Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans · John Calvin

013 - Romans 91-13

·38 min·2 clips

Peak intensity and revelation

He begins with the offense that Christ was rejected and despised. That offense seems to threaten either the truth of the divine promise or the claim that Jesus is the promised Christ. The commentary answers both objections in turn. It does so without softening its language toward the Jews, yet it refuses to give up the one point that would lessen Christ's glory. The shift into the new subject is abrupt, but it is treated as a real continuation of the argument. Calvin then lingers over the privileges once granted to Israel. Adoption is presented as a true honor. Glory is tied to God's manifest presence among his people, especially as seen in the ark. The covenants are distinguished from the scattered promises that accompany them. Those promises are said to flow from the covenant as their source, and the gifts given to believers flow from election as well. The law is treated as the renewal of that covenant. For that reason, the giving of the law is limited to the commands of God. The law itself is counted a great honor, since no nation can boast of a better lawgiver than the Lord. Worship is then defined by divine appointment rather than human invention. Human additions are dismissed as a profanation of religion. The fathers are also named as a privilege. Descent from holy ancestors matters because God has promised pious parents that he will show their children mercy. From there the argument turns toward the line of Jacob and Esau. The choice of Jacob over Esau is used to show that mercy, not merit, governs the divine choice. Jacob is preferred and Esau rejected by mercy alone, apart from any regard to works. The closing movement returns to the prophet's language about earthly blessings as signs of God's goodness. Where God's wrath is, death follows. Where his love is shown, life follows.

As heard by us

A careful reading of Romans that keeps promise, mercy, and election in the same frame.

Romans 9:1-13 takes on a hard question at once: if Christ is rejected, has God's promise failed? The piece answers by moving step by step through covenant, promise, and mercy, keeping Israel's honors, adoption, glory, the law, worship, and the fathers, in view as part of a…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want Paul's hard questions answered without softening.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans