Romans 11:34

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 11:33-36

The apostle having insisted so largely, through the greatest part of this chapter, upon reconciling the rejection of the Jews with the divine goodness, he concludes here with the acknowledgment and admiration of the divine wisdom and sovereignty in all this. Here the apostle does with great affection and awe adore, I. The secrecy of the divine counsels: O the depth! in these proceedings towards the Jews and Gentiles; or, in general, the whole mystery of the gospel, which we cannot fully... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 11:33-36

11:33-36 O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How his decisions are beyond the mind of man to trace! How mysterious are his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or, who has become his counsellor? Who has first given anything to him, so that he is due any repayment from God? For all things come from him, and exist through him, and end in him. To him be glory for ever! Amen. Paul never wrote a more characteristic passage than this. Here theology turns... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 11:34

For who hath known the mind of the Lord ,.... The intentions of his mind, the thoughts of his heart, and the counsels of his will: these could never have been known, if he had not revealed them; nor can the doctrines relating to them, though externally revealed, be known by the natural man, or by the mere dint of nature, but only by the light of the Spirit of God; who searches them, and makes them known in a spiritual manner to spiritual men, who have a spiritual discerning of them; and yet... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 11:34

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? - Who can pretend to penetrate the counsels of God, or fathom the reasons of his conduct? His designs and his counsels are like himself, infinite; and, consequently, inscrutable. It is strange that, with such a scripture as this before their eyes, men should sit down and coolly and positively write about counsels and decrees of God formed from all eternity, of which they speak with as much confidence and decision as if they had formed a part of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 11:34

Verse 34 34.Who has known the mind of the Lord? He begins here to extend as it were his hand to restrain the audacity of men, lest they should clamor against God’s judgments, and this he does by stating two reasons: the first is, that all mortals are too blind to take a view of God’s predestination by their own understanding, and to reason on a thing unknown is presumptuous and absurd; the other is, that we can have no cause of complaint against God, since no mortal can boast that God is a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 11:1-36

(4) The Jews are not finally rejected, but, through the calling of the Gentiles, will be brought into the Church at last. St. Paul, painfully recognizing the fact of the present exclusion of Israel as a nation from the inheritance of the promises made to their fathers, and having in Romans 9:1-33 . and 10. accounted for and justified such exclusion, proceeds now to the question—But is Israel as a nation finally rejected after all? He answers—No; impossible! God's ancient covenant... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 11:33-35

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge (or, of the riches and wisdom and knowledge ) of God! By γνώσεως is signified God's omniscience; by σοφίας , his wisdom in ordering events; by πλούτου , if it be taken as a co-ordinate substantive, the abundance of his goodness. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding (rather, tracing ) out! (cf. Psalms 26:6 ; Job 9:10 ; Job 11:7 ). For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 11:33-36

The unsearchable things of God. These words may be taken as a fitting conclusion to the doctrinal or argumentative part of the Epistle. As we see how the apostle shows first of all, in the condition of both the heathen and the Jewish world, that all have sinned, and that all needed a Divine Saviour; and how he then unfolds the great doctrine of justification by faith and its results; as we see also the great privileges for time and eternity which are bestowed upon the Children of God; may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 11:33-36

A hymn of praise. The apostle has reached the height of his great argument, and now he will take one eagle glance at the whole way by which he has led his readers—nay, at an the ways of God. We may not coldly dissect such glowing words as these, but pause with reverence to listen to his adoring wonder, his challenge, and his ascription of praise. I. He has shown forth the belief and unbelief of man, and the marvellous way in which God, foreknowing all, has yet woven the web of history... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 11:33-36

God, his own last End in everything. The apostle has been throwing a very clear providential light upon God's dealings with his ancient people. He has shown how their unbelief and fall were permitted in order to the gathering in of the Gentiles; and that the Gentiles thus brought in are to gird themselves for the ingathering of the Jews. But he does not profess to have sounded the depths of the Divine wisdom and knowledge by these suggestions. Before that mighty ocean he stands in... read more

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