in 2 Tim. iv. 18) a Bao. ἐπονράνιον. See 1 Thess. ii. 12, 2 Thess. i. 5, 1 Cor. vi. 9 f., xv. 50, Gal. v. 21. This use of the expression, however, does not exclude another, which is more akin to what we find in the Gospels, and regards the Kingdom ot God as in some sense also present: we have examples of this here, and in 1 Cor. iv. 20: perhaps also in Acts xx. 25. No doubt for Paul the transcendent associations would always cling to the name, so that we should lose a great deal of what it meant for him if we translated it by ‘‘ the Christian religion’ or any such form of words. It always included the reference to the glory to be revealed. βρῶσις κ. πόσις: eating and drinking—the acts, as opposed to βρῶμα, ver. 15, the thing eaten. ἀλλὰ δικαιοσύνη κ. εἰρήνη κ. χαρὰ ἐν πνεύµατι ἁγίφ: are these words ethical or religious? Does 8x. denote “justification,” the right relation of man to God? or ‘righteousness,’ in the sense of just dealing? Is εἰρήνη peace with God, the result of justification (as in v. 1), or peace among the members of the Church, the result of consideration for each other ? The true answer must be that Paul did not thus distinguish ethical and religious : the words are religious primarily, but the ethical meaning is so far from being ex- cluded by the religious that it is secured by it, and by it alone. That the re- ligious import ought to be put in the forefront is shown by χαρὰ ἐν wy. ay. which is a grace, not a virtue. In com- parison with these great spiritual bless- ings, what Christian could trouble the Church about eating or drinking? For their sake, no self-denial is too great.
Ver. 18. ἐν τούτῳ: ‘on the principle implied by these virtues” (Sanday and Headlam). One may serve Christ either eating or abstaining, but no onecan serve Him whose conduct exhibits indifference to righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy ‘Spirit. δόκιµος τοῖς ἀνθρώποις: so that there can be no occasion given to any one to blaspheme, Cf. xvi. 10, 2 Tim. ii. 15, Jas. i. 12. A sound Christian character wins even the world’s approval.
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1 Ch. xii. NJ ae 13;1Cor.THS ElpyYyS xiv. 1; 1 Thess. v.