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Theodoret of Cyrus

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 1,374 passages across 50 books

Commentary

1,261–1,280 of 1,374
Romans 11:26

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

“All Israel” means all those who believe, whether they are Jews, who have a natural relationship to Israel, or Gentiles, who are related to Israel by faith.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 11:29

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Paul says this in order to encourage the Jews. In fact, of course, God did revoke the good gifts which he gave … King Saul, for example, who received spiritual grace which later deserted him. Likewise Solomon, who received peace through the kindness of God, but after his transgression was deprived of grace. And then there are the Jews themselves, who always had their prophets to take care of them but who at the present time have been deprived of them.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 11:32

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Paul has put “consigned” here instead of “convicted.” For God convicted the Gentiles, who had received the natural law and had created things to teach them the knowledge of God yet had not benefited from either the one or the other. He also convicted the Jews, who had received more teaching still (for besides nature and the creation they had also received the law and the prophets, who taught them what they needed to know) and had become liable to even greater punishments as a result. But God was pleased to offer salvation to each of them, even though basically they deserved to perish, if only they would believe.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 11:36

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

God himself made all things and he rules in perpetuity over everything which he has made. Everyone ought to turn to him, to thank him for what they asked for and to put their trust in him for the future. They ought to honor him as well. In this way the holy apostle shows that there is no difference between the prepositions from and through, as if the former, which might mean something greater, should apply to the Father and the latter, which might mean something less, to the Son. In fact, both apply equally to both persons.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Paul has already exhorted us to make our members instruments of righteousness and to present ourselves before God as if we had risen from the dead. But here he exhorts us to make our members a sacrifice, and one which he describes as “living.” He does not command us to kill our bodies but demands that they should be dead to sin.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Paul calls the things of this present life “forms,” e.g., wealth, power and every other splendor. But reality is what is yet to come, which will be stable and eternal.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:3

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

In the Gospel the Lord decreed that those who possessed humility were first among the blessed: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Paul laid this command on everyone, rich and poor, servant and master.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:6

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

It is to be understood that … we each must use our gifts for the benefit of one another.… Prophecy does not refer only to the prediction of future events but also to the knowledge of things which have been hidden.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:7

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

“Service” means the preaching of the Word; “teaching” means instruction in the commands of God.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:11

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Spirit is the word Paul uses here for “grace.” … He does the same thing elsewhere when he says: “Do not quench the Spirit.” The Spirit is quenched in those who are unworthy of grace.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:13

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

It is not just guests that Paul calls saints but also those (wherever they may come from) who are in any kind of need.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:16

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

“Never be conceited” means: Be ready to accept the advice of others.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

If someone blesses those who persecute him and does not harm those who do him harm, how will he attract hatred or revenge on himself?

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 12:21

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Revenge is mean-spirited. True victory is returning good for evil.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 13:1

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Even priests, bishops and monks must obey the commands of secular rulers. Of course, they must do so insofar as obedience is consistent with godliness. If the rulers demand something which is ungodly, then on no account are they allowed to do it.The holy apostle teaches us that both authorities and obedience depend entirely on God’s providence, but he does not say that God has specifically appointed one person or another to exercise that authority. For it is not the wickedness of individual rulers which comes from God but the establishment of the ruling power itself.… Since God wants sinners to be punished, he is prepared to tolerate even bad rulers.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 13:5

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

“For the sake of conscience” means “in order to do what is right.”

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 13:9

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

If a man is well disposed by love for another person, he will not kill the one he loves, nor will he rape his wife, nor will he steal goods or do anything which might harm them.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 13:12

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

“Night” refers to the time of ignorance, whereas “day” refers to the time after the Lord’s coming.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 14:1

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

The weak were those who continued to observe the law.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Romans 14:2

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Those who would eat anything were obviously Gentiles. Some people say that converted Jews shamed these Gentiles not only into abstaining from meat which had been sacrificed to idols but from any kind of meat whatever.

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

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