Teks -- Romans 3:2 (NET)

3:2 Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rom 3:2 - Much every way

Much every way ( polu kata panta ).

Polu points back to to perisson . So it means the overplus of the Jew is much from every angle.

Robertson: Rom 3:2 - First of all

First of all ( prōton men ).

As in Rom 1:8; 1Co 11:18 Paul does not add to his "first."He singles out one privilege of the many possessed by the Jew.

Robertson: Rom 3:2 - They were intrusted with

They were intrusted with ( episteuthēsan ).

First aorist passive indicative of pisteuō , to intrust, with accusative of the thing and dative of the person in the active. In the passive as here the accusative of the thing is retained as in 1Th 2:4.

Robertson: Rom 3:2 - The oracles of God

The oracles of God ( ta logia tou theou ).

In the accusative case, therefore, the object of episteuthēsan . Logion is probably a diminutive of logos , word, though the adjective logios also occurs (Act 18:24). The word was early used for "oracles"from Delphi and is common in the lxx for the oracles of the Lord. But from Philo on it was used of any sacred writing including narrative. It occurs four times in the N.T. (Act 7:38, which see; Rom 3:2; Heb 5:12; 1Pe 4:11). It is possible that here and in Act 7:38 the idea may include all the Old Testament, though the commands and promises of God may be all.

Vincent: Rom 3:2 - Chiefly

Chiefly ( πρῶτον )

Rev., first of all ; i.e., first in order. Paul, however, does not enumerate further, being led away by another thought.

Vincent: Rom 3:2 - The oracles

The oracles ( τὰ λόγια )

Diminutive. Strictly, brief utterances. Both in classical and biblical Greek, of divine utterances. In classical Greek, of prose oracles. See Act 7:38; Heb 5:12; 1Pe 4:11. Not especially Messianic passages, but the Old Testament scriptures with the law and the promises.

Wesley: Rom 3:2 - Chiefly in that they were intrusted with the oracles of God

The scriptures, in which are so great and precious promises. Other prerogatives will follow, Rom 9:4-5. St. Paul here singles out this by which, after removing the objection, he will convict them so much the more.

JFB: Rom 3:1-2 - What advantage then hath the Jew?

That is, "If the final judgment will turn solely on the state of the heart, and this may be as good in the Gentile without, as in the Jew within, the sacred enclosure of God's covenant, what better are we Jews for all our advantages?"

Answer:

JFB: Rom 3:2 - Much every way; chiefly, because

Rather, "first, that."

JFB: Rom 3:2 - unto them were committed the oracles of God

This remarkable expression, denoting "divine communications" in general, is transferred to the Scriptures to express their oracular, divine, authoritative character.

Clarke: Rom 3:2 - Apostle. Much every way

Apostle. Much every way - The Jews, in reference to the means and motives of obedience, enjoy many advantages beyond the Gentiles; and, principally, because to them were committed the oracles of God - that revelation of his will to Moses and the prophets, containing a treasure of excellencies, with which no other part of the world has been favored; though they have most grievously abused these privileges.

Calvin: Rom 3:2 - NO PHRASE

2.=== Much in every way, === etc.; that is, very much. He begins here to give the sacrament its own praise; but he concedes not, that on this account the Jews ought to have been proud; for when he teaches that they were sealed by the symbol of circumcision, by which they were counted the children of God, he does not allow that they became superior to others through any merit or worthiness of their own, but through the free mercy of God. If then regard be had to them as men, he shows that they were on a level with others; but if the favors of God be taken to the account, he admits that they possessed what made them more eminent than other men.

===First indeed, because, intrusted to them, === etc. Some think there is here an unfinished period, for he sets down what he does not afterwards complete. But the word first seems not to me to be a note of number, but means chiefly” or especially, ⁸⁸ and is to be taken in this sense — “Though it were but this one thing, that they have the oracles ⁸⁹ of God committed to them, it might be deemed sufficient to prove their superiority.” And it is worthy of being noticed, that the advantage of circumcision is not made to consist in the naked sign, but its value is derived from the word; for Paul asks here what benefit the sacrament conferred on the Jews, and he answers, that God had deposited with them the treasure of celestial wisdom. It hence follows, that, apart from the word, no excellency remained. By oracles he means the covenant which God revealed first to Abraham and to his posterity, and afterwards sealed and unfolded by the law and the Prophets.

