ACC ~ Romans 9 v32

BASED ON WORKS. ORIGEN: The apostle would never say that they did not fulfill the law which they pursued, which they had and held in their hands. Rather he is explaining why Israel was unable to fulfill the law. It was because they relied on works, not on faith. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

AMBROSIASTER: The Jews rejected faith, which as I have said is the fulfillment of the law, and instead claimed that they were justified by works, that is, by the sabbath, the new moons, circumcision and so on. They forgot that Scripture says that “the just shall live by faith.” COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

[PSEUDO-]CONSTANTIUS: Paul says this because the Jewish people, thinking that they could be justified by the works of the law, were unable to come to the law of righteousness, that is to say, to faith in Christ. THE HOLY LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

THE STUMBLING STONE. PELAGIUS: The man who sees a stone does not stumble, but the blind man dashes himself against it. This is what happened to the Jews, who were blinded by their hatred and crucified Christ because they did not recognize him. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: It is impossible to be justified by the works of the law because it would be necessary to keep the whole law, which is not possible. But anyone who sins (which is inevitable) lies under the judgment of the law. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

GENNADIUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE: Paul calls the Lord Christ a stumbling stone because those who did not accept the new covenant in him stumbled over him and by their unbelief fell from the grace of justification which was given to men through him. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

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