This salvation is not merely a thing to be acquired (acqiiisitiva), but a thing to be applied (applicativa), for this very reason, that it is so closely connected with the calling. All the things which are placed, ver. 9, under Kara, in actual fact [in the very act] precede salvation and calling. Salvation and calling, in point of fact, follow. If a man comes into the state of being called, this is already the beginning of his whole salvation ; and in this sense calling is a part of salvation : salvation is the whole, but both are very closely connected. The anxiety itself of the Shepherd is prior to the actual time of the little sheep hearing the voice of the Shepherd. — -/JKfan «//>/, with a lioly calling} which is entirely from God, and claims us entirely for God. The holiness and Divine origin of this calling is afterwards more fully described, especially as the epithet iolav, Ills own, excludes our own works. — idtav, His own) liom. ix. 11; Eph. ii. 8 ; 1 Tim. vi. 15, note. — rrtv doQiftav, given to us) Before we existed, it was given to us, the Mediator even already at that time receiving it. — sv Xpiffrw 'l»jtfoCJ — diat, — *I»j<roCf Xp/tfroD, in Christ Jesus — by — of Christ Jesus) The name Christ is very skilfully put first when the old economy is mentioned ; the name Jesus, when the new economy is mentioned. — <r/?o yj>ww aiwiuv, before eternal ages) Tit. i. 2 ; Rom. xvi. 25, note.
10. ^avepadsTeav, manifested) Those remarkable words, rr,$ l-jrKpuvziac, the appearing, and purfaavros, bringing to light, agree with this expression. — J •;?•/£« i^/a;, appearing) in the flesh. It does not merely mean here the very act of His coming, but the whole time of the abode of Christ among men. — -rbv ddvarov, death) The article is used here emphatically and designedly. Paul in this passage, as it were, directly abolishes death.1 Hence the soldier of Christ ought now no longer to fear death. — purl- ffavrog, bringing to light [exposing to the light]) An abbreviated expression : implying, and has procured for us (that should be supplied from the antithetic word Kurapyviffavrog, who has abo lished) and has brought to light by the Gospel ; comp. Eph. ii. 17. — fyriv xai apQapffiav) A Hendiadys. — did, rorj) Schoettgenius construes this with /c«/J<T«vroc, ver. 9. We may construe thus :
1 The article is often used to express a thing in the abstract. Death, not merely in some particular instance, but in all its aspects and bearings, and in its very essence, being, and idea, is abolished. — ED.