Anf-01 ix.vi.xxxv Pg 4
Rom. iii. 21.
For by His advent He Himself fulfilled all things, and does still fulfil in the Church the new covenant foretold by the law, onwards to the consummation [of all things]. To this effect also Paul, His apostle, says in the Epistle to the Romans, “But now,4343 4343
Anf-01 iii.ii.ix Pg 2
Otto refers for a like contrast between these two times to Rom. iii. 21–26, Rom. v. 20 and Gal. iv. 4. [Comp. Acts xvii. 30.]
endured, He permitted us to be borne along by unruly impulses, being drawn away by the desire of pleasure and various lusts. This was not that He at all delighted in our sins, but that He simply endured them; nor that He approved the time of working iniquity which then was, but that He sought to form a mind conscious of righteousness,310 310 The reading and sense are doubtful.
so that being convinced in that time of our unworthiness of attaining life through our own works, it should now, through the kindness of God, be vouchsafed to us; and having made it manifest that in ourselves we were unable to enter into the kingdom of God, we might through the power of God be made able. But when our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward,311 311 Both the text and rendering are here somewhat doubtful, but the sense will in any case be much the same.
punishment and death, was impending over us; and when the time had come which God had before appointed for manifesting His own kindness and power, how312 312 Many variations here occur in the way in which the lacuna of the mss. is to be supplied. They do not, however, greatly affect the meaning.
the one love of God, through exceeding regard for men, did not regard us with hatred, nor thrust us away, nor remember our iniquity against us, but showed great long-suffering, and bore with us,313 313
Anf-02 vi.iii.i.viii Pg 50.1
Anf-03 v.iv.vi.xiii Pg 31
Rom. iii. 21, 22.
What means this distinction? Has your god been subserving the interests of the Creator’s dispensation, by affording time to Him and to His law? Is the “Now” in the hands of Him to whom belonged the “Then”? Surely, then, the law was His, whose is now the righteousness of God. It is a distinction of dispensations, not of gods. He enjoins those who are justified by faith in Christ and not by the law to have peace with God.5814 5814
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Chapter 3
VERSE (21) - Ro 1:17; 5:19,21; 10:3,4 Ge 15:6 Isa 45:24,25; 46:13; 51:8; 54:17
