ver. 22— iv. 7. The first consideration is proved by this Enthy- meme1 (of the same sort as at ver. 18) : If the law could give you life, righteousness would be by the law ; but righteousness is not by the law ; supply [the conclusion], therefore the law cannot give life. The major proposition is evident, for only the just shall live, ver. 11. The minor proposition, and at the same time the second consideration itself, is proved by ver. 22 : and that too by Epanodus ;2 for of these four terms, to give life, righte ousness, sin, promise, the first and fourth, the second and third, have respect to each other. — v6,uos, the law) It is called the law, not the law of God : but we say, the promises of Godj not, the promises absolutely. — £/' 'yap, for if) The conditional force does not fall upon was given, for the law was certainly given, but upon was able (could have). — 6 dwapsvos, that was able) The article shows that the emphasis is on 8&vapau. The law would wish [to give life], ver. 12, for it says, he shall live, but it is not able. — JwoTo/Sjtfa/, to give life) In this expression death is taken for granted as threatened [by the law] against the sinner, and therefore the language becomes very distinct. The law offers life conditionally, ver. 12 ; but does not confer it, because it cannot, being deprived of all power to do so by sin. — oVwg, verily) not merely in the opinion of those maintaining justifica tion by works. The matter in hand [justification] is a serious one [the question at issue is a serious reality], although it be now beyond the power of the law. — ^ dmaiotivvri, righteousness) For righteousness is the foundation of life. The antithesis is sin, ver. 22.
22. 'AXXa, but) So far is righteousness from being of the law, that the acknowledgment of sin is rather what comes of the law. — tfui/sxXs/tfgv, hath concluded) It has comprehended sinners, that were formerly unconcerned [free from all alarm], and has concluded them all together ; comp. inclosed [™vsxXg/<rav, of the multitude of fishes in the net], Luke v. 6. — y ypa<p7), the Scrip-
1 See Append. A covert syllogism, where one or other premiss is under stood. Here it is the oratorical Enthymeme, where an argument is con firmed from its contrary : If the law could, etc., ivhich it could not, etc. — ED.
2 See App. It is the repetition of the same words, either as to sound or sense, in an inverted order.