Commentary on Romans

too intemperate; for the superstitious condemned the others as being despisers of God’s law; and
the latter in their turn unreasonably ridiculed the simplicity of the former. Therefore the Apostle
recommends to both a befitting moderation, deporting the one from superciliousness and insult,
and the other from excessive moroseness: and he also prescribes the best way of exercising Christian
liberty, by keeping within the boundaries of love and edification; and he faithfully provides for the
weak, while he forbids them to do any thing in opposition to conscience.
The fifteenth chapter begins with a repetition of the general argument, as a conclusion of the
whole subject — that the strong should use their strength in endeavours to confirm the weak. And
as there was a perpetual discord, with regard to the Mosaic ceremonies, between the Jews and the
Gentiles, he allays all emulation between them by removing the cause of contention; for he shows,
that the salvation of both rested on the mercy of God alone; on which relying, they ought to lay
aside all high thoughts of themselves and being thereby connected together in the hope of the same
inheritance, they ought mutually to embrace one another. And being anxious, in the last place, to
turn aside for the purpose of commending his own apostleship, which secured no small authority
to his doctrine, he takes occasion to defend himself, and to deprecate presumption in having assumed
with so much confidence the office of teacher among them. He further gives them some hope of
his coming to them, which he had mentioned at the beginning, but had hitherto in vain looked for
and tried to effect; and he states the reason which at that time hindered him, and that was, because
the churches of Macedonia and Achaia had committed to him the care of conveying to Jerusalem
those alms which they had given to relieve the wants of the faithful in that city.
The last chapter is almost entirely taken up with salutations, though scattered with some precepts
worthy of all attention; and concludes with a remarkable prayer.