Romans 10:1–13

Verse 1. Is for them. That is, for Israel, or the Israelites, named before. Witham.—After having said that the greatest part of Israel was cast off by the Almighty, the apostle, to shew that he meant not to insult or provoke them, here testifies that he sympathizes in their misery, and with groans prays in their behalf to the Lord, that he would vouchsafe to grant them understanding, and open their eyes to the truth. Thus, though tenderly affected towards his countrymen, still he could not dissemble the truth, or flatter them in their incredulity, and hardness of heart. Calmet.

Verse 2. According to knowledge, and so forth The Jews ran with ardour in the paths of the law, but saw not whither they were going; they followed the law, but did not know whither it conducted them. Calmet.

Verse 3. The justice of God. That is, the justice which God giveth us through Christ; as, on the other hand, the Jews’ own justice is that which they pretended to by their own strength, or by the observance of the law, without faith in Christ. Challoner.—Seeking to establish their own. That is, for justice, or to be justified by their works, or the works of their written law. Witham.

or, completion, or end

Verse 5–7. Moses (Leviticus 18:12) wrote that the justice which is of the law … shall live by it. That is, shall have the recompense of a long temporal life, or even an everlasting life, by joining a faith in Christ their Redeemer, that was to come. But the justice which is of faith, speaketh thus, that is, Moses speaketh thus of it, (Deuteronomy 30) say not in thy heart, who shall ascend into heaven? and so forth the apostle gives us the spiritual sense of the words, by adding, to bring Christ down, and so forth The sense is, that it is now fulfilled in the new law, when Christ is come from heaven by his incarnation, and is also again risen from the abyss by his resurrection: and therefore,

Verse 5–7. Moses (Leviticus 18:12) wrote that the justice which is of the law … shall live by it. That is, shall have the recompense of a long temporal life, or even an everlasting life, by joining a faith in Christ their Redeemer, that was to come. But the justice which is of faith, speaketh thus, that is, Moses speaketh thus of it, (Deuteronomy 30) say not in thy heart, who shall ascend into heaven? and so forth the apostle gives us the spiritual sense of the words, by adding, to bring Christ down, and so forth The sense is, that it is now fulfilled in the new law, when Christ is come from heaven by his incarnation, and is also again risen from the abyss by his resurrection: and therefore,

Verse 5–7. Moses (Leviticus 18:12) wrote that the justice which is of the law … shall live by it. That is, shall have the recompense of a long temporal life, or even an everlasting life, by joining a faith in Christ their Redeemer, that was to come. But the justice which is of faith, speaketh thus, that is, Moses speaketh thus of it, (Deuteronomy 30) say not in thy heart, who shall ascend into heaven? and so forth the apostle gives us the spiritual sense of the words, by adding, to bring Christ down, and so forth The sense is, that it is now fulfilled in the new law, when Christ is come from heaven by his incarnation, and is also again risen from the abyss by his resurrection: and therefore,

Verse 8. The word is near thee, is near to every one, who to be justified and saved, need but believe, and comply with the doctrine of the gospel which we preach, and make a confession or profession of it with his mouth; and then whether he hath been Jew or Gentile, he shall not be confounded. Witham.

Verse 9. Thou shalt be saved. To confess the Lord Jesus, and to call upon the name of the Lord, (verse 13) is not barely the professing of a belief in the person of Christ: but moreover implies a belief of his whole doctrine, and an obedience to his law; without which the calling of him Lord will save no man. S. Matthew 7:21. Challoner.—This passage must be understood like many others of this apostle, of a faith accompanied by a good-will ready to perform what faith says must be practised; as it is required in this very place, that what we believe in the heart, we should confess with our mouth. Estius.