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Mimesis or the imitation of a supposed opponent’s wicked manner of speaking .
33. Mji rrXavaffh) in the Middle voice. — p&sipovav) they corrupt. Its conjugate corruption , is found at ver. 42. He uses the well- known sentence of Menander in a sublimer sense, and opposes it to the Epicurean creed, ver. 32 ; presently after, at ver. 34, he was about to apply a more weighty stimulant. [ The multi- tude of wicked sayings and vicious proverbs in human life is indeed very great , hy which a vast number repel things however sacred and salutary and endeavour to defend their own wantonness and hypo- crisy. Scoffs of that kind were also common among the Israelites , Ez. xi. 3, 15, xii. 22, xviii. 2. — V. g.] — vjQri, manners') Good manners [principles] are those, with which a man passes from things that are fading to things that are eternal. — yjp^crdt) good or even easy , light [pliant dispositions] : see Scap. on this word, col. 1820. Comp. Rom. xvi. 18. — xaxai, evil) opposed to faith, hope, love. On the other hand, good communication [conversa- tions] as for instance concerning the resurrection, puts an end to gluttony and depravity of manners.
34. ’Exvij'ypars) An exclamation full of apostolic majesty : shake off lethargy or surfeiting , ver. 32, so the lxx., ixvyypars oi iue6vovr£gy Awake , ye drunkards , Joel i. 5. He uses milder language, watch ye , in the conclusion, xvi. 13. — btxuiug, to righteousness) that righteousness, which is derived from the true knowledge of God. The antithesis is, sinning in this ver., and corrupt manners , ver. 33. — xai firi dfiaprdvsrs) The Imperative after an imperative has the force of a future (John vii. 37, note) and ye shall not sin , either by an error of the understanding, or by evil communica- tions [conversation] or by corrupt manners. Those, who place sin in the will alone, and not in the understanding, are in error, and therefore commit sin. Arguments calculated to rouse are added to those used as proofs, as Gal. iv. 12, note : for Scripture instructs the whole man. — d ymaiav, ignorance) ayvue/a is both ignorance , 1 Pet. ii. 15, and forgetfulness, 3 Macc. v. 24 : xard <xuv a yvuff/cc xs xparrjffsvog. To have ignorance , [To labour under ignorance] is a more significant phrase than to he ignorant f and
1 The former implies an habitual state of ignorance under which they labour. To be ignorant , may be but temporary, and restricted to one point. — Ed.
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