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3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Paul at Rome
PAUL AT ROME. Paul, with a great deal of expense and hazard, is brought a prisoner to Rome, and when he has come nobody appears to prosecute him or lay any thing to his charge; but he must call his own cause; and here h…
Paul at Rome
PAUL AT ROME. We have here a short account of a long conference which Paul had with the Jews at Rome about the Christian religion. Though they were so far prejudiced against it, because it was every where spoken against…
Paul Preaches Two Years at Rome
PAUL PREACHES TWO YEARS AT ROME. We are here taking our leave of the history of blessed Paul; and therefore, since God saw it not fit that we should know any more of him, we should carefully take notice of every particu…
The Apostle's Commission. (a. d. 58.)
THE APOSTLE'S COMMISSION. (A. D. 58.) In this paragraph we have, I. The person who writes the epistle described (Romans 1:1): Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ; this is his title of honour, which he glories in, not as the…
Paul's Love to the Roman Christians. (a. d. 58.)
PAUL'S LOVE TO THE ROMAN CHRISTIANS. (A. D. 58.) We may here observe, I. His thanksgivings for them (Romans 1:8): First, I thank my God. It is good to begin every thing with blessing God, to make that the alpha and omeg…
Paul's Discourse on Justification. (a. d. 58.)
PAUL'S DISCOURSE ON JUSTIFICATION. (A. D. 58.) Paul here enters upon a large discourse of justification, in the latter part of this chapter laying down his thesis, and, in order to the proof of it, describing the deplor…
The Excellency of the Gospel. (a. d. 58.)
THE EXCELLENCY OF THE GOSPEL. (A. D. 58.) In this last part of the chapter the apostle applies what he had said particularly to the Gentile world, in which we may observe, I. The means and helps they had to come to the…
Equity of the Divine Government. (a. d. 58.)
EQUITY OF THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT. (A. D. 58.) In the former chapter the apostle had represented the state of the Gentile world to be as bad and black as the Jews were ready enough to pronounce it. And now, designing to s…
The Pretensions of the Jews; The Depravity of the Jews. (a. d. 58.)
THE PRETENSIONS OF THE JEWS; THE DEPRAVITY OF THE JEWS. (A. D. 58.) In the latter part of the chapter the apostle directs his discourse more closely to the Jews, and shows what sins they were guilty of, notwithstanding…
The Advantages of the Jews; Objections Answered; The Depravity of Jews and Gentiles. (a. d. 58.)
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE JEWS; OBJECTIONS ANSWERED; THE DEPRAVITY OF JEWS AND GENTILES. (A. D. 58.) I. Here the apostle answers several objections, which might be made, to clear his way. No truth so plain and evident but w…
Justification by Faith; Christ a Propitiation. (a. d. 58.)
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH; CHRIST A PROPITIATION. (A. D. 58.) From all this Paul infers that it is in vain to look for justification by the works of the law, and that it is to be had only by faith, which is the point he ha…
The Case of Abraham. (a. d. 58.)
THE CASE OF ABRAHAM. (A. D. 58.) Here the apostle proves that Abraham was justified not by works, but by faith. Those that of all men contended most vigorously for a share in righteousness by the privileges they enjoyed…
The Case of Abraham. (a. d. 58.)
THE CASE OF ABRAHAM. (A. D. 58.) St. Paul observes in this paragraph when and why Abraham was thus justified; for he has several things to remark upon that. It was before he was circumcised, and before the giving of the…
The Case of Abraham. (a. d. 58.)
THE CASE OF ABRAHAM. (A. D. 58.) Having observed when Abraham was justified by faith, and why, for the honour of Abraham and for example to us who call him father, the apostle here describes and commends the faith of Ab…
The Case of Abraham. (a. d. 58.)
THE CASE OF ABRAHAM. (A. D. 58.) In the close of the chapter, he applies all to us; and, having abundantly proved that Abraham was justified by faith, he here concludes that his justification was to be the pattern or sa…
Justification and Its Effects. (a. d. 58.)
JUSTIFICATION AND ITS EFFECTS. (A. D. 58.) The precious benefits and privileges which flow from justification are such as should quicken us all to give diligence to make it sure to ourselves that we are justified, and t…
The First and the Second Adam; The Influence of Grace. (a. d. 58.)
THE FIRST AND THE SECOND ADAM; THE INFLUENCE OF GRACE. (A. D. 58.) The apostle here describes the fountain and foundation of justification, laid in the death of the Lord Jesus. The streams are very sweet, but, if you ru…
On Sanctification. (a. d. 58.)
ON SANCTIFICATION. (A. D. 58.) The apostle's transition, which joins this discourse with the former, is observable: "What shall we say then? Romans 6:1. What use shall we make of this sweet and comfortable doctrine? Sha…
Observations Respecting the Law. (a. d. 58.)
OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING THE LAW. (A. D. 58.) Among other arguments used in the foregoing chapter to persuade us against sin, and to holiness, this was one (Romans 6:14), that we are not under the law; and this argument…
Excellency of the Law; Usefulness of the Law. (a. d. 58.)
EXCELLENCY OF THE LAW; USEFULNESS OF THE LAW. (A. D. 58.) To what he had said in the former paragraph, the apostle here raises an objection, which he answers very fully: What shall we say then? Is the law sin? When he h…
Conflict between Grace and Corruption. (a. d. 58.)
CONFLICT BETWEEN GRACE AND CORRUPTION. (A. D. 58.) Here is a description of the conflict between grace and corruption in the heart, between the law of God and the law of sin. And it is applicable two ways:—1. To the str…
The Believer's Privileges. (a. d. 58.)
THE BELIEVER'S PRIVILEGES. (A. D. 58.) I. The apostle here begins with one signal privilege of true Christians, and describes the character of those to whom it belongs: There is therefore now no condemnation to those th…
The Believer's Privileges. (a. d. 58.)
THE BELIEVER'S PRIVILEGES. (A. D. 58.) In these verses the apostle represents two more excellent benefits, which belong to true believers. I. Life. The happiness is not barely a negative happiness, not to be condemned;…
The Believer's Privileges. (a. d. 58.)
THE BELIEVER'S PRIVILEGES. (A. D. 58.) In these words the apostle describes a fourth illustrious branch of the happiness of believers, namely, a title to the future glory. This is fitly annexed to our sonship; for as th…