Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans

Book One

91 BOOK ONE AUL. FOLLOWING the custom of those who write epistles, he who encourages them to true salvation places the greeting at the beginning. He prefixes this greeting with certain things that he adds, as it were in place of a preface, through which he might in a few words make those who were attentive either willing to learn or well disposed. He makes them attentive both by his own person and by the person of Christ who sends him, and by that very thing, that is, the Gospel teaching which he encourages them to observe; by his own person, since he commends it as set apart for the apostleship and called by God to the preaching of the Gospel; but he also commends the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he also calls “Son of God” and claims that it is he who was promised to the fathers as the Redeemer of the human race, and who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and arose as the great raiser of the dead. But he does not neglect the commendation of the Gospel , since he mentions that it was itself promised through the Holy Scriptures of the prophets of God. Their ability to learn is noted in this way, that because he says that the duty of the preaching of the Gospel was imposed on himself, he proclaims that he will write about these things that pertain to the teaching of the Gospel. He also wins them over to himself when he confesses that he is both Christ’s servant and theirs, both by his humility and by the love1 which they had for Christ, as well as by these things which he adds concerning the love which he has for them, when he thanks God especially for their conversion and longs to come to them that he might instruct or confirm them more fully.—Now let us follow the text. (47) [1.1] 1. Amor, here and in the next line. 92 PETER ABELARD We must note that, according to the Exposition of Rufinus on this epistle, which is believed to be a translation of the Exposition of Origen, the Apostle had two names before he was converted. He who was Paul was formerly called Saul, “just as it is written,” [Origen] says, “in the Acts of the Apostles: ‘Saul, who was also called Paul.’”2 According to Jerome (48) and Augustine or others ,3 the Apostle himself changed his name because of Paul the proconsul, whom he converted with his first miracle, as is written in Acts.4 He adopted this name, so that he might now be called Paul, just as he was called Saul before, so that after his conversion, just as he adopted a new life, or rather the new duty of preaching, so also he might choose a new name. The Lord did the same thing with the Apostle Peter, by whom he who was called Simon previously was, after his conversion, called Peter.5 Therefore, the Roman Church also established the custom that those whom it exalts on the seat of blessed Peter, it also changes their names. But he was called Saul, as if he were named for the previous Saul from the same tribe, that is, of Benjamin, and in the persecution of the faithful he imitated the Saul who persecuted David and his own,6 just as this Saul persecuted Christ and his members.7 To him [Christ] said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”8 But Jerome is witness, that just as “Jacob” translated into Latin is “Jacobus,” and “Joseph,” “Josephus;” so also “Saul” is now called “Saulus,” just as if it were a name of three syllables, although we are accustomed to enlarge a bisyllabic with a diphthong.9 It seems that Saulus is a diminutive of Saul, just as Julius is of Julus. But just as Saul was humble at first and later became proud, on the contrary this Saul, at first proud and the great persecutor of the Church, is now called Paul, that is, “small,” or “quiet” on account of humility, for according to Augustine, “Paul” means “little” in Latin. Therefore, we also say, “wait a little,” that is, a 2. Acts 13.9; see Origen, Rom., Praef. 3. Jerome, Philem. 1; Augustine, conf., 8.4. 4. Acts 13.6–12. 5. Mk 3.16; Lk 6.14; Jn 1.42. 6. 1 Sm 18–30. 7. Rom 11.1; Phil 3...