John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:17
For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh ,.... אמר קרא , "The Scripture saith", is a Talmudic F12 T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 82. 2. & 84. 1. Bava Metzia, fol. 47. 1. Zebachim, fol. 4. 1, 2. & passim. way of speaking, used when any point is proved from Scripture; and is of the same signification with אמר רחמנא , "the merciful God says"; and so the sense of it here is, God said to Pharaoh; the testimony here cited, stands in Exodus 9:16 ; where it is read thus, "for this cause... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 9:16
So then it is not of him that willeth ,.... This is not a consequence drawn by an adversary, showing that if this be the case, it signifies nothing for men to will or do, they may even sit still and do nothing, but depend on the mercy of God; but this is a conclusion of the apostle's from the above cited testimony, inferring from thence, that election, which is what he is discoursing of, is "not of him that willeth", nor of him that runneth : that is, is not owing to the will or works of... read more