Theodoret of Cyrus — Commentary on Scripture

Romans 1:1

Civil governors and military commanders put their titles at the beginning of their letters in order to boast and show off. But St. Paul says that he was born out of due time, that he is the chief of sinners and that he is unworthy of his apostleship. Nevertheless, when writing his letters, he starts with the words imposed on him by grace, for the benefit of those who receive them. For when the recipients realized the importance of the person who was writing to them, they would read the letter with greater earnestness and attention.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 1:2

The Old Testament is full of predictions of Christ’s coming. Paul did not call them “holy” by accident but, first of all, in order to teach that he recognized that the Old Testament was divinely inspired, and secondly, in order to exclude all other writings. For only the divinely inspired Scriptures are of any use. Indeed, Paul says that they are the image of the promise which was to come.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 1:4

Before his crucifixion and death the Lord Jesus Christ did not appear to be God either to the Jews or even to the disciples. For they were offended by human things, as when they saw him eating and drinking and sleeping and urinating, and not even his miracles made them change their minds. So, for instance, when they saw the miracle which he performed with the sea, they said: “Who is this, that even the sea and the winds obey him?” … But after he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, and the Holy Spirit came, and after miracles of every kind which they performed by calling on his adorable name, all those who believed recognized that he was God and the only begotten Son of God.

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Romans 1:6

Paul tells them here that he is not doing anything improper, nor invading fields assigned to others, for God had appointed him to preach to the Gentiles.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 1:8

Paul was not saying this in order to flatter them; he was simply telling the truth. For it could not be that what was happening at Rome should not be known all over the world. After all, it was the capital of the empire.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 1:10

Paul does not simply say that he wants to come to Rome but adds that he wants to come in God’s will. For when the salvation of so many people was at stake, St. Paul left nothing unclear but acknowledged God’s will in his prayer, for it is only by God’s permission that we are worthy to deal with material things and to make choices. Do we not commit everything we have to the divine will on which we depend?

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Romans 1:11

These words are full of humility.… Paul only wants to share what he has himself received. And because the great Peter was the first to have taught them, Paul adds that he merely wants to confirm them in the teaching which has already been given to them and to water the trees which have already been planted. Once again, his speech is full of modesty.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 1:12

Paul wanted to receive as well as to give. The eagerness was on both sides.

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Romans 1:13

Paul declares both his own plan and God’s overruling. For God’s grace was fully in control of his life.

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Romans 1:17

The righteousness of God is not revealed to everyone but only to those with the eyes of faith. For the holy apostle teaches us that God foresaw this for us from the beginning and predicted it through the prophets, and even before the prophets, had it hidden in his secret will.Paul quoted Habakkuk for the benefit of the Jews, because he wanted to teach them not to cling to the provisions of the law but to follow the prophets. For many centuries before they had predicted that one day there would be salvation by faith alone.
Then departing from his admonition to the Jews, he accuses everyone else of having brazenly departed from the natural law which the Creator had placed in them. For when God made them, he did not allow them to live like beasts but honored them with reason and gave them the ability to know the difference between good and evil. Those who lived righteous lives before the time of Moses confirm this by their witness.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 1:18

For nature taught them both that God is the Creator of all things and also that they should flee unrighteousness and embrace righteousness. But even when teachers were given to them, they did not live up to this. So God threatened them with future punishment.… This punishment is called the wrath of God, not because God punishes people for any emotional reason but in order to stun those who rebel against him.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 1:22

They increased their guilt by their claim, for in calling themselves wise they showed that in fact they were fools.

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Romans 1:24

By “gave them up” Paul means that God permitted this to happen. He simply abandoned them because they had fallen into extreme ungodliness.

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Romans 1:25

Ungodliness is the root of wickedness. These people were deprived of God’s grace for both of these things.

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Romans 1:28

If they had wanted to know him, they would have followed the divine laws. But because they denied their Creator, he stopped looking after them.

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Romans 2:7

Well-doing is for a time, but the reward is eternal. Moreover, eternity applies not only to life but to honor, glory and immortality as well. Paul wanted to show that there are many rewards for those who are good.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 2:9

Here Paul uses the word Greek to refer not to Gentile believers but to those who lived before Christ’s incarnation.

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Romans 2:10

God did not promise eternal life to those who worshiped idols but to those who even apart from the law led a Mosaic life, embraced godliness and the worship of God, and were concerned about righteousness.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 2:21

Paul shows here and in the next two verses that the Jews had learned little from the law even if they gloried in the letter of it. When they tried to teach others, their deeds contradicted their words, and their pride in the law was pointless.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 3:3

God knew in advance who would obey the law and who would break it. Therefore those who did not believe were unable to stand in the way of his blessings.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS