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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Romans 1:8 - 1:8
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Rom 1:8. Πρῶτον, first) A next does not always follow; and in this passage, the affectionate feeling and emotion of the writer have absorbed it.-μὲν) The corresponding δέ follows at Rom 1:13. You are, says he, already indeed in the faith; but yet I am desirous to contribute something to your improvement.-εὐχαριστῶ, I give thanks) Even at the beginning alone [besides similar beginnings in other epistles] of this epistle, there are traces of all the spiritual emotions. Among these, thanksgiving takes the preeminence: and with it almost all the epistles commence. The categorical idea of the sentence is: You have found faith. Thanksgiving, which is an accessory idea, renders the discourse modal (i.e., shows the manner in which the subject and predicate, in the categorical sentence, are connected),-comp. note to ch. Rom 6:17. Paul rejoices that, what he considered should be effected by him elsewhere, as a debtor to all, was already effected at Rome.-τῷ Θεῷ μου, my God) This phrase, my God, expresses faith, love, hope, and, therefore, the whole of true religion, Psa 144:15; Hab 1:12. My God is the God whom I serve; see next verse.-διὰ, through) The gifts of God come to us through Christ, our thanksgivings go to God through Christ.-ἡ πίστις, faith) In congratulations of this kind, Paul describes either the whole of Christianity, Col 1:3, etc., or some part of it, 1Co 1:5. He therefore mentions faith in this passage, as suited to the object, which he has in view, Rom 1:12; Rom 1:17.-καταγγέλλεται, is spoken of) An abbreviated mode of expression for, You have obtained faith; I hear of it, for it is everywhere openly declared; so, 1Th 1:8, he says, that the faith of the Thessalonians is spread abread in every place.-ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ, throughout the whole world) The Divine goodness and wisdom established the faith in the principal cities, especially in Jerusalem and Rome, from which it might be disseminated throughout the whole world.