faith in Christ. This is explanatory of the first clause of the verse, ἐν ᾧ---διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ, in whom, i. e. by faith of Him ; faith of which he is the object. Comp. 2,18. It is the discovery of the dignity of his person, confidence in the efficacy of his blood, and assurance of his love, all of which are included, more or less consciously, in faith, that enables us joyfully to draw near to God. This is the great question which every sinner needs to have answered—How may I come to God with the assurance of acceptance? The answer given by the apostle and confirmed by the experience of the saints of all ages is, ‘ By faith in Jesus Christ.’ It is because men rely on some other means of access, either bringing some worthless bribe in their hands, or trusting to some other mediator, priestly or saintly, that so many fail who seek to enter God’s presence.
V.13. Wherefore, i. e. because we have this access to God, the sum of all good, we ought to be superior to all the afflictions of this life, and maintain habitually a joyful spirit. Being the subjects of such a redemp- tion and having this liberty of access to God, believers ought not to be discouraged by all the apparently ad- verse circumstances attending the propagation of the Gospel. As neither the object of the verb αἰτοῦμαι, nor the subject of the verb ἐκκακεῖν is expressed, this verse admits of different explanations. It may mean, ‘I pray you that you faint not ;’ or, ‘I pray God that I faint not;’ or, ‘I pray God that ye faint not.’ Whether the object of the verb be “ God” or “ you,”