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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Romans 12:19 - 12:19
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Rom 12:19. Ἀγαπητοὶ, beloved) By this appellation he soothes those who might feel angry; and he often uses it in the exhortations, that flow from a sense of the Divine grace which had been exercised towards the exhorter and those to be exhorted: comp. Rom 12:1.-δότε τόπον, give place) He who avenges himself, flies upon [seizes unwarrantably] all that appertains to the wrath of God.-τῇ ὀργῇ) that wrath, of which so many things are said in Scripture; that is: the wrath of God, which alone is just and alone deserves to be called wrath [Not as Engl. V. seems to imply, Yield to the wrath of your enemy]. This is an ellipsis, due to a feeling of religious reverence, 2Ch 24:18.-ἐμοὶ, to me) supply, let it be [left to Me, as My Divine prerogative], Deu 32:35, ἡμέρᾳ ἐκδικήσεως ἀνταποδώσω, I will repay in the day of vengeance.-ἐκδίκησις, vengeance) Hence Paul inferred-not avenging yourselves, ἐκδικεῖν, to exact by law, to prosecute a law-suit to the utmost.-ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω, I will repay) i.e. leave this to me. [This consideration easily suppresses all desire of vengeance. Suppose, that your adversary is not better, and that you are not worse than you think of yourself and him: he will either obtain at length the Divine grace, or he will not. If he shall obtain it, he will also acknowledge no doubt the injury, which he did to you, even though you should not be alive; and in this case you will not desire, I hope, in consequence of any grudge of yours, to debar him from access to GOD, but rather would feel delight in assisting him in every way with your prayers. If he shall not obtain it, GOD at least in His own behoof as supreme Judge, will by no means fail to punish him severely for the fault, for which you have granted him pardon.-V. g.]-λέγει Κύριος, saith the Lord) A form of expression used by the prophets, which the apostles did not use, but when they quoted the prophets; because, the prophets had one mode [ratio] of inspiration and the apostles another.