11. Hapairov, refuse) Do not take up their case. The same word occurs. Tit. iii. 10 (reject, vapairov). — orai/ yap xaraffrpri- viaffu(n rov Xputrov) when they have begun to wax wanton (to in dulge in luxury) against Christ, viz. with regard to ecclesiastical, benefits. The genitive is governed by xara; what ffrpyvos is, see Rev. xviii. 3 ("The abundance," or " power," of her deli cacies, trpfaoug). Extravagance (wantonness) and Christ are by no means compatible. — roD Xf/<rrou, Christ) to whom they had entirely devoted themselves. — 0eXou<r/v, they will) the matter being no longer undecided.
12. "E^outfa/, having) for certain, by this time. — on) because. — ri\v Kpurriv wtffnv Jidsrqffav) Ktffnv ddzrzTv, as Raphelius shows from Polybius, is not to keep the faith ; comp. ver. 8. It is called irpwrii flr/tfr/f, their first faith, the faith of their early life, which they had before they were enrolled among the widows. Their second vows break this faith, and are opposed to it ; comp. " thy first love," Rev. ii. 4.
13. MavQdvovGi Ktpisp'fcOfAsvai, they learn going about) This par ticiple is not put for the infinitive, but the genus, i learning,' is reprehended : the species follows, they learn the things which are learned by going about from house to house, i.e. they curiously pry into the state of families. The Mimesis1 lies in this, that the expression used is, they learn. For elsewhere those things are only said to be learned which are good. But these women learn by going about, they search out all things ; and thence their progress is progress in the wrong direction. — rag ofaiaf, houses) 2 Tim. iii. 6. — <p\vapoi, [tattlers] triflers) in respect to words. — Ktpiep'yoi, busybodies) in respect to deeds. — XaXou<r«/, speaking) This word is construed with they learn. They speak out all that they have learned. — ra ^ dsovra) a ^ deT, Tit. i. 11.
14. N&ur'tpag, the younger women) He does not add, widows, for the widow in this passage is properly she who remains a widow. And this arrangement (mode of acting), which the apostle mentions, equally applies to the unmarried and to
1 A figure, whereby the word which the party reprehended would use is alluded to ; as here these young widows would call their inquiries by the favourable term, learning. They learn (the genus), says Paul ; but the species of learning they learn is what is to be learnt by going about visiting- houses. — ED.