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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Father Tomasso Malvenda's Commentary on Isaiah 42:1-7

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Is 42:1

"BEHOLD MY SERVANT." Christ, who emptied himself, "taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men," etc. (Philippians 2:7). Likewise 1 Chronicles 17:19 and 2 Samuel 7:22. See Matthew 12:17 and following, where he interprets the first four verses of this chapter concerning Christ.

"I WILL UPHOLD HIM." Others from the Hebrew: "whom I will sustain, support, uphold, help." Some [render]: "I will lean upon him," or "in him," as a master is accustomed to lean upon a faithful servant.

"MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED IN HIM." The Hebrew word ratzah (רצה) is variously rendered here:

  1. "In whom my soul has good will."

  2. "In whom it is well pleasing to my soul," that is, who is most dear and gratifying to me, whom I pursue with favor and benevolence, toward whom I am prone and propense in mind and affection, or whom I love uniquely and from the heart.

  3. "My soul is pleased."

  4. "My soul wills."

  5. "Whom my soul accepts benignly."

  6. "Whom my soul holds as grateful and accepted."

  7. The Spanish Interpreter: "en quien mi alma toma contentamiento" ("in whom my soul takes contentment"). See Matthew 3:17, chapter 12:18, and chapter 17:5, and 2 Peter 1:17. For from this place, without doubt, that phrase is taken.

"I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM." Some [render]: "I will give my spirit," as above chapter 1, verse 2, and John 3:34. Some refer this to the Holy Spirit descending in the species of a dove upon Christ baptized (Matthew 3:16).

"HE SHALL BRING FORTH JUDGMENT TO THE GENTILES." Or "he will promulgate," that is, "he will declare law," a periphrasis of kingdom and imperial majesty. Through the Gospel, indeed, Christ exercised judgment upon all nations. Some explain it: that is, instructed by the Spirit without measure, he will act as prophet, priest, and king, with that form and efficacy which is explained subsequently. The Spanish Interpreter: "dara alas gentes," that is, "leyes reglas de vinir en iusticia" ("he will give to the nations laws, rules of coming into justice"). Some [say] "judgment," that is, the Gospel, which contains the judgment of God: "He who believes... shall be saved," etc. Forsterus annotates that the Gospel is called "judgment" here because, of course, the Gospel simply argues and damns all justice of the world and of the flesh, and commends and offers the justice of Christ alone.

Is 42:2

"HE SHALL NOT CRY OUT," or "shout," etc. That is, he will administer in a spirit of leniency, in humility and mercy, as Zechariah 9:9. Others: "He shall not cry out," that is, he will not be driven by disturbances.

"NOR SHOW PARTIALITY." In Hebrew it is only "he will not lift up," or "he will not exalt," "he will not take up," "he will not intend." And they join it to the following: "nor will he cause his voice to be heard outside." That is, he will not lift up his voice so that it can be heard outside, as if to say: he will speak and carry out his administration with a subdued voice, modestly, placidly, and without any elevation of voice or anger.

Is 42:3

"A BRUISED REED HE SHALL NOT BREAK, AND SMOKING FLAX HE SHALL NOT EXTINGUISH." Others from the Hebrew:

  1. "A bruised reed he will not break, and obscure or obscured flax," that is, not shining or splendid, "he will not extinguish."

  2. "A reed almost bruised he will not break entirely, and smoking flax," that is, sparkling dimly or almost extinguished, "he will not extinguish."

  3. "A broken reed he will not break, and a wick now smoking," that is, burning little and almost extinct, "he will not extinguish." He compares afflicted men to a malignant light, as if to say: so far is he from doing injury to anyone, that he will not even hurt little men.

  4. "A bruised reed he will not break, and flax or wick itself (metonymically, as below chapter 43, verse 17) smoking he will not extinguish." That is, he will mercifully provide for the weak, confirming those wavering in piety, and fostering and exciting those endowed with some spark of piety, as if moribund. In which sense this place is adduced in Matthew 12:20 allegorically. The Spanish Interpreter: "No acabara de quebrar la caña cascada ni apagara el panilo que humeare" ("He will not finish breaking the broken reed nor extinguish the wick that smokes"). Some note not absurdly that these are proverbial forms.

"IN TRUTH HE SHALL BRING FORTH JUDGMENT." In Hebrew: "to faith, constancy, certainty, truth, he will bring forth judgment." They explain: that is, he will deliver a sentence for truth, or in judicial causes he will act so that truth conquers and shines forth. Others: that is, he will judge all truly and justly. Some: that is, he will not falsely smell out, investigate, know, and judge; according to the sight of his eyes or the hearing of his ears he will administer all things from truth, as chapter 11, verse [3]. It will be more apt [to say]: faithfully, constantly, stably he will execute judgment, he will declare law.

Is 42:4

"HE SHALL NOT BE SAD." Others from the Hebrew:

  1. "He will not be obscure or turbid, moved," that is, he will not be agitated by disturbances.

  2. "He will not be severe," that is, stern with eyebrows drawn together.

