Romans, vol. 2 (International Critical Commentary | ICC)

Top Highlights

“What he is appealing to as the basis of his exhortation is the compassion of God revealed in God’s dealing with men through Jesus Christ. Calvin’s comment is apt. Paul here ‘teaches us’, he says, ‘that men will never worship God with a sincere heart, or be roused to fear and obey Him with sufficient zeal, until they properly understand how much they are indebted to His mercy.… Paul, however, in order to bind us to God not by servile fear but by a voluntary and cheerful love of righteousness, attracts us by the sweetness of that grace in which our salvation consists. At the same time he reproaches us with ingratitude if, having had experience of so kind and liberal a father, we do not in return strive to dedicate ourselves wholly to Him.’” (Page 596)

“It may be suggested that the simplest and most satisfactory interpretation—particularly if our explanation of v. 3 is correct—is ‘according to the standard of faith’, ‘in agreement with faith’ (i.e., faith = fides qua): the prophets are to prophesy in agreement with the standard which they possess in their apprehension of, and response to, the grace of God in Jesus Christ—they are to be careful not to utter (under the impression that they are inspired) anything which is incompatible with their believing in Christ.” (Page 621)

“‘self’. So τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν means ‘yourselves’ (cf. Calvin: ‘By bodies he means not only our skin and bones, but the totality of which we are composed.… In bidding us present ourselves.…’).¹ The Christian is to offer to God himself entire—himself in the whole of his concrete life.” (Pages 598–599)