29. Without repentance (auetayédnta). Only here and 2 Cor. vii. 10. See on repented, Matt. xxi. 29. Not subject to recall.
82. Concluded (cuvéxrevcev). Only here, Luke v. 6; Gal. iii. 22, 23. A very literal rendering, etymologically considered ; con together, claudere to shut. The A. V. followed the Vulgate conclusit. So Hooker: “The person of Christ was only touch- ing bodily substance concluded within the grave.” The word has lost this sense. Rev., hath shut up. Some explain in the later Greek sense, to hand over to a power which holds in ward.
All (rots wdvtas). Lit., the all. The totality, Jews and Gentiles, jointly and severally.
33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge. So both A. V. and Rev., making depth govern riches, and riches govern wisdom and knowledge. Others, more simply, make the three genitives codrdinate, and all gov- erned by depth: the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowl-
*See Dr. Samuel Cox’s charming little monograph on the ‘‘ Book of Ruth.” it may be found serially in the ‘* Expositor,” first series, vol. ii,
On, XI.J THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. 131
edge. ‘ Like a traveller who has reached the summit of an Alpine ascent, the apostle turns and contemplates. Depths are at his feet, but waves of light illumine them, and there spreads all around an immense horizon which his eye commands” (Godet). Compare the conclusion of ch. viii.
‘¢ Therefore into the justice sempiternal The power of vision which your world receives As eye into the ocean penetrates ; Which, though it see the bottom near the shore, Upon the deep perceives it not, and yet Tis there, but it is hidden by the depth. There is no light but comes from the serene That never is o’ercast, nay, it is darkness Or shadow of the flesh, or else its poison.” DANTE, ‘‘ Paradiso,” xix., 59-62,
Compare also Sophocles :
6“ In words and deeds whose laws on high are set Through heaven’s clear ether spread, Whose birth Olympus boasts, Their one, their only sire, Whom man’s frail flesh begat not, Nor in forgetfulness Shall lull to sleep of death ; In them our god is great, In them he grows not old forevermore.” ‘Oedipus Tyrannus,” 865-871.
Wisdom — knowledge (codias—yvdécews). Used together only here, 1 Cor. xii. 8; Col. ii. 3. There is much difference of opinion as to the precise distinction. It is agreed on all hands that wisdom is the nobler attribute, being bound up with moral character as knowledge is not. Hence wisdom is ascribed in scripture only to God or to good men, unless it is used ironi- eally. See 1 Cor. i. 20; ii. 6; Luke x. 21. Cicero calls wisdom “the chief of all virtues.” The earlier distinction, as August- ine, is unsatisfactory: that wisdom is concerned with eternal things, and knowledge with things of sense ; for yvoous knowl- edge, is described as having for its object God (2 Cor. x. 5); the
132 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. XI
glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. iv. 6); Christ Jesus (Philip. iii. 8).
As applied to human acquaintance with divine things, yvo- ais knowledge, is the lower, copia wisdom, the higher stage. Knowledge may issue in self-conceit. It is wisdom that builds up the man(1 Cor. viii. 1). As attributes of God, the distinct- ion appears to be between general and special: the wisdom of God ruling everything in the best way for the best end; the knowledge of God, His wisdom as it contemplates the rela- tions of things, and adopts means and methods. The wisdom forms the plan; the knowledge knows the ways of carrying it out.*
Past finding out (aveEvyviacro.). Only here and Eph. iii. 8. Appropriate to ways or paths. Lit., which cannot be tracked.
34, Who hath known, ete. From Isa. xl. 13. Heb., Who hath measured the Spirit? Though measured may be rendered tried, proved, regulated. Compare the same citation in 1 Cor. ii. 16. This is the only passage in the Septuagint where ruach, spirit is translated by votds mind. Known (éyvw) may refer to God’s yraous knowledge and ways in ver. 33; counsellor to His wesdom and judgments. No one has counselled with Him in forming His decisions.