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exception is intended (as xr/V/xa in Macarius everywhere denotes the visible creation [creaturam], Homil. vi. § 5, etc.), and every kind of creature according to its condition (captu) [ver. 39, i. 25]. As every creature stands in its relation to the sons of God, so, in this passage, the things predicated of the former stand in rela- tion to the things predicated of the latter. The wicked neither desire, nor will obtain liberty. Disadvantages have redounded to the creature in consequence of [from] sin ; reparation will accrue to the creature in consequence of [from] the glory of the sons of God. — viuv ) r'?7CVC*)V, ver. 21. — a^fx.df^frai) ’Aero in this compound verb signifies the waiting for a thing hoped for in consequence of the promise. The same word is in ver. 23 and in like manner deroxapadox/a above.
20. Mara/or^r/, to vanity) whence the first of believers, whom the Scriptures commend, w^as called ^nn, Abel [vanity]. Glory is opposed both to vanity and corruption ; and the greatest vanity is idolatry, ch. i. 21, 23. Vanity is abuse and waste; even the malignant spirits themselves have dominion over the creature. — derg ray??, was made subject) In the passive voice, with a middle signification, though it has however in it somewhat of the figure, personification. — ov% hovtu, not willingly) For in the beginning it was otherwise : thence it is that the creature would rather be made subject to Christ [“ Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet”], Heb. ii. 7, 8. — d/d rov uerordgavra, on account of [propter : owing to] Him who hath subjected ) that is on account of [by reason of] God, Gen. iii. 17, v. 29. Adam rendered the creature obnoxious [liable] to vanity, but he did not subject it.
21. Eer iXer/d/ [super spe: resting on hope], in hope) It is con- strued with, was made subject , so, in hope [super spe], is put abso- lutely, Acts ii. 26; and comp, by hope [spe], ver. 24. — avry 5 \ zri<ng) itself to wit, the creature. — sXevQepwQiifcrai, shall be delivered [se£ free] ) Deliverance is not accomplished by means of complete destruction ; otherwise quadrupeds, when they are butchered, would fall with pleasure.1 — aero TY\g douXeiag rr\g (pdopug fig rr\ v sXsuQepiav ryjg do'g? jg, from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
1 i.e., were death and annihilation a deliverance. Therefore the coming restoration of the creature and its deliverance will not consist in their de- struction and annihilation. — Ed.