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Hexapla upon Romans

Name: Hexapla upon Romans
Author: Andrew Willet

Andrew Willet 1611

A sixfold commentary on Romans addressing major Christian doctrines through textual analysis, questions, and theological exposition.

EEBO-TCP A15414 (TEI), original spelling, printed page numbers. EEBO 34387089; STC/Wing STC 25689; ESTC S4097

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, from p. 1, in the spelling of this edition.

p. 11. The Argument and matter of the New Testament.

THe New Testament though it had the same Author with the Old, namely CHRIST IESVS, and the same ende and scope to bring vs vnto Christ, for the Law was a schoolemaster to the same ende, Gal. 3.19. yet it differeth from the old: 1. in the substance and doctrine, 2. in the ratification, and confirmation, 3. in the rites and manner, 4. in the persons, to whome it was deliuered and committed. 1. Whereas the old Testament promised eternall life vnder the condition of perfect obedience of the Law, the Gospel onely requireth the obedience of faith, Rom. 10.5, 6. 2. The old Testament was confirmed by the sprinkling of the blood of beasts, Exod. 24.8. but the New was sealed and ratified by the blood and death of Christ, Hebr. 9.14.17. 3. There were other rites and ceremonies of the old Law, as the sacrifices and oblations, circumcision, the paschal lambe, and such like: Christ hath instituted new Sacraments of the Gospel, Baptisme, and the Eucharist. 4. The old Testament was made onely with the Hebrewes: but the new is commended vnto the Church of God dispersed ouer the world, and therefore it is called Catholike.

The bookes of the New Testament, are 1. historicall, as of the acts, the sayings and doings of our blessed Sauiour, in the foure Euangelists: or of the Apostles, in the booke of the Acts. 2. or doctrinall, which specially concerne doctrine and instruction, without a continued historicall narration: such are the Epistles of the holy Apostles. 3. or Propheticall, as the booke of the Reuelation: yet though the bookes may be thus diuided in generall, there are both heauenly doctrines intermingled in the historicall bookes, as the heauenly sermons of our blessed Sauiour in the Gospel, and prophesies also are inserted both in the historicall and doctrinall bookes, as that of the destruction of Ierusalem, and the ende of the world, Matth. 24. and of the calling of the Iewes, Rom. 11. of the comming of Antichrist, 2. Thess. 2.

p. 12. Of the language and tongue wherein the New Testament was originally written.

As the Old Testament was written originally in Hebrewe, because it was committed vnto the Hebrewes, Rom. 3.2. so the New was set forth by the Apostles and Euangelists in p. 2the Greeke tongue, which was then generall, and vsed of the most famous nations, because it concerned the Church of God, which was dispersed in all countreys.

There are three other languages, wherein the Newe Testament, or some part thereof was written: first the Gospel of S. Matthewe, is held to haue beene written in the vulgar Hebrew tongue, which was then the Syriake, Iren. l. 3. c. 1. Hierom. praefat. in commentar. in Matth. which Athanasius thinketh to haue beene translated into Greeke by S. Iames, some thinke by S. Iohn: likewise the Epistle to the Hebrewes is thought by some to haue beene first written in the Hebrewe tongue: But neither of these is certaine: 1. It is rather like that S. Matthewe writ his Gospel in Greeke: because he citeth many places of the old Testament according to the Septuagint: as that Isay. 40.3. alleadged, Matth. 3.3. and Psal. 22.18. cited, Matth. 27.35. and the like is to be seene elsewhere. As also Matth. 27.46. these words, Eli, Eli, Lamasabacthani, are interpreted by the Euangelist in the Greeke tongue: which interpretation had beene superfluous if he had written in the Syriake or vulgar Hebrewe tongue: 2. for the same reasons, it is most probable, that the epistle to the Hebrewes was not written in the Hebrew, but in the Greeke tongue originally: because the Apostle followeth the translation of the Septuagint: and c. 7. he interpreteth the word Melchizedek in the Greeke tongue, which signifieth the king of righteousnesse.

