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or viol eiffi Qeov. There are thus three readings, of which Baum- garten defends the first, I the second, which is supported by the third, inasmuch as the word vioi is placed first for the sake of emphasis ; and it was the emphasis that induced me to touch upon this variety in the readings.1 — viol sons ) The Spirit is given to sons, Gal. iv. 6. At this passage Paul enters upon the dis- cussion of those topics, which he afterwards comprehends under the expression, He glorified , ver. 30, but he does not describe un mixed glory, but only such glory, as that, the taste of which is still diluted with the cross. Therefore the sum of what he says is : through sufferings [we must pass] to glory ; patient endurance [or else, support ] is interwoven with sufferings. Hence the whole connection of the discourse will be obvious.
15. Tap, for) This word has reference to sons in the preced- ing verse. — vrvsvfia dovXu'ug, the spirit of bondage) The Holy Spirit was not even in the Old Testament a Spirit of bondage ; but He so unfolded His power in the case of those believers, in whom He then dwelt, that there however was lurking, beneath, a feeling and sense, which carried with it something of bondage, inasmuch as being in the case of those who [under the law] were still but children , Gal. iv. 1. — koXiv, again) as formerly [under the law]. The Romans in their state as Gentiles had had groundless [vain] fear ; but not the spirit of fear, as those had had, into whose place the Gentiles had come. The Church of all ages is, as it were, one individual, moral person ; so the word, again , Gal. iv. 9, v. 1. — ug <po(3ov, to fear) See Heb. ii. 15, note. — viofcriug, of adoption) See Gal. iv. 1, etc. — xpa^o^sv, we cry) one and all. Cry is a word implying vehemence, accom- panied with desire, confidence, a just claim, perseverance. And the Holy Spirit himself cries : Abba, Father, Gal. iv. 6, note. \_If, while you are alive, you have not attained to this experience , it ought to be the subject of lamentation to you, and you ought eagerly to seek it ; but if you have attained it, see that you joy- fully continue in it. — V. g.]
16. Tip) Our spirit testifies : the Spirit of God Himself testi- fies along with our spirit. [Our spirit is human , 1 Cor. ii. 11 ;
1 T lot shiv Seov is read by BGy Vulg. (Amiat. MS.) Orig. 1, 574c Hilary. But (A)DAC Fuld. MS. of Vulg./, Orig. 1, 685c Cypr. have viol Seov shiv. Rec. Text with Iren, has shiv viol Ssov. — Ed.
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