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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Romans 11:34 - 11:34
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Rom 11:34. Τίς γὰρ-ἐγένετο) Isa 40:13, LXX., τὶς ἔγνω-καὶ τὶς αὐτοῦ σύμβουλος. Who? i.e. none: but He Himself.-γὰρ, for. The more express quotation of Scripture follows. In proving doctrines the phrase is used, it is written, in other places, it is often omitted, ch. Rom 12:20.-νοῦν Κυρίου, the mind of the Lord) Isaiah has את רוח יהוה, the Spirit of Jehovah. Paul uses the version of the LXX. Otherwise רוח and νοῦς are not synonymous; but the conclusion arrived at is very good; no one apprehends the Spirit, therefore no one apprehends the mind or sense of the Lord. Reference to the Holy Trinity is implied, comp. on the words, εἰς αὐτὸν, to Him, Rom 11:36, Isa 34:16, at the end of the verse.-σύμβουλος Paul says, not only that no one has been σύμβουλος, but not even now can be so: σύμβουλος is either a partner in counsels, or, one at least privy to them; for he had said just now, for who hath known the mind of the Lord? And yet many in their discussions, for example, on the origin of evil, which touch upon the recesses of the Divine economy much more deeply than this, which is from religious reverence broken off by the apostle between Rom 11:32-33 (for there is a great difference between the fall of many angels and of the whole human race on the one hand, and, on the other, the fall of the Israelites [the latter is a much less profound mystery than the former]) many such, I say, boast, as if they were not only the Lord’s counsellors, but also His inquisitors, His patrons, or His judges. Scripture everywhere stops short at this point, that the Lord hath willed, and hath said, and hath done it: It does not unfold the reasons of things universal or particular; respecting those things that are beyond our present state of infancy, it refers believers to eternity, 1Co 13:9, etc. The thirst of knowing will torture and burn others, who unreasonably pry into mysteries, throughout eternity.