CHAPTER 3
Romans 3:1-2 | |
1. What advantage 1 then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? | 1. Quae igitur praerogativa Iudaei, aut quae utilitas circumcisionis? |
2. Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. | 2. Multa per omnem modem; ac primum quidem, quod illis credits sunt oracula Dei. |
1. Though Paul has clearly proved that bare circumcision brought nothing to the Jews, yet since he could not deny but that there was some difference between the Gentiles and the Jesus, which by that symbol was sealed to them by the Lord, and since it was inconsistent to make a distinction, of which God was the author, void and of no moment, it remained for him to remove also this objection. It was indeed evident, that it was a foolish glorying in which the Jews on this account indulged; yet still a doubt remained as to the design of circumcision; for the Lord would not have appointed it had not some benefit been intended. He therefore, by way of an objection, asks, what it was that made the Jew superior to the Gentile; and he subjoins a reason for this by another question,
2.
Now the oracles were committed to them, for the purpose of preserving them as long as it pleased the Lord to continue his glory among them, and then of publishing them during the time of their stewardship through the whole world: they were first depositories, and secondly dispensers. But if this benefit was to be so highly esteemed when the Lord favored one nation only with the revelation of his word, we can never sufficiently reprobate our ingratitude, who receive his word with so much negligence or with so much carelessness, not to say disdain.
1 "Prærogativa -- prerogative,"
2 The word
3
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