render any change necessary. The principal difficulty with regard to this verse does not appear in our version. The words (et /x?/), rendered but at the beginning of the verse, mean except or unless, and this meaning they have so uniform- ly that many commentators insist that they must be so ren- dered here. Some of them say the meaning is, ' What do you know except this, that every man should remain in the condi- tion in which he was called ? ' But in this way the verse does not cohere mth the preceding one. ' How knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife ? except let every man remain as he was called.' This every one feels to be intolera- bly harsh. It would be better with others, to supply some- thing at the beginning of the verse. ' What is to be done except.'' ' Do not favour the separation of husbands and wives on account of difference in religion. God has called us to peace. The wife may save her husband, and the husband his wife. What then is to he done, except to remain in the con- dition in which you were called.' Others get over the diffi- culty by separating the d and ^jl-tj and connecting the latter with a verb understood. ' How knowest thou, O man, but that thou shalt save thy wife ? If not, i. e. if thou shalt not save her, still the principle holds good that every man should remain in the state in which he was called.' This gives a good sense, but it would require d 8e ixrj. As it is undeniable that the Greek of the New Testament, especially in the use of the particles, is in a measure conformed to the usage of the He- brew, a freer use of these particles is allowable, when the context requires it, than is common in classic writers. Most commentators therefore render the words in question as our translators have done. And so I ordain in all the churches. That is, this is the rule or order which I lay down in all churches. The apostles, in virtue of their plenary inspiration, were authorized not only to teach the doctrines of the gospel, but also to regulate all matters relating to practice.
18. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncir- cumcision ? let him not be circumcised.
This is the first application of the principle just laid down.
Let every man remain as he is, circumcised or uncii'cumcised.
The Jews were wont, when they abandoned their religion, to
endeavour to obliterate the mark of circumcision. The Juda-
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