Portions of a commentarj' of Cyril of Alexandria were pidilishcd by IMai ( Nov. Patr. Bibl. iii, 1). The Catena edited by Cramer (1844) comprises two collections of Variorum notes, the one extending from i, 1 to ix, 1, the other from vii, 7 to the end. Besides passages from extant commentaries, they contain important extracts from Apollinarius, Tbeodo- rus of Mopsuestia, Severianus, Geniia<lius, Pliotius, and others. There are also the Greek Scholia, edited by Matthiii, in his large Greek Test. (liiga, 1782), from Moscow MSS. The commentary of Euthymius Ziga- benus (Tholuck, Eiid. § 6) exists in INI.S., but has never been printed. Abelard wrote annotations on this epistle (in 0pp. p. 489), likewise Hugo Victor (in Op^J. i), and Aquinas (in 0pp. \V). See Commkntaky.