common idea is satisfactory : bellies are slow which are useful to nobody.
13. *AX«j0»k, true) Although it comes from a Cretan. — g'Xe/^s, rebuke) The chief part of the rebuke follows.
14. Mu$o/£, fables) The antithesis is truth.
15. Hdvra fj^v, all things indeed) The defenders of fables and of the commandments of men used this pretext, which Paul sweeps away. — ro?$ '/.adapo?z, to the pure) Supply, and to the faith ful, taken from the antithesis (unto the unbelieving) ; 1 Tim. iv. 3 ; Acts xv. 9 ; Rom. xiv. 23. All outward things are pure to those who are pure within. — ^s/^ia^svoig, to them that are defiled) This is discussed presently. — a^ffroig, to the unbelieving) This is discussed in ver. 16. — ovdsv) nothing, either within, or conse quently without. — vovg, their intelligence, mind) Rom. xiv. 5. — tfuvfi/'&jflVf, conscience) concerning things which are to be done, or that have been done ; 1 Cor. viii. 7.
16. Qebv, God) Whom to know is the highest wisdom. — ofioXoyovffi eid'svai) profess, and by profession claim to themselves knowledge ; 1 Tim. vi. 20. — apvowrcu) deny God. — (3ds\vxroi) abominable. This agrees with the LXX., Prov. xvii. 15 : dxa- ddprog jcai (3dsXvxr6g, unclean and abominable. — adom/aoi) This may here be taken actively for those who are not fit for any thing, because they cannot approve what is good either in themselves or in others.
1. AaXs/, speak) with unrestrained lips ; carefully, vigorously, freely.
2. Upstffivrac, aged men) Supply exhort from ver. 6. — r/jpaX/ot/£, watchful) in feeling. — ffs/^vovg, grave) in actions. — ff<Jj$pova$, sober) in their mode of living. — rJj vvofAwri, in patience) A virtue chiefly becoming old men.
3. 'E\> Kara6r?]{j,an 1hpovpe<7re7') hpotrpeirrii;, observant of sacred
1 The larger Ed. had preferred the plural Itpovpeiretst but the marg. of VOL. IV. X