Bible Commentaries

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

What advantage — Gr. το περισσον , what odds, singular thing, prerogative?

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Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Chiefly, because that, … — This was their prime privilege, that they were God’s library keepers, that this heavenly treasure was concredited unto them. Other nations are said to have been without God, because without those lively oracles, 2 Chronicles 15:3 ; Ephesians 2:12 . Prize we this privilege, and improve it. You must never expect another edition of the faith once received, Judges 1:3 , once for all.

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For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

The faith of God — That is, his faithful promises, opposed to man’s perfidy. Fides quia fit quod dictum est. God is faithful, saith the apostle often.

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God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Every man a liar — viz. By nature. But,Isaiah 63:8; Isaiah 63:8 , God’s people are "children that will not lie," they will die rather. Non ideo negare volo ne peream, sed ideo mentiri nolo ne peccem, saith she upon the rack, of whom St Jerome writeth. The officers of Merindol answered the bishop that moved them to abjure, that they marvelled much that he would persuade them to lie to God and the world. And albeit that all men by nature are liars, yet they had learned by the word of God that they ought diligently to take heed of lying in any matter, be it never so small, …

Every man a liar — So he is either by imposture, and so in purpose, or by impotence, and so in the event, deceiving those that rely upon him, Psalms 62:9 .

That thou mayest be justified in thy sayings — David speaketh of the truth of Nathan’s reprehension; Paul applies it to the truth of God in his promises also. Let us give him a testimonial, John 3:33 ; such as is that Deuteronomy 32:4 ; "A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."

And mightest overcome — Mayest be pure, saith David, Psalms 51:4 . Zacah in the Syriac is used for overcoming. Vincit veritas, et dare non dignis res mage digna Deo est.

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But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

Is God unrighteous — Such heart boilings there were in the rejected Jews. And Job said little less, till God, overhearing him, steps, as it were, from behind the curtains, and takes him up for it, Job 38:2 ; "Who is this," saith he, that talketh thus? How now?

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God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

I speak as a man — q.d. Is there not such language heard in some men’s hearts?

For then how shall God judge the world — How shall every transgression and disobedience receive a just recompence of reward? Hebrews 2:2 . God’s will is the absolute rule of right, nec tantum recta, sed regula. (Bonav.)

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For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

For if the truth of God — Here the former objection is repeated, explicated, and more fully answered, that every mouth might be stopped. Ferunt ranas lampade supra lacum, in quo tumultuantur, appensa, illius fulgore repercussas conticescere. (Lomelius.) So gainsayers are silenced, when the truth is thoroughly cleared.

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And not rather , (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

As we be slanderously reported — So are the reformed Churches by the black mouthed Papists. See the Abatement of Popish Brags, by Alex. Cook, the Preface; Eudaemon Joannes against Casaubon, and Calvino-Turcismum, …

Whose damnation is just — In the year of grace 1552, a monk of Berlin in Germany, who in the pulpit charged St Paul with a lie, was suddenly smitten with an apoplexy, while the word was yet in his mouth, and fell down dead in the place on St Stephen’s day, as they call it. (Scultet. Annal.)

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