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the work of the law), the law itself, with its practical [active] operation. It is opposed to the letter, which is but an accident [not its essence]. — ypunrbv, written ), a noun, not a participle, much less an infinitive [to he written ]. Paul, by way of con- trast, alludes to the tables of Moses. This writing is antecedent to the doing of those things, which are contained in the law ; but afterwards, when any one has done, or (has not done) the things commanded, [ the demonstration , or] the showing [of the work of the law] follows, and that permanent writing [viz., that on the heart] becomes more clearly apparent. — c rv/^aprvpov^g , simul- taneously hearing witness) An allegory ; the prosecution, the criminal, the witnesses are in court ; conscience is a witness ; the thoughts accuse, or also defend. Nature, and sin itself, hear witness : conscience hears witness along with them. — uvruv) of themselves , or their own. — rqg <rwsid?iffsus, the conscience) The soul has none of its faculties less under its own control, than con- science. So and Xoynf[jj6g are joined, Wisd. xvii. 11,
12. — /4gr«gi) a,X\ij\wv, between one another) as prosecutor and criminal. This expression is put at the beginning of the clause for the sake of emphasis, inasmuch as thoughts implicated in the trial with thoughts , are opposed to conscience referred to the law. — ruiv Xoyi6[jJZ)v xary)yopovvrwv, their thoughts accusing ) Some ex- plain [analyse] the words thus : the thoughts , which accuse , testify- ing simultaneously [taken from prupovarii] ; but thoughts ac- cusing [ruv \oyi<r/jjwv xurriyopo'jvrwv ] is an expression, which stands by itself. — v\ nut, or even) The concessive particle, even , shows that the thoughts have far more to accuse, than defend, and the defence itself (comp. 2 Cor. vii. 11, defending or clearing of yourselves) does not extend to the whole, but only to a part of the conduct, and this very part in turn proves us to be debtors as to the whole, i. 20. — cbroXo/oti^gj/wi/, [excusing] defending). We have an example at Gen. xx. 4.
16. ’Ev v)ftepq, in the day) It is construed with show , for the present tense is no objection ; ver. 5 employs the present in the same general way. And Paul often says, in the day of the Lord , which implies more than against [or unto the day] 1 Cor. v. 5 — comp, before , or in the presence of 1 Tim. v. 21, note. Such as each thing was, such it shall then be seen, be determined, and remain. In that day, that writing of the law on the hearts of