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28. 'E^eiv to have) [or retain ] the antithesis is <7rapebw/cevj [God] gave them over : tyttv iv i<7nyvd<Kt1 to have [or retain] in knowledge , denotes more than emyivuurzetv, to know) [to be acquainted with]. Knowledge was not altogether wanting to them ; but they did not so far profit in the possession of it, as to have [or retain] God, ver. 32. — dd6xiy,ov) As ddvvarogj annsrog, and such like, have both an active and passive signification, so also d boxigog. In this passage, there is denoted [or stigmatized ], in an active sense, the mind, which approves of things, which ought by no means to be approved of ; to this state of mind they are con- signed, who have disapproved of, what was most worthy of ap- probation. In this sense, the word dboxigov is treated of at ver. 32 ; <fwzudox.ou(fi : and the words -ro/i/v ra pr\ xa Orixovra, at ver. 29—31. — rd fj.ii xuQrixovra), an example of the figure Meiosis [by which less is said, than the writer wishes to be understood],
29. nsnXYipup'evovg) a word of large meaning; ftetirovg follows presently after. — db/xicc , with unrighteousness) This word, the opposite of righteousness , is put in the first place ; unmerciful is put in the last [ver. 31]. Righteousness has [as its necessary fruit], life ; unrighteousness , death , ver. 32. The whole enumera- tion shows a wise arrangement, as follows : nine members of it respecting the affections ; two in reference to men’s conversa- tion ; three respecting God, a man’s own self, and his neighbour ; two regarding a man’s management of affairs ; and six respect- ing relative ties. Comp, as regards the things contrary to these, ch. xii. 9, etc. — ^opv'sia ) I have now, for a long time, acknow- ledged that this word should be retained.1 It does not appear certain, that it was not read by Clemens Romanus. — vovrip'ia — xaxia)2 <rovrlpia is the perverse wickedness of a man, who delights in injuring another, without any advantage to himself : xaxJa is the
1 Although the margin of the larger edition (A. 1734), contains the opinion, that it should he omitted. The 2d ed. corresponds with the Gnomon and the German Version. — E.B. [AC, and apparently B, Memph. Version, omit '7copvua.. But A G/gr Vulg. insert it.— Ed.]
2 'rovYip'ia. Th. 6 9T ctpefttov novovg, “one who puts others to trouble,” apt- ness in mischief. xoiKi'ct is the evil habit of mind ; novriplcc, the outcoming of it : Opp. to xpYiarog ; as xcexog to dyotOog. Kxx.o?iOs:ct, as distinct from these, is not, as Engl. Vers. 1 malignity,’ but taking everything in the evil part ; Arist. Rhet. ii. 13; arising from a baseness or evil %6og in the man himself. — See Trench’s Gr. Test. Syn. — Ed.
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