7 Om. vopw (derived from Rom. vii. 2) $*ABD* 17, 673”, the oldest copies of
vg., Clem., Or., Athan., Tert.
8 Om. αντης SABKP, more than seventy minn.
9 Soxw yap (?): B17, 37, 67**, Cyr., Amb., Ambrst.
discredit for his religion’s sake (cf. x. 32), and might be reproached as doing his child and society a wrong. — ἐὰν ὑπέρακμος, “if she be past the bloom {of youth) ’—the pérpios χρόνος ἀκμῆς, fixed by Plato (Rep., vi., 460 E) at twenty, the «ία. nubilis.—xKat οὕτως ὀφείλει (see parls.) γίνεσθαι---'' and so matters ought to proceed’’ (pr. inf.)—states a further presumable reason for consent: duty may require it—where, ¢.g., the girl has been promised, or is so situated that a continued veto may give rise to peril or scandal (cf. 2). In such circumstances the father’s course is clear: “let him do what he wills” (θέλει) ; cf. ver. 35. yopelttwoay —i.e., the daughter and her suitor, the claim of the latter being hinted at in the previous ὀφείλει: pr. impv.; ‘“‘ Let the marriage take its course’. Ver. 37. For the opposite resolution, adopted by a father who “ keeps his own virgin (daughter)’’ instead of “ marry- ing ’’ her (38), four conditions are laid down: (1) unshaken firmness in his own mind (ἕστηκεν ἐν Ty] καρδίᾳ ἑδραῖος, cf. Rom. xiv. 5, 23), aS against social pressure ; (2) the absence of constraint (μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην) arising from previous engagement or irresistible circumstances ; 43) 5 full authority to act as he will
Preferred by W.H.
(ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει κ.τ.λ.) ---- slaves, on the other hand, could not dispose of their children, and the unqualified patria potestas belonged only to Roman citizens (see Ed. in loc.) ; ἐξουσία, however, sig- nifies moral power, which reaches in the household far beyond civil right; (4) a judgment deliberately and independently formed to this effect (τοῦτο κέκρικεν ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ καρδία). Granting all this, the father who “has decided to keep his own maiden, does well”—xalas, rightly, honourably well (see note on καλόν, 1). The repeated καρδία (the mind, the seat of thought and will, rather than the heart with its modern emotional connotation ; cf. ii. 9, iv. 5, and notes), and the phrase περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος, press on the father the necessity of using his judgment and acting on his personal responsibility ; as in vv. 6 f., 28, 35, the Ap. is jealous of allowing his own authority or inclination to overbear the conscience of his dis- ciples ; cf. Rom. xiv. 4-10, 22 f.—This ἀνάγκη urges in the opp. direction to that of ver. 26; in both cases the word signifies compulsion, dictating action other than that one would independently have taken.—éfovgiav . . . περί κ.τ.λ. is “‘ power as touching his own resolve,” the right to act as one will—in other
848
ox.19; Acts XV. 29