ACC ~ Romans 9 v16

UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS. ORIGEN: This must be understood in the light of what David says in the psalm: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” From this we learn that it is not because the builder sits idly by that God builds the house for him but because he works and expends as much labor and care as lies within human power, but yet it belongs to God to remove all the obstacles and bring the work to completion. Thus, man is called to work as hard as he can, but God will crown the work with success. Therefore it is godly and right for a man to leave the completion of his work to God and not to another human being. Likewise, Paul sowed and Apollos watered but God gave the increase, “so neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” In the same way, we can say that “it depends not upon man’s will or exertion but upon God’s mercy.” COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

DIODORE: God is not unjust simply because he does not give everyone what they deserve. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THE EXAMPLE OF SAUL AND DAVID. AMBROSIASTER: When Saul asked forgiveness for his sin he did not receive it, but David, when he confessed his sin, did receive forgiveness. However, it cannot be said on this basis that God judged unjustly by granting forgiveness to the one and withholding it from the other. For the one who looks on the heart knows in what spirit the penitent is making his request and whether it de-serves to be heard. And although it is dangerous to try to figure out God’s judgment, yet in the case of unbelievers, who reap the reward of their own minds, it cannot be said that God’s judgment is unjust.

Look at the stories of Saul and David and ask yourself what happened to them after God’s judgment. Did Saul do what was right after he was refused mercy? Did he prove that God’s judgment was unjust? Did David after receiving mercy turn his back on God? Or did he remain in him from whom he received mercy? COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

MAN’S WILL AND RUNNING. JEROME: It is clear from this passage that the willing and running are ours, but the fulfillment of our willing and running belongs to the mercy of God. So it is that free will is preserved as far as our willing and running is concerned and that everything depends on the power of God as far as the fulfillment of our willing and running is concerned. AGAINST THE PELAGIANS 1.5.

IT DEPENDS UPON GOD’S MERCY. AUGUSTINE: Paul does not take away the freedom of the will but says that our will is not sufficient unless God helps us, making us compassionate so that we might do good works by the gift of the Holy Spirit. … We cannot will unless we are called, and when we will after our calling neither our will nor our striving is enough unless God gives strength to our striving and leads us where he calls. It is therefore clear that it is not by willing nor by striving but by the mercy of God that we do good works, even though our will (which by itself can do nothing) is also present. AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 62.

[PSEUDO-]CONSTANTIUS: From here to [verse 19] the apostle Paul assumes the role of devil’s advocate, saying that we do not have it in us to do either good or evil, but that this is found only in the will of God. The actual words of the devil’s advocate are taken from Isaiah. THE HOLY LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

PELAGIUS: The Jewish argument here goes like this: “It does not depend on the one who wills or on the one who runs; God has mercy on whomever he wills and hardens whomever he wills.” The apostle, though, does not take away what we possess in our own will. … For if the Jewish argument is correct, why does Paul run, as when he says: “I have finished the race,”and why does he urge others to run? For this reason it is understood that here Paul takes the role of the one who questions (and refutes), not of the one who denies. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

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