Commentary on Romans, Book I
Preface — why Romans is hardest§1
1Romans is reckoned harder than Paul’s other letters for two reasons: tangled phrasing, and many questions — especially those heretics twist to deny free purpose and blame diversity of nature. We ask the God who teaches man knowledge and gives a word of wisdom by the Spirit before we open the letter.
Latin · §1
Quod ceteris apostoli Pauli Epistolis difficilior putatur ad intelligendum haec quae ad Romanos scripta est, duabus mihi videtur fieri ex causis. Una, quod elocutionibus interdum confusis et minus explicitis utitur; alia, quod quaestiones in ea plurimas movet, et eas praecipue quibus innitentes haeretici astruere solent quod uniuscujusque gestorum causa non ad propositum debeat, sed ad naturae diversitatem referri. Deprecantes Deum qui docet hominem scientiam, explanationis Epistolae Pauli ad Romanos contingemus exordium.
Paulus servus Jesu Christi — servant and son§2
2Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ — yet he also wrote you received a spirit of adoption. Free from all, he made himself a servant to all, imitating the Lord who took the form of a servant. Slavery to Christ outranks every liberty. Glory to Christ. Amen.
Latin · §2
Paulus servus Jesu Christi. Requiramus cur servus dicatur is qui alibi scribit: Non enim accepistis spiritum servitutis iterum in timore, sed accepistis spiritum adoptionis. Cum liber sim ab omnibus, omnibus me servum feci. Servit ergo Christo non in spiritu servitutis sed in spiritu adoptionis, quia omni libertate nobilior est servitus Christi. Gloria Christo. Amen.
Called and set apart for the Gospel§3
3Called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. Calling is not yet election — many are called, few are chosen. God separates for the gospel according to his purpose, not by chance.
Latin · §3
Paulus servus Jesu Christi, vocatus apostolus, segregatus in Evangelium Dei. Vocatus non est idem quod electus — multi vocati, pauci electi. Segregatus in Evangelium: Deus segregat iustos a ventre; Paulus non fortuito sed secundum propositum vocatus est.
Promised through the prophets; Son according to the flesh§4
4The gospel was promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures concerning the Son descended from David according to the flesh and declared Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness.
Latin · §4
Quod ante promiserat per prophetas suos in Scripturis sanctis de Filio suo, qui factus est ex semine David secundum carnem, qui praedestinatus est Filius Dei in virtute secundum Spiritum sanctificationis. Secundum carnem factum; secundum spiritum Filius Dei in virtute.
Your faith announced; power and righteousness of God§5
5Your faith is proclaimed in all the world. I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation — Jew first, then Greek. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; the righteous shall live by faith.
Latin · §5
Fides vestra annuntiatur in universo mundo. Non erubesco Evangelium: virtus enim Dei est in salutem omni credenti, Iudaeo primum et Graeco. Iustitia Dei revelatur ex fide in fidem — iustus ex fide vivit.
Wrath from heaven; God handed them over§6
6The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Therefore God gave them up to desire, dishonor, and a debased mind. Glory to Christ. Amen.
Latin · §6
Revelatur ira Dei de caelo in omnem impietatem et iniustitiam hominum qui veritatem in iniustitia detinent. Propterea tradidit illos Deus in desideria cordis, in passiones ignominiae, in reprobum sensum. Gloria Christo. Amen.