《Commentaryon Romans》(William Newell)
Commentator
American Bible teacher and pastor. Born May 22, 1868, William Reed Newell attended Wooster (Ohio) College, graduating in 1891. After studies at Princeton and Oberlin Seminaries, he pastored the Bethesda Congregational Church in Chicago until 1895, when Moody invited him to become the assistant superintendent of Moody Bible Institute under R.A. Torrey. In this position Newell demonstrated his extraordinary gift of Bible exposition. Great audiences in Chicago, St. Louis and Toronto flocked to hear his city-wide Bible classes, leading to the publication of his widely-known commentaries, especially Romans Verse-by-Verse, Hebrews Verse-by-Verse, and The Book of Revelation.
During this period, Newell wrote the beloved Gospel hymn At Calvary. He was called into the presence of the One he gladly owned as his King on April 1, 1956. Few men have had a clearer grasp of the magnitude of God's grace in Christ or have been able to convey it with such lasting results.
00 Introduction
SPIRITUAL ORDER OF PAUL'S EPISTLES
We believe that the order of arrangement of Paul's Epistles to the Churches was Divinely established; and that there is a progress of spiritual experience from Romans to II Thessalonians.
(1) In Romansman is shown with righteousness: “There is none righteous, no not one.†This involves man's fundamental relation to God. Christ is set forth a propitiation, meeting all Divine claims, and by His death releasing man from the necessity of a righteousness and holiness of his own: Christ becomes his righteousness, and a believer has the witness of the Spirit that he is God's child.
(2) I Corinthians. Here the subject is not righteousness but wisdom. The words “wisdom†and “wise†occur in the first four chapters twenty-five times, and the words “foolish†and “foolishness†some eight times! In 1:30 we are seen as of God--we that are in Christ Jesus who was “made unto us wisdom from God†; which indeed includes “Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption†but Christ is looked at as our Wisdom. Indeed in 1 Corinthians 2:16, “We have the mind of Christ.†Those declared righteous in Romans, and become children of God, are now brought to school,--as children should be. But lo! the wisdom of the world is “foolishness,†--therefore God's “wisdom†is revealed to these children of God by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit indwelling them (1 Corinthians 2:6-16).
(3) II Corinthians. Here we find Christ our sufficiency. Declared righteous in Romans, instructed by the Spirit in I Corinthians, the believer has yet to learn his utter weakness. The key-verses are here are 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 : “When I am weak then am I strong,†and, “My grace is sufficient for thee.†Many believers never find that God alone is their strength along every line. Paul found it! Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-10. Again: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness o the power may be of God, and not from ourselves†(2 Corinthians 4:7-11). Again:
“Our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day†(2 Corinthians 4:16). Again: “Our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus†(2 Corinthians 7:5-6). Again: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may rest upon me†(2 Corinthians 12:9).
(4) Galatians. The Epistles are linked together, each leading on to the following. So, in 2 Corinthians 13:11, Paul exhorts, “Be perfected†(Compare 6:14 to 7:1). Now the Galatians are seeking to be perfected, but it is by turning back to “religion,†by observing “days, seasons, months, years†(Galatians 4:10-11). “Are ye so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?†But Paul goes clear back to Romans Six, and testifies to these Galatians, “I have crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me†(Galatians 2:20). He goes back 2 Corinthians 5:17 : “If any man be in Christ he is a new creation; the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new†; and he sets before us the proper “rule of life†of the believer in words which completely set aside “religious†life, whether Jewish, Romish, or Protestant. “Neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy and [when the future time comes for blessing the real Israel] upon the Israel of God†(Galatians 6:5, Galatians 6:16). Thus far we have seen righteousness without works, in Romans; wisdom without education, in I Corinthians; power without strength, in II Corinthians; perfecting without “religion,†in Galatians.
(5) Ephesians. Men on earth seated in the heavenlies. For although named as “the saints that are at Ephesus,†and “all true [faithful'] believers in Christ Jesus†yet that marvelous secret is opened out by which we are made alive with the raised and glorified Christ--raised up with Him and made to sit in the heavenlies [no longer in the earthlies as were Israel] and made indeed to become the fulness of Christ our Head, who filleth all in all. We are not yet in Heaven but are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God's own possession unto the praise of His glory.†[An “earnest†is a foretoken of our inheritance.]
