Romans 5

Romans 5:1

Well spake the Holy Spirit by Isaiah the prophet. The passage quoted is found in Isaiah 6:9,10. It is quoted six times: in the Gospels (Matthew 13:14,15 Mr 4:12 Lu 8:10 John 12:40), here in Acts, and in Romans (Romans 11:7). No other Old Testament passage is so often quoted in the New Testament, and it is always applied to Jewish unbelief. The terrible prediction of the stubborn, willful unbelief of the nation was fulfilled in Isaiah’s time, in the time of Christ, in that of his apostles, and eighteen centuries of Jewish history illustrate the same fact to our times. For notes on the passage, see Matthew 13:14-17. These are the final “one word” of Paul to the Jews before beginning his work among the Gentiles in Rome.

Romans 5:5

The Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. We can hope that the result was that they believed and consorted with Paul and the church.

Romans 5:6

Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house. His expense was met during this period by the church in Rome and elsewhere. See Philippians 4:18, where the Philippian contributions are acknowledged. Here he was permitted to see and preach freely to all who came unto him. Here he wrote four of his epistles; the letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and the short letter to Philemon. Here, from notices in these epistles, we know that Luke (Colossians 4:14), Timothy (Philemon 1:1), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25 4:18,23), Mark (Acts 1:24), Aristarchus (Colossians 4:10 Philemon 1:24), Demas (Colossians 4:14 Philemon 1:24), and Tychius (Colossians 4:7,18) were with him at least part of the time.

Nor is there doubt but these two years produced great results in Rome. It was at a later period, when Nero fell under the influence of the cruel Tigellinus, that he became a persecutor, and Paul had at this time full liberty. A few years after, at the time of the Neronian persecutor, the church embraced vast numbers in the city of Rome. The Roman historian, Tacitus says: “An immense multitude” were converted and put to death.

Romans 5:7

ACTS comes to an end with these two years, and was almost certainly completed during this time. Why it paused here is unknown. We cannot repress a regret that it was not continued to the end of the career of its great missionary hero. His subsequent life and work can only be learned from incidental allusions in his later epistles and from tradition. The testimony of the primitive church affirms that he was acquitted when his appeal, after long delay, came to trial, probably in A.D. 63; that for several years he labored earnestly in other lands, visiting the old scene of his labors in Asia Minor once more. Prior to this visit he is supposed to have gone west to Spain, and crossed from thence into North Africa, then one of the most flourishing parts of the empire.

Somewhere about A.D. 65-67 he visited once more the Greek and Asiatic churches he had founded, and from Macedonia wrote the First Epistle to Timothy, then at Ephesus, and also to Titus at Crete. The incidental allusions in these epistles confirm the view that he had been acquitted, and was at work for Christ. At Nicopolis, in Epirus, he was again arrested and taken to Rome. See Titus 3:12. While in prison awaiting trial, he wrote Second Timothy, his last words, solemn with the shadow of death. From hence he was sent to the scaffold by Nero in A.D. 67 or 68, and entered his eternal rest.

While we cannot be certain of the facts of this “Post-Actian” outline, they are so probable that they may be reasonably accepted as the outline of the last years of the greatest hero of the faith that ever fought the good fight and won the crown.

Romans 5:9

And the rest. Others floated on any buoyant object that could be secured, and thus they escaped all safe to land. All came to shore. This was not Paul’s first shipwreck. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:25, which was written at an earlier period of his life. Luke’s description of the management of the ship in the storm and shipwreck is pronounced by scholars the best description of ancient nautical methods extant.

Romans 5:10

Introduction. The Morals of Paganism SUMMARY OF ROMANS 1: Paul’s Salutation to the Church at Rome. His Deep Interest in Its Welfare. His Confidence in the Gospel. It Is the Power of God. The Wrath of God. The Sins of the Gentile World. The Gentile World Under Condemnation. Paul. Instead of subscribing a name at the end of a letter, the custom was to introduce it at the beginning. See other Epistles of Paul. For Paul’s name, see PNT Acts 13:9. Called [to be] an apostle. “To be” is not in the original. Paul simply states that he is “a called apostle”, not one appointed by men, but called by Jesus Christ. He was called when he “saw the Lord”, an essential to apostleship. See notes on 1 Corinthians 9:1 Acts 26:16. His setting apart at Antioch was not this call, but it came direct from Jesus Christ (Acts 13:2). As some Judaizing teachers tried to destroy his apostolic authority, he found it necessary on several occasions to show that his commission was directly from the Lord. Separated. Set apart to the work of the gospel. Christ set him apart, and his whole life was consecrated to his divine glory.

Romans 5:11

Which he had promised before, etc. This gospel was no innovation, but a fulfillment of God’s long-cherished plans, and had been promised through the prophets of the Old Testament. Indeed the Old Testament is a system of types, shadows and promises pointing forward to the coming of Christ. “Of him have all the prophets borne witness” (Acts 10:43).

Romans 5:12

Concerning his Son. The Son of God is the very center of the gospel, and the promises are all concerning him. Born of the seed of David. The two natures combined in the Son, “according to the flesh”, are pointed out in this verse and Romans 1:4. As to his human body, he was a descendant of David (Lu 1:32,69), his mother being of David’s lineage (Matthew 1:16 Lu 3:23).

