Ephesus. This forms the Appendix (the Postscript) of the epistle, which is of great importance. — ^X-Tr/xera/, to have trust) This bad ' trust/ which nerves the grasp with which they cling to riches, checks the enjoyment (aoroXaixr/v), which Paul pre sently mentions. — dS^XoV^r/, uncertain) [lit. the uncertainty of riches']. We ought for this reason not to trust in wealth, because it is most uncertain, as regards the time to come (sis rb /^sXXov, ver. 19). — lirl r& Qe&, upon, or in God) Al. Aug. 6, Boerner. Clar, Colb. 7, even more than these have IT/. So the antithesis is more expressly marked to the words, kiri irXovrou d^Xo'njr/. Trust, when leaning upon God, is strong. The common read ing has sv, subjoining r& ®sti r£ £wvr/, taken from ch. iv. 10, as I think; for AL Boern. Colb. 7, Rae. 2, Aeth. Lat.'m M.S., Reutling, Gildas, Haimo, have not r& tyvn.1 — nXovoiug, richly) otherwise no one would be <rXou0vo£, rich. — ilc, aKoXauffiv, to enjoy) Enjoyment consists in giving, not in holding fast. Inactivity (i.e. the state of non-employment) should be far removed, as from man, so also from his resources : James v. 2, 3.
18. ' AyaQozpyw) to aim to do good. To be rich in good works follows as the consequence of this diligence : ayaQbv and xaXot/ differ ; dyatfog involves at the sametime the idea of (divine) blessedness (comp. Mark x. 18, note) : x«Xo? includes in its notion, beauty. — svpsradoroug, ["" ready to distribute"] liberal) in imparting, viz. individually. — xo/cwv/xoOg, willing to communicate) by lending, by contributing for the common good, viz. along with many. In ordinary cases \i.e. where the grace of God does not change them], the rich are chiefly delighted with a divi sion [i.e. individual monopoly, as opposed to communicating^ in proceedings, plans, and properties, and are imperious and insolent.
19. 'Aflro0»j<rauf/£ovrac sauro/g, laying up in store for themselves) The best kind of property wrhich is laid up " against the time to come." The antithesis is xoivuvixoug, willing to communicate. So Tob. iv. 10, [AV\ po/SoD rtots/v fr.sqfAQffww QS/UMX, >,ap ayaGw Qqtfau-
t/g tip's pav avdyK7j$ : u be not afraid to perform works
1 'E*r2 is the reading of Lachm., with AD(A) corrected, G Orig. 1,7096 cod. Tisch., with less authority, viz. f Vulg. Orig. cod., and Rec. Text, reads I*. These latter, except Vulg. (best MSS.), add TU gam to 0£w ; and so also D(A) and both Syr. Versions. But AG Orig. cod., g Vulg. (Amiat. ) Memph. and Theb. omit r$ £«m.-— ED.