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This saying, and especially that below, ver. 11, is often quoted. — an o duffs i, will render) not only will give , but will repay. [See that you make this the rule of your plans. — Y. g.] — xara, accord- ing to) Paul describes those, who shall obtain either life or death, generally, and according to the condition [or else in a way suited, to the apprehension ] of those, with whom he is con- cerned in this place, cutting them off still from all special ground of obtaining or losing salvation. Therefore, this passage is of no advantage to the argument for the merit of good works.
7, 8. To?g /xsv — ro7g dsy to these on the one hand — hut to them on the other) a more important distinction, than many now think.
7. T oTg) sc. ovffi ; comp, the following verse ; for xara (see
Acts xxv. 23,) is employed here nearly in the same sense as If, next verse ; save that If implies a something natural to the sinner ; xara, a something supervenient [not natural, but super- induced']. You will see the difference, if you interchange the particles with one another : If vnoftovrig xrX. In this view, roTg and Zr\r ovffi stand in apposition, the conjunction being omitted by the figure asyndeton.1 — vnoyjovriv spyov, patience in work) so the patience of hope , 1 Thess. i. 3 ; ucto/aov^, patience , includes, in this passage, obedience, steadiness, and that, too, with submission. — spyovy in work. There is great force in the singular number here ( well-doing . — Engl. Yers. ; the good work is referred to, of which), Phil. i. 6 ; Rev. xxii. 12. — dofai/, glory ) The construc- tion is, ro7g dofav xrX rovffiv (avoduffei) to those who seek for
glory , etc. (he will render) life. Pure love does not exclude faith, hope, desire, 1 Cor. xv. 58. — 'fjjroDov, to them that seek) Whereas thou, O Jew, thinkest, that thou hast no need of any seeking [ Industry is requisite. — Y. g.]
8. T oTg d's If spiQs/ag, hut unto them that are [influenced by contention] contentious. Paul shrunk from saying directly : God will render to them , that are contentious , death or everlasting destruction. He therefore leaves that matter to be supplied, by the conscience of the sinner, from the preceding antithesis ; He will render , not certainly eternal life ; and he turns the discourse to those things, which follow. T o7g here, has therefore the force
1 Beng. construes it “ to them who are animated by (Kara.) patient con- tinuance in well-doing, even those who seek glory, etc. — Ed.]
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