An other language, wherein the new Testament is written, is the Syriake: into which tongue the Syrians doe thinke that the Newe Testament was translated by S. Marke: But 1. this is not like, that this Syriake translation should be so auncient: for then these auncient fathers Origen, Clemens Alexandrin, Epiphan. Hierome, Theodoret, Damascene, which were Bishops and Presbiters in Syria, or Egypt, would haue made some mention thereof in their writings, which they doe not. 2. And though the Syriake translation could be prooued, to haue beene of such antiquitie, yet it must giue place vnto the authenticall Greeke, whereout it was translated.

p. 2A third tongue is the Latine, in the which Bellarmine out of Adrianus Finus, lib. 6 flagell. Iudcor. c. 80. and Damasus pontifical. would prooue that S. Marke writ his Gospel first at Rome, and afterward turned it into Greeke at Aquilea: But this is verie improbable. 1. Because the Greeke tongue was then more generally vsed then the Latine, and S. Paul writing to the Romanes, spake in the Greeke tongue for the reason, so also would S. Matthewe haue done. 2. If the Greeke were translated out of the Latine, why then doe not the Romanists vse a Latine translation answerable to the Greeke? whereas their vulgar translation much differeth from the Greeke: some where it addeth, as Mark. 1.1. the name (Isaia) the Prophet is inserted: sometime it leaueth out, as Mark. 6.11. all that clause is omitted: verily, verily, I say vnto you, it shall be easier for Sodome and Gomorrha in the day of iudgement, then for that citie: sometime it choppeth and changeth, as c. 5.1. Garasenes for Gadarens: It remaineth then that the Newe Testament was originally written in the Greeke tongue for the reasons before alleaged.

p. 2Quest. 1. Of the word Testament, what it signifieth, and of what things it must be vnderstood.

1. The Hebrew word berith, signifieth both 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a compact or couenant made betweene parties, as Aquila translateth, as Hierome witnesseth, in Malach. 2. and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a testament, or disposition of ones last will, as the word is vsed by the Apostle, Heb. 9.17.

