By adding, that God was able to confirm the Romans, he made them more certain of their final
perseverance. And that they might acquiesce more fully in his power, he adds, that a testimony is
borne to it in the gospel. Here you see, that the gospel not only promises to us present grace, but
also brings to us an assurance of that grace which is to endure for ever; for God declares in it that
he is our Father, not only at present,but that he will be so to the end: nay, his adoption extends
beyond death, for it will conduct us to an eternal inheritance.
The other things are mentioned to commend the power and dignity of the gospel. He calls the
gospel the preaching of Jesus Christ; inasmuch as the whole sum and substance of it is no doubt
included in the knowledge of Christ. Its doctrine is the revelation of the mystery; and this its character
ought not only to make us more attentive to hear it, but also to impress on our minds the highest
veneration for it: and he intimates how sublime a secret it is, by adding that it was hid for many
ages, from the beginning of the world.^484
It does not indeed contain a turgid and proud wisdom, such as the children of this world seek;
and by whom it is held on this account in contempt: but it unfolds the ineffable treasures of celestial
wisdom, much higher than all human learning; and since the very angels regard them with wonder,
surely none of us can sufficiently admire them. But this wisdom ought not to be less esteemed,
because it is conveyed in an humble, plain, and simple style; for thus it has pleased the Lord to
bring down the arrogance of the flesh.
And as it might have created some doubt how this mystery, concealed for so many ages, could
have so suddenly emerged, he teaches us, that this has not happened through the hasty doings of
men, or through chance, but through the eternal ordination of God. Here, also, he closes up the
door against all those curious questions which the waywardness of the human mind is wont to raise;
for whatever happens suddenly and unexpectedly, they think, happens at random; and hence they
absurdly conclude, that the works of God are unreasonable; or at least they entangle themselves in
many perplexing doubts. Paul therefore reminds us, that what appeared then suddenly had been
decreed by God before the foundation of the world.
But that no one might raise a dispute on the subject, and charge the gospel with being a new
thing, and thus defame it, he refers to the prophetic Scriptures, in which we now see, that what is
fulfilled had been foretold; for all the Prophets have rendered to the gospel so clear a testimony,
that it can in no other way be so fully confirmed. And God thus duly prepared the minds of his
people, lest the novelty of what they were not accustomed to should too much astonish them.^485
(^484) The words are , rendered improperly by Hammond and others, from the eternal ages, or eternity. We find them
preceded by before, in 2 Timothy 1:9, and in Titus 1:2: “before the eternal ages,” could not be right rendering; nor is “before
the world began,” as in our version, correct; for a reference in Titus is made to God’s promise. “In the times of the ages” is the
rendering of Deza and of Macknight; and, in “ancient times,” is that of Doddridge and Stuart The same subject is handled in
two other places, Ephesians 3:5, and Colossians 1:26: and the words used by him are “in other ages,” , and, “from ages
and generations,” Theodoretexplained the terms by —-in past times; and Theophylact by —formerly;
and Schleusner by a similar word, olim.—Ed.
(^485) This clause is differently construed: some connect “prophetic Scriptures” with “manifested,” or made manifest. So Doddridqe
and Stuart; but Beza, Pareus, and Macknight agree with Calvin, and connect the words with “made known” or proclaimed. The
conjunetive after favors this construction; and means here “by the means,” or by the aid and sanction, “of the prophetic
Scriptures.” Then the meaning is—”that the mystery, hid for ages, is now manifest, that is, by the gospel, and by means of the
prophetic Scriptures, and consistently with the decree ( ) or ordination of the eternal God, is made known to all nations for
the obedience of faith.” According to this view is the exposition of Calvin, which is no doubt correct.