Romans 9:20, Romans 9:21 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 9:20

Nay but, O man ... - To this objection the apostle replies in two ways; first, by asserting the sovereignty of God, and affirming that he had a right to do it Romans 9:20-21; and secondly, by showing that he did it according to the principles of justice and mercy, or that it was involved of necessity in his dispensing justice and mercy to mankind; Romans 9:22-24.Who art thou ... - Paul here strongly reproves the impiety and wickedness of arraigning God. This impiety appears,(1) Because man is a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 9:20-21

Romans 9:20-21. Nay but, O man Little, impotent, ignorant man; Who art thou In all thy boasted wisdom and penetration; that repliest against God? That accusest God of injustice, for himself fixing the terms on which he will show mercy? or for leaving those to the hardness of their hearts who obstinately and perseveringly refuse or neglect to comply with those terms? Or, (which may be rather intended,) who impiously formest arguments against God, on account of his distributing to some... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 9:6-29

God chooses according to his will (9:6-29)Paul’s first assertion is that the promise of God has not failed. He reminds his readers of what he said earlier, namely, that people who are Israelites physically are not necessarily Israelites spiritually. In other words, not all who are physically descended from Jacob (Israel) are the true people of God in the spiritual sense (6; cf. 2:28-29; 4:11-12).To illustrate that not all descendants of a chosen person are truly God’s people, Paul refers to the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Romans 9:20

repliest against . Greek. antapokrinomai. Only here and Luke 14:6 . Compare App-104 and App-122 :3. Shall . Question preceded by me , as Romans 9:14 . thing formed. Greek. plasma. Only here. formed . Greek. plasso. Only here and 1 Timothy 2:13 . Quoted from Isaiah 45:9 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Romans 9:20

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?Man has no right to arraign God in his thoughts and to charge him with unrighteousness and dispute his decisions. Even if, by the feeble lamp of human knowledge, no adequate reason appears as to "why" God did certain things, the creature is in no sense a judge of the Creator. The most fundamental of all considerations relative to God is that God is altogether... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Romans 9:20

Romans 9:20. Nay but, O man, &c.— St. Paul shews here, that the nations of the world, who are by a better right in the hands and disposal of God, than the clay in the power of thepotter, may, without calling his justice in question, "be made great and glorious, or be pulled down or brought into contempt, as he pleases." That he here speaks of men nationally, and not personally, in reference to their eternal state, is evident not only from the beginning of this chapter, where he expresses... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Romans 9:20

20, 21. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made—"didst thou make" me thus?— ( :-). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 9:19-29

4. God’s mercy toward Israel 9:19-29Next Paul dealt with a question that rises out of what he had just argued for, namely, God’s freedom to extend mercy to whom He will. Is it not logical that if God is going to show mercy to whom He will, in spite of human actions and merit, that human actions really provide no basis for His judging us? Is not the basis of judgment really God’s will rather than human actions? read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 9:20

In the first place it is presumptuous for human beings, the objects of divine judgment, to sit in judgment on their Judge. Judging is God’s prerogative, not ours. Creatures have no right to complain about their Creator’s behavior.". . . men are not lost because they are hardened; they are hardened because they are lost; they are lost because they are sinners." [Note: Newell, p. 371.] read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 9:1-33

The Rejection of Israel no Disparagement or Disproof of the GospelThe Apostle sorrows over the exclusion of Israel (Romans 9:1-5), but their exclusion does not involve any breach of God’s promises, for He always made a selection, even among the members of the chosen family (Romans 9:6-13). This cannot be unjust, for God has stated it to be His method (Romans 9:14-18). We should have no right to cavil, even if God seemed to use us sternly (Romans 9:19-21). But He has acted with mercy (Romans... read more