The word; the word of reconciliation between God and man, not only between God and the Jews, but between him and the Gentiles also, he had sent unto Israel by his prophets formerly. God is said to create peace to him that is afar off, the Gentile, as well as to him that is near, the Jew, Isaiah 57:19; and that salvation was not limited to the Jews only, Psalms 72:7,8 Isa 49:6, might be known unto them by the examples of Melchizedck, Job, and Naaman, who did no ways belong unto them; but this was now more manifest: God preaching this peace between himself and all nations indifferently:
1. By Christ in his own person preaching this, Matthew 8:11, and telling them that by his death he would draw all men unto him, 1 Thessalonians 12:32.
2. This peace is preached to be had by Christ, or only through Christ, by the angels themselves, Luke 2:14. And:
3. By all the apostles and ministers of the gospel. Speaking to the Gentiles, St. Paul says, Ye who were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ, Ephesians 2:13; and it was their constant doctrine, that there was no name under heaven by which men could be saved, but the name of Christ, Acts 4:12; and that it was all one whether they were Greeks or Jews, &c., but Christ is all, and in all, Colossians 3:11: so that in this doctrine there is an exact harmony between the Old and New Testaments, the prophets and the apostles. He is Lord of all; Christ is Lord, not of the Jews, or one people, only; but of the Gentiles, all nations, also, as Matthew 28:19,20 Ro 3:29.