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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - Romans 11:25 - 11:25
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Mystery (μυστήριον)
In the Septuagint only in Daniel. See Dan 2:18, Dan 2:19, Dan 2:27, Dan 2:28, Dan 2:30, of the king's secret. It occurs frequently in the apocryphal books, mostly of secrets of state, or plans kept by a king in his own mind. This meaning illustrates the use of the word in passages like Mat 13:11, “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” - secret purposes or counsels which God intends to carry into effect in His kingdom. So here; Rom 16:25; Eph 1:9; Eph 3:9; Col 1:26, Col 1:27; Col 2:2; Col 4:3; Rev 10:7. In Justin Martyr (second century) it is commonly used in connection with σύμβολον symbol, τύπος type, παραβολή parable, and so is evidently closely related in meaning to these words. Compare Rev 1:20; Rev 17:7, This meaning may possibly throw light on Eph 5:32. In early ecclesiastical Latin μυστήριον was rendered by sacramentum, which in classical Latin means the military oath. The explanation of the word sacrament, which is so often founded on this etymology, is therefore mistaken, since the meaning of sacrament belongs to μυστήριον and not to sacramentum in the classical sense. In Eph 3:3-6, Paul uses the word as here, of the admission of the Gentiles.
Wise (φρόνιμοι)
See on the kindred noun φρόνησις wisdom, Luk 1:17. Mostly in the New Testament of practical wisdom, prudence; thus distinguished from σοφία which is mental excellence in its highest and fullest sense; and from σύνεσις intelligence, which is combinative wisdom; wisdom in its critical applications. See Col 1:9, and compare Eph 1:8.
Blindness (πώρωσις)
See on Rom 11:7. Rev., hardening.
In part (ἀπὸ μέρους)
Μέρος part is never used adverbially in the Gospels, Acts, and Revelation. In the Epistles it is rarely used in any other way. The only exceptions are 2Co 3:10; 2Co 9:3; Eph 4:9, Eph 4:16. Paul employs it in several combinations. With ἀπό from (1Co 1:14; 1Co 2:5), and ἐκ out of (1Co 12:27; 1Co 13:9, 1Co 13:10, 1Co 13:12), in which a thing is conceived as looked at from the part, either (ἀπὸ) as a simple point of view, or (ἐκ) as a standard according to which the whole is estimated. Thus 1Co 12:27, “members ἐκ μέρους severally, i.e., members from a part of the whole point of view. Also with ἐν in, as Col 2:16, with respect to, literally, in the matter of. With ἀνά up, the idea being of a series or column of parts reckoned upward, part by part. Μέρος τι with regard to some part, partly, occurs 1Co 11:18; and κατὰ μέρος, reckoning part by part downward; according to part, particularly, Heb 9:5.
Construe here with hath happened: has partially befallen. Not partial hardening, but hardening extending over a part.