(6) Philippians. Here we see Paul as a sample believer of all these glorious truths, running the wonderful “course†toward that coming “day of Christ†! (Philippians 1:6, Philippians 1:10). Saying, as he runs, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain†(Philippians 1:21); exhorting, “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus†(Philippians 2:5-8); crying, as he runs, “I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith: that I may know Him, the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming conformed unto His death. I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded. For our citizenship is in heaven. I can do all things through Him that strengtheneth me: And my God shall supply every need of yours, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.†(Chapter 3, entire; 4:13,19). Paul's word in Galatians 3:17 : “Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk as ye have us for an ensample,†is the key of Philippians. By the grace of God certainly, but none the less truly, Paul was enabled to run the Christian race in all its fulness!
(7) Colossians. Heavenly men on earth--yet holding fast the Head in heaven, and becoming filled with His fulness, is what we see here. All the fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Christ, with whom believers' lives are hid in God, Christ becomes the object of all the believer's thoughts and affections. Since you are raised together with Christ, “Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.†The believer awaits Christ's coming--content not to be known or manifested till the glory comes. Four desperate foes oppose this mystery of faith of holding fast the Head in Heaven while walking on earth. See them in Colossians 2:4, Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:16, Colossians 2:18.
(8) I Thessalonians. The Thessalonian Epistles set forth the Personal Return of our Lord Jesus Christ--the end of the earthly path of God's dear saints!
I Thessalonians gives The Church's hope, the Rapture: “The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord! Wherefore comfort one another with these words†(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
The believer who knows himself righteous (Romans), having the mind of Christ (I Corinthians), who has learned to glory in his weakness (II Corinthians), and to walk by the “rule of the new creation†knowing that he was crucified with Christ, who is now living in Him (Galatians), and who sees with Spirit-enlightened eyes the heavenly character and calling of the Church (Ephesians), and is really becoming an imitator of Paul in the race--running the course unto Christ--†the day of Christ†(Philippians), who is really holding fast the Head, paying no attention to those who would delude him with persuasiveness of speech and make a spoil of him through “philosophy†and would judge us in “religious†things or rob us of our prize by turning us to a self-humility that fails to hold fast the Head (Colossians): such a believer is ready indeed for I Thessalonians! And he is sincerely eager in daily, hourly watching for His coming--for the Rapture of the Church!
(9) II Thessalonians gives the second phase of our Lord's Return, the “revelation of the Lord Jesus from Heaven in flaming fire rendering vengeance to them that know not God and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.†It is the great Day of Wrath of Revelation 19:11-21. In II Thessalonians Paul guards the saints from confusing the Rapture with that Day of Wrath,--called “the Day of the Lord†(R.V. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). The church at Thessalonica was being tempted by its troubles to confuse the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto Him [the Rapture] with the Day of the Lord--which sees the manifestation of the Antichrist. Which terrible days, thank God, the Church is not appointed to see! 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Revelation 3:10.
“For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ†(1 Thessalonians 5:9).
“Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth†(Revelation 3:10).
01 Chapter 1
Introduction
THE WRATH OF GOD--IN ROMANS
1. The Greek word for wrath (orge) is used twelve times in this book of Romans, and always as connected with God. In all twelve occurrences in Romans it is referred to God: “The wrath of God is revealed†(Romans 1:18); “wrath in the day of wrath†(Romans 2:5); “Wrath and indignation†(Romans 2:8); “God visiteth with wrath†(Romans 3:5); “The Law worketh wrath†(Romans 4:15); “Much more shall we be saved from the wrath [of God] through Him [Christ]†(Romans 5:9); “If God, willing to show His wrath, endured vessels of wrath fitted for destruction†(Romans 9:22); “Give place unto the wrath†[of God] (Romans 12:19); “Wrath to him that doeth evil†(Romans 13:4); “Not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake†(Romans 13:5).
Now the fundamental word for “wrath†is orge, and it always looks, in Romans, toward the final, or last, Judgment; although including, as in Romans 13:4, Romans 13:5, God’s governmental actions through present human authorities.
This distinction between the outpouring of governmental wrath which precedes the Kingdom, and the final Assize at the Last Judgment is of primary importance. Paul is dealing in Romans with eternal things; with “no condemnation,†on the one hand; and with final condemnation on the other. It is not the attitude and actions of God as the dispensational Ruler of earth’s affairs, but the final Judge dealing with eternal individual destinies, of Whom Paul is writing.
