cipally intended ; for example, Ezekiel, who is often called D1^ p, son of man, and has copiously described the city and house of God, as Paul does in this place. — Iv nvsu^ar/, in the Spirit) the gift of whom was reserved for the New Testament, with a view to the glorifying of Christ.
6. EJvai) that the Gentiles are; and that they should be. — <ruyxX»jgovo>a, felloiv-heirs) in the inheritance of God. — tvoffupa, of the same body) under the head Christ. — oi^sro^a r^g IcrayyeX/as, fellow partakers of His promise) in the communion of the Holy Spirit. The same fjt,ero%Ji9 participation, is mentioned Heb. vi. 4 ; the same promise, ch. i. 13 [" that Holy Spirit of promise"] : comp. on the Trinity, ch. iv. 4, 5, 6, 18, 21, 30 ; v. 1, 2, 18 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 14. — sv r& Xf» ior&, in Christ) Construe with, should be.1
7. Oi>, of which) viz. the Gospel. — xara r^v evspytiav, according to the working) ver. 20 ; ch. i. 19.
8. T& IXa^/tfroripw, less than the least) The idea of the name Paul,2 increased by a comparative which rises higher than even the superlative ; whereby it is implied that he scarcely reckons himself among the saints. This is modestly and very elegantly expressed. — ruv ayiuv, of the saints) The saints here are opposed to the Gentiles ; comp. the note on Acts xx. 32. — dvgg/^/affrov, unsearchable [never capable of being fully traced out]) ver. 18, 19. There is a similar epithet found at ver. 10, manifold. — irXovrov, riches) Here heavenly riches are commended ; presently after, wisdom, ver. 10.
9. <x>wr/Va/) to make see, to show ; comp. Col. i. 28. For min, LXX. purify, 2 Kings xii. 3, and in other places. — rig % o/xovo^/'a, what is the dispensation) Col. i. 25, 26. [The reading oixovo/j,fa, is acknowledged by the most earnest defenders of the more received readings? — Not. Crit.] — ev rti Qe&, in God) An antithesis to creatures, even the most excellent, ver. 10. — r& ra
1 But Engl. Y. connects thus : "His promise in Christ.1" — ED.
2 Paulus seems to be derived by Beng. from paulus, a diminution of paucus, little. This would give point to the k^ot-^iaroripu ; not only paulus, little, but less than the least ; but the Roman name, Paulus, probably had no connection with the adj. paulus. Cruden makes Paul Hebrew = a worker : as his former name Saul •= a sepulchre, or destroyer. — ED.
3 Rec. Text has xotvuvia, with hardly any authority. So Engl. V. the fellowship. But ABCD(A)G^r Vulg. Hilary 54, read oUovoftfoi. — ED.