Commentaries
Arabic
- إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير متى
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير مَرْقُس
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير لوقا
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إِنْجِيْلُ المَسِيْحِِِ حسبَ البَشير يُوْحَنَّا
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه) - أعمال الرسل حسب البشير لوقا
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - رِسَالةُ بُولُسَ الرَّسُولِ إِلَى أَهْلِ رُوْمِيَة
(عَبدُ المَسِيْح وزُمَلاؤه) - رسالة بُوْلُس الرَّسُوْل إلى أهْلِ غَلاَطِيَّة
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه) - رِسالةُ بُولُسَ الرَّسُول إِلَى أَهْلِ كَنِيْسَةِ فِيْلِبِّي
(عبد المَسِيْح وزملاؤه) - رِسالةُ بولس الرَّسول إِلَى الكَنِيْسَةِ في كُوْلُوْسِّيْ
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - رِسَالَةِ بولس الرَّسول إلى العِبْرَانِيِّيْنَ
(عَبد المسِيح وزُملاؤُه) - رِسَالةُ يَعْقُوب
(عَبد المسِيح وزُملاؤُه) - رُؤْيا يوحنا اللاهوتي
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه)
English
- The Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to Mark
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to Luke
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to John
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - Acts of the Apostles
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Romans
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues)
German
- Die Offenbarung des Johannes
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues)
PREFACE
THE OPENING:
SALUTATION, THANKS TO GOD, AND EMPHASIS ON “GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS” AS THE MOTTO OF HIS EPISTLE
(ROMANS 1:1-17)
SALUTATION, THANKS TO GOD, AND EMPHASIS ON “GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS” AS THE MOTTO OF HIS EPISTLE
(ROMANS 1:1-17)
a) Identification and apostolic benediction
(Romans 1:1-7)
(Romans 1:1-7)
b) Paul’s longstanding desire to visit Rome
(ROMANS 1:8-15)
(ROMANS 1:8-15)
c) The righteousness of God is established and realized in us through constant faith
(Romans 1:16-17)
(Romans 1:16-17)
PART 1
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD CONDEMNS ALL SINNERS AND JUSTIFIES AND SANCTIFIES ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST
(ROMANS 1:18 – 8:39)
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD CONDEMNS ALL SINNERS AND JUSTIFIES AND SANCTIFIES ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST
(ROMANS 1:18 – 8:39)
A – THE WHOLE WORLD LIES UNDER THE SWAY OF THE WICKED ONE, AND GOD WILL JUDGE ALL IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
(ROMANS 1:18 – 3:20)
1. The wrath of God against the nations is revealed
(Romans 1:18-32)
(ROMANS 1:18 – 3:20)
1. The wrath of God against the nations is revealed
(Romans 1:18-32)
2. The wrath of God is revealed against the Jews
(Romans 2:1-3:20)
a) He who judges others condemns himself
(Romans 2:1-11)
(Romans 2:1-3:20)
a) He who judges others condemns himself
(Romans 2:1-11)
b) The Law, or the conscience condemns man
(Romans 2:12-16)
(Romans 2:12-16)
c) Man is saved not by knowledge, but by works
(Romans 2:17-24)
(Romans 2:17-24)
d) Circumcision is spiritually unprofitable
(Romans 2:25-29)
(Romans 2:25-29)
e) The privilege of the Jews does not save them from the anger
(Romans 3:1-8)
(Romans 3:1-8)
3. All men are corrupt and blamable
(Romans 3:9-20)
(Romans 3:9-20)
B – THE NEW RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH IS OPEN TO ALL MEN
(ROMANS 3:21 – 4:22)
1. The revelation of the righteousness of God in the atoning death of Christ
(Romans 3:21-26)
(ROMANS 3:21 – 4:22)
1. The revelation of the righteousness of God in the atoning death of Christ
(Romans 3:21-26)
2. We are justified by faith in Christ
(Romans 3:27-31)
(Romans 3:27-31)
3. Abraham and David as an example of justification by faith
(Romans 4:1-24)
a) Abraham’s faith was accounted to him for righteousness
(Romans 4:1-8)
(Romans 4:1-24)
a) Abraham’s faith was accounted to him for righteousness
(Romans 4:1-8)
b) Man is not justified by circumcision
(Romans 4:9-12)
(Romans 4:9-12)
c) We are justified by grace and not by the Law
(Romans 4:13-18)
(Romans 4:13-18)
d) The courageous faith of Abraham is our example
(Romans 4:19-22)
(Romans 4:19-22)
C – JUSTIFICATION MEANS A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND MEN
(ROMANS 5:1-21)
1. Peace, hope, and love dwell in the believer
(Romans 5:1-5)
(ROMANS 5:1-21)
1. Peace, hope, and love dwell in the believer
(Romans 5:1-5)
2. The resurrected Christ fulfills his righteousness in us
(Romans 5:6-11)
(Romans 5:6-11)
3. The grace of Christ overcame death, sin, and the Law
(Romans 5:12-21)
(Romans 5:12-21)
D – THE POWER OF GOD DELIVERS US FROM THE POWER OF SIN
(ROMANS 6:1 – 8:27)
1. The believer considers himself dead to sin
(Romans 6:1-14)
(ROMANS 6:1 – 8:27)
1. The believer considers himself dead to sin
(Romans 6:1-14)
2. Freedom from the Law facilitates our deliverance from sin
(Roman 6:15-23)
(Roman 6:15-23)
