The Key of the Bible, Biblical commentary · Part 2 · Section 2 · Subsection 1
Romanes.
THe Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the ROMANES. So denominated, 1. Partly from the object to whom the Epistle is written, viz. The believing Romanes, Rom. 1.7. When this Epistle was written, there was so famous a Church at Rome, that their Faith was spoken of throughout the whole World, Rom. 1.8. Yea there were even in Caesars houshould that had received the faith. Phil. 4.22. But by whom or when was the Church of the Romanes first planted? Answ. Scripture is silent, Papists say by Peter, Bel…m. de Pont. Rom. l. 2. c. 2. But Peter never was at Rome, much lesse planted the Church there D. Pareus in Rom. 16. Pub. II. Barnabas is supposed to have preached Christ at Rome, and to have converted the Romanes, under the Reign of Tyberius, if Clement may be believed. Recognition. Clementis lib. 1. But now Rome is as infamous as once it was famous, being the seat of Antichrist, Rev. 17, 9, &c. the Spirituall Egypt Rev. 11.8. Sodome Rev. 11.8. And Babylon devoted to destruction, Rev. 18.2, &c. 2. Partly from the Penman of the Epistle, viz. Paul, Rom. 1.1.
PAUL is a Latin name from Paulus, i. e. a little one, so the Romanes were wont to call them that were of a lesser stature, he seemes most to be delighted with this Romane name, being appointed Apostle to the Gentiles. Some think he first had this name given him, upon occasion of his conversion of Sergius Paulus the Deputy, Act. 13.7.9.12▪ Hieronym. de claris Script, Before he was called Saul, i. e. desired, asked, &c. From the Hebrew foreign Shaal, i. e. he hath asked, desired, &c. It is not likely that he changed his name Saul into Paul: but rather that he had two names, as all the Iews had that were freemē of Rome; Saul then denoted his nation and Religion, Paul signified his Roman freedome. And Scripture favours this that he had two names, saying, Saul, which also is Paul, Act. 13.9. The History of Paul is notably described in the New Testament, especially in Phil. 3. 1 Tim▪ 1. And in Act. 13. to the end of the Book, but more summarily, Act. 22.3, to 22. and 26.4. to 24. He was a Iew by Nation; of the Tribe of Benjamin; of the Province of Cilicia; borne in the City Tarsus, (which being a Colony and having the priviledge of the Romane freedome, Paul though of Iewish Parents, yet saith he was a Roman free-born, Act. 22.7.28.) circumcised the eighth day; brought up at the feet of Gamaliel; a great proficient above many in the Iewish Religion; in his Zeale persecuting all that seemed to oppose it; held the garments of those that stoned Stephen, consenting to his death; made havock of the Church, &c. But at last, as he was in his Circuit of persecution, he was miraculously converted of a Wolfe to become a Lamb, and of a Persecuter to be a prime Apostle, in his Apostleship he suffered and laboured more then all the rest of the Apostles; was peculiarly sent to teach the Gentiles. At last he was carryed bound to Rome, and there he was be headed by Nero in seventeenth yeere after Christ's Ascension, in the fourteenth yeer of Nero, and thirty fifth yeere after his conversion, and buried in the Ostiense way. Hieronym. He wrote fourteen Epistles, of which one said, As oft as I read Paul, me thinks I heare not words so much as thunders, Paulum quotiesc…n que lego, videor mihi non verba au…dire, sed tonitrua. Hieronym. contr. Iovinian. de Epist. Paulin.
His Epistle to the Romanes, though no… first written, yet is set first. 1. By reason of the dignity of the Romanes to whom it was written, Rome being the Seate of the Empire, and Head of the World. 2. Because of the largenesse of the Epistle, this being the longest of all the Epistles. As Isaiah is set first being the longest of all the Prophets. 3. But especially from the dignity of the matter, and dexterity in handling it. The Body of Divinity is so admirably herein handled, espicially the principall points of Election, Reprobation, Redemption, Faith and Iustification by Faith, &c. that it is deservedly called by some Clavis Theologiae, the Key of Divinity; and Methodus Scripturae, the Method of Scripture.
