The proper signification of the words in this verse is much to be heeded, as that which will give us much light into the sense of the whole. Tpéwrss is “ decet,” “convenit,” “ dignum est;” “it becometh,” it is “ meet,” “ convenient, or “ just.” Tlpérov Ocois, in Plato, is rendered by Cicero, “ Deo decorum,” “that which be- cometh God;”’ and saith he, ‘‘IIpéaov, appellant hoe Graci, nos dicamus sane decorum ;” that which becometh any one in his state and condition, in a moral sense; as, “ Holiness becometh the house,’—that is, the people of God. Kara ro aperov, “ut decet,” “ut par est;” that which is equal and right to be done. Ipérovex 71%, is “ honour justly deserved ;” and rpéxoven Cnuia, “ just loss” or “punishment.” The word, then, signifies that decency and becomingness which justice, reason, and equity require, so that the contrary would be unmeet, be- cause unequal and unjust. Thus every one’s duty, that which is morally incum- bent on him in his place and station, is that which becomes him; and hence in the New Testament, that which is not zara re xpézoy, thus decent, is condemned as evil, 1 Cor. xi. 13; 1 Tim. ii. 10. And itself is commended as a rule of vir- tue, Matt. iii. 15; Eph. v. 3.
Aé é». Aré with an accusative case constantly denotes the final cause, “ prop- ter quem,” “for whom:” Rev. iv. 11, 30 éxtisas rd reévre, “Thou hast created all things” (all things universally, with the article prefixed, as in this place), xa bik TO SAnwe aov sisl, xal éxricdnony, “and for thy will” (« thy pleasure,” “ thy glory”) “they are, and were created.” Rom. xi. 36, Eis oy ra xavrw, “To whom” (to him, or for him, or his glory) “are all things.” Prov. xvi. 4, amazed mim pe | 22 ,—* The Lorp hath made all things for pica 3’ his glory is the final cause of dicen all.
376 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IL
Kal 00 od re revere, “and by whom are all things.” Ar with a genitive de- notes the efficient cause. Some from this expression would have the Son to be the person here spoken of, because concerning him it is frequently said that all things are Of atrod, John i. 3, 1 Cor. viii. 6, Heb. i. 3; but it is used also with reference unto the Father, Rom. xi. 36, Gal. i. 1. Schlichtingius here gives it for a rule, that when de relates unto the Father, it denotes the principal efficient cause ; when unto the Son, the instrumental. But it is a rule of his own coining, a groundless eftlux of his eparov Weddos, that the Son is not God ; on which kind of presumptions men may found what rules they please. The principal efficiency or supreme production of all things by God is intended in this expression.
“Ayayovre, “bringing,” a word of common use and known signification, but in this place attended with a double difficulty, from a double enallage in the use of it:—TFirst, in the case; for whereas it seems to relate unto aire, “it became him in bringing,” it should then regularly be &yeyovri, not dyayovre. Hence some, by supposing a ovyxvors in the words, refer it unto dpxnyev, the author;” as if the apostle had said, Tov dpxynyoy rijs cwrnples abray rorrods vlads dycyoure, —*To make perfect the captain of their salvation, who brought many sons unto glory.” But this transposition of the words, neither the context nor the addition of adray, * their,” unto carnplas, “ their salvation,” relating unto the sons before mentioned, will by any means allow. Wherefore an enallage of the case is neces- sarily to be allowed, &yayovre for &yeydvrs, unless we suppose a repetition of ’apere, which frequently admits of the accusative case ; but the principal author is unquestionably intended. Again, &yeyevre is a participle of the second aoris- tus, which usually denotes the time past, and thence is it translated by many, * adduxit,” “adduxerat,” and “filiis adductis ;’— after he had brought many sons to glory.” And this some refer to the saints who died under the old testa- ment, unto whom the Lord Christ was no less a captain of salvation than to us. And so the apostle shows that after they were saved on his account, it was meet that he should answer for them, according to his undertaking. But neither doth this restraining of the word answer the apostle’s intention; for it is evident that he principally minded them unto whom the Lord Jesus became eminently a cap- tain of salvation after he was perfected by sufferings, though not exclusively unto them that went before. “Ayayovre, then, is put for &yovre, unless we shall sup- pose that the act of God here intended was on purpose thus expressed to com- prehend all the sons, both those that lived before and those that lived after the sufferings of Christ,—* bringing,” “leading,” “ bearing unto glory.” It concerns the whole execution of the design of God for the salvation and glorification of believers. IloAAods viovs, “many sons,” Jews and Gentiles, all that were by faith to become his sons.
Toy dpxnyov, “the author.” Wherever this word is used in the New Testa- ment it is applied unto Christ. Acts iii, 15, he is called dpxnyes ris Cats, “the prince of life;” and chap. v. 31, God is said to make him edpxyyoy zal cwrijpee, “a prince and a saviour;” that is, dexnyev ris cwrnples, as here, “the prince of our salvation.” Heb. xii, 2, the apostle calls him, réy rig wlorsag apynyov ree TeAgi@rHy, as we render it, “the author and finisher of faith;” as here God is said rereiaoas Tov cpxnyov, to finish or perfect this author of our salvation. No- where else is this word used in the New Testament. It answers justly the Hebrew 723, which the LXX. render dpxay and jyovmevos, the signification of both which words is included in dpxynyds, “ princeps,” “ dux,” “ prases,” “ auctor,’— a prince,” “ captain,” “ruler,” “ author.” And it is used in writers with respect to works good and bad. ’Apxnyds xeel Uudeoxcroe ray Yoav roodran, Isocrat. ;—* The author and teacher of such works.” And dpxnyes rod xeexovp~ viworos, “artifex maleficii,’—* the principal contriver of mischief.” Tt is also used for the author of a stock, race, or kindred of men, In this place it is