V. 8. Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεός, Blessed be God. The word εὐλογεῖν, like its English equivalent, to dless, signifies to praise, as when we bless God; to pray for blessings, as when we bless others; and to bestow blessings, as when God blesses us. Blessed be God who hath blessed us, is then the expression of thanksgiving and praise to God on account of those peculiar benefits which we receive from him through Christ.
God is here designated as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is, he is at once God and Father, sustaining both these relations to Christ. Our Saviour used a similar form of expression, when he said, ‘I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to my God and your God.’ John 20,17. The God in whom the Israelites trusted was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; their covenant God. This designa- tion served to remind the ancient people.of God of his promise to their fathers, and of their peculiar conse-
* quent relationship to him. The God in whom we are