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Rom. 1:18 (fn. 5) - 21 (fn. 1)

September 13, 2021

Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness,

Footnote 5:
8,5) the - The truth here refers to the first true thing, the first reality, concerning man and God in the universe. This reality is the sure fact that God and His existence are proved by the creation, and it is the definite fact that men, being without excuse, can know God by the creation. This great reality, this great truth, should cause men to know God and thereby to glorify Him and thank Him (v. 21). However, instead of dealing properly with this reality, this truth, according to righteousness, in which God delights, men held down the truth in unrighteousness, which God hates, and did not approve of knowing God (v. 28). Therefore, they despised and rejected God, changing the glory of God into idols (vv. 21-23) and casting off self-restraint to fall without limit (vv. 24-32), so that they were given up, abandoned, by God (vv. 24, 26, 28).

Rom. 1:19 Because that which is known of God is manifest within them, for God manifested it to them.

Footnote 1:
19,1) within - Or, among.

Rom. 1:20 For the invisible things of Him, both His eternal power and divine characteristics, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being perceived by the things made, so that they would be without excuse;

Footnotes 1-2:
20,1) divine - Gk. theiotes, denoting God’s attributes, which are the special features, the characteristics, as the outward manifestations of God’s nature or substance. It is different from theotes in Col. 2:9, which denotes God’s Godhead and person. The characteristics of God’s nature can be verified through the created things; however, the created things cannot manifest God’s Godhead and person. Only the living person of Jesus Christ, the Word who is God and who declares God (John 1:1, 18), can express God’s Godhead and person, that is, the very God, God Himself. Here, in this chapter, the apostle Paul speaks of the created things verifying God’s existence, but what is verified are only the attributes and characteristics of God. In Col. 2:9 he speaks of Christ as the embodiment of God, and what is expressed is the Godhead and God’s person, that is, God Himself.

20,2) being - Man can perceive the invisible things of God by observing the visible things created by Him. Both the eternal power of God and the divine characteristics that express God’s intrinsic nature are manifested in God’s creation. For example, the abundance of light in the universe shows that light is a divine characteristic, a divine attribute of the divine nature (James 1:17). The same is true of beauty and life.

Rom. 1:21 Because though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or thank Him, but rather became vain in their reasonings, and their heart, lacking understanding, was darkened.

Footnote 1:
21,1) they - In this chapter Paul’s presentation of God’s creation and man’s step-by-step fall is undoubtedly based on the historical facts as recorded in Gen.1— 19 and in subsequent books of the Old Testament. First, vv. 19-20 speak concerning God’s creation; then vv. 21-25 cover the fall of Adam and progress through the age of the flood to the worshipping of idols at Babel. Verses 26-27 progress further, from Babel to the shameful lusts of Sodom, and vv. 28-32 go on from Sodom to every kind of wickedness in the Old Testament time.

Tuesday

October 12, 2021

Rom. 5:12 Therefore just as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin, death; and thus death passed on to all men because all have sinned -- Footnotes 3-4: 12,3) world - Or, people of the world; referring to mankind (John 1:29; 3:16). 12,4) death - Death is the ultimate result of man’s fall. Man’s spirit was deadened first, and eventually his body also died. Death and sin cannot be separated; where one is, the other will be found. Furthermore, death is not only a physical suffering in the future; it is something in which man is involved daily. Rom. 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law. Footnote 1: 13,1) charged - Sin existed before the law was given, but it was not manifested to man or charged to his account by God before that time. Rom. 5:14 But death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a type of Him who was to come. Footnotes 1-2: 14,1) death - Death is mentioned many times in chs. 5— 8 (vv. 12, 14, 17, 21; 6:9, 16, 21, 23; 7:5, 10, 13, 24; 8:2, 6, 38). Life also is mentioned repeatedly in these chapters (vv. 10, 17-18, 21; 6:4, 22-23; 7:10; 8:2, 6, 10-11, 38). These two key words form two contrasting lines through chs. 5— 8, the line of life and the line of death, showing that man is at the center of a triangular situation between God and Satan, life and death. Thus, chs. 5— 8 of Romans can be called the kernel of the Bible, showing its entire theme in a concrete and detailed way. 14,2) Adam - From Adam to Moses was the dispensation before law (without law); from Moses to Christ (John 1:17) was the dispensation of law; from Christ’s first coming to the restoration of all things (Acts 3:20-21) is the dispensation of grace; and from Christ’s second coming to the end of the millennium (Rev. 11:15; 20:4, 6) is the dispensation of the kingdom. These dispensations are used by God to accomplish His work of the new creation in the old creation.

