tuagint. — uwaxofj, in obedience) This is faith, to which love is accus- tomed to be joined : for Peter attributes purification to faith, Acts xv. 9. — ryg dXyduag, of the truth) revealed in Christ. — hid Uvsv^arog, by the Spirit) The Holy Spirit bestows that obedience and purity. Comp. cli. i. 2. — e/g (pi\cchz\<ptu. v — dyuxyGure, unto love of the brethren — love ye) These are two steps : comp. 2 Pet. i. 7 ; from which the statements concerning the graces which go before [these two steps of love], here in the 22d verse, and there in 5th and 6th, may in like manner be compared. — dvunoxpirov, unfeigned) For it flows from the truth. Comp. ch. ii. 1, 2. — dyurryoan, love ye) The sentiments agree, ch. ii. 3, 10. — enrsvug, earnestly) ch. iv. 8.
23. ’ Avayzyzvvy;jjhoi, being born again) Hence their brotherhood. — sk <r<7ropdg, of sowing) The Word of God is the seed , erropog : the preaching of the Word of God, the sowing , erropd. Therefore of is not afterwards repeated, but the phrase, by the Word, is used. — Z'Ojvrog tcu) psvovrog, living and abiding) This is connected with the Word, ver. 25. The Gospel bears incorruptible fruits, and not dead works ; because it is in itself incorruptible. The living Word is full of efficacy ; abiding for ever, it is free from all corruption.
24. naw all flesh) Is. xl. 6-8. Flesh, that is, man by old
descent. — dg x°PT°S> as grass) The Septuagint does not contain dg, as,1 nor avroZ, its, in the next clause. — doga, glory) The wisdom, strength, riches, and righteousness of man. — igypu^y, is dined up) from the roots. — 6 yfpr°g, the grass) that is, the flesh. — avQog, the flower) that is, its glory. — l^zrcza, is wont to fall away) in the highest degree.
25. Kupiov, the Lord) The Septuagint has roZ QeoZ y/ndv. — svay- yeXiffQ'sv, preached in the Gospel) ver. 12. — ug Z^ug, unto you) in whom immortality is thereby implanted.
1 Hence the omission of the word dg in this place is both approved of in the margin of the 2 Ed. as the better reading, and is noticed in the Germ. Vers. In like manner presently, the reading uZryg is preferred to the reading dv6pu7ro v, Avhich was held in more esteem by the larger Ed., in the margin of Ed. 2, and in the Germ. Vers. — E. B.
Lachm. omits dg, with AC (but Tisch. claims C in favour of dg) and MSS. of Vulg. both Syr. Versions, and Origen. Tisch. inserts dg, with B (judging from silence of collators), C (according to Tisch.), MSS. of Vulg. and Memph. and Orig. 1,226a. Also uvryg is read by ABC Vulg. both Syr. Memph. Orig. hudpd7rov is read by llec. Text, with inferior authority. Also cturov is added after dudog by C Vulg. Memph. But AB, the best MS. of Vulg. (Amiat.), both Syr. Versions, and Origen, omit it. — E.