and the latter all the southern part of Greece. It is in this wide sense Achaia is always nsed in the New Testament. From this it aj^pears that the converts to Christianity in Greece were at this time very few out of Corinth, as they were all members of the church ui that city. Grace and 2)eace^ the favour of God and its fruits, comprehend all the benefits of redemption. The apostle's j^rayer is not only that believers may be the objects of the love of God our Father and of Jesus Christ our Lord, but that they may have the assurance of that love. He knew that the sense of the love of God would keep their hearts in perfect peace. God is our Father, Jesus Christ is our Lord. Every one feels the dis- tinction in this relationship, whether he reduces it to clear conceptions in his own mind or not. God, as God, is our father because he is the father of all spirits, and because, if believers, we are born agam by his Spirit, and adopted as his children, made the objects of his love and the heirs of his kingdom. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God clothed in our nature^ is our Lord, for two reasons : first, because as God he is our absolute sovereign ; and secondly, because as Redeemer he has purchased us by his own most precious blood. To him, therefore, as God and Redeemer, our alle- giance as Christians is specially due.
3. Blessed (be) God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort.
This richness and variety of designations for the object of his reverence and gratitude, shows how full was the apostle's heart, and how it yearned after fellowship with God, to whom he places himself in every possible connection by thus multi- plying the terms expressive of the relations which God bears to his redeemed people. Blessed. The word ^vkoy-qro^ (blessed) is used in the New Testament only of God. (In Luke 1,28, where the Virgin Mary is spoken of, ivXoyqixiirq is used.) It expresses at once gratitude and adoration. Adored be God ! is the expression of the highest veneration and thankfulness. It is not God merely as God, but as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the object of the apostle's adoration and gratitude. The cxjn-ession does not refer to the miraculous conception of our Lord, but the person ad- dressed is he whose eternal Son assumed our nature, who, as