in which I Jill up in turn. And is used as but,1 Eph. v. 27. — avrava'7r\wZ)) I fill up in turn) The measure of sufferings was fixed, which the whole Church must endure. The more of them therefore that Paul endured (drained out), the less is left for himself and others ; the communion of saints produces this effect. [ While the measure of sufferings destined for Paul was filling up, the Gentiles attained to the full communion (participation) of the Gospel. — V. g.] Hence the Papists infer the doctrine of merit in behalf of others, as very many errors in their system have sprung from a subtle (nice and profound) truth, received without discrimination. — wrep, for) Eph. iii. 1, note.
25. TW o/xovoftiav rou ©sou, the dispensation of God) Thence Paul (was) a steward [1 Cor. iv. 1, one having dispensation'] of the grace of God, Eph. iii. 2. — s/$ v/&a$, to you) Gentiles, ver. 27. — wXTipuffai) to fulfil, to bring it fully to all. Paul every where aims towards the farthest point ; comp. Rom. xv. 19, -TrivrXripuxsvai [round about unto Illyricum I have fully preached]. The fulness of Christ and of the times required that.
26. To pvffrfipiov, the mystery) A Hendiadys : rbv Xoyov, TO ^a- rqpiov, i.e. the word concerning the mystery. The mystery is de clared in the following verse, Eph. i. 9, iii. 9. Glory is the object of the mystery. — avo%sxpv/j,/Aevov, concealed) So are con cealed (artoxpixpoi), ch. ii. 3. — avrb ruv afuivuv, from the ages) during which the silence had been greater. — dvb ruv yeveuv, from the generations} during which the revelation of other things was gradually made. The * Ages' are to be referred to angels, the ( generations' to men. — tyavspuQri, has been manifested) the verb again after the participle. — ro% dy/o/g, to His saints) Eph. iii. 8, note.
27. o7g) inasmuch as being persons, to ivhom. An explana tion. — WsXyosv, it was the will of God) most freely. — 6 vrXovros, the riches) [descending] upon all men ; see Eph. i. 7, note. — og, who) for o, ivhich. — Xpiffrbs sv vpTv, Christ in you) The parallel expres sions are, sv ro?<; eQveffiv, and sv vp/v9 in the Gentiles, and in you. Christ in (among) the Gentiles was the greatest paradox at that time. Comp. in, Eph. iii. 8, (17) ; 1 Tim. iii. 16.2 — vj
1 Not having spot, etc. — BUT that it should be holy, for, but holy. — ED.
2 Bengel. therefore, not attending to mere emphasis, also acknowledged here the same signification of the word ev, which Ernesti approves, in