Verse 33
4. The Doxology closing the Argument.
33. Riches Tholuck and others, including Alford, hold riches, wisdom, and knowledge to be three coordinates, dependent upon depth. It would then read, “O the depth of the riches, and wisdom, and knowledge of God!” Riches would then imply affluence of goodness and blessing; as rich in Romans 10:12, and riches, Philippians 4:19. That this is the true sense is probable from the parallelisms (well shown by Dr. Forbes) which follow. (See our Introduction to Romans.)
This passage is at once a sublime, rapturous apostrophe, and a rich commentary by the apostle on his whole previous argument. But it is plain that Paul is not a Calvinistic commentator. When Calvin surveyed his own scheme his shuddering comment was, “A horrible decree, I confess!” When Paul surveys this his own grand argument he exultantly exclaims, “O the depth of God’s bounty and wisdom!”
Riches Both from its own force and from the parallel passages, to be taken as meaning God’s infinite resources for good to his creatures. His is a deep, yea, a bottomless treasury, pouring forth its streams of perpetual bounty. His wisdom is absolute skill in planning, as his knowledge is absolute accuracy in perceiving. As God’s knowledge foresees and comprehends all the possibilities of all possible things and courses, so his wisdom devises from himself the best course of all possible courses; and from the riches of his power and goodness he carries that course into perfect and glorious execution.
Judgments Not so much his judicial is all his providential decisions as his ways are his modes of executing them.
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