  3. "He will not be weakened," or "he will not be remiss from doing judgment."

  4. "He will not be obscured," that is, he will not teach or speak obscurely, but brightly, plainly, and simply.

  5. "He will not hallucinate or be clouded," but most brightly he will inspect all things thoroughly, understand most rightly, and judge.

  6. "He will not be weary." The Spanish Interpreter: "No se cansara ab administrando suo munere" ("He will not weary from administering his office").

  7. "He will not smoke or fumigate." Thus our translator rendered that word in the preceding verse. That is, Christ will not be extinguished or taken from the world before he has promulgated the Gospel.

  8. "He will not make to smoke, nor will he bruise." That is, he will be an offense to no one; for he does not offend those to whom he is an stumbling block, but they offend themselves by their own wickedness, as above chapter 8, verse [14]. We have explained: "He will not contract wrinkles," that is, he will not corrugate, namely, his forehead. That is, from indignation and sternness he will not contract his forehead into wrinkles. See in 1 Samuel 3:13.

"NOR TURBULENT." Others from the Hebrew:

  1. "And he will not be broken or shaken, crushed in spirit." The Spanish Interpreter: "ni dismayara" ("nor will he be dismayed").

  2. "Nor will he run headlong," that is, he will not be carried by impulse, but with the utmost prudence he will judge things and causes.

  3. "Nor will he bruise anyone," that is, nor will he offend, nor trample upon others in the manner of the proud.

  4. Forsterus explains the preceding and present verb thus: "neither will he be restricted, nor will he rush forward to establish judgment in the earth." That is, he will keep the middle or mode and time; he will neither be a ceaser nor precipitous. The roots rutz (רוץ) and ratzatz (רצץ) are cognate, whence here some render "he will not run," others "and he will not bruise," or "he will not be bruised."

"UNTIL HE ESTABLISHES JUDGMENT IN THE EARTH." Others: "until he arranges judgment in the earth," that is, until he has published his Gospel. Some: "as long as he establishes judgment in the earth," that is, as long as he declares law on earth and acts among the living and governs mortals. Or: "until he brings it about that law and justice flourish on earth," as if to say: by his gentleness and prudence he will propagate the Kingdom of God, in which true justice of souls flourishes.

"AND THE ISLANDS SHALL WAIT FOR HIS LAW." That is, the Gospel will be received with great expectation by even the most remote nations. Some: "and in his doctrine the regions will have expectation," that is, the nations called to the Gospel by the advent of Christ.

Is 42:5

"THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD CREATING THE HEAVENS &c." Some: "Thus says that strong Jehovah, creator of the heavens," etc. Concerning Christ, as was said regarding verse 1, whom God fortifies in this verse with arguments from the wonderful creation, conservation, and administration of all things.

"AND THE THINGS THAT SPRING FROM IT." Hebrew tse'etsa'im (צאצאים): "exitus, egressiones, propagines, stirpes, germina" (issues, goings forth, propagations, stocks, germs). See above chapter 22, verse 24. Some render: "things begotten from it."

"GIVING BREATH TO THE PEOPLE." Hebrew neshamah (נשמה): "breath, respiration, soul, power of breathing, inspiration to the people inhabiting, acting in it."

Is 42:6

"I HAVE CALLED YOU IN RIGHTEOUSNESS." They explain variously:

  1. "Justly."

  2. "In righteousness," that is, "with that righteousness with which I am endowed, for my righteousness and goodness, I have made it so that you were born on earth, and I have summoned you to the ministry of mediator and savior."

  3. "In your righteousness," that is, "you full of justice and holiness."

  4. "For righteousness," that is, "that men may be made just through you, that you might be just and justifying others," as Romans 3:26.

"AND I HAVE TAKEN YOUR HAND." Or "I have taken you by the hand," which is to offer favor and aid. For wonderfully and uniquely the Father favored the Son and helped him, etc. Some: "and I will take you by your hand," that is, "I will be present to you." Others: "that I may confirm your hand," that is, "that I may be present to you in your whole administration," John 5:19 and following.

"AND I HAVE PRESERVED YOU AND GIVEN YOU AS A COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE." Some: "and keeping you, I will hand you over as a covenant to the people," that is, "that you may be the Angel of the Covenant" (Malachi 3:1), "and reconcile all the elect in one body to God, hostilities being destroyed through the cross, and coming through it you may evangelize peace to all" (Ephesians 2:16). Thus are distinguished the offices of Christ: priesthood here, and prophecy in the following member, the effects of which are explained by hysteron proteron in the following verse.

"AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES." As below chapter 49, verse 6, and Luke 2:32.

Is 42:7

"TO OPEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND." Hebrew: "To open blind eyes," as above chapter 35, verse 5.

"AND TO BRING FORTH FROM CONFINEMENT THE PRISONER." Others from the Hebrew: "to lead out from the cloister the bound one," as below chapter 61, verse 1. "From the house of prison or coercion, those sitting in darkness," as above chapter 9, verse 2.

CONTINUE

 

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