Monday

October 11, 2021

Rom. 5:10 For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life, having been reconciled, Footnotes 4-5: 10,4) in - To be saved in Christ’s life is to be saved in Christ Himself as life. He dwells in us, and we are organically one with Him. By the growth of His life in us, we will enjoy His full salvation to the uttermost. Redemption, justification, and reconciliation are for the purpose of bringing us into union with Christ so that He can save us in His life unto glorification (8:30). 10,5) life - Implying resurrection. After death is spoken of in the first part of this verse, life is mentioned. Christ died that He might be our life in resurrection. We have been saved by Christ’s death from God’s eternal judgment and eternal punishment, but we are still being saved by Christ’s life in His resurrection. The life here, the power in 1:16, and the Spirit in ch. 8 refer to different aspects of the processed Triune God. Rom. 5:11 And not only so, but also boasting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Footnote 1: 11,1) boasting - To boast in God means to have God as our boast and our exultation, indicating that God is our enjoyment and our rejoicing. See note 24. It is in boasting, in exulting, and in enjoying in this way that we are being saved in the life of Christ. Rom. 5:12 Therefore just as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin, death; and thus death passed on to all men because all have sinned Footnotes 1-2: 12,1) one - I.e., Adam, the first man, the father of the entire human race, who brought in death through sin. In contrast to Adam is Christ, the second man (1 Cor. 15:47), who brought in life through righteousness (vv. 17-18). 12,2) sin - Up to v. 11 sins (plural) have been dealt with. From v. 12 sin (singular) is dealt with. It seems that in chs. 5— 8 sin is personified. Sin is not merely an action; it is like a person who can enter (v. 12), reign (v. 21), lord it over people (6:14), deceive and kill people (7:11), and dwell in people and cause them to do things against their will (7:17, 20). It is quite alive (7:9) and exceedingly active; hence, it must be the evil nature of Satan, the evil one, who, having injected himself into man through Adam’s fall, has now become the very sinful nature dwelling, acting, and working in fallen man. This indwelling, personified sinful nature is the root of all the outward sinful acts.

Tuesday

October 5, 2021

Rom. 4:17 (As it is written, ``I have appointed you a father of many nations'') in the sight of God whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls the things not being as being. Footnotes 2-3: 17,2) gives - This is God’s great power of resurrection. This great power enables us to eliminate death and overcome all that belongs to death. Abraham experienced this great power of resurrection when he offered Isaac according to God’s command. 17,3) calls - This is God’s mighty power of creation. As the creating God, He needs no material to work with; He can create something out of nothing simply by speaking: “For He spoke, and it was” (Psa. 33:9). Rom. 4:18 He beyond hope believed in hope in order that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, ``So shall your seed be.'' Footnote 1: 18,1) in - Lit., on. Abraham, as the example of one who is justified out of faith, lived by the things hoped for. Rom. 4:19 And not weakening in his faith, he considered his own body as already dead, being about a hundred years old, as well as the deadening of Sarah's womb; Footnote 1: 19,1) already - This indicates the termination of Abraham’s natural strength. This termination is related to God’s justifying him subjectively. Rom. 4:20 But with regard to the promise of God, he did not doubt in unbelief, but was empowered by faith, giving glory to God Rom. 4:21 And being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to do. Rom. 4:22 Therefore also it was accounted to him as righteousness. Rom. 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake only that it was accounted to him, Rom. 4:24 But for ours also to whom it is to be accounted, who believe on Him who has raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Footnote 1: 24,1) Him - The faith that is accounted to us as righteousness is our believing on God, who righteously judged Christ for our sins, righteously put Him to death in our place, and righteously raised Him from the dead.