11. Slothful (G«vypol). From oxvéw to delay.
in business (79 o7rovd7). Wrong. Render, as Rev., in dil- igence ; see on ver. 8, Luther, “in regard to zeal be not lazy.”
Fervent (féovres). See on Acts xviii. 25.
The Lord (76 Kupiv). Some texts read xaup@ the time or opportunity, but the best authorities give Lord.
12. Continuing instant (7pocKxaptepodvtes). Compare Acts i.4; vi4. Rev., steadfastly for instant, which has lost its original sense of urgent (Latin, wnstare to press upon). Thus Latimer: “I preached at the instant request of a curate.” Compare A. V., Luke vii. 4; Acts xxvi. 7.
13. Distributing (xowwvodvres). Rev., communicating to. The meaning is sharing in the necessities ; taking part in them as one’s own. So Rom. xv. 27; 1 Tim. v. 22; 2 John 11; Heb. ii. 14; 1 Pet. iv. 138. See on partners, Luke v. 10; fel- lowship, Acts ii. 42; 1 John i. 3; 2 John 11.
160 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. _[Ca. XII.
Given to hospitality (@iAo£eviav Subxovtes). Lit., pursuing hospitality. For a similar use of the verb compare 1 Cor. xiv. 1; 1 Thess. v. 15; Heb. xii. 14; 1 Pet. iii. 11. A necessary injunction when so many Christians were banished and perse- cuted. The verb indicates not only that hospitality is to be furnished when sought, but that Christians are to seek oppor- tunities of exercising it.
14. Bless (evAoyctre). See on blessed, 1 Pet. i. 3.
Them that persecute (Tods dvwxovtas). See on John v. 16. It has been suggested that the verb pursuing in ver. 138 may have suggested the persecutors here. Pursue hospitality toward the brethren as the wicked pursue them.
Curse not. Plutarch relates that when a decree was issued that Alcibiades should be solemnly cursed by all the priests and priestesses, one of the latter declared that her holy office obliged her to make prayers, but not execrations (“ Alcibiades”).
16. Condescend to men of low estate (tots tazrewois cuvarrayopevot). Rev., to things that are lowly. Tots tamew- ots to the lowly may mean either lowly men or lowly things. The verb literally means being carried off along with ; hence yrelding or submitting to, and so condescending. Compare Gal. ii. 13, and see on 2 Pet. iii. 17, in which passages it has a bad sense from the context. According to the original sense, the meaning will be, beng led away with lowly things or people i.e., being drawn into sympathy with them. Farrar suggests letting the lowly lead you by the hand. Meyer, who maintains the neuter, explains: “The lowly things ought to have for the Christian a force of attraction, in virtue of which he vields himself to fellowship with them, and allows himself to be guided by them in the determination of his conduct. Thus Paul felt himself compelled to enter into humble situations.” On the other hand, Godet, maintaining the masculine, says; “The reference is to the most indigent and ignorant and least influential in the Church. It is to them the believer ought to feel most drawn. The antipathy felt by the apostle to every sort of spiritual aristocracy, to every caste-distinction within
Cox) THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. 161
the Church, breaks out again in the last word.” Condescend is a feeble and inferential rendering, open to construction in a patronizing sense; yet it is not easy to furnish a better in a single word.* The idea, then, fully expressed is, ‘set not your mind on lofty things, but be borne wway (a7ro) from these by the current of your Christian sympathy along with (cvv) things which are lumble.”
In your own conceits (zrap’ éavrois). Lit., with yourselves ; in your own opinion. See ch. xi. 25, and compare Acts xxvi. 8, “incredible wth you,” i.e., in your judgment.
17. Provide (zpovootpevor). The A. V. uses provide in its earlier and more literal meaning of taking thought in advance. This has been mostly merged in the later meaning of Surnish, so that the translation conveys the sense of providing honestly for ourselves and our families. Better, as Rev., ake thought Jor.t The citation is from Prov. iii. 4, and varies from both Hebrew and Septuagint. Hebrew: And thow shalt find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man. Septua- gint: And thou shalt find favor and devise excellent things in the sight of the Lord and of men. Compare 2 Cor. viii. 21. Construe én the sight of all men with the verb, not with honor- able. Men’s estimate of what is honorable is not the standard.