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THE MOST DIVINE EPISTLE OF THE MOST holy Apostle S. PAVL to the Romanes explaned.p. 1
1. The Argument and matter of the New Testament.p. 1
2. Of the language and tongue wherein the New Testament was…p. 1
Quest. 1. Of the word Testament, what it signifieth, and of what…p. 2
2. Quest. Of the diuerse significations of the old and newe Testament.p. 3
3. Quest. Of the bookes of the newe Testament their number and…p. 3
1. Doct. Of the excellencie of the Newe Testament aboue, and beyond…p. 4
1. Controv. Against those which thinke it is against the nature of…p. 5
2. Controv. Against the Romanists, which hold, that the writing of…p. 5
1. Observ. Of the happinesse of these times vnder the Gospel, in…p. 6
2. Observ. The dangerous estate of those, which are found to be…p. 6
1. The Argument and Methode of S. Pauls epistles in generall, and…p. 7
Of the occasion, argument, and Methods of this Epistle of S. Paul to…p. 7
2. Of the style and phrase which S. Paul vseth in this Epistle.p. 8
1. Quest. Whether S. Paul were the Author of this Epistle.p. 9
2. Quest. Of the birth, the life, acts, and death of S. Paul.p. 10
3. Quest. Of S. Pauls place of birth.p. 10
4. Quest. Whether S. Paul were noble by birth.p. 11
5. Quest. Whether S. Paul were brought vp in the learning of the…p. 11
Quest. 6. Of the yeares of the raigne of the Emperours of Rome vnto…p. 12
7. Quest. In which yeare after the passion of Christ Paul was…p. 13
8. Quest. At what age S. Paul was conuerted.p. 13
9. Quest. How long S. Paul after his conuersion was rauished in…p. 14
10. Quest. At what time Paul was first in bonds, and of his going to…p. 14
11. Quest. Of Pauls beeing in bonds first at Cesarea, and afterward…p. 16
12. Quest. Whether S. Paul was set at libertie after he was prisoner…p. 16
13. Quest. In what yeare after the passion of Christ, and of Nero his…p. 17
14. Quest. Of Pauls person, and of the manner, and place of his death.p. 17
15. Quest. What mooued Nero to put the holy Apostle to death.p. 18
16. Quest. Of the Epistles of S. Paul the number of them.p. 19
Quest. 17. Of the order of time, wherein S. Pauls seuerall epistles…p. 20
Quest. 18. That it is no point of curiositie, but a thing verie…p. 23
Quest. 19. Of the order of placing the Epistles, and why this to the…p. 23
Quest. 20. Vnto whom this epistle to the Romanes was written, and…p. 24
Quest. 21. Of the excellencie and worthines of this epistle.p. 24
1. Doct. Of the godly custome and vse of the Church, in laying the…p. 25
1. Contr. That it is knowne, that this Epistle was written by S.…p. 25
2. Contr. That S. Pauls epistles are not so obscure, that any should…p. 25
3. Controv. Against the Ebionites, which reteined the rites and…p. 26
4. Controv. Against the Marcionites, which reiected the law of Moses.p. 26
5. Controv. Against the Romanists, which depraue the doctrine taught…p. 26
6. Controv. Against Socinus, that blasphemously subuerteth the…p. 26
7. Controv. Whether Paul may be thought to haue beene married.p. 27
1. Observ. Of the singular profit that may arise by reading of this…p. 28
1. The text with the diuers readings.p. 29
2. The Argument and parts of the Chapter.p. 31
Quest. 1. Why Paul setteth his name before this epistle.p. 32
Quest. 2. Of the two names of the Apostle, Saul, and Paul, what they…p. 32
Quest. 3. Vpon what occasion the names Saul was turned to Paul.p. 32
Quest 4. At what time the Apostles name beganne to be called Paul.p. 33
5. Quest. In what sense Paul calleth himselfe the seruant of Iesus…p. 34
Quest. 6. How Paul calleth himselfe a seruant, seeing Christ saith, I…p. 34
Quest. 7. How S. Paul saith, called to be an Apostle.p. 35
Quest. 8. Of the office and calling of an Apostle, what it was.p. 35
Quest. 9. Diuerse points, wherein consisted the excellencie of the…p. 36
10. Quest. How S. Paul is said to be set, or put apart for the Gospel…p. 37
11. Quest. Of the description of the Gospel, v. 1, 2, 3.p. 37
12. Quest. Whether the Gospel be comprehended in the old Testament.p. 38
13. Quest. How Christ is said to be made of the seede of Dauid after…p. 39
14. Quest. How it can be shewed that Christ was borne of the seede…p. 39
15. Quest. Whether Christ descended of Dauid by Salomon, or Nathan.p. 40
16. Quest. Of the meaning of these words, v.4. Declared mightily to…p. 40
17. Quest. Of the meaning of these words, Declared to be the Sonne of…p. 41
18. Quest. Of these words, according to the spirit of sanctification…p. 41
19. Quest. Of those words, by the resurrection of the dead.p. 42
Quest. 20. Of these words, v. 5. By whom we haue receiued grace and…p. 43
Quest. 21. Of the persons, whom the Apostle saluteth, to all you that…p. 43
Quest. 22. What the Apostle vnderstandeth by grace and peace. ver. 7.p. 44
Quest. 23. Of Pauls giuing of thankes for the faith of the Romanes…p. 45
Quest. 24. How the faith of the Romanes was published through the…p. 45
Quest. 25. Of the singular faith of the Romanes.p. 46
Quest. 29. Whether the Church of Rome were first founded by S. Peter.p. 46
Quest. 27. The place, Act. 28.21. reconciled.p. 47
Quest. 28. Whether this be an oath, God is my witnesse, v. 9.p. 48