When it was written, See in former Table. Where it was written, is to be considered. Origen in Praefat. Comment. thinks at Corinth. 1. Because he commends Phaebe to the Romans, Rom. 16.1. She was a servant to the Church at Cenchrea, which is a Port of Corinth. 2. Because he salutes them in the name of Gaius his Host, &c. Rom. 16.23. And Gaius a Corinthian, and there Baptized by Paul 1 Cor. 1.14. 3. Because he salutes them in the name of Erastus Chamberlaine of the City, Rom. 16.23. Who abode at Corinth, 2 Tim. 4.20. 4. The postscript testifies thus much.
Occasion and Scope of this Epistle seemes to be this. The report that Paul had received of some disagreements both in judgement and affection, in them of the Church of Rome, who were partly believing Jewes, partly believing Gentiles. The Iewes either wholly opposing the Gospel, or mingling Law and Gospel together in the case of Justification▪ and all of them excluding the Gentiles from the fellowship of Christ, and despising them, insisting too much upon the Prerogative of the Jew: Contrariwise the Gentiles, knowing that the Jewes were rejected of God, and the Gentiles implanted in their stead, too much insulted over them as a people cast away, boasting of their own wisdome and vertues, and using their Christian liberty with offence. Now to reconcile these Controversies, and to settle them both in the truth, and in unity of judgement and affection, the Apostle being hindred from coming to them deals by letters; Demonstrating that neither Iewes had cause to boast of their righteousnesse and Prerogatives, nor Gentiles of their wisdome: both of them naturally being liable to eternal condemnation notwithstanding, and both of them being to be justified by Faith in Christ alone, and that they should not abuse Grace, but walke in newnesse of life, &c.
Generall parts. In this Epistle to the Romanes are chiefly three parts.
I. A Preface to the whole Epistle, c. 1.1. to 17,
II. A Treatise, contayning the main substance of the Epistle, which is either, Informatory and Doctrinall. or Hortatory, and Practicall.
1. Doctrinall, viz, Touching the cause of our justification, more neere, more remote.
1. More neere cause of justification Where,
1. The false cause, viz. Works, is removed, c. 1.17. to end. c. 2. & 3.1, to ver. 21.
2. The true cause, viz. Faith, is
1. Defended from Calumnies, c. 2.21. to the end, & c. 3.
2. Confirmed by Abrahams example, and testimonies, c. 4.
3. Explicated by the fruits or effects thereof; 1. Inward, viz. Peace with God, and full assurance of Faith, c. 5. 2. Outward, viz. 1 Newnesse of life, c. 6. 2 Freedom from the curse of the Law, c. 7. 3 Constancy in the state of Grace, against all condemnation, notwithstanding al infirmities or afflictions, within or without them that are in Christ, c. 8.
2. More Remote cause of justification viz. Predestination where, of
1. The Jewes rejection, described,
1. By the cause thereof, Gods pleasure, the Jewes unbeliefe, c. 9.
2. By the signes and effects thereof, their blindnesse c. 10.
2. The Jewes Restauration, and of the remnant to be saved, c. 11.
2. Practicall and Hortatory, inciting to good-works, and duties; either,
1. Generall, towards God and man, c. 12.
2. Speciall duties, either in 1. Things necessary, towards Superiours, c▪ 13▪ 2 Things indifferent and Arbitrary, towards inferiours, and the more infirm in Faith, c. 14. &, c. 15. ver. 1. to 14.
III. A conclusion of the whole Epistle, consisting of 1 Excuses about his freedome in writing to them, his not coming to them; and other advertisements touching his purpose of seeing them, and his desires of their prayers, c. 15. ver. 14. to the end. 2. Commendations and Salutations, c. 16.