by which the mystical body is completed. Of these several meanings, that which best suits this passage is, fulness of blessings, or full bless- edness; i. e. their restoration to the full enjoyment of all their former privileges. ' If the loss or ruin of the Jews has been the occasion of good to the Gentiles, how much more shall their full blessedness, or complete restoration, be.'
(13) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles. This and the following verse, without being strictly a parenthesis, contain a transient remark relating to the apostle's own feel- ings and mode of acting in reference to the subject in hand. This pas- sage is connected with the last clause of the preceding verse, in which Paul had said that the conversion of the Gentiles was adapted and de- signed to bring about the restoration of the Jews. These two events, instead of being at all inconsistent, were intimately related, so that both ought to be kept constantly in view, and all eiforts to promote the former had a bearing on the accomplishment of the latter. This being the case, the Gentiles ought to consider the restoration of the Jews as in no re- spect inimical to their interests, but as on every account most desirable. Paul, therefore, says that what he had just stated in reference to the effect on the Jews, of the conversion of the Gentiles, he designed spe- cially for the latter; he wished them to consider that fact, as it would prevent any unkind feelings towards the Jews. He had the better right thus to speak, as to him especially " the gospel of the uncircumcision had been committed." He himself, in all he did to secure the salvation of the Gentiles, or to render his office successful, had an eye to the con- version of the Jews. The word rendered I magnify means first to praise, to estimate and speak highly of a thing ; secondly, to render glorious, as ch. 8 : 30, " Whom he justifies them he also glorifies ;" and so in a multitude of cases. Either sense of the word suits this passage. The latter, however, is much better adapted to the following verse, and, there- fore, is to be preferred, 'I endeavour to render my office glorious by bringing as many Gentiles as possible into the Redeemer's kingdom ; if so be it may provoke and arouse my countrymen.' The object of the apostle, therefore, in these verses, is to declare that he always acted under the influence of the truth announced at the close of the twelfth verse." He endeavoured to make the conversion of the Gentiles a means of good to the Jews.
(14) If hy any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. This is the reason (of course one among many) why Paul desired the conversion of the Gentiles. If the two events, the salvation of both classes, were intimately related, there was no ground of jealousy on either part. The Gentiles need not fear that the restoration of the Jews would be injurious to them, as though the happiness of one class were incompatible with that of the other.
(15) For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world,