Hence we have an illustration of the order of the words. For the enumeration moves in pairs ; neither death nor life ; nor things present , nor things to come. The other two pairs are subjoined by chiasmus nor power [1], nor height [2], nor depth [3], nor any other [4] creature ; [the first referring to the fourth , the second to the thirds] ; in such a way, however, that in some sense, also power and height , depth and any creature may be respectively joined together. A similar chiasmus occurs at Matt. xii. 22, so that the blind and dumb both spake and saw , [ blind referring to saw ; dumb to spakefi But if any one should prefer the more commonly received reading of the order of enumeration, he may read as follows • —
Neither death , nor life : nor angels , nor principalities , nor powers : nor things present , nor things to come : nor height , nor depth , nor any other creature ,
so that there may he four pairs of species, and the second and fourth pairs may have the genus added in the first or last place. But testimony of higher antiquity maintains the former order of enumeration to be superior.1 2 See App. Crit. Ed. ii., p. 329, etc. I acknowledge for my own part that the generally received order of the words is more easy, and the reader is free to choose either. At all events the relation of this enumeration to ver. 34, which was demonstrated above, is so evident, and so full of the doctrine of salvation, that it cannot be admitted to be an arbi- trary interpretation. Now, we shall look at the same clauses one by one. — Odvaroc, death) Death is considered as a thing most terrible and here it is put first, with which comp. ver. 34, and the order of its series, and ver. 36. Therefore the death also, which is inflicted by men, is indicated : burning alive, strangu- lation, casting to wild beasts, etc.3 — life ) and in it OXfy/g,
1 See Appendix. From the Greek X. When the component parts of two pairs of words or propositions have a mutual relation, inverse or direct.
2 ABCD,(A)G^. Memph. later Syr. Versions, Orig. Hilary 291, Vulg. put the Ivuu/^s/s before ovre v\pay,oc. Rec. Text has no very ancient autho- rity but Syr. Vers, for putting hvvdptts before ovn et/earurct. — Ed.
8 The author in his Germ. Vers, expresses the suspicion, that the state of
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