Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 11 · Section 3 · Subsection 30
Quest. 29. Of these words, v. 28. As touching the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes, &c.
1. Chrysostome noteth, that the Apostle doth but verbis consolari, comfort the Iewes in word onelyonly, in saying, they are beloued for the fathers, because the vertue of their Progenitors doth not profit them, vnlesse they beleeue themselues: but the Apostle doth both in word and deed minister consolation vntounto them: and though they cannot be saued but by faith, yet this benefit they hauehave by the fathers, that they are within the couenant of grace, which was made with their fathers and their seed: Tolet obserueth well, how Saint Paul speaking of the enmitie and casting off of the Iewes, doth mollifie his speach: saying, they are enemies for your sakes, that ye might be called, not otherwise: and againe he qualifieth it with reference vntounto their election, and Progenitors, in which respect they are beloued.
2. As touching the Gospel they are enemies, &c. 1. Some doe vnderstand this enmitie to be against Paul and the Church, as if he should hauehave said, they are mine and your enemies, considering their hatred to the Gospel, but they are beloued of mee, their election considered; thus Theodoret, Chrysostome, Luther, Osiander. 2. Origen, referreth this enmitie vntounto God: Israel in respect of the Gospel, factus est inimicus Deo, is become an enemie vntounto God: so Origen, whom Beza and Pareus follow. 3. Pet. Martyr doth well ioyne both together: though principally they are vnderstood to be enemies to God, and in an other respect beloued of him: yet consequently they must be enemies to vsus: for Gods enemies are our enemies, and as they are beloued of God, so also, we should wish well vntounto them.
3. They are enemies, &c. they are beloued, &c. 1. Chrysostome, Theodoret, seeme to expound this of the same Iewes, who while they continue in vnbeleefe, are enemies, but when they shall be conuerted to the faith, they shall be beloued: but they which according to election are beloued of God, are neuer enemies. 2. Origen much better, interpreteth the Apostle thus to speake of diuerse sortes of the Iewes: they are enemies among them, which did spurne against the Gospel: they beloued, which were that remnant, which belonged to election: so also Calvin, Martyr, with others. 3. But Beza better vnderstandeth the Apostle to speake not of particular men, but of the whole nation, which at that time seemed to be reiected because of their vnbeleefe: but yet was not vtterly cast off in regard of their election, and promise made to their fathers: like as it is called the same riuer that runneth along, though it be not of the same water, because of the perpetuall succession: so it is the same nation of the Iewes, because of their lineal discent, though consisting of diuerse generations of vnlike condition, Faius: So then these are not contraries, the Israelites are enemies and so hated, and they are beloued; for contraries must be taken foreign, secundum idem, according to the same subiect: but here are diuerse subiects: they are enemies in respect of those which beleeue not, and beloued, that is, such as in time to come shall be conuerted to the faith: againe, contraries must be considered foreign, ad idem, in one and the same respect: and foreign, in the same time: but the Iewes are said to be enemies, and yet beloued, both in diuerse respects: for they are enemies for the Gospel sake, which they spurne and kick against; they are beloued, in regard of their election: and this must be vnderstood also at diuerse times: for at that time present they were enemies, but in time to come, when they should be called, they shall be beloued, Gryneus.
4. Beloued for the fathers sake: 1. not propter merita patrum, for the merite of the Fathers, as Lyranus, it is Christs merite onelyonly for the which the Lord receiueth them to the faith. 2. neither, because when they are conuerted, the Lord shall be put in remembrance of their fathers, as Ambrose, for God is not oblivious, that he had neede of a remembrancer. 3. not yet onelyonly is it said, for the fathers sakes, because sequuntur patrum fidem, they doe imitate and follow the faith of their fathers: Origen, Haymo: for so the beleeuing Gentiles also did imitate the saith of Abraham. 4. but the Apostles meaning is, they are beloued, propter promissiones patribus factas, because of the promises made to the Fathers: gloss. …dmar. Tolet: because they are descended of those fathers, to whom the Lord promised to be their God, and to their seed after them: Bucer: which promise of God, the infidelitie of some, cannot frustrate.
5. There are two reasons giuen, why they are enemies, one from the occasion not giuen, but taken, namely the Gospel, which they refused, the other from the end, for your sakes, that the Gentiles by their vnbeleefe might enter in: there are likewise two causes shewed of their receiuing to grace, their election with God, which is immutable, and the couenant made with their Fathers.