Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

“And since the apostle, when he wrote these words, had never been at Rome, he could only know that the Roman Christians would assent to this view of Christ, because it was the common teaching of all the accredited preachers of Christianity, and the common faith…”

“For to this end Christ both, &c.--The true reading here is, To this end Christ died and lived ("again"). that he might be Lord both of the dead and--"and of the" living--The grand object of His death was to acquire this absolute Lordship over His redeemed, b…”

“On any other view, the quotation to show that we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God would be a strange proof that Christians are all amenable to Christ.”

“I know, and am persuaded by--or rather, "in" the Lord Jesus--as "having the mind of Christ" (1Co 2:16). that there is nothing unclean of itself--Hence it is that he calls those "the strong" who believed in the abolition of all ritual distinctions under the …”

“Accordingly, in the next clause, that idea is brought out with great strength. Destroy not him with--"by" thy meat for whom Christ died--"The worth of even the poorest and weakest brother cannot be more emphatically expressed than by the words, 'for whom Chri…”

“For the kingdom of God--or, as we should say, Religion; that is, the proper business and blessedness for which Christians are formed into a community of renewed men in thorough subjection to God (compare 1Co 4:20). is not meat and drink--"eating and drinking…”

“All things indeed are pure--"clean"; the ritual distinctions being at an end. but it is evil to that man--there is criminality in the man who eateth with offence--that is, so as to stumble a weak brother.”

“How far the principle involved in this may be legitimately extended, we do not inquire here; but ere we consider that question, it is of great importance to fix how far it is here actually expressed, and what is the precise nature of the illustrations given of…”

“Hast thou faith--on such matters? have it to thyself--within thine own breast before God--a most important clause. It is not mere sincerity, or a private opinion, of which the apostle speaks; it is conviction as to what is the truth and will of God.”

“And--rather, "But" he that doubteth is damned--On the word "damnation," see on Ro 13:2. if he eat, because he eateth not of faith--On the meaning of "faith" here, see on Ro 14:22. for whatsoever is not of faith is sin--a maxim of unspeakable importance in…”

“We then that are strong--on such points as have been discussed, the abolition of the Jewish distinction of meats and days under the Gospel. Ro 14:20. ought . . . not to please ourselves--ought to think less of what we may lawfully do than of how our conduct w…”

“Now the God of patience and consolation--Such beautiful names of God are taken from the graces which He inspires: as "the God of hope" (Ro 15:13), "the God of peace" (Ro 15:33). grant you to be likeminded--"of the same mind" according to Christ Jesus--It …”

“Wherefore--returning to the point receive ye one another . . . to the glory of God--If Christ received us, and bears with all our weaknesses, well may we receive and compassionate one with another, and by so doing God will be glorified.”

“Now--"For" is the true reading: the apostle is merely assigning an additional motive to Christian forbearance.”

“And again-- (De 32:43, though there is some difficulty in the Hebrew).”

“And again, Esaias saith-- (Isa 11:10). There shall be a--"the" root of Jesse--meaning, not "He from whom Jesse sprang," but "He that is sprung from Jesse" (that is, Jesse's son David)--see Re 22:16. and he that shall rise, &c.--So the Septuagint in substan…”

“As Christians are one body in Christ, so the great law of love binds them to act in all things with tenderness and consideration for their brethren in "the common salvation" (Ro 15:1, 2). (2) Of this unselfishness CHRIST is the perfect model of all Christians…”

“For I will not dare to speak of any--"to speak aught" of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me--a modest, though somewhat obscure form of expression, meaning, "I will not dare to go beyond what Christ hath wrought by me"--in which form accordingly …”

“I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, &c.--rather, "Yet making it my study (compare 2Co 5:9; 1Th 4:11, Greek) so to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was [already] named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation: but (might act) as i…”

“(See on Ro 1:9-11.) 23, 24. But now having no more place--"no longer having place"--that is, unbroken ground, where Christ has not been preached. and having a great desire--"a longing" these many years to come unto you--(as before, see on Ro 1:9-11).”

“Those who think our apostle was never at large after his first imprisonment at Rome will of course hold that it never was; while those who are persuaded, as we are, that he underwent a second imprisonment, prior to which he was at large for a considerable time…”

“For, &c.--better, "For Macedonia and Achaia have thought good to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints which are at Jerusalem." (See Ac 24:17). "They have thought it good; and their debtors verily they are"; that is, "And well they may, consi…”

“Ga 6:6; and see Lu 7:4; When therefore I have . . . sealed--that is, delivered over safely to them this fruit--of the faith and love of the Gentile converts I will come--"come back," or "return" by you into Spain--(See on Ro 15:24).”

“And I am sure--"I know" that . . . I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ--Such, beyond all doubts, is the true reading, the words "of the gospel" being in hardly any manuscripts of antiquity and authority. Nor was the apostle mistaken in this …”

“(4) Formidable designs against the truth and the servants of Christ should, above all other ways of counteracting them, be met by combined prayer to Him who rules all hearts and controls all events; and the darker the cloud, the more resolutely should all to w…”