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sentiment, God be thanked , that though ye were the servants of sin , ye have now obeyed righteousness. This mode, however, in this place, implies this also, that this is the blessed state of the Romans, which they ought by all means to maintain. This observation will clearly bring out the meaning of the apostle’s language in many passages, and will show the ardour that was within his breast. — on, that ) so that , with indeed, to be under- stood, John iii. 19.1 — dovXoi, servants ) especially in heathenism. — ex. xapb/ag, from the heart ) The truth and efficacy of the Christian religion [lies in its having its root in the hearth] Wicked men cannot be altogether wicked with their whole heart, but even unconsciously and continually repent of their past conduct, and of their slavery to sin ; but good men are good from the heart, and without constraint. [It is not any doctrine of men, but the doctrine of God alone, which takes by storm (takes complete possession of) the human heart. — V. g.] — lig ov) This is the explanation vtfrjxovtfare tig rvtfov dida^g Jj or tig ov <7rapebodrire, comp, eig, Gal. i. 6 ; you were obedient to [with respect to, towards] the form of doctrine (comp, eig cobra uc^xoo/, obedient in all things , 2 Cor. ii. 9) unto which you were delivered (which was delivered to you). The case of the relative, expressed in abbreviated form,2 depends on the word preceding, ch. iv. 17, or following ch. x. 14. — naped60'/)re, you were delivered ) Elsewhere the doctrine is said to be delivered. That phrase is here ele- gantly inverted, and is a very graceful expression respecting those who, when freed from sin, devote and yield [present] them- selves, ver. 16, with a great change of masters, to the honourable service of righteousness. — ruco v, form ) a very beautiful term, Ex. xxv. 40. The form meant is the ‘form’ of Christ, Gal. iv. 19. — didu^g, of doctrine ) That rule and standard, to which the servant conforms himself, is merely shown to him by the doc- trine ; he does not need to be urged by constraint.
stated nakedly, but with intimation of feeling accompanying it. Instead of the naked statement, “ Ye were servants of sin,” Paul says, in the moral mode, “ Thanks be to God, that, though ye were servants of sin, ye have now obeyed,” etc.
1 Light is ( indeed ) come into the world, and (yet) men loved darkness, etc. So here, = though ye were, — yet now , etc. — Ed.
2 See App., tit. “ Concisa Locutio.”