Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 11 · Section 3 · Subsection 29
Quest. 28. Of the testimonies here cited by the Apostle, how they are alleadged, and whence.
1. Concerning the manner, the Apostle followeth the Septuagint, which was then the receiued translation, which he refuseth not, while it retaineth the sense, though the words precisely are not rendred. 1. in the originall, Isay. 59.20. the word is lecsion, which the Septuagint translate, foreign, because of Sion, or for Sions sake: but the preposition lamed, serueth to a datiue case, and so it must be translated, a redeemer shall come to Sion: as Vatablus, Pagnine, and Innius reade: S. Paul readeth foreign, out of Zion, which Beza thinketh may be altered, foreign, by the fault of the writer or copier out: but Tolet is bold to affirme, against the receiued opinion of the best Hebricians, that the preposition lamed, may their signifie de, from, annot. 19. but that cannot be, for it followeth in the same place, vleshabhe, and to them, not (from them) that returne from iniquitie, where the same preposition is vsed: Iunius solution is best, that the Prophet respecting the time and instant of the comming of the Messiah, saith, to Zion: but S. Paul looking further vntounto such things as followed the comming of Christ, and to the progresse of the Gospell, by way of interpretation saith, the redeemer shall come out of Zion, that is, out of his Church. 2. an other difference is, that the originall hath, and to them that returne from iniquitie on Iacob: but the Apostle following the Septuagint saith, he shall turne iniquitie from Iacob: Martyr thinketh the Septuagint might reade, lasoub, to turne, for leshabe, to them that turne: but such an ouersight is not like to hauehave beene in those excellent interpreters: Iunius lib. 2. perall. 23. saith, that the Apostle in stead of Christs comming, nameth a benefit which followed his comming, which is the remission of sinnes: but I thinke rather with Beza and Gryneus, that where the Prophet speaketh of the effect, which is turning away from sinne, the Apostle riseth higher to the verie cause, which is the taking away of sinne: for none can turne away from sinne, vnlesse they hauehave first grace and remission of their sinnes … as the Prophet saith, Ierem. 31.18. Convert thou me, and I shall be converted. 3. whereas in the next sentence, the Hebrewe word is berith, for a couenant, the Septuagint render it by the word foreign, a Testament: and so the vulgar Latine interpreteth here, this shall be my Testament vntounto them: which reading Tolet iustifieth, because the Apostle Heb. 9. so taketh the Hebrew word berith, for a Testament: Beza in his annotations here thinketh, that where the Greeke word foreign, signifieth any kind of disposition, whether by Testament or other couenant, the Apostle alludeth to the signification of the Greeke rather then of the Hebrew word. But I preferre rather Iunius iudgement in c. 9. ad Hebr. who thinketh that the Hebrew word berith, signifieth generally any disposition of the will, as well by couenant, as by testament and so it is taken for both according to the circumstance of the place: so berith may be deriued of bara, which signifieth to decide or declare ones sentence: and so generally may signifie the disposition of the mind: which also is the proper signification of the Greeke word foreign, as Erasmus …ere obserueth: S. Paul in the 9. to the Hebrewes calleth it a Testament, where is required the death of the Testator, which was shadowed forth by the type of shedding and sprinkling of blood: but here in the Prophet there beeing no such circumstance expressed, which belongeth to a Testament, it is better interpreted fadus, a couenant.
2. For the other point, whence these testimonies are alleaged, there are diuerse opinions. 1. All agree that the former place is taken out of the 59. of Isay, v. 20. and for the next, this shall be my couenant with them, when I take away their sinne: Calvin thinketh it is taken from Ieremie, 31.33. This shall be the couenant, that I will make with the house of Israel, &c. I will forgiue their iniquities. 2. Iunius saith, these words, when I take away their sinne, are repeated out of the former verse, to confirme the Gentiles in the assured expectation of the conuersion of the Iewes. 3. Tolet following Origen, thinketh that these words are added by the Apostle by way of declaration. 4. But the more probable opinion is, that the Apostle ioyneth two prophesies of Isay together, as he did before, v. 8. and that the last words, when I take away their sinne, are cited out of the 27. c. of Isay v. 9. where the Septuagint hauehave these verie words cited by the Prophet, foreign, when I shall take away their sinnes: the other words are found with some small alteration, in the 59. c. of Isay, v. 20. and in the beginning of the 21. v. Pareus.