some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the very pur- pose of building up the church, and through them as the chan- nels of the truth and grace of Christ, the church was to be brought to the end of its high calling. Ch. 4, 1-16.
They should not, therefore, live as did the other Gentiles, who, being in a state of darkness and alienation from God, gave themselves up to uncleanness and avarice. On the contrary, having been taught by Christ, they should put off the old man, and be renewed after the image of God. Avoiding all false- hood, all undue anger, all dishonesty, all improper language, all malice, all impurity and covetousness, they should walk as children of the light, reproving evil, striving to do good, and expressing their joy by singing hymns to Christ, and giving thanks to God. Ch. 4, 17. 5, 20.
He impresses upon his readers reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ as the great principle of Christian obedience. He applies this principle especially to the domestic obligations of men. The marriage relation is illustrated by a reference to the union between Christ and the church. The former is an obscure adumbration of the latter. Marriage is shown to be not merely a civil contract, not simply a voluntary compact between the parties, but a vital union producing a sacred iden- tity. The violation of the marriage relation is, therefore, pre- sented as one of the greatest of crimes and one of the greatest of evils. Parents and children are bound together not only by natural ties, but also by spiritual bands; and, therefore, the obedience on the part of the child, and nurture on the part of the parent, should be religious. Masters and slaves, however different their condition before men, stand on the same level before God; a consideration which exalts the slave, and hum- bles and restrains the master. Finally, the apostle teaches his readers the nature of that great spiritual conflict on which they have entered; a conflict, not with men but with the powers of darkness. He tells them what armour they need, how it is to be used, and whence strength is to be obtained to bring them off victorious. Ch. 5,21. 6, 1-20.
xx INTRODUCTION.
§ VIII. Commentaries.
The most important modern commentaries on this epistle are the following: Koppe, in the sixth vol. of his Annotations on the epistles of the N. T. att,in a distinct volume. J. A. Holzhausen, 1833, pp. 195. L. J. Ruckert, 1833, pp. 306. This is a valuable work, though the author prides himself on his independence not only of theological system, but also of the Scriptures, and writes with a certain air of supe- riority over the apostle. F. H. Meier, 1834, pp. 231, less im- portant. G.C. A. Harless, 1834, pp. 574. This is the most elaborate commentary on this epistle which has yet been pub- lished. It is orthodox and devout, but is wearisome from its diffuseness and lack of force. De Wette, in the second volume of his Exegetisches Handbuch—very condensed, but evinces little regard to the authority of the sacred writers. Olshau- sen, in the fourth volume of his Commentar tiber das N. Τὶ, devout, able, and mystical H. A. W. Meyer, Achte Abthei- lung of his Kritisch Exegetischer Commentar tiber das N. T. Meyer is, perhaps, the ablest commentator on the New Testa- ment of modern times. His theological stand-point is that of high Arianism. He evinces deference to authority of Scrip- ture, but does not hesitate to impute error or false reason- ing to the apostles. John Eadie, D.D., Professor of Bib. Literature to the United Presbyterian Church, 1854, pp. 466. This is a work of great research, and contains a full exhibition of the views of all preceding commentators. It is an impor- tant and valuable addition to our exegetical literature.