of Christianity.1 Paul often includes all ; ch. iii. 8, 9, 18 ; iv. 6, 13 ; vi. 18, 24.
16. Ou flrauo/Aa/, I do not cease) Paul made mention of all the churches in his prayers ; Col. i. 9.
17. "Iva, that) A subject of prayer for true Christians. — 6 irar^? rrig 86%rt$, the Father of glory) That infinite glory, which shines in the face of Christ ; nay, more, [the Father] of the glory, which is the Son of God Himself; by whom also the glorious inheritance will become ours, ver. 18. — Hvevpa aoyiug xat avoxa- Xv4>eug, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation) The same Spirit, who is the Spirit of promise, is, in the progress of believers, also the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Wisdom works wisdom in us ; revelation knowledge. — Jv, in) Construe with may give. — aurou, of Him) God.
18. nspwr/tf/Agvous, enlightened) The accusative absolute, as Acts xxvi. 3, when the eyes of your understanding (heart) shall have been enlightened. The article roue, with 6£>0aX//,<rj£, pre supposes that the eyes are already present [inasmuch as being no longer in the darkness of unbelief] ; and does not allow that they can be considered as about to be given now or hereafter, as if for the first time. But if otpQaX/uoug were without the article, it might be taken in an abstract sense, and construed with may give. — nvg o<p6a,\ttovg rr^c, xapftiag, the eyes of the heart) Comp. iv. 18 ; Matt. xiii. 15. The heart is that by which we perceive matters so important, ch. iii. 17. So Theophilus speaks of the ears of the heart, 1. i. to Autol. c. 3 ; add the note on Chrysost. de Sacerd., p. 429 : and plainly the eyes of the heart. Smyrn. ep. concerning Polycarp, § 2. [xa^5/aj,2 a remarkable reading. — Not. Crit.] — rig — T/g — TV, What — what — what [ver. 19]) Comp. the following verse. Three remarkable points of time, in regard to the future, the present, comp. iii. 6, and the past. — rJjg xXfatug auroD, of His calling) The calling by which He called you. In the saints follows, as the apostle often names together the called and saints.
19. Tovc Kiarzvovrag, who believe) Faith is therefore something living and efficacious. — TW evspyeiav, the working) This is the
1 Is implied, in its embracing all in love. — ED.
2 Rec. Text, without any of the oldest authorities, reads ^lewoictS) of the understanding. But ABI)(A)G# Vulg. read Kotpbtas. — ED.