Romans 5:13

But declared [to be] the Son of God. Though in human form he was demonstrated to be divine by power, such power as he displayed in mighty miracles, and especially by the greater miracle of his own resurrection from the dead. According to the spirit of holiness. It must be noted that this is a contrast with “according to the flesh” in Romans 1:3, and hence must refer to our Lord’s holy nature. The body was descended from David, but the pure, holy life was demonstrated to be divine. One was a human nature; the other was a divine nature. This nature is spoken of as “the spirit of holiness”, because it is contrasted with sinful flesh.

Romans 5:14

By whom. Through Jesus Christ, who is the subject spoken of. We have received. Paul refers to himself, and perhaps to other apostles. Grace. The grace, the favor and mercy of heaven granted to all saints. Apostleship. All saints were not apostles, but one must be a saint to be an apostle. Without the general grace he could not have the special gift of apostleship. For obedience to the faith. The apostleship was given in order to lead all nations to obedience to the faith. “The faith” is a synonym for “the gospel”. Observe that it is a system of obedience. In the apostolic age there were no recognized believers but obedient believers.

Romans 5:15

Among whom are ye also the called. From among “all nations” (Romans 1:5). The members of the church at Rome, though partly Jews, were mostly Gentiles. They had heard the gospel call, had obeyed it, and were now “the called of Jesus Christ”. In Romans 1:7, they are said to be “called to be saints”.

Romans 5:16

To all that are in Rome. To all Christians in Rome. The letter is addressed to the church in the great imperial city. Rome was the capital of the world, the home of Nero, the emperor, the largest city on earth, supposed to contain about two million inhabitants. Saints. All Christians were called saints by the New Testament writers. Any one consecrated to a holy life is a saint. Grace to you and peace. This is the ordinary New Testament Christian salutation. It is the expression of a prayer that God the Father and our Lord may bestow favor and peace upon them. See 1 Corinthians 1:3 2 Corinthians 1:2 Galatians 1:3 Ephesians 1:2 Colossians 1:2 1 Thessalonians 1:1 2 Thessalonians 1:2 Philemon 1:3. From God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Father is the source, and our Lord Jesus Christ the mediator and procurer of these blessings. It is plain that Paul was not a Unitarian. Let it be noted that this section, written, as admitted by skeptical critics, less than thirty years after the crucifixion, by Paul, to a body of believers at a distance from Judea, affirms the main facts of the Gospels: (1) That Jesus was the Son of God. (2) That he took upon himself our nature. (3) That he displayed divine power. (4) That he was raised from the dead. (5) That men are saved by the obedience of the faith.

Romans 5:17

First, I thank my God. The first thing he wishes to speak of is thankfulness for a fact he is about to state, viz., their faith is spoken of throughout the world. The church at Rome was as “a city set on a hill” (Matthew 5:14). From every country where the gospel was planted, people were constantly going and returning to Rome, and hence the fact of there being a church in the great capital would be known everywhere.

Romans 5:18

For. This introduces a reason for his thankfulness. He feels so deep an interest in the cause of Christ in that great center that he prays for them daily. Serve with my spirit. Not an outward service, but of the whole heart, soul and life, in the gospel to which he is consecrated. The spirit is the highest part of a man’s nature, and service with the spirit is the highest service. Make mention of you always. So, too, of the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. See Ephesians 1:15,16 Philippians 1:3 Colossians 1:3 1 Thessalonians 1:2. Such statements show the deep solicitude of the apostle for the saints.

Romans 5:19

Making request. One of his petitions was that God might permit him to visit the church at Rome. While at Ephesus he had said, “I must also see Rome” (Acts 19:21). His prayers were granted, but not in the way that he now expected. When he went to Rome it was as “the prisoner of the Lord” (Ephesians 4:1).

Romans 5:20

I long to see you. He had a special reason for visiting Rome. No apostle had ever visited the city. None of the spiritual gifts which were conferred by the imposition of apostolic hands had been conferred in Rome. If any of the brethren enjoyed them, as Romans 12:6 seems to imply, they have received them elsewhere, and he desires to impart them there (see PNT Acts 19:6). Spiritual gift is used in the sense of a supernatural gift. See 1 Corinthians 12:1,4. It is a gift conferred by the Spirit. Elsewhere the phrase “spiritual gifts” refers to extraordinary gifts. There is no recorded instance in the New Testament of any one working miracles who was not an apostle, or who had not received the gift through the imposition of apostolic hands. See notes on Acts 6:8 8:14. To the end. All these gifts of the Spirit were imparted for a purpose. The purpose in the mind of Paul was that they may be established; that saints might be strengthened and the cause of Christ made stronger. The agent would be the Holy Spirit; Paul the instrument.

Romans 5:21

That is. Such a result would minister to the mutual comfort of Paul and the church. If they are “established”, he will be comforted in them. The idea is that his faith will be a comfort and strength to them, and he will be encouraged and strengthened by their faith. Thus they will be mutual helpers. How different the humble apostolic style of address from that of a Roman bishop!