For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Ver. 4. For whatsoever things, &c.] Here the apostle meets with an objection. For some man might say, that that saying of the Psalms pertains to David, how therefore is it applied to Christ? He answers, Whatsoever things, &c. q.d. We must learn to see Christ in David; David in the history, Christ in the mystery; David as the type, Christ the truth.
That we through patience] Hence the Scriptures are called, The word of Christ's patience, Revelation 3:10, because they patient the heart under God's holy hand; and are better called medicine for the soul (η της ψυχης ιατρεια) than ever was the library of Alexandria.
And comfort of the Scriptures] As the blood and spirits are conveyed by the veins and arteries, so is the Spirit by the promises, helping the soul to lay itself upon Christ by faith, which is a grace of union, and so of establishment.