and therefore its testimony is in itself not infallible , Mai. ii. 16.— Y. g.] Blessed are they, who distinctly perceive this testimony. — ctvrb rb has reference to ver. 14.
17. 'Zu'yxXyipovofjjoi) joint-heirs) that we may know, that it is a very great inheritance, which God gives to us : for He has assuredly given a great inheritance to His Son. — g/Vs/?, if indeed ) This short clause is a new proposition, which has respect to those things, which follow. — we suffer with) To this word refer sufferings in the following verse, and in like manner, ice may be glorified together in this verse refers to the glory in the following verse.
18. Tap , for) The reason assigned,1 why he just now made mention of suffering, and of glorification. — rov vvv xcupov, of the present time) The cross [laid on the children of God], in the New Testament is greater than it formerly was, but it is of short continuance, xaipog , a short time ; the present and future are opposed to each other. — npog, to be compared with) that is, if they be compared together. — slg iifidg, with respect to [towards] us ; comp. 2 Cor. v. 2.
18, 19. * A'xox.cc'kvtpQrivui — d<7roxdXu^/v) The glory is revealed^ and then also the sons of God are revealed.
19. ’ Anoxapudox/a. This term denotes the hope of the coming event, and the effort of the mind, which is eagerly panting for [gaping for] it. The expectation of the creature , that is, the creature waiting, or expecting. Luther on this passage in Post, eccl. calls it, das endliche Harren , final waiting. — rijg zr/osug, of the creature) The creature here does not denote angels, who are free from vanity [weakness] ; nor men of every kind, provided only they are men, although not even the weakest men [those most under bondage to vanity] are excluded, who, although in the bustle of life they consider vanity as if it were liberty, and partly stifle, partly conceal their groaning, yet in times of sobriety, quietness, sleeplessness and calamity, they have many sighs, which are heard by God alone ; nor are the virtuous Gentiles excluded ; but believers are expressly opposed to the creature. As to the rest, all the visible creation [the whole aggregate of creatures : u creaturarum universitatem”] without
Aetiologia. See Appendix.