Commentary on Romans, Treatise · Chapter – Chapter 1
DIAL. I.
Timotheus.
WHat was the chiefe Argument and Occasion of Writing this Epistle?
Silas.
A Difference and dissention betweene the Iewes & Gentiles, which was abused by the malice of Satan, and was likely to hauehave much hindered the course of the Gospell, yea, to hauehave stifled and choakt it in the verie Cradle and beginnings. For, the Iewes which did beleeue, did thinke thorough the suggestion of some false Apostles, Acts 15. that the Legall Ceremonies were to be still obserued, as necessary to Saluation, that vnlesse men were circumcised, and kept the Law, they could not be iustified and saued by Christ. Whereas the beleeuing Gentiles did knowe by the Doctrine of the Gospell, their exemption from Moyses Law, being taught, that in the death and passion of our Lord, all Legall rites were fully determined; and that Faith alone in Christ, was sufficient to Iustification before God. Heereuppon, arose no small discorde betweene Iewes and Gentiles, which were mixed together; the Iewes bearing themselues insolently because of their priuiledges, despised the Gentiles as enemies of Moyses Law; and the Gentiles insulting ouer the Iewes, as reiected of God, for the contempt of Christ. To compound this dissention, Paul the Apostle framed this Epistle; First, shewing that neyther Gentiles by their naturall Woorkes, or Iewes by their Legall deeds, could be Iustified: for somuch as the one violated and brake the Law of nature; and the other, the Lawe of Moyses: therefore, both the one and the other, were to be Iustified thorough Christ alone, apprehended by a true and liuely Faith. After this generall Doctrine, reaching vntounto the ninth Chapter, there he doth in more perticular sort, represse both the insolency of the Iews, by prouing, that the promises were giuen, and became effectuall onelyonly to the true Israel, euen to such as were of the faith of Abraham, to all the Elect of God which beleeue in Christ, and not to the carnall seede which came of Abraham, onelyonly according to the flesh. Then in the 11. Chapter, conuerting him to the Gentiles, he perswadeth them vntounto humility, that they should modestly behaue themselues toward the Iewes, forsomuch as diuers of them were dayly called to the Faith, and towardes the second comming of Christ, God would graffe in againe the whole Nation, and make them the Members of the Christian Church. When the fulnesse (or bodie) of the Gentiles should enter into the same, then the blindnesse of the Iewes should cease, it being neyther totall nor final, but only in part, and for a time. In the 14. Chapter againe, Paul setteth vppon Iewes and Gentiles, exhorting them both, with many and waighty reasons, vntounto Brotherly louelove and peace, not to be diuided one from another, or to iudge and contemne one another, about Dayes and Meats, and such things as were of a middle nature. The rest of the Epistle, is spent in exhortations to Morrall Good-workes, both speciall in respect of a Calling, and generall belonging to all Christians, Chap. 12. and part of the 13. where politicall duties be vrged, both of the Maiestrate, and of the Subiect. Finally, after diuers salutations, and familiar matters, he doth verie grauely conclude the Epistle, with admonition to take heede of false Teachers, with giuing of Thankes and praises of God.
Tim.
What is the scope of this Epistle?
Silas
To teach the way of obtaining true Righteousnesse, which is not by works, but by a liuely faith in Christ Iesus.
Tim.
Are there any more matters handled in this Epistle?
Silas.
Yea, sundry and most waighty, as namelie; about Originall Corruption, Sanctification, Spirituall Combate, the vse of the Law, of the remnants of sinne, the benefites of afflictions, the Constancie of Beleeuers, Election, Reprobation, Reiection, Prouocation of the Iewes; Morrall, Ecclesiasticall, and Politicall duties, Christian Liberty, familiar matters.
Tim.
What Reasons may mooue vsus to louelove and Studie this Epistle?
Sil.
1. The worthinesse and variety of the Matter, 2. the Method and order of writing, being verie exacte, 3. the Dignity of the Instrument or Pen-man, being an Apostle, that had seene visions and Reuclations. 4. the Maiesty and Wisedom of the Author, being the God of Wisedome and Maiesty.
Tim.
Into what Parts may this Epistle be diuided?
Into two parts, 1. the Title and Inscription, [The Epistle, &c.] 2. the Treatise [Paul an Apostle, &c.] The Treatise hath a preface, ad Verse 16. wherein Paul Saluteth the Romaines, wishing them good thinges, and describeth the person of Christ: also testifieth his pur pose of visiting them: after the Preface, is a Doctrionall institution vntounto Chap. 12. and another exhortatorie vntounto the end of the Epistle.
Tim.
What Significations be there of this worde [Epistle?]
Sil.
It hath two; the one, vnproper and borrowed; the other, proper and naturall: by the vnproper signification, signifieth any thing that representeth the minde of another. Thus the Scriptures bee Gods Epistles: also the Corinthians are called Pauls Epistles, because their conuersion by his preaching (as an Epistle of recommendation) did commend him for a true Minister of Christ, 2. Cor. 3, 2. Secondly, in a proper signification, it importeth a Letter sent from one to another, to certifie their minde, so is the worde vsed heere.
Tim.
What meaneth this worde [Apostle?]
Silas
Generally by it, is meant any messenger, as Phil. 2, 25. more especially, one selected of Christ to carrie the message of saluation into the whole world, whereof there were twelue, to whome Mathias was added in Iudas roome.
