Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 9 · Section 2 – Section 3
2. The Argument, Method, and Parts.
VVHereas the Apostle had made mention before of predestination, c. 8.30. whereupon iustification by faith is grounded, he in this Chapter doth handle at large this mysterie of Gods free and gracious election: and the Chapter consisteth of three parts. 1. because he was to treat of the reiection of the Iewes, and calling of the Gentiles, be doth first vse a pathetical insinuation, protesting his desire toward the saluation of the Iewes, to v. 6. 2. Then he handleth the mysticall doctrine of election, remooving diuerse obiections, to v. 24. 3. then he declareth the vse of this doctrine in the vocation of the Gentiles, and the reiection of the Iewes.
1. In the insinuation. 1. the Apostle setteth forth his griefe, the truth of it v. 1. the greatnes, v. 2. 2. then his desire, v. 3. euen to be separated from Christ, for the saluation of the Iewes: with the reasons thereof. 1. because they were his kinsmen after the flesh, v. 3. 2. they were the people of God, which he prooueth by fiue priuiledges and immunities, v. 4. 3. of them were the fathers, of whom Christ descended.
2. The mysterie of the doctrine of predestinaion is handled by remoouing certaine obiections, which are three.
1. Obiect. Is propounded v. 6. if the Iewes be reiected, and become an anathema, to whom Gods promises were made, it would followe, that God should be mutable, and inconstant in his promises.
Answ. 1. He denieth the consequent: it followeth not, if many of the Israelites be reiected, that therefore God should faile in his word, v. 6. 2. he sheweth the reason, the promise was made onelyonly vntounto the true seede of Abraham, but all which are carnally descended of Abraham are not his seede, but the elect onelyonly, Ergo: this is affirmed, v. 6. 7. then it is prooued, first by the example of Izaak, that he onelyonly was the true seede of Abraham, and not Ismael: which is prooued, 1. by a direct testimonie of Scripture, v. 7. 2. by this argument, the children of the promise are the true seede, v. 8. but Izaak onelyonly was the promised seede, v. 9. Ergo: Secondly, the same is confirmed by the example of Iacob and Esau: Iacob onelyonly was the true seede: this is amplyfied, 1. by remoouing the supposed causes of this difference betweene Iacob and Esau, which was neither their carnall generation, because they were conceiued by one, and at the same time: nor yet their workes: for when as yet they were vnborne, and had done neither good nor bad, sentence was giuen of them, which he sheweth by two testimonies of Scripture, v. 12.13. 2. he setteth downe the true causes, the efficient, the election, and vocation of God, the finall, that the purpose of God might remaine firme, v. 11.
2. Oiection is propounded, v. 14. and it riseth out of the former: for if God elect some, and reiect others before they hauehave done either good or euill, he should seeme to be vniust.
Answ. 1. He answeareth negatiuely, it followeth not that God should be vnrighteous. 2. then he giueth a reason of his answear, taken from Gods absolute power, and right in the creature, he sheweth merciemercy and hardeneth whom he pleaseth: this is propounded, v. 18. and it is handled before by parts: first that he hath merciemercy on whom he will, v. 15. which is amplified by the contrarie, it is not in the willer or runner, but in God that sheweth merciemercy, v. 16. secondly, the other part is prooued by the particular example of Pharaoh, which is amplyfied by shewing the ende of his reiection, the setting forth of Gods glorie, v. 17.
3. Obiect. v. 19. If God doth according to his owne will elect some and reiect others, and his will cannot be resisted, nor hindered, it would seeme a cruell and vniust part to condemne those which cannot helpe it.
Answ. The Apostle answeareth negatiuely, not denying that it is Gods will, that some should be elected, some reiected, but that it followeth not hereupon, that God should be cruell or vniust: which he sheweth, 1. by the vnsearcheable wisedome and iustice of God, which man is no more to finde fault with, then the clay with the potter. 2. by Gods absolute power which he hath ouer his workemanship, as the potter ouer the clay, v. 21. 3. by the effects, that howsoeuer Gods decree standeth concerning the reprobate, yet they worthily deserue to be cast off, because of their sinne, wherein God vseth long suffring toward them, v. 22. 4. by the ende of the reiection of the one, to shewe Gods iustice and power v. 22. and of the election of the other, to declare the riches of his merciemercy, v. 23.
3. The third part containeth an application of this generall doctrine of Gods election to the present state of the Gentiles and Iewes: wherein 1. he sheweth how the elect and called both among the Gentiles shall be saued, which he prooueth by two testimonies out of the Prophet Osee, v. 25.26. and among the Iewes, which should not be saued, but onelyonly a selected remnant, which he prooueth by 3. testimonies out of the Prophet Esaias, v. 27.28.29. 2. he inferreth hereupon the vocation of the Gentiles, shewing the cause thereof, the embracing of the righteousnesse of faith, v. 30. and the reiection of the Iewes, v. 31. which he amplyfieth by shewing two causes thereof, the following of the workes of the lawe and the stumbling at Christ, v. 32. which he confirmeth by a testimonie of the Prophet, which concludeth the cause both of the reiection of the Iewes, and the taking offence at Christ, and of the vocation of the Gentiles, namely their faith and beleefe, v. 33.