18. σκληρύνει. Cf. Exo 7:3; Exo 7:22 alibi: the only place in N.T. where the hardening is directly attributed to GOD. Cf. Act 19:9; Heb 3:8 alibi The ‘hardening,’ which is immediately the result of man’s own attitude, is so by reason of the conditions imposed in creation on man’s nature and consequently is an act of GOD; cf. Rom 1:24, Rom 11:8.