Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. It is impossible to tell what it cost Paul to write Chapter 1. It is a shame even to speak of the things, but Paul felt that it was necessary to break through his shame, and to speak out concerning the hideous vices of the heathen. Monsters that revel in darkness must be dragged into the open, that they may be withered up by the light. After Paul has thus written in anguish he bethought himself of his chief comfort. He clings to the gospel with a greater tenacity than ever. Here he did not speak of it as "the gospel," but as "my gospel." He felt that he could not live in the midst of so depraved a people without holding the gospel with both hands, and grasping it as his very own. "My gospel." Not that Paul was the author of it, not that Paul had an exclusive monopoly of its blessings, but that he had so received it from Christ Himself, and so fully taken it into himself that he could not do less than call it "my gospel." In another place he speaks of "our gospel"; to show how believers identify themselves with the truth which they preach. 1. He had a definite form of truth, and he believed in it beyond all doubt; and therefore he spoke of it as "my gospel." Herein we hear the voice of faith, which seems to say, "Though others reject it, I am sure of it," "Should all the forms that men devise," etc. 2. Is not this word "my gospel" the voice of love? Does he not by this word embrace the gospel as the only love of his soul — for the sake of which he had suffered the loss of all things, and for the sake of which he was willing to proclaim, even in Caesar's palace, the message from heaven? Though each word should cost him a life, he was willing to die a thousand deaths for the holy cause. 3. Does not this show his courage! As much as to say, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." 4. There is a touch of discrimination about the expression. Paul perceives that there are other gospels, and he makes short work with them. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.WEB: in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ. |
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