102 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IX.
Hath taken none effect (éxzémrwxev). Lit., has fallen out. Rev., come to nought.
7. In Isaac. Not in Ishmael, though Ishmael also was the seed of Abraham. The saying of Gen. xxi. 12 is directly added without 2 7s written or 2t was said, because it is assumed to be well known to the readers as a saying of God. The Hebrew is: “in Isaac shall posterity be named to thee.” In the person of Isaac the descendant of Abraham will be represented and recognized. ‘The general principle asserted is that the true sonship of Abraham does not rest on bodily descent.
Shall be called («rn9joerar). Named. See on ch. iv. 17. Others, called from nothing. But the promise was made after Isaac was born.
8. That is. The Old-Testament saying amounts to this.
Children of the promise. Originating from the divine promise. See Gal. iv. 23.
9. This is the word of promise. The A. V. obscures the true sense. There is no article, and the emphasis is on promise. “TI say ‘a word of promise,’ for a word of promise is this which follows.” Or, as Morison, “this word is one of promise.”
At this time (cara tov xaipov Todtov). Rev., according to this season. The reference is to Gen. xviii. 14, where the Hebrew is when the season is renewed or revives fe, next year at this time. The season is represented as reviving peri- odically.
10. And not only so. The thought to be supplied is: Not only have we an example of the election of a son of Abraham by one woman, and a rejection of his son by another, but also of the election and rejection of the children of the same woman.
By one. Though of one father, a different destiny was di- vinely appointed for each of the twins. Hence only the divine disposal constitutes the true and valid succession, and not the bodily descent.
11. Evil (faddov). See on John iii. 20; Jas. iii. 16.
Cu. IX.] THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. 103
Purpose according to election (7 xar’ éxdoyiv mpddects). For mpdJeows purpose, see on the kindred verb mpoé¥ero, ch. iii. 25, and compare ch. viii. 28. The phrase signifies a purpose so formed that in it an election was made. The opposite of one founded upon right or merit. For similar phrases see Acts xix. 20; Kata «patos according to might, mightily ; Rom. vii. 13, ca¥ brepBornv according to excess, exceedingly. See note.
Might stand (uévy). Lit., abede, continue: remain un- changeable. This unchangeableness of purpose was conveyed in His declaration to Rebecca. Contrast with come to nought (ver. 6).
Of works (é£). Lit., owt of. By virtue of.
Calleth (cadodvros). Eternal salvation is not contemplated. “The matter in question is the part they play regarded from the theocratic stand-point ” (Godet).
12. Elder —younger (pelSwv— éddooon). Lit., greater— smaller. Compare Gen. xxvii. 1, where the Hebrew is: “ Hsau his great son;” Sept., rpecBvrepov elder. Gen. xxix. 16, Sept., “The name of the greater was Leah, and the name of the ‘younger (Th vewtépa) Rachel.” See a similar use in Aeschylus, «“ Agamemnon,” 349, “ Neither old (uéyav) nor young (veapav) could escape the great net of slavery.” While in these cases “greater” and “smaller” are evidently used as older and younger, yet the radical meaning is greater and Jess, and the reference is not to age, but to their relative position in the theocratic plan. Me‘fwv greater, occurs in forty-four passages in the New Testament, and in no case with the meaning elder. Compare Gen. xxv. 23, be stronger; Sept., bépefer shall sur- pass. The reference, if to the persons of Jacob and Esau, is to them as representatives of the two nations. See Gen. xxv. 23.
Historically the Edomites, represented by Esau, were for a time the greater, and surpassed the Israelites in national and military development. Moses sent envoys to the king of Edom from Kadesh, asking permission to pass through his country, which was refused, and the Edomite army came out against Israel (Num. xx. 14-21). Later they were “vexed” by Saul