John Calvin

If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

“For if Abraham, etc. This is an incomplete argument, which may be made in this form -- "If Abraham was justified by works, he might justly glory: but he had nothing for which he could glory before God; then he was not justified by works."”

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

“He had said before, that faith is abolished, if righteousness is sought by works; and in this case perpetual inquietude would disturb miserable souls, as they can find nothing substantial in themselves: but he teaches us now, that they are rendered quiet and tranquil, when…”

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

“Through whom we have access, etc. Our reconciliation with God depends only on Christ; for he only is the beloved Son, and we are all by nature the children of wrath.”

Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

“"He who sins certainly lives to sin; we have died to sin through the grace of Christ; then it is false, that what abolishes sin gives vigor to it."”

Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?

“Know ye not, etc. Let the general proposition be that the law was given to men for no other end but to regulate the present life, and that it belongs not to those who are dead: to this he afterwards subjoins this truth -- that…”

For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.

“But that no one may be puzzled, because the different parts of the comparison do not altogether correspond, we are to be reminded, that the Apostle designedly intended, by a little change, to avoid the invidiousness of a stronger expression.”

For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.

“There was indeed a just cause why he should regard them with compassion rather than hatred, since he perceived that they had fallen only through ignorance, and not through malignancy of mind, and especially as he saw that they were not led except by some…”

I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

“This objection is what he anticipates in this passage, and he so modifies what he had previously said respecting the repudiation of the Jews, that no one might think that the covenant formerly made with Abraham is now abrogated, or that God had so forgotten…”

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.

“The import then of what he addresses to the more intelligent and the already confirmed, is this, -- that the ampler the grace which they had received from the Lord, the more bound they were to help their neighbors. Not for the debatings of questions.”

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

“For as God has destined those to whom he has granted superior knowledge to convey instruction to the ignorant, so to those whom he makes strong he commits the duty of supporting the weak by their strength; thus ought all gifts to be communicated among…”

For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

“For even Christ pleased not himself, etc. Since it is not right that a servant should refuse what his lord has himself undertaken, it would be very strange in us to wish an exemption from the duty of bearing the infirmities of others, to which…”

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

“It is a singular honor which he ascribes here to Prisca and Aquila, especially with regard to a woman.”

Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

“Who is the first-fruit, etc. This is an allusion to the rites of the law; for as men are sanctified to God by faith, they who first offer themselves are fitly called the first-fruit.”