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)
d) Circumcision is spiritually unprofitable
(Romans 2:25-29)
When he had broken the pride of the believers of Jewish origin, as the people of the Law, and the teachers of the peoples, Paul heard in his spirit some of them saying: “Yes! We are wrong, because none is perfect except God. But we have the promise of circumcision, for the Most High was engaged, by this symbol of the Law, with our father Abraham and all his seed. Thus we belong to God, not because we are righteous, but because he chose us”.
(Verse 25) Then Paul, who was an expert in the religious teachings of the Mosaic Law, answered their false impression, saying that the covenant with Abraham does not nullify the Law, for the covenant depends on the Law, just as the Law is dependent on the covenant, as the Lord said frankly to Abraham: "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1) This verse was the condition for the confirmation of the covenant, when Abraham had not believed the first promise, and he gave birth, without God’s guidance, to Ishmael, his firstborn, from the Egyptian slave.
Thus, Paul proved to the Christians of Jewish origin in Rome that there is no covenant without the Law, and that circumcision is of no value without observation of the commandments. In principle, he saw in circumcision a good symbol that God purifies the sinner from his origin, and then the believer and his seed obey God.
However, this principle only applies as long as the participant of the covenant does the will of God. When the believer breaks the commandments and transgresses against God, he will be considered as uncircumcised in spite of his circumcision, far from God, and a stranger to him.
(Verse 26) But if a Gentile learned and kept the Law in the power of the Holy Spirit, then he who was considered as physically uncircumcised, would be considered by God as circumcised, included in the Law, and chosen from eternity, because the covenant and choosing are but to renew and bring up the elect. Whoever reaches the moral goal in his conduct, without the walls of the old covenant, is considered as included in the covenant.
(Verse 27) For a Jew to become a transgressor of the Law is really in God's sight to become uncircumcised. Not only is a Gentile a true Jew if he observes the requirements of the Law, but he who is physically uncircumcised will sit in judgment over the Jew who has the physical qualifications but nothing by way of obedience; for the symbol of circumcision does not save man, but man’s holy work and conduct prove that he is engaged with God, and that God’s power works in his weakness.
(Verse 28) After this masterstroke, which he aimed at the Jewish tradition, Paul came with a description of the name “Jew”, which is necessary to remember and recognize these days. The Jew is neither he who was born of Jewish root, speaks Hebrew, and has a hooked nose, nor is a Jew in God’s sight he who believes in the Law, becomes circumcised, or prays on Saturdays. The Jew who is acceptable to God is he who proves his relationship with God through love, humility, holiness, and perfection. According to this spiritual description, Jesus is the only perfect Jew. Because he was contrary to the obstinate Jews, they crucified him in their hypocrisy; and because of his meek spirit, the people of Abraham still persecute the people of Jesus until today. The description of the meaning of “Jew” as Paul wrote it requires our change of minds.
(Verse 29) Circumcision is not a proof that God belongs to a certain nation or believer, even if it were written hundreds of times in the Holy Book, because God does not want lazy partners in his covenant, but beloved with renewed hearts filled with his Holy Spirit. Only the born again are considered in God’s sight a partner of the covenant, and he blesses all those who bring the fruits of his Spirit with increased blessings. Yet, those who call themselves Jews or Christians, and oppose the Spirit of Christ’s love are not accepted by God in spite of their pure beliefs, but are considered his enemies and he their Judge.