tence, thus understood, describes the motive from which zeal and dili- gence should proceed. Compare Eph. 6: 5 — 8, especially the expres- sions as unto Christ, as ike servants of Christy as to the Lord, &c. ; and Col. 3 : 22, 23.
(12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. These exhortations refer to nearly related duties ; Christians are to be joyful, patient, and prayerful. However adverse their circum- stances, hope, patience, and prayer are not only duties, but the richest sources of consolation and support. ' Rejoicing on account of hope, or in the joyful expectation of future good.' This hope of salvation is the most effectual means of producing patience under present afflictions; for if we feel " that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us," it will not be difficult to bear them patiently. Intercourse with God, however, is ne- cessary to the exercise of this and all other virtues, and therefore the apostle immediately adds continuing instant in prayer. The original could hardly be better translated ; as the Greek term expresses the idea of perseverance and ardour in the prosecution of any object. There are no attributes of acceptable prayer more frequently presented in the Scrip- tures than those here referred to, viz. perseverance and fervour, which, from their nature, imply faith in the ability and willingness of God to grant us needed good. Acts 1:14. 6:4. Eph. 6 : 18, &c. &c.
(13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. These virtues are the immediate fruits of the love enjoined in vs. 9, 10. The word rendered to distribute signifies, intransitively, to become a par- taker with ; and, transitively, to cause others to partake with us, to com- viunicate to. It is commonly followed by a dative of the person to whom the communication is made. Gal. Q>: &. In this case the construction may be the same as in the preceding verses, ' as to the necessity of the saints, be communicative ;' or ' give to the necessity of the saints, shar- ing with them, i. e. communicating to them.' As intimately connected with this injunction, the apostle adds given to hospitality, as our trans- lators aptly render the strong expression of the original. The value which the early Christians placed upon the virtue of hospitality is plain from Paul's enumerating it among the requisite qualifications of a bishop, Tit. 1 : 8. During times of persecution, and before the general institu- tion of houses of entertainment, there was peculiar necessity for Chris- tians to entertain strangers. As such houses are still rarely to be met with in the east, this duty continues to be there regarded as one of the most sacred character.
(14) Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. The ex- ercise of love, and the discharge of the duties of benevolence, are not to be confined to the saints or people of God, but the same spirit is to be manifested towards our enemies. The word rendered to bless signifies both to pray for good to any one, and to do good; here, from the con- text, the former meaning is to be preferred, as it is opposed to eursingy