might be honoured. Their work was not one in which they were seek

solely for the honour and glory of Jesus Christ. For him they toiled, they encountered perils, they laid down their lives, because by so doing they might bring men to obey the gospel, and thus Jesus Christ might wear a brighter crown, and be attended by a longer and more splendid train of wor shippers in the kingdom of his glory.

6. Among whom. That is, among the Gentiles who had become obedient to the Christian faith in accordance with the design of the gospel, ver. 8. This proves that the church at Rome was made up partly at least, if not mainly, of Gentiles or pagans. This is fully proved in the xvith chapter by the names of the persons whom Paul salutes.

The called of Jesus Christ. Those whom Jesus Christ has called to be

apostolic office, as being derived from Jesus Christ, and designs to assure the Romans that he had received the apos-ing to honour themselves, but it was tolic commission as the others had. We, the apostles, have received the appointment from Jesus Christ.' 1 Grace and apostleship. Many suppose that this is a figure of speech, hendiadys, by which one thing is expressed by two words, meaning the grace or favour of the apostolic office. Such a figure of speech is often used. But it may mean, as it does probably here, the two things, grace, or the favour of God to his own soul, as a personal matter; and the apostolic office as a distinct thing. He often, however, speaks of the office of the apostleship as a matter of special favour. Rom. xv. 15, 16. Gal. ii. 9. Eph. iii. 7, 8, 9. ¶ For obedience to the faith. In order to produce, or promote obedience to the faith; that is, to induce them to render that obedience to God which faith | his followers. The word called (see produces. There are two things therefore implied. (1.) That the design of the gospel and of the apostleship is to induce men to obey God. (2.) That the tendency of faith is to produce obedience. There is no true faith which does not produce that. This is constantly affirmed in the New Testament. Rom. xv. 18; xvi. 19. 2 Cor. vii. 15. James ii. ¶ Among all nations. This was the original commission which Jesus gave to his apostles. Mark xvi. 15, 7. To all that be in Rome. That 16. Matt. xxviii. 18, 19. This was the is, to all who bear the Christian name. special commission which Paul re- Perhaps he here included not only the ceived when he was converted. Acts church at Rome, but all who might ix. 15. It was important to show that have been there from abroad. Rome the commission extended thus far, as was a place of vast concourse for he was now addressing a distant church foreigners; and Paul probably addresswhich he had not seen. ¶ For his ed all who happened to be there. ¶ Bename. This means probably on his loved of God. Whom God loves. account, that is, on account of Christ. This is the privilege of all Christians. John xiv. 13, 14; xvi. 23, 24. The And this proves that the persons whom design of the apostleship was to pro-Paul addressed were not those merely duce obedience to the gospel among all nations, that thus the name of Jesus

ver. 1) denotes not merely an external invitation to a privilege, but it also denotes the internal or effectual call which secures conformity to the will of him who calls, and is thus synonymous with the name Christians, or believers. That true Christians are contemplated by this address, is clear from the whole scope of the epistle. See particularly ch. viii. Comp. Phil. iii. 14. Heb. iii. 1.

who had been invited to the external privileges of the gospel. The import

appear | word including all those blessings that Call- are applicable to Christians in common; denoting an ardent wish that all the mercies and favours of God for time and eternity, blended under the general name grace, may be conferred on them. It is to be understood as connected with a word implying invocation. I pray, or I desire, that grace, &c. may be conferred on you. It is the customary form of salutation in nearly all the apostolic epistles. 1 Cor. i. 3. 2 Cor. i. 2. Gal. i. 3. Eph. i. 2. Phil. i. 2. Col. i. 2. 1 Thess. i. 1. 2 Thess. i. 2. Philem. 3. ¶ And peace. Peace is the state of freedom from

|

war.

