(2) Chiefly.—In the first place; “secondly,” &c., was to follow, but does not, as the Apostle is drawn away to other topics (see above).Unto them were committed.—This is paraphrastic. “Oracle” is the object, and not the subject, of the sentence. “They were entrusted with.”Oracles.—A good translation; the Scriptures of the Old Testament as containing a revelation of God. read more
(3) For what if.-What (follows) if, &c. Or we may take the first two words by themselves, and throw the next two clauses together. How stands the case? If some rejected the faith, shall their rejection make void or defeat the faithfulness of God?The Apostle considers an objection that might be brought against his argument that the divine revelation vouchsafed to them was a special privilege of the Jewish people. It might be said that they had forfeited and cancelled this privilege by their... read more
(4) Impossible! Rather let God be seen to be true though all mankind should be proved false, even as the Psalmist looked upon his own sin as serving to enhance the triumph of God’s justice. Speaking of that justice for the moment as if it could be arraigned before the bar of a still higher tribunal, he asserts its absolute and complete acquittal.That thou mightest be justified.—Strictly, in order that, here as in the Hebrew of the Psalm. Good is, in some way inscrutable to us, educed out of... read more
Romans 3:1-3 'The Jews,' says Heine, 'might well console themselves for the loss of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred jewels of the high priest, and the golden vases of Solomon. Such a loss is trifling compared with the Bible that indestructible treasure which they saved.' References. III. 1. H. S. Holland, Vital Values, p. 211. III. 1-8. Bishop Gore, The Epistle to the Romans, p. 114. III. 19. Expositor (5th Series), vol. vi. p. 66. III. 2. Ibid. (4th... read more
Chapter 8JEWISH CLAIMS: NO HOPE IN HUMAN MERITRomans 3:1-20As the Apostle dictates, there rises before his mind a figure often seen by his eyes, the Rabbinic disputant. Keen, subtle, unscrupulous, at once eagerly in earnest yet ready to use any argument for victory, how often that adversary had crossed his path, in Syria, in Asia Minor, in Macedonia, in Achaia! He is present now to his consciousness, within the quiet house of Gaius; and his questions come thick and fast, following on this... read more
CHAPTER 3:1-20 1. Objections and Their Answers. (Romans 3:1-8 .) 2. The Whole World Under Sin. (Romans 3:9-20 .) Romans 3:1-8 A number of objections are next raised and answered. “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?” Such would be the natural question of the Jew after reading the argument that the Jew is on the same level with the Gentile. This objection is stated here for the first time. It is important, for the Jews are God’s chosen people and as the... read more
3:1 What {1} advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision?(1) The first address to the Jews, or the first anticipating of an objection by the Jews: what then, are the Jews preferred no more than the Gentiles? Indeed, they are, says the apostle, by the doing of God, for he committed the tables of the covenant to them, so that the unbelief of a few cannot cause the whole nation without exception to be cast away by God, who is true, and who also uses their unworthiness to... read more
3:2 Much every way: {a} chiefly, because that unto them were committed the {b} oracles of God.(a) The Jews’ state and condition was of principal importance.(b) Words. read more
3:3 For what if some did not {c} believe? shall their unbelief make the {d} faith of God without effect?(c) Break the covenant.(d) The faith that God gave. read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Romans 3:1-8
III.(1-8) Continuing the subject, but with a long digression in Romans 3:3 et seq. The Apostle asks, What is the real value of these apparent advantages? He is about to answer the question fully, as he does later in Romans 9:4-5; but after stating the first point, he goes off upon a difficulty raised by this, and does not return to complete what he had begun. This, again, is characteristic of his ardent and keenly speculative mind. Problems such as those which he discusses evidently have a... read more