Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 11 · Section 3 · Subsection 16 – Subsection 17
Quest. 16. What is meant by the diminishing of the Iewes and their abundance, v. 12.
1. Whereas the Apostle had shewed, that the falling away of the Iewes was an occasion of the calling of the Gentiles: it might be obiected, that the conuersion of the Iewes might likewise be an occasion of the falling away of the Gentiles: hereunto the Apostle answeareth negatiuely, and he confirmeth his answear by an argument from the lesse to the greater: that if their empayring, and diminishing, and pouertie as it were, were the riches of the Gentiles, much more their plentifull calling: for God can turne that which is euill to the good of the Gentiles, much more that which is good.
2. By the riches of the world, we vnderstand both the multitude of the Gentiles, called to the knowledge of Christ, Pareus: and that wherewith they were enriched, namely the knowledge of the Gospel, Genevens.
3. By the diminution, 1. Haymo, whom Lyranus and Gorrhan follow, vnderstand the Apostles, which were but few, and as the abiects of the people, yet they enriched the Gentiles by their preaching: if the conuersion of a few was so profitable to the Iewes, much more the conuersion of the whole nation in the end of the world: but the Apostle expoundeth the word foreign, the ruine of the Iews, which he vsed before, by this word foreign, diminution: he meaneth not then, the conuersion of a few, but the falling away of the Iewes to a few. 2. Wherefore these three words the Apostle vseth, as of equipollent, and of one signification, foreign, their fall, foreign, their diminution v. 12. and foreign, their reiection and casting off, Par. 3. and in that he saith they are diminished, he sheweth that they are not vtterly perished: the imminution of a thing, is not rei excisio, sed decisio, is not the cleane cutting off, but an impayring onelyonly, Par.
4. How much more their abundance, foreign, fulnes. 1. by this fulnes is not onelyonly vnderstood foreign, the multitude of the Iewes, which shall be called, but also excellencie of the spirituall graces, wherewith the Iewes, in their generall conuersion toward the end of the world, shall be encreased, Gryneus. 2. neither are we so to vnderstand the fulnes of the Iewes, as though eueryevery one in particular should be called, but as then most of them were averse from Christ, so in the end most shall be conuerted, Martyr: as by the fulnes of the Gentiles, v. 22. is vnderstood the generall and vniuersall calling of them, not of eueryevery one in particular. 3. and this fulnes is not to be vnderstood so much with a relation on to the Gentiles, as though their number should be more full, by the conuersion of the Iewes, for their fulnes must be first come in, before the Iewes be conuerted, v. 25. as with reference to the whole number of Christs Church: that although there is a fulnes of the Gentiles without them, yet as Origen saith, plenitudo portionis Domini nondum dicitur completa, the fulnes of the Lords portion cannot be said to be compleat, vntill the Iewes also be conuerted. 4. But it will be obiected, how much more the fulnes of the Iewes shall be profitable to the Gentiles, if more Gentiles shall not be called, by the conuersion of the Iewes; which the Apostle seemeth to denie, v. 25. for the fulnesse of the Gentiles must first enter: Pet. Martyr doth vnderstand it of the confirmation of the faith of the Gentiles, who seeing the zeale of the Iewes, shall thereby be confirmed: so the ordinarie glosse, their fulnes being conuerted, ditabit gentes doctrina & exemplo, shal inrich the Gentiles by their doctrine and example: Osiander addeth, the Church of God shall be encreased, gloriosa populi Iudaici accessione, by the glorious accession of the Iewish people: Pareus goeth further, the Gentiles also, by the fulnes of the Iewes shall be prouoked to emulation: some further accession shall be made euen to the number of the beleeuing Gentiles: though in respect of their vniuersall calling, the fulnes of the Gentiles shall be entred before. 5. So these benefits shall accrue vntounto the Church of God by the conuersion of the Iewes. 1. the consociation and ioyning together both of the Iewes and Gentiles, the wall of partition beeing taken away: Ephes. 2.14. 2. the Church of God shall be encreased, when the children of Iudah, and the children of Israel, shall be gathered together to the Church, Hosh. 1.11. 3. The faith of the Gentiles shall be greatly confirmed. 4. God shall receiue greater glorie, when his goodnes, and the veritie of his promises shall be made manifest in the saluation both of Iews and Gentiles: Gryneus.
Quest. 17. How it standeth with Gods iustice to cast off the Iewes, that the Gentiles might enter in.
Obiect. Seeing the Apostle saith, that through the fall of the Iewes saluation came to the Gentiles; & their ruine is the riches of the world: God may seeme to deale hardly, in casting off his owne people, to receiue strangers: and beside it seemeth contrarie to that rule, euill must not be done, that good may come thereof.
Ans. 1. It were indeede an hard thing to cast off some to receiue others, if they were cast off without their owne fault, or if the Lord were tied by any bond not to cast them off, or, if their casting off did not tend to their further good: but it is otherwise here: for the Lord did not cast off the Iewes, but for their vnbeleefe: and he is not bound to bestow or continue his grace, he may conferre it, and withdraw it, vponupon whome, and from whome he please: and beside the reiection of the Iewes, was for their more plentifull calling afterward. 2. Neither was their reiecting simply the cause of the calling of the Gentiles, but ex accidente, accidentally, as we say: it was properly the punishment of their infidelitie, and a demonstration of the iustice of God: but God, that can turne euill vntounto good, did vse this as an occasion to induce the Gentiles to beleeue.