ance of this observation will in the progress of these Notes. ed to be saints. So called, or influenced by God who had called them, as to become saints. The word saints, al, means those who are holy, or those who are devoted or consecrated to God. The radical idea of the word is that which is separated from a common to a sacred use, and answers to the Hebrew word, kadosh. It is applied to any thing that is set apart to the service of God, to the temple, to the sacrifices, to the utensils about the temple, to the garments, &c. of the priests, and to the priests themselves. It was applied to the Jews as As war conveys the idea of disa people separated from other nations, cord and numberless calamities and and devoted or consecrated to God, dangers, so peace is the opposite, and while other nations were devoted to the conveys the idea of concord, safety, and service of idols. It is also applied to prosperity. Thus, to wish one peace Christians, as being a people devoted was the same as to wish him all safety or set apart to the service of God. The and prosperity. This form of salutaradical idea then, as applied to Chris- tion was common among the Hebrews. tians, is, that they are separated from Gen. xliii. 23, "Peace to you! fear other men, and other objects and pur- not." Judges vi. 23; xix. 20. Luke suits, and consecrated to the service | xxiv. 36. But the word peace is also of God. This is the peculiar charac- used in contrast with that state of agiteristic of the saints. And this cha-tation and conflict which a sinner has racteristic the Roman Christians had with his conscience, and with God. shown. For the use of the word as The sinner is like the troubled sea stated above, see the following passages which cannot rest. Isa. lvii. 20. The of Scripture. Luke ii. 23. Ex. xiii. 2. Christian is at peace with God through Rom. xi. 16. Matt. vii. 6. 1 Pet. i. 16. the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. v. 1. By Acts ix. 13. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Acts iii. 21. this word, denoting reconciliation with Eph. iii. 5. 1 Pet. ii. 9. Phil. ii. 15. 1 | God, the blessings of the Christian reJohn iii. 1, 2. Grace. This word ligion are often described in the Scrip¶ properly means favour. It is very tures. Rom. viii. 6; xiv. 17; xv. 13. often used in the New Testament, and Gal. v. 22. Phil. iv. 7. A prayer for is employed in the sense of benignity peace, therefore, in the epistles, is not or benevolence; felicity, or a prosper- a mere formal salutation, but has a ous state of affairs; the Christian reli- special reference to those spiritual gion, as the highest expression of the blessings which result from reconciliabenevolence or favour of God; the tion with God through the Lord Jesus happiness which Christianity confers on Christ. From God our Father. its friends in this and the future life; The Father of all Christians. He is the apostolic office; charity, or alms; the Father of all his creatures, as they thanksgiving; joy, or pleasure; and are his offspring. Acts xvii. 28, 29. He the benefits produced on the Chris- is especially the Father of all Christians, tian's heart and life by religion-the as they have been "begotten by him to grace of meekness, patience, charity, a lively hope," have been adopted into &c. Schleusner. In this place, and his family, and are like him. Matt. v. in similar places in the beginning of 45. 1 Pet. i. 3. 1 John v. 1; iii. 1, 2. the apostolic epistles, it seems to be a The expression here is equivalent to a

b

of throughout the whole world. | without ceasing I make men9 For God is my witness, tion of you always in my prayers; whom " I serve with my spirit 10 Making request if by any in the gospel of his Son, that means now at length I might

a

a Acts 27.23.

1

The

In the gospel of his Son. In making known the gospel, or as a minister of the gospel. That without ceas

markably pure. How few churches 9. For God is my witness. have there been of whom a similar reason of this strong appeal to God is, commendation could be expressed. to show to the Romans the deep inte¶ That your faith. Faith is put here rest which he felt in their welfare. for the whole of religion, and means This interest was manifested in his the same as your piety. Faith is one prayers, and in his earnest desires to of the principal things of religion; one see them. A deep interest shown in of its first requirements; and hence it this way was well fitted to prepare signifies religion itself. The readiness them to receive what he had to say to with which the Romans had embraced them. ¶ Whom I serve. ĺ See ver. 1. the gospel, the firmness with which comp. Acts xvii. 23. The expression they adhered to it, was so remarkable, denotes that he was devoted to God that it was known and celebrated every in this manner; that he obeyed him; where. The same thing is affirmed of and had given himself to do his them in ch. xvi. 19, "For your obedi- will in making known his gospel. ence is come abroad unto all men." ¶ With my spirit. Greek, iv, in my ¶ Is spoken of. Is celebrated, or spirit, i. e. with my heart. It is not an known. They were in the capital of external service merely; it is internal, the Roman empire; in a city remark-real, sincere. He was really and sinable for its wickedness; and in a city cerely devoted to the service of God. whose influence extended every where. It was natural, therefore, that their remarkable conversion to God should be celebrated every where. The re-ing, adiantas. This word ligious or irreligious influence of a great city will be felt far and wide, and this is one reason why the apostles preached the gospel so much in such places. ¶ Throughout the whole world. As we say, every where; or throughout the Roman empire. The term world is often thus limited in the Scriptures; and here it denotes those parts of the Roman empire where the Christian church was established. All the churches would hear of the work of God in the capital, and would rejoice in it. Comp. Col. i. 6. 23. John xii. 19. It is not improper to commend Christians, and to remind them of their influence; and especially to call to their mind the great power which they may have on other churches and people. Nor is it improper that great displays of divine mercy should be celebrated every where, and excite in the churches praise to God.

means

constantly, always, without intermis-
sion. It was not only once, but re-
peatedly. It had been the burden of
his prayers. The same thing he also
mentions in regard to other churches.
1 Thess. i. 3; ii. 13. ¶ I make men-
tion. I call you to remembrance, and
present your case before God. This
evinced his remarkable interest in a
church which he had never seen, and
it shows that Paul was a man of prayer;
praying not for his friends and kindred
only, but for those whom he had never
seen. If with the same intensity of
prayer all Christians, and Christian mi-
nisters, would remember the churches,
what a different aspect would the
Christian church soon assume! ¶ Al-
ways. This word should be con-
nected with the following verse,
ways making request," &c.

"Al

10. Making request. It was his earnest desire to see them, and he pre