Romans 1

1. The introduction of this Epistle, in which is declared who is the writer of the same, namely Paul, who briefly sets off his office, calling, doctrine of the person of Christ: 6 the persons to whom he writes with a commendation of their faith. 9 The inclination that he hath come unto them, to preach the Gospel unto them as well as others, to strengthen them, he strengthened by them. 16 Afterwards he propounds the true doctrine of mans justification before God by faith: and proves the same by a place of the Holy Scripture. 18 He confutes the perverse opinions of others, and proves that the Gentiles by the light of nature cannot be justified by God, 19, Forasmuch as they suppress that light, and abuse the knowledge which they have of God unto idolatry, 24 wherefore they were given over into a perverse sense. 29 and were full of abominations in their lives; which he relates in a long Catalogue.

1. Paul [Why Paul, who before was called Saul, held the name of Paul in all his Epistles, see the reason thereof in the annotations on Acts 13:9.] a servant of Jesus Christ, a called Apostle, [Or called unto an Apostle: which Title he gives himself, to straightaway in the beginning that the exhortations which he gives Romans in this Epistle, were made according as his calling requires. See Acts 9:15. 2 Cor.5.14.19] separated [namely, even from his mothers womb in Gods purpose Gal.1.15. and afterwards actually by the command of the Holy Ghost, to publish the Gospel amongst the Gentiles. Acts 13:2.] unto the Gospel of God, [Namely, to preach the same.]

2. (Which he had promised before by his Prophets, in the Holy Scriptures) [Namely, of the Old Testament.]

3. Of his Son (who became [or was born as Gal.4.4.] of the seed of David [That is, postering] according the flesh: [that is, according to his humane nature, John 1:14. 1. Tim.3. 16.]

4. Who was powerful [Gr. In power or with power] showed [or declared. Gr. Defined] to be the Son of God, according to the Spirit [that is, according to the divine nature, which is also called an eternal Spirit, Heb.9.14. See also 1 Tim .3.16. and 1 Pet. 3. ver. 18.] of sanctification [or of holiness, i.e. which is holy in himself, and by his merit and power maketh us holy Hebrews 2:11.] (by the resurrection of the dead) [that is, in that he raised up himself from the dead, John2. 19.21. and 10.18.] (namely) Jesus Christ our Lord:

5. (By whom we have received grace, and the Apostleship; or grace for conversion, and besides that, the Apostleship] unto obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, [that is, to bring the Gentiles, to the obedience of Christ, and to faith, Acts 26:16. etc.] for his name. [That is, that the name of Christ should be known to them and be glorified by them. Or in, of his name, 2 Cor.5.20.]

6. Amongst whom [Gr. In] ye are also, the called of Jesus Christ) [That is, who not only by the word outwardly, but also by the power of Christ inwardly, are called and come unto the communion of Christ, and beloved of God. See Rom.8.28. and 1 Cor.1.2. For although in this Church also like a. Whereof also in the following verse he calleth them believers, Saints s in others, there might be hypocrites, yet nevertheless he always names them in the beginning of his Epistles, as charity requires, from the best part amongst them.]

7. To all that are at Rome, beloved of God [Or by God, 1 John4.10.19.] and called Saints: grace be to you and peace [under these two words according to the phrase of the Hebrews is contained all spiritual and corporal welfare: and by the word grace is understood the original and fountain of all Gods benefits towards us, and by the word peace the fruits and sense thereof. See Psalms 63:4. John 16:33. Romans 5:1. Philippians 4:7.] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8. First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is published in the world. [That is, is reported and made known in the whole world: a figurative phrase, which notwithstanding is not without ground here, forasmuch as there came out of all quarters or the world to Rome, who could relate this each in his own country.]

9. For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit [Or with my spirit, i.e. with my whole heart] in the Gospel of his Son [that is, in publishing of the Gospel as ver.1.] how I remember you without omission,

10. Always in my prayers beseeching, if possibly yet at any time good opportunity may be given me [Or, if yet at any time, a prosperous journey may be given me by the will of God, that I may come unto you] by the will of God [Gr. In the will of God. He adds this, because in spreading abroad of the Gospel he followed the order, which God by his spirit prescribed him, Acts16.7.9.10.] to come unto you.

11. For I long to see you, that I might impart unto you the spiritual gift, to the end that you might be strengthened.

12. That is, to be comforted together among, [Or, exhorted: for the Greek word signifies both, and both may be applied to Paul, seeing even the Angels themselves by the Church of God get further knowledge and experience of the manifold wisdom of God. Ephes.3.10. 1 Pet. 1. 12.] by the mutual faith, as well yours as mine.

