ancient editions, especially in that of Basle, 1545. Nay, o<pzXoi> may be very conveniently connected with the preceding words : apa xar^py^rai TO dKa\iba\ov rov ffravpov ; o<ps\ov, — was then the offence of the Cross taken away? I wish it were. "Of?Aov is subjoined in reference to a thing desirable (such as is also noticed 1 Cor. iv. 8), as pn yevoiro, iii. 21, is used in reference to a matter by no means pleasant ; and as sTev among the Greeks in cases of concession, or esto among the Latins. And, as in ch. ii. 17, after apa is put pi] ysvoiro, so here, after apa is put opsXov. I wish that the Cross were a scandal to no one — / wish that all, along with Paul, may hereafter glory in the Cross, ch. vi.14, 15. — 01 avaerowre; Ifj^ag) The same word as at Acts xvii. 6. It denotes, to remove a man entirely from the station which he occupies.
13. '!>£%, ye) So far am I from preaching circumcision, that I would rather show you liberty. — sie sXtvfepia, [unto~\ concerning1 liberty) that you might rejoice in liberty. Your calling is not to KsifffAovqv, self-imposed restraints, but to liberty. — povov i*n) An ellipsis of the imperative, having the svXafisiav, pious precaution, subjoined, {&6vov /&% eXsud&poi TJT& rqv iXzudspiav, /c.^-.X., only ye were not made free with this freedom, etc. [for an occasion to the flesh] : or else the accusative, rfo eXsvfcptav, is put absolutely. — upopjAqv, an occasion) for which tliQ flesh is eager. — ry capKi, to the flesh) ver. 16, 17. — dia rJjg dycwnjs, by love) ver. 14, 22. — foutebsre, serve) A beautiful antithesis.2
14. HXypourai, is fulfilled) Rom. xiii. 9, note.
15. At, but) The opposite of the service to be rendered by love. — daKv&rs, ye bite) [backbite] in reference to character. — xarstr&isre, devour) in regard to possessions [resources]. — -avaXu- QrjTs, be consumed) strength of soul, health of body, character, and resources, are consumed by broils and sorrows. \_AIi ! how lamentable the extraordinary number of those, of whom the one cuts off the life of the other. Men of harsher disposition, careless and unthinking, consume others — those of softer disposition, silently swallow down (suppress the expression of) their anxiety, and die prematurely. — V. g.]
1 " Super libertate." With respect to, with a mew to a state of liberty. — ED.
2 If you will have the bondage of service, then serve one another : in anti thesis to ttevtifpioi!/. — ED.