Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

Thereupon he inferreth, that they ought to agree amongst themselves, and not contemn one another, seeing Christ did contemn neither of them. First therefore he speaketh of the Jews, and saith, Christ was sent unto them, that he might fulfil the trueth of God, in performing the promises given to the fathers. And this is a singular honour, that Christ being Lord ⟨image 204⟩of heaven and earth, became flesh, that he might serve to their salvation. For the more he humbled himself for their sake, the more he honoured them. And that he taketh as undoubted for a thing confessed: whereby it is more wonderful, that there should be so great impudency in certain frenzy heads, that they doubt not to conclude in the flesh, and tie unto this present world, all the promises of the old Testament. And least the Gentiles should arrogate to themselves any dignity above the Jews, Paul plainly denounceth that salvation which Christ brought, in respect of the covenant, to be proper unto the Jews: because by his coming he fulfilled that which the Father in old time promised to Abraham, and so was the minister of that people. Whereby it followeth, that the old covenant indeed was spiritual, notwithstanding it was annexed unto earthly figures. For that accomplishment of the which Paul now speaketh, must needs he referred unto eternal salvation. Finally, least any should cavil, that salvation was only promised to the nephews, seeing the covenant was committed to the hands of Abraham, expressly he bindeth the promises to the fathers. Therefore either the virtue of Christ shall be contained in corporal benefits, or the covenant made with Abraham is extended further then to the flesh.

Thereupon hee inferreth, that they ought to agree amongst themselues, and not contemne one another, seeing Christ did contemne neyther of them. First therefore hee speaketh of the Iewes, and saith, Christ was sent vnto them, that hee might fulfill the trueth of God, in perfourming the promises giuen to the fathers. And this is a singuler honor, that Christ being Lord ⟨image 204⟩of heauen and earth, became fleshe, that he might serue to their saluation. For the more he humbled himselfe for their sake, the more he honoured them. And that he taketh as vndoubted for a thing confessed: whereby it is more woonderfull, that there should be so great impudencie in certayne phrensie heades, that they doubt not to conclude in the fleshe, and tye vnto this present worlde, all the promises of the olde Testament. And least the Gentiles shoulde arrogate to themselues anye dignitie aboue the Iewes, Paule plainelye denounceth that saluation whiche Christe brought, in respect of the couenaunt, to be proper vnto the Iewes: because by his comming hee fulfilled that which the Father in olde time promised to Abraham, and so was the minister of that people. Wherby it foloweth, that the old couenant indeede was spirituall, notwithstanding it was annexed vnto earthly figures. For that accomplishment of the which Paule now speaketh, must needes hee referred vnto eternall saluation. Finally, least any should cauill, that saluation was onely promised to the nephewes, seeing the couenant was committed to the hands of Abraham, expresly he bindeth the promises to the fathers. Therefore either the vertue of Christ shalbe conteined in corporall benefites, or the couenant made with Abraham is extended further then to the flesh.