29. Quest. Whether it be lawfull to sweare, and vpon what occasion.p. 48
Quest. 30. How Paul is said, to serue in the spirit.p. 48
31. Quest. v. 10. What prosperous iourney the Apostle meaneth.p. 49
32. Quest. Whether S. Paul needed to be mutually strengthened by the…p. 49
33. Quest. Of the impediments whereby S. Paul was letted to come vnto…p. 49
34. Quest. Why S. Paul expresseth not the cause in particular, which…p. 50
Quest. 35. Whether S. Pauls desire to goe to Rome, beeing therein…p. 51
Quest. 36. How S. Paul was a debter vnto all, v. 14.p. 51
Quest. 37. Whom S. Paul vnderstandeth by the Grecians and Barbarians.p. 51
38. Quest. How Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel, v. 16.p. 52
39. What the Gospel or Evangel signifieth.p. 53
40. Quest. Of the definition of the Gospel, It is the power of God…p. 53
41. Quest. Of the difference betweene the Law and the Gospel.p. 53
42. Quest. Why the Iewes are named before the Grecians, v. 16.p. 54
43. Quest. v. 17. The iustice or righteousnes of God is reuealed…p. 54
Quest. 44. Of the meaning of these words, v. 17. is reuealed from…p. 55
Quest. 45. Whether the Apostle doth rightly cite this place out of…p. 56
Quest. 46. Whether S. Paul, in citing this saying followeth the…p. 56
Quest. 47. How the wrath of God is said to be reuealed from heauen…p. 57
Quest. 48. What it is to withhold the truth in vnrighteousnesse, v.…p. 59
49. Quest. What the Apostle meaneth by these words, v. 19. That which…p. 59
Quest. 50. Of the wayes and meanes whereby the Lord doth manifest…p. 60
51. Quest. What inuisible things of God the Apostle speaketh of, and…p. 61
52. Quest. Of the knowledge which the Philosophers had of God, and by…p. 62
53. Quest. How other Scriptures, that denie all knowledge of God vnto…p. 63
54. Quest. Of the meaning of these words, That they should be…p. 63
55. Quest. Whether there is any naturall knowledge of God in man.p. 64
56. Quest. Whether the naturall knowledge, which the Heathen had of…p. 64
57. Quest. Whether any of the Philosophers were saued by that…p. 66
Quest. 58. Seeing that the naturall knowledge, which the heathen had…p. 67
Quest. 59. v. 21. How the Gentiles are said to haue knowne God, and…p. 67
Quest. 60. v. 21. How the Gentiles did not glorifie God, neither were…p. 68
Quest. 61. How the Gentiles changed the glorie of God into the image…p. 70
62. Quest. Of the diuerse kinds of idolatrie among the heathen in…p. 70
Quest. 63. Of the grosse idolatrie of the heathen in worshipping the…p. 71
Quest. 64. How God is said to haue deliuered them to their owne…p. 72
65. Quest. How the Gentiles are said to defile their bodies in…p. 75
66. Quest. How they worshipped the creature, rather then the Creator.p. 76
67. Quest. Of the vnnaturall sinnes of the heathen.p. 76
68. Quest. How one sinne is punished by an other, vpon these words…p. 77
69. Quest. How the Gentiles are said, not to regard to know God, v.…p. 78
Quest. 70. What it is to be deliuered vp to a reprobate minde.p. 79
Quest. 71. Generall obseruations out of the Catalogue of the sinnes…p. 79
Quest. 72. Of the order obserued by the Apostle in this particular…p. 80
Quest. 73. Of the particular sinnes of the Gentiles here 〈◊〉…p. 81
Quest. 74. Of the true reading of the last verse, v. 31. and the…p. 84
75. Quest. What a dangerous thing it is to be a fauourer and procurer…p. 85
76. Quest. How one may be accessarie to an others sinne.p. 85
Quest. 77. Whether all the Gentiles were guiltie of these sinnes…p. 86
4. Places of doctrine.p. 86
1. Controv. Against the Manichees, which refuse Moses and the…p. 88
2. Controv. Against election by the foresight of workes.p. 88
3. Controv. Against the Nestorians and Vbiquitaries.p. 88
4. Controv. Against the heresie of one Georgius Eniedinus, a…p. 89
5. Controv. Against the Marcionites, that Christ had a true bodie.p. 90
6. Controv. Against the Apollinarists, that Christ had no humane…p. 90
7. Controv. That the Romane faith is not the same now, which was…p. 90
8. Controv. That the Pope is not vniuersall Bishop.p. 90
Controv. 9. Against the Popish distinction, between 〈 in non-Latin…p. 91
Controv. 10. That God onely is spiritually to be serued and…p. 91
Controv. 11. Of the vaine vse of popish pilgrimages.p. 91
Controv. 12. None to be barred from the knowledge of Gods word.p. 92
Controv. 13. Against diuerse hereticall assertions of Socinus…p. 92
Controv. 14 Against inherent iustice.p. 92
Controv. 15. That the Sacraments doe not conferre grace.p. 92
Controv. 16. That faith onely iustifieth.p. 93
Controv. 17. How the Gospel is the power of God to saluation to…p. 94
Controv. 18. Of the difference between the Lawe and the Gospel.p. 94
Controv. 19. Whether by naturall meanes the Gentiles might haue…p. 95
Controv. 20. Against some Philosophers, that the world is not…p. 95
Controv. 21. Against the adoration, and setting vp of images in…p. 95
22. Controv. Of the corrupt reading of the vulgar Latine translation…p. 97
23. Controv. Against the Popish distinction of veniall and mortall…p. 97
6. Morall observations.p. 98
2. The parts, Method, and Argument.p. 100
1. Quest. To whome the Apostle here speaketh, Wherefore thou art…p. 101