Ver. 1. Paul] A little man, it should seem by his name (such as was James the Less, Mark 15:40): but as the Church of Philadelphia (discommended for nothing), though she had but a little strength, yet had a great door set open; and as Bethlehem was the least, and yet not the least among the princes of Judah; so was this apostle the last, 1 Corinthians 15:8 (and perhaps the least in stature), as one born out of due time. But God (who loves to be maximus in minimis the greatest in the least) had designed him to great services, and gifted him accordingly, so that he was no whit behind the very chiefest of the apostles, 2 Corinthians 11:5; and for painstaking, he laboured more abundantly than they all, 1 Corinthians 15:10. Hence Chrysostom calleth him insatiabilem Dei cultorem, an insatiable servant of Christ. And himself seems as insatiable a praiser of this apostle (the apostle he commonly nameth him “by an excellency”), for he hath written eight homilies in his commendation. And if any think he hath said too much, it is because either they have not read him, or cannot judge his worth. Qui tricubitalis caelos transcendit (as the same father saith), little though he were, yet he got above the heavens. A servant of Jesus Christ] This is a higher title than monarch of the world, as Numa, second king of Rome, could say. Constantinus, Valentinus, and Theodosius, three emperors, called themselves Vasallos Christi, the vassals of Christ, as Socrates reporteth. [See Trapp on “Ac 13:9”] Revelation 3:9 Mt 2:6 cf. Mic 5:2 1Co 15:8. Grandior solet esse Deus in parvulis quam in magnis. In formicis maior anima quam in elephantis, in nanis quam in gigantibus. Aut illum non audierunt, aut iudicare non possunt, ut olim de Crasso et Antonio dixit. Cicero de Orat. του θεου υπηρεσιαν βασιλευειν ενομιζεν. Plut.
Ver. 2. Promised] Foreshowed and foreshadowed in the types of the ceremonial law (which was their gospel, it was Christ in figure), and in the writings of the prophets; only by degrees and piecemeal, πολυμερως. God spake of old to our fathers, by his servants the prophets, Hebrews 1:1. All was in riddles to what it is now; and that saying took place, Et latet, et lucet. It is close, and yet clear.
Ver. 3. Concerning his Son] Here is a lofty and lively description of Christ’s sacred person. The whole Epistle being the confession of our Churches, as Melancthon calleth it, who therefore went over it ten different times in his ordinary lectures (Scultet. Annal.): the Epistle being such, as never can any man possibly think, speak, or write sufficiently of its worth and excellency. Mr Perkins adviseth, in reading the Scripture, first to begin with the Gospel of John, and this Epistle to the Romans, as being the keys of the New Testament. And for this Epistle to the Romans, Cardinal Pole adviseth to begin at the twelfth chapter, and read to the end; and practise the precepts of repentance and mortification, and then set upon the former part of the Epistle, where justification and predestination are handled. According to the flesh] i.e. Either his body or his human nature, called a swift cloud (as some will have it), Isaiah 19:1 “Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt.” And the habitable part of God’s earth, Proverbs 8:31. For the Word dwelt among us, John 1:14. And here was habitatio Dei cum carne, God dwelling with flesh, which the magicians held impossible, Daniel 2:11. It was much for God to “pour out his Spirit upon all flesh,” the best thing upon the basest, Joel 2:28. But it was more, for the fulness of the Godhead bodily to inhabit it, Colossians 2:9. [See Trapp on “1Co 1:2”] St Paul seems to have learned of the holy angels, thus to salute, Luke 2:14. [See Trapp on “Lu 2:14”]
Ver. 4. Declared to be, &c.] Gr. ορισθεντος, defined; for definitions explain obscuritie s. With power] For, Superas evadere ad auras, Hic labor, hoc opus est -a work befitting a God. See Ephesians 1:20. [See Trapp on “Eph 1:20”] The Spirit of holiness] The divine essence of Christ, 2 Corinthians 13:4, which sanctifieth the human nature assumed by him.
Ver. 5. For obedience to the faith] That is, to the gospel (that doctrine of faith), or to Christ, who is often put for faith (whereof he is the proper object) in this Epistle. “Kiss the Son,” &c. “Hear him,” Psalms 2:12 Mt 17:5.
Ver. 6. Ye are the called] With a high and heavenly calling, Hebrews 3:1. [See Trapp on “Heb 3:1”]
Ver. 7. Called to be saints] Those then that are called, are saints while alive, and not only those that are canonized by the pope after they are dead in numerum Deorum ab Ecclesia Romana relati, as Bembus profanely speaketh of their St Francis, a sorry man, of whom (as once of Becket 48 years after his death) it may well be disputed whether he were damned or saved. Pope Callistus III sainted some such in his time, as of whom Cardinal Bessarion, knowing them for naught, said, These new saints make me doubt much of the old. Grace be to you, and peace] [See Trapp on “1Co 1:2”]