3. Deliverance from the Law delivers us to the service of Christ
(Romans 7:1-6)
(Romans 7:1-6)
4. The law prompts the sinner to sin
(Romans 7:7-13)
(Romans 7:7-13)
5. Man without Christ always fails before sin
(Romans 7:14-25)
(Romans 7:14-25)
6. In Christ, man is delivered from sin, death, and condemnation
(Romans 8:1-11)
(Romans 8:1-11)
7. We are children of God through the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in us
(Romans 8:12-17)
(Romans 8:12-17)
8. The three unique groanings
(Romans 8:18-27)
(Romans 8:18-27)
E – OUR FAITH CONTINUES FOREVER
(ROMANS 8:28-39)
1. God’s plan of salvation acclaims our forthcoming glory
(Romans 8:28-30)
(ROMANS 8:28-39)
1. God’s plan of salvation acclaims our forthcoming glory
(Romans 8:28-30)
2. The truth of Christ guarantees our fellowship with God in spite of all troubles
(Romans 8:31-39)
(Romans 8:31-39)
PART 2
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS IMMOVABLE EVEN AFTER THE HARDENING OF THE CHILDREN OF JACOB, HIS CHOSEN ONES
(ROMANS 9:1-11:36)
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS IMMOVABLE EVEN AFTER THE HARDENING OF THE CHILDREN OF JACOB, HIS CHOSEN ONES
(ROMANS 9:1-11:36)
1. Paul’s anxiety for his lost people
(Romans 9:1-3)
(Romans 9:1-3)
2. The spiritual privileges of the chosen people
(Romans 9:4-5)
(Romans 9:4-5)
a) The promises of God do not concern the natural seed of Abraham
(Romans 9:6-13)
(Romans 9:6-13)
b) God selects whom he has mercy on, and whom he wills he hardens
(Romans 9:14-18)
(Romans 9:14-18)
c) The parable of the potter and his vessel belongs to the Jews and Christians
(Romans 9:19-29)
(Romans 9:19-29)
4. The righteousness of God is only attained by faith, and not by attempting to keep the Law
(Romans 9:30 – 10:21)
a) The Jews neglect the righteousness of God which is attained by faith, and they stick to the works of the law
(Romans 9:30 – 10:3)
(Romans 9:30 – 10:21)
a) The Jews neglect the righteousness of God which is attained by faith, and they stick to the works of the law
(Romans 9:30 – 10:3)
b) The aggravation of the offense of the Israelite people because God was more merciful to them than to any other people
(Romans 10:4-8)
(Romans 10:4-8)
c) The absolute necessity of the testimony of the gospel among the children of Jacob
(Romans 10:9-15)
(Romans 10:9-15)
d) Is Israel responsible for their unbelief?
(Romans 10:16-21)
(Romans 10:16-21)
5. The hope of the children of Jacob
(Romans 11:1-36)
a) The holy remnant exists
(Romans 11:1-10)
(Romans 11:1-36)
a) The holy remnant exists
(Romans 11:1-10)
b) Would that the salvation in the Believers of the Gentiles incite jealousy in the Children of Jacob
(Romans 11:11-15)
(Romans 11:11-15)
c) Warning the believers of the Gentiles of being proud toward the children of Jacob
(Romans 11:16-24)
(Romans 11:16-24)
d) The secret of deliverance and salvation of the children of Jacob in the last days
(Romans 11:25-32)
(Romans 11:25-32)
e) The apostle’s worship
(Romans 11:33-36)
(Romans 11:33-36)
PART 3
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD APPEARS IN THE LIFE OF THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
(ROMANS 12:1 – 15:13)
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD APPEARS IN THE LIFE OF THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
(ROMANS 12:1 – 15:13)
1. The sanctification of your life is attained through your full commitment to God
(Romans 12:1)
(Romans 12:1)
2. Do not be proud, but serve your Lord in the groups of believers with the gift that has been given to you
(Romans 12:3-8)
(Romans 12:3-8)
3. We must learn brotherly love and train ourselves in it
(Romans 12:9-16)
(Romans 12:9-16)
4. Love your enemies and opponents
(Romans 12:17-21)
(Romans 12:17-21)
5. Be obedient to your authorities
(Romans 13:1-6)
(Romans 13:1-6)
6. A summary of the commandments concerning men
(Romans 13:7-10)
(Romans 13:7-10)
7. The practical result of the knowledge that Christ is coming again
(Romans 13:11-14)
(Romans 13:11-14)
8. The particular problems of the church of Rome
(Romans 14:1-12)
(Romans 14:1-12)
9. Do not enrage your neighbor for unimportant reasons
(Romans 14:13-23)
(Romans 14:13-23)
10. How those who are strong in faith ought to behave towards unexpected problems
(Romans 15:1-5)
(Romans 15:1-5)
11. Christ overcame all the differences between the believers of the Jews, and those of the Gentiles
(Romans 15:6-13)
(Romans 15:6-13)
1. Paul’s worthiness to write this epistle
(Romans 15:14-16)
(Romans 15:14-16)
2. The secret of Paul’s ministry
(Romans 15:17-21)
(Romans 15:17-21)
3. Paul’s expectations in his journeys
(Romans 15:22-33)
(Romans 15:22-33)
4. Paul’s list of the names of the saints known to him in the church of Rome
(Romans 16:1-9)
(Romans 16:1-9)
5. The continuation of Paul’s list of the saints known to him in the church of Rome
(Romans 16:10-16)
(Romans 16:10-16)
6. A warning against the deceivers
(Romans 16:17-20)
(Romans 16:17-20)
7. Greetings from Paul’s fellow workers
(Romans 16:21-24)
(Romans 16:21-24)