Now the oracles were committed to them, for the purpose of preserving them as long as it pleased the Lord to continue his glory among them, and then of publishing them during the time of their stewardship through the whole world: they were first depositories, and secondly dispensers. But if this benefit was to be so highly esteemed when the Lord favored one nation only with the revelation of his word, we can never sufficiently reprobate our ingratitude, who receive his word with so much negligence or with so much carelessness, not to say disdain.

Defender: Rom 3:2 - oracles

This is a striking synonym for the Holy Scriptures, a term used only four times in the New Testament (Act 7:38; Heb 5:12; 1Pe 4:11), stressing the fact that they actually constituted the very utterances of God. These were given to and through the Jews and are preserved for us now in the Old Testament."

TSK: Rom 3:2 - Much // because // committed // the oracles

Much : Rom 3:3, Rom 11:1, Rom 11:2, Rom 11:15-23, Rom 11:28, Rom 11:29

because : Rom 2:18, Rom 9:4; Deu 4:7, Deu 4:8; Neh 9:13, Neh 9:14; Psa 78:4-7, Psa 147:19, Psa 147:20; Isa 8:20; Eze 20:11, Eze 20:12; Luk 16:29-31; Joh 5:39; 2Ti 3:15-17; 2Pe 1:19-21; Rev 19:10

committed : 1Co 9:17; 2Co 5:19; Gal 2:7; 1Ti 6:20

the oracles : Rom 1:2; Psa 119:140; Dan 10:21; Act 7:38; 2Ti 3:15, 2Ti 3:16; Heb 5:12; 1Pe 4:11; 2Pe 1:20,2Pe 1:21; Rev 22:6

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rom 3:2 - Chiefly // Unto them were committed the oracles of God

He answers the before mentioned objection by a liberal and free concession. The answer doth particularly relate to the first member of the objection, though comprehending the other.

Chiefly this word is not to be referred to the order of speech, as Rom 1:8 , for he doth not begin any discourse here; nor to the number of privileges and advantages, for he names but one in all; but to the quality, and so the excellency, of this privilege here spoken of; q.d. It is the chief of all.

Unto them were committed the oracles of God: profane writers make this word to signify the answer that was given by the demons, or heathen gods; and yet the Holy Ghost doth not disdain to make use of this word, (as well as divers others), though abused to heathenish superstition. The sense is, To the Jews were credited, or given in custody, the Holy Scriptures, containing all the books of the Old Testament, in particular the legal covenant, or law of God, given on Mount Sinai, which Stephen calls the lively oracles, Act 7:38 ; more especially yet the fundamental articles of religion, and doctrines of grace, and salvation by the Messias, called the oracles of God, Heb 5:12 , though more hid, it is true, in types, promises, and predictions.

Gill: Rom 3:2 - Much every way // chiefly // because that unto them were committed the oracles of God

Much every way,.... The circumcised Jew has greatly the advantage of the uncircumcised Gentile, מכל פנים, "in all respects", על כל צד, "on every side", as the Rabbins speak; phrases to which this in the text answers:

chiefly; more especially, particularly, and in the first place;

because that unto them were committed the oracles of God; by which are meant the law of Moses, and the writings of the prophets, the institutions of the ceremonial law, and the prophecies of the Messiah and the Gospel church state; and in a word, all the books of the Old Testament, and whatsoever is contained in them; which are called so, because they are of divine inspiration, contain the mind and will of God, and are infallible and authoritative: and it was the privilege and profit of the Jews that they were intrusted with them, when other nations were not, and so had the advantage of them; they had them for their own use; for hereby they had a more clear and distinct knowledge of God than the Gentiles could have by the light of nature; and besides, became acquainted with the doctrines of a trinity of persons in the Godhead, of the sonship and deity of the Messiah, of the sacrifice, satisfaction, and righteousness of the Redeemer, and of salvation by him; and also with the manner of worshipping of God according to his will; all which the Gentiles were ignorant of. Moreover, they had the honour of being the keepers of these sacred books, these divine oracles, and of transmitting them to posterity, for the use of others.