“It is so ordered in the judgment of God that all are effectively
inclosed in the fold of the disobedient and so hemmed in to disobedience
that there is no possibility of escape from the servitude except as the
mercy of God gives release. There is no possiblilty of toning down the
severity of the action here stated.”
“It is, however, the severity that exhibits the glory of the main thought of this verse. It is ‘that he might have mercy upon all.’ The more we reflect upon the implications of the first clause the more enhanced becomes our apprehension of the marvel of the second. And it is not mere correlation of disobedience and mercy that we have now; it is that the shutting up to disobedience without any amelioration of the severity involved, is directed to the end of showing mercy” (New International Commentary series on Romans, p.102).
“It is, however, the severity that exhibits the glory of the main thought of this verse. It is ‘that he might have mercy upon all.’ The more we reflect upon the implications of the first clause the more enhanced becomes our apprehension of the marvel of the second. And it is not mere correlation of disobedience and mercy that we have now; it is that the shutting up to disobedience without any amelioration of the severity involved, is directed to the end of showing mercy” (New International Commentary series on Romans, p.102).
