all hostile powers, whether demoniacal or human. These are to be2yy>t down^ i. e. effectually subdued ; not annihilated, and not converted ; but simply deprived of all power to disturb the harmony of his kingdom.
25. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
This verse assigns the reason why Christ cannot relinquish his dominion over the universe as mediator until the end comes, and why he will then dehver it up. He must reign until the purpose for which he was invested with this univer- sal dominion is accomplished. As in Ps. 110 it is said to the Messiah, " Sit thou on my right hand until I make thy ene- mies thy footstool," many assume that God is the subject of the verb has put. The meaning would then be, ' He must reign until God has put all his enemies under his feet.' But this is inconsistent with the context. Christ is to put down all rule, authority and power, v. 24, and he reigns until he has accomplished that work. The two modes of representation are perfectly consistent. The Father created the world, though he did it through the Son, Heb. 1, 3. The work, therefore, is sometimes ascribed to the one and sometimes to the other. In like manner the Father subdues the powers of darkness, but it is through Christ to whom all power in heaven and earth has been committed. It is therefore equally proper to say that God makes the enemies of Christ his foot- stool, and that Christ himself puts his enemies under his feet. The enemies who are to be thus subdued are not only intelli- gent beings hostile to Christ, but all the forms of evil, physical and moral, because death is specially included. By subduing, however, is not meant destroying or banishing out of existence. The passage does not teach that Christ is to reign until all evil is banished from the universe. Satan is said to be subdued, when deprived of his power to injure the people of God. And evil in like manner is subdued when it is restrained with- in the limits of the kingdom of darkness.
26. The last enemy (that) shall be destroyed (is) death.
Death shall reign until the resurrection. Then men shall never more be subject to his power. Then death shall be swallowed up in victory, Luke 20, 26. " Neither shall they die any more," 2 Tim. 1, 10. Rev. 20, 14.