A Critical and Doctrinal Commentary Upon the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans
Overview
First published in 1879, this volume contains Shedd’s detailed and thorough commentary on each chapter of the book of Romans. In this verse-by-verse commentary, Shedd pays careful attention to the Greek text, while providing detailed exposition for pastors and scholars. Widely cited and highly influential for generations of commentators on Romans, this commentary has become a standard text on Paul’s most important epistle.
Top Highlights
“n addition to that already given, that justification is necessarily connected with sanctification,” (Page 178)
“The aim of the Epistle to the Romans is didactic. The main object of Paul is, to furnish the Roman Church with a comprehensive statement of evangelical doctrine.” (Page 4)
“It is Christ’s rational human nature, they assert, as distinguished from his physical human nature: this higher spiritual side of Christ’s humanity was filled with the Holy Spirit. But the mere possession of reason in distinction from sense, even though reason be sanctified and inspired by the Holy Spirit, would not be a mighty indication that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. The Old Testament prophets possessed πνεῦμα in this sense, and were both sanctified and inspired, so that while there might be a difference in degree between Christ and them, there would be none in kind. Furthermore, the πνεῦμα here attributed to Christ was something in respect to which he was not ‘of the seed of David.’” (Page 11)
“If the sinner himself made this expiation, he would not ‘receive’ it, but would give it. This would be personal atonement. He cannot make it himself; and it is graciously made for him. This is vicarious atonement, which he ‘accepts’ and ‘receives,’ by faith.” (Page 119)
“The divine love is not lust, and the divine anger is not rage. Both are energies and effluences from a holy essence; the one terminating upon good, and the other upon evil. The divine ὀργὴ is the wrath of reason and law against their contraries.” (Page 19)
- Title: A Critical and Doctrinal Commentary Upon the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans
- Author: William G.T. Shedd
- Publisher: Charles Scribner & Co.
- Publication Date: 1879
- Pages: 439
William Shedd (1820–1894) is considered one of the greatest theologians of the American Presbyterian church. He studied at the University of Vermont under James Marsh, where he encountered the writings of Samuel Taylor. Shedd graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1843 and, soon after, became a minister for a congregational church in Vermont for two years.
Shedd taught at many universities, including University of Vermont, Auburn Theological Seminary, Andover Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary. While at Union, Shedd defended the Reformed theology of Old School Presbyterian against the increasing influence of modernism and higher criticism.
One of Shedd’s better-known titles is Dogmatic Theology. Other titles include A History of Christian Doctrine and The Doctrine of Endless Punishment, which can be found in the William G. T. Shedd Collection.
