64 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. V.
occurs Matt. xviii. 17. From apd aside, amiss, and axovw to hear, sometimes with the accompanying sense of heeding, and so nearly = obey. Ilapaxony is therefore, primarily, a facing to hear or hearing amiss. Bengel remarks that the word very appositely points out the first step in Adam’s fall—carelessness, as the beginning of a city’s capture is the remissness of the guards.
Were made (xateota9ncav). See on Jas. iii. 6. Used else- where by Paul only at Tit. i. 5, in the sense of to appoint to Office or position. This is its most frequent use in the New Testament. See Matt. xxiv. 25; Acts vi. 3; vii. 10; Heb. v. s, ete. The primary meaning being ¢o set down, it is used in classical Greek of bringing to a place, as a ship to the land, or a man to a place or person; hence to bring before a magistrate (Acts xvii. 15). From this comes the meaning ¢o set down as, ie., to declare or show to be; or to constitute, make to be. So 2 Pet. i. 8; Jas. iv. 4; iii. 6. The exact meaning in this pas- sage is disputed. The following are the principal explanations: 1. Set down in a declarative sense; declared to be. 2. Placed in the category of sinners because of a vital connection with the first transgressor. 38. Became sinners; were made. This last harmonizes with sinned in ver. 12. The disobedience of Adam is thus declared to have been the occasion of the death of all, because it is the occasion of their sin; but the precise nature of this relation is not explained.*
Obedience (izraxofs). Note the play on the words, parak- oe, hypokoe, disobedience, obedience. ‘Taaxon obedience, is also derived from dxovw to hear (see on disobedience) and td beneath, the idea being submission to what one hears.
20. The law entered (wapeuopdSev). Rev., literally, came in beside, giving the force of apd beside. Very significant. Now that the parallel between Adam and Christ is closed, the question arises as to the position and office of the law. How did it stand related to Adam and Christ? Paul replies that it
*See President Dwight’s note in the American Meyer. His article in the ‘*New Englander,” 1867, I have not seen.
Cu, VI.] THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. 65
came in alongside of the sin. “It was taken up into the divine plan or arrangement, and made an occasion for the abounding of grace in the opening of the new way to justification and life ” (Dwight).
Might abound (sdeovden). Not primarily of the greater consciousness and acknowledgment of sin, but of the increase
of actual transgression. The other thought, however, may be included. See ch. vii. 7, 8, 9, 11.
Did much more abound (irrepereplocevcer). Lit., abounded over and above. Only here and 2 Cor. vii. 4. Compare brrep- evAcovace abounded exceedingly, 1 Tim. i. 14; UirepTrepitao as beyond measure, Mark vii. 37; Urepavédver groweth exceed- angly, 2 Thess. i. 38.
21. Unto death (év 76 Savdtw). Wrong. Jn death, as Rev. As the sphere or dominion of death’s tyranny. Com- pare ver. 14, “death rezgned.” Some, however, explain the preposition as instrumental, by death. How much is lost by the inaccurate rendering of the prepositions. Ellicott remarks that there are few points more characteristic of the apostle’s style than his varied but accurate use of prepositions, especially of two or more in the same or in immediately contiguous clauses. See Rom. iii. 22; Eph. iv. 6; Col. i. 16.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. “And now—so this last word seems to say—Adam has passed away; Christ alone remains ” (Godet).