there has not been a universal surrender tothe Gospel. οὐ πάντες: the Jews are present to the writer’s mind here, though the words might apply more widely; hence the compassionate mode of state- ment. Cf. iii. 3: εἰ ἠπίστησάν τινες. Yet this quantum of unbelief does not discomfit the Apostle; for it also, as well as the proclamation of the Gospel, is included in the prophecy. is ἐπίσ- τευσεν τῇ ἄκοῇ ἡμῶν is a lament over practically universal unbelief. 4 axon ἡμῶν in Isaiah means “that which we heard,” but who the “‘ we” are is not clear. If a representative prophet speaks, ἀκοὴ will mean that which he and other prophets heard from God: = Who hath believed the revelation made tous? Cf. Isa. xxviil.g, 19. If a representative of repenting Israel speaks, ἀκοὴ will mean that which he and his countrymen have heard from the prophets: = Who hath believed the message delivered to us 2 Assuming that Paul as α preacher in- stinctively used the words to express his own thought and experience in his vocation, they will mean here, Who has believed the message delivered by us Apostles ?
Ver. 17. This verse is really paren- thetic : Paul’s logical mind cannot let slip the chance of showing how this quotation confirms the connection of ideas in νετ. 14. Gpa suits a rapid passing inference better than the more deliberate ἄρα οὖν which is much more frequent in Romans. Cf. 1 Cor. xv. 18, 2 Cor. ν. 14, Gal. ii. 17. So then faith comes from a message (that which is received by the hearer ot the Gospel), and the message διὰ ῥήματος Χριστοῦ through the Word concerning Christ.
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18. ἀλλὰ λέγω, Μὴ οὐκ ἤκουσαν; μενοῦνγε