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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Romans 9:23 - 9:23
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
23. ἵνα γνωρίσῃ. The object of the patience of GOD is to bring home to men’s minds ‘the wealth of His glory’; cf. Rom 11:32-33. ἵνα depends on ἤνεγκεν. The patience effected this object, because the mercy was revealed in spite of the opposition of sinners, such as Pharaoh or unfaithful Israel; and was recognised as all the more abundant because of that opposition. The redemption of Israel from Egypt, and the saving of a remnant and call of the Gentiles, were all the more signal triumphs of GOD’S purpose for the opposition that was overcome. Hence the emphatic τὸν πλ. τ. δ.
If καὶ is read before ἵνα, (as S. H.), we may take the final clause either (1) as practically connected with ἐν πολλῇ μακροθυμίᾳ ‘bore with much long-suffering and with the object of making known’ (so S. H.); but the sequence is disjointed; or (2) as connected with ἐνδείξασθαι, wishing to give an instance of His wrath and to make known His grace; where we have the same combination of constructions as in 1Co 14:5; and the sequence is good: but the intervention of the main clause makes this very difficult, though perhaps not impossible.
τὸν πλοῦτον τῆς δόξης. πλ. specially characteristic of Eph. and Col.: but cf. also Rom 2:4, Rom 11:33; Php 4:19 : = the inexhaustible abundance. δόξα here of the revelation of GOD’S character in His dealings with man, in thought closely |[192] Eph 2:7 : the great acts of redemption reveal GOD to man. Cf. Eph 1:18.
[192] | parallel to
ἐπί. Towards or over as in Eph 2:7 : depends on the whole of the preceding phrase.
σκεύη ἐλέους |[193] σκεύη ὀργῆς, instruments fit for the use of His mercy; such as He can use for His merciful purposes.
[193] | parallel to
ἃ προητοίμασεν. Which instruments He prepared beforehand for bringing about this revelation of Himself. For the word cf. Eph 2:10 only. The σκ. ἐλ. are prepared by GOD Himself; the σκ. ὀργῆς make themselves so, by rejecting His methods of preparation. The reference is to the training through history and life, not to ‘election,’ Gift.
εἰς δόξαν. δ. must have the same meaning as in the preceding clause = for revelation of His purpose and character. The thought of final glorification is not included here; cf. Rom 8:30.