In the church by Christ Jesus.* The original is, ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐν Χριστῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ, which Luther ren- ders, in the church which is in Christ, i. e. the Chris- tian church. This interpretation is adopted by several modern commentators. But in that case the article τῇ before ἐν Χριστῷ ought not to be omitted. Besides, as the Christian church is the only church which could be thought of, the addition of the words i Christ would be unnecessary. The ordinary interpretation, therefore, is to be preferred. Glory is to be rendered to God in the church, and in and through Christ Jesus, as her head and representative. The church is the company of the redeemed here and in heaven; which constitutes one body through which God is to manifest his manifold wisdom, and which is through all ages to ascribe unto him glory, honour, and dominion.
The idea of eternity or of endless duration is va- riously expressed in Scripture. Sometimes eternity is conceived of as one, and the singular αἴων is used; sometimes as an endless succession of periods or ages, and then the plural αἰῶνες is used. Thus εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, to eternity, and εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, or εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, to the ages indefinitely, i. e. endless ages, alike mean, for ever. So βασιλεὺς τοῦ αἰῶνος, king of eter- nity, and βασιλεὺς τῶν αἰώνων, king of endless ages,
* The Text here varies considerably. The Uncial MSS., A and ©, several of the later ones, the Coptic and Vulgate, Jerome and Pelagius read, ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ ; D, F, G invert the order and read, ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ. The majority of editors retain the common Text.
CHAP. ΠΙ. vs. 20. 21. 195
both mean the king eternal. The peculiarity of the case before us is, that the apostle combines these two forms: εἰς πάσας Tas γενεὰς TOD αἰῶνος τῶν αἰώνων, to all the generations of an eternity of ages. This is in keeping with the cumulative character of the whole context. Finding no ordinary forms of expression suited to his demands, the apostle heaps together terms of the largest import to give some vent to thoughts and aspirations which he felt to be unutterable. These things belong to the στεναγμοὶ ἀλαλήτοι of which he speaks in Rom. 8, 26.