[1] Dr H. Bonar.
[2] _Heth o katelephthen_: grammatically we may render, "inasmuch as I was seized"; cp. the Greek of Rom. v. 12; 1 Cor. v. 4. But the connexion of thought seems to be best met by the above rendering, which is practically that of A.V. and R.V.
[3] _Stephanos_, as in 1 Cor. ix. 25, Rev. iii. 11, and often. _Stephanos_ is properly the victor's wreath, _diadema_ the king's crown (Rev. xix. 12).--For a short essay on St Paul's use of athletic metaphors see this Epistle in _The Cambridge Greek Testament_, Appendix.
[4] _Klesis_, _kalein_, _kletoi_, in the Epistles will be found regularly to refer not to the general _invitations_ of the Gospel, but to the actually prevailing power of God over the wills of His people. See particularly 1 Cor. i. 23, 24, where the "call" is clearly distinguished from the general proclamation, which alas so many "Greeks" and "Jews" heard, but only to reject it.
[5] _Hephthasamen_: the verb seems always to indicate not merely reaching, but reaching _with some difficulty_. I attempt to express this in the translation.
[6] There is good evidence for omitting the words _kanoni, to auto phronein_.--_Stoichein_ is more in detail than _peripatein_: "to _step_," not only "to walk." See the Greek of Rom. iv. 12.
"Sovereign Lord and gracious Master, Thou didst freely choose Thine own, Thou hast call'd with holy calling, Thou wilt save, and keep from falling; Thine the glory, Thine alone! Yet Thy hand shall crown in heaven All the grace Thy love hath given; Just, though undeserv'd, reward From our glorious, gracious Lord." F. R. HAVERGAL.