Romans 3:8

8. And not rather Before the words of this verse the apostle’s mind thinks a clause like this: And both my God forbid, (Romans 3:6,) and my earnest reasoning against this fearful fallacy, are rather the true view and not rather what would strictly follow) the heinous view that evil must be done to secure a good result.

Slanderously reported In the great discussions raised by the new Christianity, both with Judaism and paganism, there would be colour for this slander. Each might claim that for itself to be destroyed through great strife and commotion, in order that Christianity might be established, was doing evil that good may come. For children to differ from the religion of their parents, or subjects to differ from the religion of the State, in order even to be holy, could be slandered as doing evil in order to good. So the apostle rejects the maxim when charged on the doctrines of Christianity, (Romans 6:1.) For anti-Christians, see note on Acts 28:22.

Whose damnation Later commentators hold that it is the damnation of the holders of this wicked doctrine, and not of the slanderers, which is pronounced just.