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U Kxpuv, [of the Israelites , in the latter clause] life from the dead , which implies much more [than xaraAXayj?]. — life ) of the world , ver. 12. — ht vsxpuv, life from the dead ) a thing much greater, and more desirable. The meaning is : the life of those who had been dead, Ez. xxxvii. 3, etc., so Jx, from , ch. vi. 13 ; 2 Cor. iv. 6. He is speaking of bringing the whole to life, that there may be no dead mass remaining. The conversion of the whole human race or the world will accompany the con- version of Israel.
16. 'H darupyf, the first fruits ) The patriarchs. — ay/a, holy) appropriated and acceptable to God. — Comp. ver. 15, with 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5. — <pvpu/xoc, a lump) Num. xv. 20, 21, dnapyfi (pvpdpurog. — i) /?/£a, the root) the patriarchal stock, considered naturally, as also being regarded as in possession of circum- cision and of the promise. In the opinion of Weller , after Origen, Christ is the root, the patriarchs also are the branches , from whom the first fruits were derived.
17. 2u, Thou) 0 Roman , who art a Gentile. — dypi'sXutog, a wild olive) the graft of the wild olive ; a singularly expressive [dsivij. See Append. dstvorrig'] Synecdoche. [Sad experience even in our age proclaims this fact. A promiscuous multitude , unwill- ing to bear true Christianity , labour under the wildest ignorance ; nor do we even except those , who boast no ordinary attainments in virtue and knowledge. — V. g.] — h avro/g) among them : The word, them , is not to be referred to the word, some , but to the branches generally. — avyxoivuvog) Paul often uses auv concerning the Gen- tiles, Eph. ii. 19, 22, iii. 6 ; comp. [isra, Rom. xv. 10.
18. Mj} xaraxau^w, Boast not against) Let them, who deny the [possibility of the] conversion of the Jews, take care, that they boast not against them . — ou <rt), it is not thou that) supply know or remember that ; know , or remember that it is not thou that bearest the root , but, etc.
19. "I^a, in order that) This particle expresses the chief force of the boasting [of the Gentiles] ; but in opposition to this boasting compare the, for your sakes , ver. 28, and rw, ver. 31 [sc. 6/xe ripu iXgg/, they disobeyed to the end that through the mercy showed to you they might obtain mercy.]
20. Tji avr/Gr/a — rr\ k tarsi, by [because of] unbelief — by faith) Neither of the two events (says Paul) [was ordered] absolutely :
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