13. But I will not it be unknown unto you, Brethren, that I have many times purposed to come unto you, and have been hindered hitherto) [namely, either through troubles which happened, or by Gods command, as Acts16.7.] that I might have some fruit [namely, of my ministry, and calling to be an Apostle of Christ, or left to confirm in their faith more and more] among you also, like as also among the other Gentiles.

14. Both to Greeks and Barbarians, [Under these two first all sorts of Gentiles are understood, Acts 28:2. and by wise and unwise all kinds of men in particular amongst the Greeks or Barbarians, and it seems that Paul would thereby procure the favour of the Romans, because they accounted themselves the acutest and wisest of all men] both to wise and to unwise am I a debtor, [that is, I am bound by verture of my calling, to preach the Gospel.]

15. So what is in me, is very ready [Or what concerns me, I am very ready] to publish the Gospel to you also that are at Rome.

16. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:[Or I dread not, i.e. seek not to discharge or withdraw myself from publishing of the Gospel, as men do from things whereof they are ashamed] for it is a power of God unto salvation, to everyone that believeth [that is, a powerful means ordained by God for his purpose, as 1 Cor. 1.v.18.] first to the Jew, for the Gospel was first for the Jews, and afterwards to the Gentiles, Acts 13.v.46.] and also to the Greeks.

17. For the righteousness of God [That is, the righteousness whereby we can stand before the judgment seat of God, which is only the righteousness of Christ, which is freely given, and by faith imputed to us by God] is revealed in the same from faith to faith, [that is, for daily increase, and strengthening in faith. See the like 2 Cor, 3.18.] as it is written, but the just shall live by faith. [or the just by faith shall live, which also agrees well with the Hebrew Text, Heb.2.v.4. and with the scope of Paul here.]

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, [That is, the judgment which God sends from Heaven, as is further expressed, ver.24.26,28. which are not sent but upon the unrighteous persons] upon all ungodliness [whereby are understood all sins repugnant to the first Table, which are rehearsed in some verses following] and unrighteousness of men [hereby are understood the sins against the second Table, which are rehearsed from the 29 verse onward] (as) they that keep under, [that is, suppress offering violence to their own minds, seeing they know better than they act] the truth [that is, the knowledge of God and his honour which he hath revealed to men by nature itself, as appears from the following verse] in unrighteousness. [that is, contrary to all right and equity, which requires that men give that which belongs to him.]

19. For as much as that which is knowable of God, [Namely, as much as a man can know of God, without Gods word, by nature] is manifest in them, [that is, in the inmost of their minds: Or among them, i.e. among their wise and learned men, who have left very many clear and wise sentences and discourses hereof in their writings, although they themselves did contrary thereunto] for God hath revealed it into them. [namely, partly, by the Law of nature in their consciences, John 1:9. partly, by holding of Gods creatures, whereby his properties are as it felt, Psalms 19:2. and 148. v. 4. 5, 6. Acts 14:15. and 17. 24, etc.]

20. For his invisible things [That is, divine properties] from the Creation of the world, are by the creatures [Gr. makements, or things made] understood and thoroughly seen, both his eternal power [hereby is understood the property of God, whereby all things were created, and had their beginning, which therefore, as also his essence must needs be eternal, because it was before all things, and a cause of all things] and Godhead, [hereby he understands the other properties of Gods Majesty, the footsteps and representations whereof are apparent in Gods creatures, as his goodness, wisdom , righteousness, etc.] that they might not be executed. [Gr. Might be inexcusable. Or so that they are not been excused: namely, before Gods righteous Judgment, as if they had not known what they ought to have done.]

21. Because they knowing God, [Namely, in such manner as is before declared] glorified or gave (him)not thanks to God, [namely, as belong to his divine Majesty, even according to the knowledge they had of him] but became in their reasoning, [that is, they fell by their reasoning to the vain imaginations of God and of his worship, and ordered them not according to the knowledge which they had of God, but according to the inclination of their corrupt senses, in inventing vain worshipping of God and in saining of many fabulous and vain Gods, whereby the knowledge of God was more and more obscured amongst them] and their foolish heart was darkened.

22. Giving themselves out for wise, [This he speaks of their learned men or Philosophers, who would have a show of wisdome, and sometimes indeed seemed to think and speak better, but nevertheless in act, foolishly imitated the perverseness and vanity of others, 2 Kings 17:29.] they become fools.

