John Bengel Commentary - Ephesians 4:19 - 4:19

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John Bengel Commentary - Ephesians 4:19 - 4:19


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Eph 4:19. Ἀπηλγηκότες) A very significant term, in which pain (ἄλγος) is used by Synecdoche for the whole sensibility of the affections and understanding, whether painful or pleasant. For pain urges us to seek the means of a cure; and when the pain is removed, not only hope, but also the desire and thought of good things are lost, so that a man becomes senseless, shameless, hopeless. That constitutes hardness, Eph 4:18. Despairing (Desperantes), in the Vulgate and Syriac Version, is worthy of consideration, and illustrates its signification. In this way ἡ ἀναλγησία (insensibility) and ἡ ἀπόγνωσις (despair) are conjointly noted by Chrysostom, Homil. vi., on Heb 3:13. But the very word ἀπαλγεῖν Cicero seems to paraphrase, lib. 2. famil. Ep. 16, when he says, “Diuturna DESPERATIONE rerum obduruisse animum ad DOLOREM novum,” that by long-continued DESPAIR at existing circumstances the mind has become hardened to new PAIN. Therefore ἀπαλγεῖν is more than to despair. Raphelius has given a beautiful disquisition on this word out of Polybius, where, of two examples ascribed to Polybius by Suidas, the oneexists in the same words in Xiphilinus.-ἑαυτοὺς παρέδωκαν, they gave themselves over) of their own accord, willingly.-πάσης, of all) ἀσέλγεια, lasciviousness, the species; ἀκαθαρσία, impurity, the genus. Those who are occupied with these works of the flesh, as being hurried away (seized) with the heated desire of material objects, fall also into greediness [πλεονεξίᾳ, avarice, covetousness]; and gain made by unchastity was frequent among the Gentiles.