A17643:62
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.
Paul. I would speak nothing at all of the name of Paul: seeing it is a thing of no such weight, that we should stand long upon it: and nothing can be brought, which hath not been spoken of other interpreters before: but that with small labour, I may satisfy some, without any great contempt of others, this question shall be dispatched ⟨image 15⟩in few words. Those which think the Apostle did take unto him this name, as a testimony of his victory over Sergius that under consul,1 whom ye converted unto Christ, they are confuted of Luke himself, who showeth that he was so called before that time: neither do I think it like, that this name should be given unto him, ever since he was converted unto Christ. Which thing I suppose pleased Augustine, only that thereby he might take occasion of disputing wittingly, whiles he saith that of a proud Saul, he was made an humble disciple of Christ. The opinion of Origen is more probable,2 who judgeth him to have had two names. For it is not unlike, that this name Saul being a name of his ancestors, was given unto him of his parents, to declare his religion and kindred: & the other name Paul, to have been added for to testify the title of the city of Rome: both because they neither would have this honour obscured in him, which then was greatly esteemed: neither made they such reckoning of it, that it should extinguish the remembrance of the stock of Israel. That he useth the name of Paul oftener in his Epistles, this may seem to be the cause, it was more famous, and more used in the Churches, unto the which he wrote, it was more gracious in the Romaine Empire, though less known in his own kindred. For it behooved him to have great care to avoid that vain suspicion and hatred, wherein the very name of a Jew was at that time with the Romans, and Provincials: and to beware he increased not the madness of his Countrymen, and to take heed to him self. A Servant of Jesus &c. He adorneth himself with these titles,3 that he might get authority unto his doctrine. And that he doth two ways: first, whiles he affirmeth his calling unto the Apostleship. Secondly, when he teacheth that the same calling is not strange from the Church of Rome. For it was both very expedient that he should be an Apostle by the calling of God, and also known to be appointed to the Church of Rome.