Tim.
What be the notes of an Apostle?
Silas.
Foure; first, to bee immediately called by Christ, Gal. 3, 1. Math. 1, 2. Secondly, to bee sent with Commission, to preach vntounto all nations. Thirdly to hauehave seene Christ in the flesh. 1 Cor. 1, 2. Fourthly, to hauehave a priuiledge to be kept from error in their Doctrine, Iohn 16, 13. to which may be added the fift to hauehave the power of doing myracles. Luke 9, 1, 2.
Tim.
Who was this Paule?
Silas.
A Pharisie by profession, a Iew by byrth, a most wicked persecuter for his practise.
Tim.
How was he changed?
Silas.
By the mighty power of Christ, who from heauen suddenly altred him, and of a persecutor made him a Preacher. From whence wee may learne, that none dispaire, though they be yet in their sinnes: or being called, hauehave greeuously falne. For Paul sinned fearefully before his Calling, and Peter after, yet were!Acts 9, 1, 2, 3. both pardoned vponupon their returning to God.
Tim.
Why did Paul write to the Romaines?
Silas.
First, because they were many of them his Countreymen, according to the flesh, the Iewes then dwelling at Rome in great Companies, Acts. 28. Secondly, because by writing to them, hee gaue an instruction common to all, within the Iurisdiction of the Romaines, which was exceeding large, the Romain Empire being then in florishing estate, and as it were the Queene and Mistris of the world.
Tim.
Why was this Epistle set before the rest of Paul his Epistles?
Silas.
Neither for that it was in time written before all other, nor yet for the great dignity of the Romain nation, being then Lordes almost of the whole earth, nor for the excellencie of the Romain Church, which consisting of Gentiles, was inferiour vntounto the Church of the Iewes, who were the Oliue tree, others being wilde Oliues, nor yet for the length of this Epistle, as some hauehave imagined, but for the exceeding worth and vse of the matter handled therein. For, besides the maine Article of Iustification by faith, defined, debated, and determined, there be other questions and points of Christian faith, of gteat moment and profit: as about the fall of Man, the force of Original corruption, the restoration of man by Christ, of the sweet and manifold fruits of Iustifying faith, also of Sanctification; of the Crosse and comfort to them which beare it; of predestination; of the vocation of Gentiles; of the breaking off, and graffing in againe the Iewes; of Good-workes; of Maiestracy, of Charity, of the vse of things indifferent, of the diuersitie of Guifts, and functions in the Church: so as this Epistle was vponupon good respect set before the rest, as the Key to open the way to vnderstand the other; and as a Catechisme or Introduction to our most holy Religion: also the most exact and accurat Method of this Epistle, did deserue it should bee prefixed. For, after the … he defineth Iustification, declaring what it is, Rom. 1, 16. (and that is held most artificiall Method, which beginneth with definition) Also hee expressethRo. 3, 24, 25, 26. the seuerall causes thereof Efficient. 1. Gods grace, 2. Materiall, Christ Iesus dead and raised to life, 3. the Formall, our beleefe of the Gospell, 4. the Final or end remote; the praise of Gods righteousnes; the neerest end, our saluation.
Moreouer, hee amplifieth our free Iustification by the contrary, that wee cannot bee iustified either by workes of Nature, or of the Law, Cha. 2, 3. therefore by grace and faith, after the patterne of Abraham, Ch. 4. then by the principall and immediate effects of iustifying faith: both inwarde peace of Conscience, accesse vntounto the gracious God, ioy, hope, patience in tribulation, experience, sence of Gods LoueLove in the heart, Ch. 5. and outward Holinesse of life, dying to sinne, and liuing vntounto righteousnesse, Cha. 6. by the contrarie operation of the Law, which is to reueale Sinne and Wrath, Cha. 7. whereas the Gospell freeth from condemnation, Ch. 8. by the cause [Election,] by the Subiect [Gentiles called, and Iewes to be called] Ch. 11 by Testimonies, Ch. 10. by Examples, Dauid and Abraham, Ch. 4. And as this Article of Iustification, so other points are treated of in a verie perfect order; a hath beene partly touched, and shall more perticulerly appeare heereafter.
Tim.
Of what kinde is this Epistle?
Silas
It is mixt: partly Didascalicall, teaching & instructing the minde in the truth of the Gospell; partly deliberatiue or paraeniticall, exhorting vntounto Duties of all sortes, and constancie in the faith: partlie Consolatory, comforting against the fear of condemnation and affliction of the Crosse; partly, Reprehensorie, rebuking the Iewes for their infidelitie and contumacie against God, and the Gentiles for their immodestie, security, and pride, and both for their debate and carnall aemulation; partly, Gratulatorie, giuing thankes for their obedience to the Gospell; and Laudatorie, praising their zeale; and Petitoric, praying for Grace to them, and to himselfe.
Tim.
Shew vsus now the scope and marke whereat this Epistle aymed?
Sil.
The scope is double: the first, is remote and further off, being common to all the Church, in all ages, as the more plentiful instruction of al the Saints in the mystery of saluation: and secondly, the quenching of the flames of contention, raised between the two people, Iewes and Gentiles, and to set a firme peace, which is the nearest end.