Father Noel Alexandre's Literal and Moral Commentary on Romans Chapter 11

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Translated by Qwen.  At present this post only contains the literal commentary .   Rom 11:1. "I say then: Has God cast away His people?" The Apostle anticipates an objection. Has God, on account of the unbelief and obstinacy of the Jews foretold by the Prophets, rendered void the promises made to Abraham? Has He utterly rejected, despised, and cast aside His people, so previously beloved? Has He decreed that they should not be partakers in Christ of the promised blessings? By no means! Far be it! This does not follow from what Isaiah foretold and what we now see fulfilled. "For I also am an Israelite, not of proselytes added [to the nation], but of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin, the last and least of all; and yet I have not been cast away by God, but called to the grace of the Gospel and made a partaker of the promises, nay, even chosen by Christ for the apostleship and the preaching of the Gospel." Rom 11:2. "God has not cast away His people...
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Denis the Carthusian's Commentary on Genesis 12:1-4a

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A Literal Exposition of Chapter Twelve

Article Forty-Five

In the present chapter Moses begins to recount and describe in detail the deeds of the chief patriarch, namely Abraham.

Gen 12:1 “And the Lord said to Abram: Go forth from your land…”

If it is asked in what manner and form God spoke to Abraham, it may be said that He spoke through an angel appearing in human form, as was said concerning the apparitions and words spoken by God to Adam and Noah.

When and Where God Spoke to Abraham

Concerning when and where God spoke these words to Abraham, different authorities hold different opinions. Some say it was before the death of his father Terah; others, afterward. Likewise opinions differ about the place.

Blessed Stephen the Protomartyr says (Acts 7) that “the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him: ‘Go forth from your land and from your kindred, and come into the land which I shall show you.’ Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, after his father died, He brought him into this land,” that is, Canaan.

This narration of Saint Stephen (and of Luke the Evangelist) seems to differ from the literal text of Genesis in three ways:

  1. Stephen says God spoke to Abraham before the death of his father. But at the end of the preceding chapter of Genesis it is said that Terah died in Haran, and only afterward does this chapter begin, “The Lord said to Abram…,” as if it occurred after Terah’s death.

  2. Stephen says this occurred before Abraham dwelt in Haran, whereas Genesis says Terah brought Abram from Chaldea to Haran and dwelt there, and then after Terah’s death God spoke these words.

  3. Stephen says Abraham left Chaldea after hearing these words from the Lord; yet Genesis previously says Terah went out from Chaldea with Abram and dwelt in Haran, where he died.

Various solutions are offered.

Saint Augustine harmonizes these accounts by noting that Scripture often speaks by anticipation and recapitulation — it does not always recount events in chronological order.

Jerome reports the Hebrew tradition that Abraham was delivered from a fire into which the Chaldeans had thrown him because he refused to worship idols, and that the years of his life were reckoned from that deliverance.

More plainly, one may say that God spoke these words to Abraham in Mesopotamia when he came there with his father from Chaldea, before he entered or settled in the city called Haran (as Stephen says), and this was before Terah’s death. The present text, which appears to place the words after Terah’s death, may be understood either:

  • as a recapitulation, or

  • as meaning that God spoke the command twice: first before Terah’s death, and again after his death.

This repetition was not due to Abraham’s disobedience, since an affirmative precept obliges at an opportune time.

Did Abraham Intend to Return to Chaldea?

Some argue that Abraham may have left Chaldea physically but intended to return, and that the divine command required him also to renounce the intention of returning. Others reject this view as unreasonable. Yet it is not improbable that, since Abraham had no command at first to leave his homeland, he may have retained an affection for returning until the divine command required a total detachment.

Thus, “Go forth from your land” means: withdraw completely, both in body and intention.

Was Abraham Born in Chaldea?

Rabbi Paul disputes whether Abraham was born in Chaldea, but this contradicts Jerome, Augustine, Bede, and many other Christian doctors, and also Josephus. Augustine says plainly: “As Holy Scripture indicates, Abraham was born in the region of the Chaldeans.”

Judith likewise says that the people of Israel came from the stock of the Chaldeans and first dwelt in Mesopotamia.

Thus, Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and later departed.

“Go forth from your land, your kindred, and your father’s house…”

That is:

  • from Chaldea,

  • from your relatives in Mesopotamia,

  • from your father’s household,

  • and go into the land I will show you — namely Canaan, though not yet named explicitly, so that Abraham’s obedience would be greater.

As Hebrews says: “By faith Abraham obeyed, going out into a place which he was to receive, not knowing where he went.”

The Promises

Gwn 12:2 “I will make of you a great nation” — a numerous people descending from you, though your wife is naturally barren.

“I will bless you” — giving spiritual gifts and temporal goods.

“I will make your name great” — granting lasting fame.

“You shall be a blessing.”

Gen 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.”

God blesses by giving and multiplying gifts. Humans bless by speaking well of another. Even unbelievers praised Abraham (e.g., among the Saracens). God rewards even the good of praise in some manner, at least temporally; but if done in charity, it merits increase of grace and glory.

“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

This refers chiefly to Christ, born from Abraham’s seed, through whom all nations are blessed by faith.

Some Jews interpret this to mean Abraham would become the model formula of blessing (“May God bless you as He blessed Abraham”), but the more fitting interpretation refers to Christ.

Augustine says two promises were made:

  1. that his seed would possess the land of Canaan,

  2. and a far greater promise — concerning Christ, through whom he becomes father of all nations.

Abraham’s Journey

Gen 12:4a Abram departed from Haran with Lot. He took Sarai his wife, Lot his nephew, all their possessions, and the persons they had acquired.

CONTINUE

 

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