A17643:1138
Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans
A commentary upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans, written in Latin by M. John Calvin, and newly translated into English by Christopher Rosdell preacher. Whereunto is added a necessary table for the better and more ready finding out of certain principal matters contained in this workA commentarie vpon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romanes, written in Latine by M. Iohn Caluin, and newely translated into Englishe by Christopher Rosdell preacher. Whereunto is added a necessarie table for the better and more readie finding out of certayne principall matters conteyned in this worke
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for John Harison and George Bishop, 1583London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Iohn Harison and George Bishop, 1583
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For who could gather so many Churches unto Christ, unless he were holpen by the power of God? From Jerusalem unto Illyricum (quoth he) I have spread abroad the Gospel: neither have I done that by a direct course hasting unto the end, but every where about, going through all those regions are between. But the verb Pepleromenai which according to some we have translated, to fill, doeth signify to make perfect, and supply that is wanting. Whereupon Pleroma is called of the Grecians, as well perfection, as a supplement, or fulfilling. I do willingly expound it thus, that he dispersed the preaching of the Gospel, as it were by supplying it. For others had begun before, but he did scatter it abroad further.
For who could gather so many Churches vnto Christe, vnlesse he were holpen by the power of God? From Ierusalem vnto Illyricum (quoth hee) I haue spread abroade the Gospel: neither haue I done that by a directe course hasting vnto the end, but euery where about, going through all those regions are betweene. But the verbe Pepleromenai whiche according to some wee haue translated, to fill, doeth signfie to make perfecte, and supplye that is wanting. Whereuppon Pleroma is called of the Grecians, as well perfection, as a supplement, or fulfilling. I doe willingly expounde it thus, that hee dispersed the preaching of the Gospell, as it were by supplying it. For others had begunne before, but hee did scatter it abroade further.
20 Yea I enforced my self to preach the Gospel. Because it stood Paul upon not only to prove himself to be a servant of Christ and Pastor of the Christian Church, but also to win unto himself the person and office of an Apostle, that he might the rather be heard of the Romans: he putteth here a proper and peculiar note of Apostleship.1 For the office of an Apostle is, to sow the gospel where it was not preached before: according to that commandment,2 go, preach the Gospel to every creature. Which ought diligently to be noted, least we draw that unto an universal example, which doth peculiarly agree unto the order of Apostles. Neither is it to be disliked that there is a successor substituted in his place, who did build the church. So then Apostles are as it were the founders of the church: pastors which succeed them, ought to maintain, and increase that building which was raised up by them. He calleth that another mans foundation,