Commentary upon the Epistle to the Romans

4 For Christ is the end of the law. The word fulfilling, seemeth unto me, not to serve amiss in this place, as Erasmus also, hath translated it perfection: but because the other reading is received by the consent almost of all men, and the same also agreeth well, the readers for my part shall be at liberty to retain it. By this reason the Apostle meeteth with an objection, which might be moved against him. For the Jews might seem to have kept the right way, because they applied or gave themselves to the righteousness of the law: It stood him in hand to refute this false opinion, which thing he doth here. For he showeth that he is a preposterous interpreter of the law, who seeketh to be justified by the works thereof: because the law was given to this end, that it might lead us by the hand to another righteousness. Yea, whatsoever the law teacheth, whatsoever it commandeth, whatsoever it promiseth, it hath Christ alway for his mark: so then all the parts thereof are to be directed unto him. And that cannot be, unless we, being spoiled of all righteousness, confounded with the knowledge of sin, do seek for free righteousness of him only. Whereby it followeth, that the corrupt abuse of the law is justly reprehended in the Jews, who lewdly of their help made their hinderance: yea it appeareth they did shamefully lame the law of God, who having rejected the life or soul thereof, did take to them the dead body of the letter. For albeit the law of righteousness doth promise a reward to his observers: yet after it hath brought all under guiltiness, it substituteth a new righteousness in Christ, which is not gotten by the merit of works, but, being freely given, is received by faith. So the righteousness of faith (as we saw in the first Chapter) hath testimony of the law. And we have here a notable place, that the law in all his parts respecteth Christ: and therefore no man can have the true understanding thereof, who doth not still seek to come unto this mark.

4 For Christe is the ende of the law. The worde fulfilling, seemeth vnto me, not to serue amisse in this place, as Erasmus also, hath translated it perfection: but because the other reading is receiued by the consent almost of all men, and the same also agreeth well, the readers for my part shalbe at libertie to reteine it. By this reason the Apostle meeteth with an obiection, which might bee moued against him. For the Iewes might seeme to haue kept the right way, because they applyed or gaue themselues to the righteousnesse of the lawe: It stoode him in hande to refute this false opinion, whiche thing hee doth heere. For hee sheweth that hee is a preposterous interpreter of the lawe, who seeketh to bee iustified by the works thereof: because the law was giuen to this end, that it might lead vs by the hand to another righteousnesse. Yea, whatsoeuer the lawe teacheth, whatsoeuer it commandeth, whatsoeuer it promiseth, it hath Christe alway for his marke: so then all the partes thereof are to bee directed vnto him. And that cannot bee, vnlesse we, being spoyled of all righteousnes, confounded with the knowlege of sinne, doe seeke for free righteousnesse of him onely. Whereby it foloweth, that the corrupt abuse of the law is iustly reprehended in the Iewes, who lewdly of their helpe made their hinderance: yea it appeareth they did shamefully lame the lawe of God, who hauing reiected the life or soule thereof, did take to them the dead body of the letter. For albeit the lawe of righteousnesse doth promise a rewarde to his obseruers: yet after it hath brought all vnder giltinesse, it substituteth a new righteousnesse in Christe, which is not gotten by the merite of woorkes, but, beeing freely giuen, is receiued by faith. So the righteousnesse of faith (as wee sawe in the first Chapter) hath testimonie of the lawe. And wee haue heere a notable place, that the lawe in all his partes respecteth Christe: and therefore no man can haue the true vnderstanding thereof, who doth not still seeke to come vnto this marke.