ACC ~ Romans 4 v15

HOW THE LAW BRINGS WRATH. ORIGEN: Paul says that the law brings wrath in order to underline his point, [made in the previous verse,] that it is not the pathway to the inheritance of the promise.

The law which brings transgression cannot be the law of Moses, because there was plenty of transgression before that came into force. Rather, it is the law which dwells in our members and leads us into sin. This is the same law which the apostle says brings wrath. For without a doubt it brings wrath when it leads its captive into sin. But where the law of sin does not obtain, then of course there is no transgression. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

HOW FAITH BRINGS JOY. AMBROSIASTER: In order to show that no man can be justified before God by the law, nor can the promise be given through the law, Paul says that “the law brings wrath.” It was given in order to make transgressors guilty. But faith is the gift of God’s mercy, so that those who have been made guilty by the law may obtain forgiveness. Therefore faith brings joy. Paul does not speak against the law but gives priority to faith. It is not possible to be saved by the law, but we are saved by God’s grace through faith. Therefore the law itself is not wrath, but it brings wrath, i.e., punishment, to the sinner, for wrath is born from sin. For this reason Paul wants the law to be abandoned so that the sinner will take refuge in faith, which forgives sins, that he may be saved.

Paul says that “where there is no law there is no transgression,” because once the guilty have been removed from the power of the law and given forgiveness, there is no transgression. For those who were sinners because they had transgressed the law are now justified. For the law of works has ceased, that is, the observance of sabbaths, new moons, circumcision, distinction of foods and the expiation by a dead animal or the blood of a weasel. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE OBSTACLE TO INHERITANCE REMOVED. CHRYSOSTOM: The law works wrath and makes those who are under it liable for their transgressions, which is a curse, not a promise! … But when faith comes it brings grace with it, and so the promise takes effect. For where there is grace there is forgiveness, and where there is forgiveness there is no punishment. Once punishment is removed and righteousness takes hold from faith, there is no obstacle to our becoming heirs of the promise. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 8.

AUGUSTINE: This applies to the second state of man, when he is under the law. AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 23.

AUGUSTINE: Paul said this because God’s wrath is more severe toward a transgressor who knows sin by the law and still commits it. GRACE AND FREE WILL 10.22.

THE LAW WEIGHED SINNERS DOWN. PELAGIUS: The law brings wrath because it was ordained for the unrighteous, and it weighed sinners down rather than set them free. … Where there is no law there is nothing which can be broken. Or perhaps this means that there is nothing to be punished where the law is not necessary. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

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