the Gospel, by which mercy was set forth to all. Col. ii. 14, note. [See the same words with the very same meaning, Acts xvi. 4, xv. 28. — V. g.] — xarapyfaas, having abolished) Each h [sv doypaoiv and ev rfi <rapx<~] is construed, as we have already inti mated, with this participle. Christ abolished, by ItLis flesh, the enmity ; [He abolished] the law of commandments by spread ing over the whole world the ordinances of the Gospel. But if the expression, in ordinances, belonged to svroXuv, of command ments, the expression, in His flesh, would not have been placed before, but after it. It is written, as it were, in the style of a lapidary [stilo lapidari].1
v, the enmity, sv ry capxi avrov, in his flesh ;
rbv vo/Aov TUV evro\uv, the law of sv doy/uaffiv, in ordinances,
commandments,
xarapyfjffac, having abolished.
— rovg duo, the two) He elegantly omits men ; for formerly they had scarcely maintained the name of men. The two, who were Jew and Greek. — naivbv, new) by taking away the oldness of the letter. — KOIUV, making) The participle making depends on the verb, might create (xr/«jj) ; and having slain depends on might reconcile : each of them has the power of explaining, which is derived from what immediately precedes. — e/pww, peace) This peace-making precedes its publication, ver. 17.
16. *Ev tvi (tutsan, in one body} fixed to the cross. To this is to be referred in (by) one spirit, ver. 18 ; comp. iv. 4. — a-roxrg/Vas ri]v s^dpav, having slain the enmity) By His death, He slew the enmity against God Himself. — sv O,VT&) in Him, viz. in His body.2 Comp. what goes before.
17. 'E\duv, having come) from death, from His descent into hell, and from His resurrection, He, Himself a joyful conqueror, spontaneously3 preached. A remarkable expression ; 2 Tim. i. 10 ; John xiv. 18. — sujjyyeX/Varo, preached) The verb for the
1 The arrangement being such that the alternate pieces of stone match. —ED.
2 Engl. Vers. has thereby, seemingly referring to the cross; "by it." But ver. 15, " Having abolished the enmity in His flesh " shows Bengel's view to be correct. — ED.
3 Implied in tK6uv. — ED.