23. And changed their glory of incorruptible God, [That is, who not only in essence but also in properties is unchangeable] into the likeness of an image of a corruptible man, and fouls, and four footed, and creeping (beast.) [or exchanged for similitude. [that is, for an image that is made after the similitude of a mortal man, yea even of fowls, etc. See Lev.27.10. Psal. 106. 20. Jeremiah 2:11. For that all these sorts of Idolatry were usually among the Gentiles, is manifest by their writings, See also Deuteronomy 4:15. etc.]

24. Therefore [Namely, for this Idolatry and dishonor which they did thereby unto God. See Psalms 106:20. Isaiah 40:17,18. etc.] God also gave them over [that is, restrained not their evil desires, but let them have their swing, Psalms 81:13. Acts 14:16. and by his just judgment stripped them more and more of his gift which they despised and abused, Matthew 25:28. forsaking them gave them to Satan, who tempted and seduced them unto all wickedness, 1 Samuel 16:15. Mat.6.13.] in the lusts of their (own) hearts [v. 26. the same is rendered, unto dishonourable affections, not that God worked such dishonourable affections, for they are not of God, Jam.1.13. 1John 2.16. See hereof more at large, the annotations next before] unto uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies, one amongst other. [or in themselves]

25. (As) who changed into a lye [Or exchanged, lying fictions of vain Gods and worships of Gods] the truth of God, [that is, the knowledge which they had of God. See v.18.] and honoured and served the creature above the Creator, [that is, more than the Creator himself, which sometimes indeed, but very little, they worshipped together with Idols, Acts 17.v.23. Or else passing by the Creator, whom the greater part of them neither knew or worshipped, Galatians 4:8.] who is to be praised for ever. Amen.

26. Therefore God gave them over to dishonourable affections [Gr. Affections of dishonour, i.e. dishonourable or shameful affections. For as 1 Thes. 4.4,5. we are exhorted to posses a vessel of honour, that is, to withhold our bodies from uncleanness, so they that give themselves to uncleanness, they dishonour themselves and their bodies, 1 Cor.6.18. especially they that then committed such sins as are not to be named, whether they did it or suffered it] for their women also changed the natural use, into the (use) contrary to the nature.

27. And likewise also the men leaving the natural use of women, were heated in their lust towards one another, men with men committing shamefulness, and receiving in them the recompense of their error which belonged (thereunto) [that is, the just punishment of their idolatry, or the reward. For idolatry which is spiritual where dome, is commonly punished by God with corporal, as we commonly see those two sins reign with one another. See Numbers 25:1,2. Revelation 17:1,2, etc.]

28. And even as it seemed not good unto them to hold [Gr. To have] God in acknowledgement, [namely, which they had received from the Law of nature, and beholding the things created, v. 20.] so God gave them over unto a perverse sense, [Gr. To a sense without right judgment, or a reprobate sense, i.e. which doth not prove nor discern good from evil, honest from dishonest] to do things which are not becoming.

29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, [Here begin to be related, the sins which reigned among the Gentiles contrary to second Table of the Law, whereof unrighteousness is the fountain, from whence the rest as streams of flow] fornication, wickedness [or naughtiness] covetousness , illness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, ill-naturedness. [that is, perverseness of senses, when men take all things iu the worst part.]

30. Whisperers, back-biters, [Gr. Speakers-against] haters of God. But seeing here is spoken of the reigning sins of the Gentiles, it is better taken in that sense, as Romans 8:7. the wisdome of flesh is called enmity of God, who love that which hateth, and hate that which God commanded, Exodus 20:6.] revilers [that is, who do reproach or injure others in words or deeds] proud, self-conceited, [or vain-glorious, boasters,] finders out of evil things, disobedient to parents.

31. Without understanding, Covenant-breakers, without natural love, [The Greek word signifies the affection or love which is betwixt parents and children. The sin also reigned among the Heathen, who sacrificed their children to Idols, exposed them for foundlings, made them away, without transgressing against the Laws] irreconcilable, unmerciful.

32. Who were as they know the right of God, [that is, whereas a difference between good and evil, is implanted in their nature by God, and a sense of punishment which God will execute upon evil, Rom.2.14,15.] (namely, that they which do such things are worthy of death) not only do the same, but also take pleasure together in them that do same. [this the highest decree of wickedness, not only to do evil, but also to sake delight in this, that other does the same.]