Romans 1:1-5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:4

And declared to be the Son of God - See the note on Acts 13:33 , where this subject is considered at large. The word ορισθεντος , which we render declared, comes from οριζω , to bound, define, determine, or limit, and hence our word horizon, the line that determines the farthest visible part of the earth, in reference to the heavens. In this place the word signifies such a manifest and complete exhibition of the subject as to render it indubitable. The resurrection of Christ from the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:5

Grace and apostleship - The peculiar influence and the essential qualifications which such an office requires. Without the Grace, favor, and peculiar help of God, he could not have been an apostle: he had an extraordinary conversion, and an extraordinary call to preach the Gospel. Probably χαριν και αποστολην , grace and apostleship, mean the same as χαριν της αποστολης , the apostolical office; for so the word χαρις means in Romans 12:3 ; Romans 15:15 ; 1 Corinthians 3:10 ; ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:1

Verse 1 1.Paul, etc. (11) — With regard to the word Paul, as it is a subject of no such moment as ought to detain us, and as nothing can be said which has not been mentioned by other expounders, I should say nothing, were it not proper to satisfy some at small expense without being tedious to others; for the subject shall be despatched in a very few words. They who think that the Apostle attained this name as a trophy for having brought Sergius, the proconsul, to the faith of Christ, are... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:2

Verse 2 2.Which he had before promised, etc. — As the suspicion of being new subtracts much from the authority of a doctrine, he confirms the faith of the gospel by antiquity; as though he said, “Christ came not on the earth unexpectedly, nor did he introduce a doctrine of a new kind and not heard of before, inasmuch as he, and his gospel too, had been promised and expected from the beginning of the world.” But as antiquity is often fabulous, he brings witnesses, and those approved, even the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:3

Verse 3 3.Concerning his own Son, etc. — This is a remarkable passage, by which we are taught that the whole gospel is included in Christ, so that if any removes one step from Christ, he withdraws himself from the gospel. For since he is the living and express image of the Father, it is no wonder, that he alone is set before us as one to whom our whole faith is to be directed and in whom it is to center. It is then a definition of the gospel, by which Paul expresses what is summarily... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:4

Verse 4 4.Declared (19) the Son of God, etc.: or, if you prefer, determined (definitus); as though he had said, that the power, by which he was raised from the dead, was something like a decree by which he was proclaimed the Son of God, according to what is said in Psalms 2:7, “I have this day begotten thee:” for this begetting refers to what was made known. Though some indeed find here three separate evidences of the divinity of Christ — “power,” understanding thereby miracles — then the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 1:5

Verse 5 5.Through whom we have received, etc. — Having completed his definition of the gospel, which he introduced for the recommendation of his office, he now returns to speak of his own call; and it was a great point that this should be proved to the Romans. By mentioning grace and apostleship apart, he adopts a form of speech, (20) which must be understood as meaning, gratuitous apostleship or the favor of the apostleship; by which he means, that it was wholly through divine favor, not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 1:1

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle . In his salutations to the Philippians and to Titus also St. Paul calls himself δοῦλος ( i.e. "bondservant") of Jesus Christ; but usually only ἀπόστολος , or, as here, κλητὸς ἀπόστολος , which is rightly translated in the Authorized Version, "called to be an apostle," Divine vocation to the office being the prominent idea. St. Paul often elsewhere insists on the reality of his vocation from Christ himself to be an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 1:1

Apostolic credentials. Greetings are often merely formal, or merely friendly. Not so this salutation, with which the apostle of the Gentiles opens his Epistle to the Christians of renowned, imperial Rome. It is sincere and hearty, and it is also dignified and authoritative. St. Paul writes as one who feels the responsibility of his position and vocation, as one who is justified in claiming from his readers respectful attention and submissive obedience. At the same time, the consciousness... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 1:1

The author. Before appreciating any important work, we like to learn all we can of its author. Hence the study of the Acts of the Apostles is the best possible preparation for the study of this great Epistle to the Romans. The history given by Luke is like the portrait of the apostle prefixed to his Epistles; it is better indeed a thousand times than any picture producible by art. Let us, as a suggestive subject, begin with a sketch of the apostle's career, fitted as it is to help us in... read more

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