Ver. 12. τὰ γὰρ κρυφῆ γινόμενα ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν αἰσχρόν ἐστι καὶ λέγειν: for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. This render- ing of the RV, which follows Ellicott’s, does more justice to the order of the Greek than that of the AV. The term κρυφῆ Occurs only this once in the NT; but it is found occasionally in the LXX. Lach., WH, Μεγ., etc., prefer the form κρυφῇ ; most editors and grammarians (Treg., Tisch., Alf., Jelf, Win,, etc.) adopt κρυφῆ; cf. Win.-Moult., pp. 52, 53. The ydpintroduces a reason for, ora confirmation of, the charge to reprove the sins. But what of the special point and connection? Some (e.g., Harl.) would refer the yap to the μὴ συγκοινωνεῖτε, as if = “do not take part in their sins, for they are too vile evento mention’’. But this does not do justice to the difference between the κρυφῆ γινόμενα and the ἔργα τοῦ σκότους. Others, putting more into the λέγειν than it can properly bear, understand it as = “rebuke these sins openly, for to speak of them in any other
358
Markiv. αἰσχρόν ἐστιν καὶ λέγειν" 22; John iii. 21; Rom. i. 19 al. Paul.
terms than that of rebuke is shameful”. Bengel finds in it a reason for the sins being only referred to and not specified by name. Stier, supposing the reproof de facto to be in view, makes it = “do not even name these sins, for if you did so you would yourselves be sinning, where- as your walk in the light will be their reproof’’, Others (Von Sod., Abb.), adopting the sense of ‘“ expose” for ἐλέγχειν, take the idea to be—‘‘do not participate in these works, but expose them, for the things they do secretly it is a shame even to mention; but all these things when exposed by the light are made manifest in their true character”. But the course of thoughtis simpler. The secrecy of the works in question is the reason why they require to be openly reproved ; and the point is this—the heathen practise in secret vices too abom- inable even to mention; all the more is the need of open rebuke instead of silent overlooking or connivance (Mey., Ell., etc.). It is not all heathen sins, there- fore, that are in view; for it would be an exaggeration to say that all such vices were of a kind too shameful even to speak of; but a certain class of sins, that worst class which are done in secret. This is in harmony with the emphatic position of the κρυφῆ and with the contrast in the φανεροῦται. Butif the expression κρυφῇ γινόμενα covers less than the ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, there is nothing on the other hand to indicate that it refers specifically to the immoral licence of the Pagan mys- teries, or any other single instance of dark and infamous excess. It includes all those shameless heathen indulgences which sought the cover of secrecy.
Ver. 13. τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐλεγχόμενα ὑπὸ τοῦ φωτὸς φανεροῦται, πᾶν γὰρ τὸ φανε- ρούμενον φῶς ἐστί: but all, when they are reproved, are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light. Both the connection and the import of some of the words here are difficult to determine, and various inter- pretations have been proposed. The RV renders it “ but all things when they are reproved are made manifest,” treating it as a general statement. But the point and the harmony of the whole verse are best seen if the phrase τὰ πάντα is taken to refer to the secret practices which have been immediately in view, = “ all