8. Paul’s doxology, as a concluding part of his epistle
(Romans 16:25-27)
(Romans 16:25-27)
6. A warning against the deceivers
(Romans 16:17-20)
Paul probably learned, while closing his letter, that fanatics of the group of the law of Moses began to call the Christians in the church household meetings in Rome to keep the law of Moses and the customs inherited from Judaism. These laws included abstaining from some foods, fasting on certain days or months, keeping the Sabbath instead of Sunday, and observing the Jewish verses before keeping the Christian verses.
Paul soon recognized the true nature of the temptation, which the devil contrived in the midst of the household churches, and the danger of falling away to the heresy founded on good works, and keeping the law, without embracing the grace of God alone. The cross of Christ, according to this heresy, is not sufficient for obtaining salvation, but we ought to rely on our own efforts, and keep the law of Moses, and observe it with strictness.
Paul saw the devil’s attack against the righteousness of Christ, who has forgiven sinners all their sins, according to his statement: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned”. He described those who sought to twist the free grace of Christ as those who caused divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine about whom the prophet David said: “They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3).
Paul explained this bankruptcy of humanity in his Epistle to the Romans, emphasizing the way of Christ as the only way to our salvation (Romans 3:9-24). After this explanation, the Jewish deceivers came, and endeavored to abolish what Paul came with, before the arrival of his epistle to the church of Rome. Therefore, Paul warned the church in Rome of those lying deceivers.
Before that, in the first meeting of the apostles in Jerusalem, and after a heated argument with those who were fanatic about the law among the believers, Paul said frankly: “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they” (Acts 15:10-11).
When Peter, the leader of the apostles, endeavored to turn Jesus away from proceeding to the sufferings and crucifixion, Jesus said to him: “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:23).
All the endeavors of men to abolish the cross of Christ, and to establish their salvation on their own diligences, failed. They are but satanic deceptions in their essence. In the same manner, the endeavors to revive Humanism appear beautiful, but they are, in essence, against the grace of God. Everyone who seeks to gain paradise through keeping the law, denying the historical truth of crucifixion, and the invaluable redemption of Christ, is entrapped and deceived by the devil.
In his epistle, Paul called upon the confused believers in Rome and said to them: “Be cautious about those deceivers, and keep away from them, and do not allow them to speak in your home circles, for did you not understand what Jesus meant by his statement: ‘It was said to those of old… But I say to you…’ Those deceivers live in the past, and have not passed into the new age, the age of grace. So take hold of the Crucified who was raised from the dead, and you will live forever.”
Paul added to his warning praise and homage to the believers in Rome, saying to them: “I am glad for your true faith and your spiritual love, because you learned obedience, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and you practiced it in your practical life, and this spiritual truth has become known in all the churches of Greece. Therefore, seek wisdom from the living Jesus that you may distinguish good from evil. Do what is good, and leave the stupidity of evil. Ask the living Lord, at all times, for guidance established on the gospel that he may lead you to the right faith, and live in peace with God”.
After these encouraging words, Paul in his holy anger promised them by his unique statement, which we do not find in any other place of the Holy Bible: “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Rom 16:20). This decisive statement means that the God of peace, who from the fullness of peace in himself, will pour out his peace in their hearts. This God, who does not confess confusion, will overcome the devil when Christ comes back from heaven. Paul confirmed to the church in Rome that it was the spiritual body of Christ, and therefore it would practically experience how the Almighty would annihilate the evil one under their feet, for they were in Christ, and Christ in them. “You cannot overcome the evil one by yourselves, but God throws him down under the feet of his beloved Son, because in him you partake of the demonstration of the apparent radiant glory” (Psalm 110:1).
Paul was realistic. He asked the Lord Jesus to keep the believers in Rome from the temptations of the devil, and to establish them in his grace, for grace is the key to the pleasure of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.