his epistle to the Romans is really the chief part of the New Testament and
the very purest Gospel, and is worthy not only that every Christian should know
it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it everyday, as the daily
bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it
is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.
Martin Luther
No man can verily read the epistle to the Romans too often, or study it too well;
for the more it is studied, the easier it is, the more it is chewed, the pleasanter
it is, and the more thoroughly it is searched, the more precious the things which
are found in it -- so great a treasure of spiritual things lies hid therein.
William Tyndale
Every day, at one in the afternoon, Luther was called to lecture on the Bible;
it was a precious hour both for the professor and his pupils, and it led them
deeper and deeper into the divine meaning of those revelations so long lost to
the people and to the schools! He began his course by explaining the Psalms,
and thence passed to the Epistle to the Romans. It was more particularly while
meditating on this portion of Scripture that the light of truth penetrated his
heart. In the retirement of his quiet cell, he used to concentrate whole hours
to the study of the divine Word, this epistle of the apostle Paul lying open
before him. On one occasion, having reached the seventeenth verse of the first
chapter, he read this passage from the prophet Habakkuk, "The just shall live
by faith." This precept struck him. There is then for the just a life different
from that of other men: and this life is the gift of faith.
Merle D'Aubigne
The gospel as the power of God unto salvation is meaningless apart from sin,
condemnation, misery, and death. This is why Paul proceeds forthwith to demonstrate
that the whole world is guilty before God and lies under his wrath and curse
(1:18-3:20). We might think that the apostle would have drawn the curtain of
concealment over the squalor of iniquity and degradation depicted in 1:18-22.
For indeed it is a shame to speak of these religious and ethical monstrosities
. . . . Only a God-righteousness can measure up to the desperateness of our need
and make the gospel the power of God unto salvation.
John Murray
The gospel is a mystery, i.e., a system of truth beyond the power of the human
mind to discover, which God has revealed for our faith and obedience. It was
formed from eternity in the divine mind, revealed by the prophets and apostles,
and the preaching of Jesus Christ; and is, by the command of God, to be made
known to all nations, vers. 25, 26 . . . God alone is wise. He charges his angels
with folly; and the wisdom of men is foolishness with him. To God, therefore,
the profoundest reverence and the most implicit submission are due. Men should
not presume to call in question what he has revealed, or consider themselves
competent to sit in judgment on the truth of his declarations or the wisdom of
his plans. To God only wise, be glory, through Jesus Christ, forever .
Amen .
Charles Hodge
The poor man's Bible is the Word of God, in which he has no suspicion that there
is anything but perfection. The Bible of the profoundly erudite scholar is often
a book that is not so necessary to instruct him, as one that needs his hand for
alteration, or amendment, or confirmation . . . . If the imputation of Adam's
sin and of Christ's righteousness be doctrines contained in the Word of God, commentaries
that labor to expel them from that Word must be grossly pestiferous books which
no Christian ought to recommend, but which, on the contrary, to the utmost of
his power, it is his duty to oppose.
Robert Haldane
"Striving to be wise, they make fools of themselves" (Rom. 1:22). Paul had said
before that "they became futile in their thinking" (Rom. 1:21). In order, however,
that no one might excuse their guilt, he adds that they are justly blinded.
For not content with sobriety but claiming for themselves more than is right,
they wantonly bring darkness upon themselves -- in fact they become fools in
their empty and perverse haughtiness.
John Calvin
"But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). This is the glory and triumph of divine love.
By this the love of God appeared in its highest exaltation, that when we were
so far from being good or righteous, when useless and impotent, when loathesome
and hateful, when enemies and haters of God; when there was nothing in us, that
might move in the least to love us, when we were full of that which might oblige
him to express his hatred and indignation against us, then he gave his Son.
Herein both the greatness and freeness of his love appeared, to the wonder and
astonishment of all that duly consider it.
David Clarkson
"The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). There is a definiteness and certainty about wages.
Wages are different from a spontaneous gift. A man has done his week's work;
he presents himself at the paymaster's desk, and is paid off . . . . But many
people think that the paymaster can be cheated, that after a life of sin we can
present ourselves hopefully at the cashier's window and be paid in some different
coin from that which we have earned . . . . God grant that we may not hope to
cheat! God grant that we may learn in time that the wages of sin is death!
J. Gresham Machen
"He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not
with him freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32). How is it imaginable that God
should withhold, after this, spirituals or temporals, from his people? How shall
he not call them effectually, justify them freely, sanctify them thoroughly,
and glorify them eternally? How shall he not clothe them, feed them, protect
and deliver them? Surely if he would not spare his own Son one stroke, one tear,
one groan, one sigh, one circumstance of misery, it can never be imagined that
ever he should, after this, deny or withhold from his people, for whose sakes
all this was suffered, any mercies, any comforts, any privilege, spiritual or
temporal, which is good for them.
John Flavel
"Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?" (Rom. 9:19) This
objection surely proves beyond any doubt whatsoever that the Apostle has been
teaching that salvation is entirely the result of the sovereign will and election
of God and nothing to do with us at all. There is nothing new in this objection
to this doctrine. People were objecting to it in the first century and they
have been objecting to it ever since. It has nothing to do with modern learning,
modern knowledge, modern science -- nothing at all. People have always done
it.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
"All Israel shall be saved" (Rom. 11:26) is to be interpreted in terms of the fullness,
the receiving, the ingrafting of Israel as a people, the restoration of Israel
to gospel favor and blessing. In a word, it is the salvation of the mass of
Israel that the apostle affirms.
John Murray
We bless thee for the glorious fruits
Thine incarnation gives.
The righteousness which grace imputes,
And faith alone receives.
As all, when Adam sinned alone,
In his transgression died,
So by the righteousness of one
Are sinners justified.
Augustus Toplady
