66
8. Sw/Vnjff/) commends ; a most elegant expression. Persons are usually [commended] recommended to us, who were pre- viously unknown to us or were aliens [strangers]. Comp. He descended into the midst [He stooped down to interpose between us and Himself '] (e/xsffirzvte) Heb. vi. 17. — d'e , but ) This com- parison presupposes that God’s love toward Christ, is as great as God’s love toward Himself. Therefore the Son is equal to God. — a/jjciprw'kooV) sinners ) We were not only not good , hut not even righteous.
9. A ixaiudevreg, Being justified) The antithesis to sinners , ver. 8. — vvv, now) The remembrance of Jesus Christ’s death was at that time fresh among believers. — d-ro rijg opyijg, from wrath) which otherwise does not cease : wrath abides upon those who do not attain to grace.
10- E/, [since] if) Often e/, if especially in this and the eighth chapter of this epistle, does not so much denote the con- dition as strengthen the conclusion.
11. K uvyfitjjida, we glory (joy)) The whole discourse from ver. 3 to 11 is comprehended in one construction, thus : ov fiovov 5k, aWa xui %uvyu){j,s6a h ratg (stdoreg ver. 3 — h r uvrov
— ver. 10) ov [Jjbvov 5s, aXka xai xuvyoo/xzda h rti ©sw x.r.\. So the edition of Colinaeus , Barb. 4, cod. MS. in colleg. prsedicatorum apud Basileam , Bodl. 5. Cov. 2. L. Pet. 1. Steph. ia. Aeth. Arab. Vulg. make the words ov povov 5e, dXka xal xav^oo^sda be repeated after a long intervening parenthesis [by epanalepsis ,l Not. crit.], and the sense, suspended by it, be most elegantly and most sweetly completed, according to the following arrangement of the apostle, although it was only lately that we discovered it, We have peace , and we glory not only in the HOPE of the glory of God ; but , even in the midst of tribulations , we glory , I say, in God Himself, through our Lord Jesus Christy by whom we have NOW [opp. to Hope above] received the atonement [ reconciliation ]. Most of the more recent copies have made it xuvyfi[ tevoif as if the construction were, being reconciled , we shall be saved and glorying; according to the reading, which is more generally received.2 — sv 0so5, in God) not before God , ch. iv. 2. — rfi v xctraWuyriv) the
1 See Appendix.
2 BCA, the weightiest authorities, read Kctv^bpcsvot. Gfg Vulg. read
x,otv%/upcev, gloriamur. Others, — Ed.