27. Boasting (xavynous). Rev., glorying. Only once out- side of Paul’s writings, Jas. iv. 16. See on rejovceth, Jas. ii. 13. Not ground of boasting, which would be Kavynua, as Rom. Iv. 2; 2 Cor. i. 14; Philip. i. 26, The reference is to the glorying of the Jew (ch. ii. 17), proclaiming his own goodness and the merit of his ceremonial observances.
It is excluded (é£exrelo9n). A peculiarly vivid use of the aorist tense. It was excluded by the coming in of the revela- tion of righteousness by faith.
By what law ? (6a zrodov vouov). Lit., by what kind of alaw? Rev., by what manner of law? What is the nature of the excluding law ?
Of works ? (rap epywv). Lit., the works, of which the Jew makes so much. Is it a law that enjoins these works? N ay, Vou. III —4
50 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IV.
but a law which enjoins faith. Paul does not suppose two laws and give the preference to one.. There is but one divine law of ejectment, the quality of which is such that, instead of en- joining the Jews’ works, it enjoins faith. The old and the new forms of the religious life are brought under the one con- ception of law.
30. By faith—through faith (ée—éud). Some make the two prepositions equivalent. The difference may be explained from the fact that the real Jew has already a germinating faith from the completion of which justification arises as fruit from a tree. So Wordsworth: “The Jews are justified owt of (éx) the faith which their father Abraham had, and which they are supposed to have in him. The Gentiles must enter that door and pass through it in order to be justified.” Compare Eph. Welt
31. Make void (catapyoduev). Rev., make of none effect. See on ch. iii. 3.