Mark carefully, therefore, that Paul, who is setting forth the gospel of grace, describes the blessedness of those who receive that gospel as forgiven, justified, at peace with God. Romans is a court book. God, who adjudged all guilty under sin, gladly declares righteous and safe those who trust Him. Contrariwise, those who reject His mercy and grace are visited by the same Judge, even God, with wrath. Both the wrath in the one case, and the grace in the other, proceed from God’s personal feeling. and just as there was personal Divine mercy and eternal tenderness toward the believer, so there is personal Divine wrath and eternal indignation against those who despise His love and mercy, as set forth in the death of His Son. It is righteous indignation, certainly; but it is personal indignation. Listen carefully to God’s own words as to this future visitation of wrath upon the finally impenitent: “Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God†(Exodus 34:14); “Lest there should be among you man or woman whose heart turneth away from Jehovah, to serve other gods, and it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart . . . . Jehovah will not pardon him, but then the anger of Jehovah, and His jealousy, shall smoke against that man†(Deuteronomy 29:18-20); “Jehovah is a jealous God, and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserveth wrath or His enemies†; “He will pursue His enemies into darkness†(Nahum 1:2; Nahum 1:8); “Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord†(Romans 12:19); “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God†(Hebrews 10:31) “Can thy heart endure, or can thy hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I, Jehovah, have spoken it and will do it†(Ezekiel 22:14)
It is fatuous folly to seek to avoid the manifest, necessary meaning of such words. God, who alone has the right to avenge, will avenge! The very first chapter of the Prophets warns any willing to hear: “Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine enemies!†(Isaiah 1:24). Human justice is to be meted out by juries of men and by judges, uncolored by personal feelings. Not so with God! As is not the case in human courts, it is the Judge Himself who has been wronged. It is His light that has been refused for darkness. It is His salvation, and that by His Son’s blood that has bee despised. And it will not be justice merely, but the infliction of penalty by an outraged Being whose Name is Love, now aroused to a righteous fury commensurate with the measureless guilt of the hideous haters of His holiness, the despisers of His mercy--it will be by the Hand of the Judge of all, Himself, that wrath will fall upon the guilty.
As for the “great†pulpiteers of Christendom, the favorites of the rapidly apostatizing denominations of this day, the men who, by their ecclesiastical politics or personal ability, or so called “scholarship,†are “outstanding†and yet deny or ignore the wrath of God,--fear them not! They are false prophets, prophets of “peace,†--which can only be found in the shed blood of the Redeemer: the blood which they do not preach.
Oh, that Day! that Day!--for these lying preachers of “peace, peace,†who have said, “God is too good to damn anybody.†And shall God, in that Day, refuse to remember the agonies of His Son on the Cross? Shall He change that holy hatred of sin, wherein He forsook Christ and spared Him not?--all because miserable guilty Universalists, Unitarians, Millennial Dawnists, “Modernists,†“Christian (!) Scientists (!)†--all the fawning “Hush, hush†preachers, have promised to men “a God that would not show wrath against sin!†A God who would indeed “spare all,-- yea, probably, even Satan, finally!â€
Let this awful word Orge, wrath, settle into the conscience of every soul; for God hath spoken it!
And every Preacher and every Prophet of God has warned of it: Enoch (Judges 1:14; Judges 1:15); Noah (2 Peter 2:5); Moses (Deuteronomy 32:35); the Psalmists, the Prophets (for example, Isaiah,-- all of Chapters 24 and 34); the Lord’s forerunner, John the Baptist, with his “Flee from the wrath to come†; the Apostles,--from Romans to Revelation; and the great Preachers and Evangelists of the Christian centuries,--the men who have won souls--the Reformers, the Puritans, the Wesleys, Whitefields, Edwardses, Finneys, Spurgeons, Moodys,--all have told of man’s guilt and danger, of the coming judgment, and of the wrath of God upon the impenitent and unbelieving.
2.This wrath is here in Romans 1:18 declared to be now, like the gospel, revealed from heaven; and that, now, against all ungodliness; and against all unrighteousness of men; in that they have resisted the truth they know.
Heretofore, as at the Deluge, and that terrible day when “Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven,†God had revealed His wrath on earth when men’s cup of iniquity was full; as we read also in the case of the Canaanites (Genesis 15:16; Leviticus 18:24; Leviticus 18:25). Yet, God “overlooked†much that was evil, even in Israel (Acts 17:30; Matthew 19:8). But now, He “commandeth all men everywhere to repent,†--in view of a revealed coming day of judgment, “by the Man whom He hath ordained†(Acts 17:30; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16), and of which judgment He hath given certainty to all men by raising this coming Judge from the dead! The cross brought to an end God’s “overlooking†sin, by judging it, even to the utter Divine forsaking of Him whom God sent to bear sin. Sin, therefore, is brought into the open; God’s wrath from, heaven is now revealed against it all! If the blood of Jesus, God’s Son cleanseth believers “from all sin†; then no sin has been left unjudged at the cross, and no sins will be unjudged upon the lost, at the Great White Throne, nor be “overlooked†today!