[unbelieving] ; it remains, chiefly in respect of believers. They who deny universal grace, have but little [perception or] know- ledge of the faithfulness of God in respect to unbelievers. With respect even to the reprobate, the antecedent will of God ought, indeed, to be held as of great account ; for what they have not, they, nevertheless, might have had ; and this very circumstance confers upon them an altogether great privilege ; and even though they do not perceive it to be so [or uphold it], still this peculiar advantage [ver. 1, rb mpnraov] remains, that the glory of God, and the glory of the faithfulness of God, are illustrated in them. Comp, the expression, hath abounded , ver. 7. This, the peculiar advantage , is not to be held as of no account. The apostle, when he would vindicate our faith, with great propriety praises the faithfulness of God. Comp. 2 Tim. ii. 13. — xarap- yfasi ; shall it make of no effect ?) The future, employed with great force in a negative address. The faithfulness of God is unchangeable.
4. ysvoiro) Paul alone uses this form of expression, and only in his epistles to the Romans and the Galatians. — yivstda, let him be made ) in judgment. — 6 0s bg a\ri0ijg, God true) See Ps. cxvi. 12, where God’s most faithful retribution is set in opposition to man’s perfidy. This fact, and the term lying , are referred to again, in verse 7.: — nag avOpunog, every man), not even excepting David. Ps. cxvi. 11, the LXX. have nag avOpunog ^zverrig, every man a liar. Hence David, 1 Sam. xxiv. 9, speaks of man’s words , that is, falsehood. — onug — xphstfdaf <rs) So the LXX., Ps. li. 6 [4]. Those things are also [besides their appli- cation at David’s time] prophetical, which David prayed in the agony [conflict] of his repentance. — «V), if only it [God’s faith- fulness] were to be had recourse to, and if man would dare to put it to the test. — dtxuiuOjig — vixii^g, thou mayest be justified — mayest overcome ), in the name of faithfulness and truth. The human judge judges so, as that the offence of the guilty is the only consideration weighed [regarded] by him, nor is he other- wise concerned as regards [vindicating] his own righteousness ; but God exercises judgment so, as that the unrighteousness of men is not more demonstrated thereby, than His own righteous- ness : vixav is generally said of a victory after the hazard of war, or of a lawsuit for money, or of a contest in the public games.