Washed (Aovcav7s). Read Xbcavrs loosed. Trench remarks on the variation of readings as having grown out of a play on the words Aoutpor, a bathing, and rAwTpov a ransom, both of which express the central benefits which redound to us through the sacrifice and death of Christ. He refers to this play upon words as involved in the etymology of the name Apollo as given by Plato; viz., the washer (6 dmrodovwr) and the absolver (6 droAvwv) from all impurities. Either reading falls in with a beautiful circle of imagery. If washed, compare Ps. li. 25 Isa. i. 16, 18; Ezek. xxxvi. 25; Acts xxii. 16; Eph. v. 26; Tit. iii. B. If loosed, compare Matt. xx. 28; 1 Tim. ieee a! Pet. i. 18; Heb. ix. 12; Gal. iii. 18; iv. 9; Apoe. v. 9; xiv. 3, 4.
6. Kings (Bacvre?s). The correct reading is Baownelav a kingdom. The term Keng is never applied in the New Test- ament to individual Christians. The reigning of the saints is emphasized in this book. See ch. v. 10; xx. 4, 6; xxii. 5. Compare Dan. vii. 18, 22.
Priests (iepeis). Kingdom describes the body of the re- deemed collectively. Priests indicates their individual position. Peter observes the same distinction (1 Pet. ii. 5) in the phrases lining stones (individuals) and a spiritual house (the body col- lectively), and combines both kings and priests in another collect- ive term, royal priesthood (ver 9). The priesthood of believers grows out of the priesthood of Christ (Ps. cx. 4; Zech. vi. 13; Teb. vii.-x.). This dignity was promised to Israel on the condit- ion of obedience and fidelity toGod. ‘Ye shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod. xix. 6). Inthe kingdom of Christ each individual is a priest. The priest’s work is not limited to any order of the ministry. All may offer the sacri- fice of praise and thanksgiving: all have direct access to the holiest through the blood of Jesus: all Christians, as priests, are to minister to one another and to plead for one another. The consummation of this ideal appears in Apoc. xxi. 22, where the heavenly Jerusalem is represented as without temple. It is all temple. “It is the abolition of the distinction between