Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

Bondage is likened to a yoke, which presses on the necks of the servants.

If Ctristian slaves treated their masters disrespectfully, the enemies of Christianity would blaspheme Cueist as encouraging by His doctrine insubordi- nation. The apostle points to this result as one which should influence the con- duct of those who are zealous for the Divine honour.

Having a common faith, which puts them on an equality in spiritual things, servants might be led to indulge a familiarity, implying contempt. fi This seems to designate the masters. The service rendered to them is a benefit in return for the protection and maintenance of their slaves. "Greater benefits are conferred by masters on their slaves, than by domestics on masters, for they spend their money to procure for those the necessaries of life and clothing, and are solicitous to provide for all their wants : so that the masters perform greater service for them : whic^ he intimates, saying that they who receive in return your service are faithful and beloved, they labour, and suffer distress for your repose ; should they not receive much honour from their domestics ?" St. Chrysostom.

This likewise is a Hebraism. The testimony which He bore was the pro- fession which He made, that He was the Son of God. Matt, xxvii. 11; John XYiii. 33, 37.

The faith and ministry. He is said to keep the commandment unblemished and blameless, when he proves such in announcing the true doctrine: " contract- ing no stain either in regard to dogmas or conduct." St. Chrysostom.

His Providence supplies all our wants. To the rich He gives abundance, and even to the poor He furnishes support ; the rich being His agents for this purpose. Whenever any suffer extreme want, it is to be ascribed to the unfaith- fulness of those who were made depositaries of the Divine gifts for the common benefit.

The doctrine committed to him — the ministry with which he was entrusted.

Gnostics, that is, men of science, was the designation affected by the earliest heretics. They professed superior knowledge, and despised the simple belief of the faithful. "See how he again orders us not to engage with such persons: shunning, he says, the oppositions : to which no reply should be made. Why ? Because they undermine faith — they do not allow u's to stand firmly and securely. Let us not rely on that knowledge, but on faith, the firm and adamantine rock : for neither floods nor winds rushing upon us can do us any injury, since we stand immovable on the rock." St. Chrysostom.

G. P. " a snare." The words " of the devil" are found in three Uncial, and several other manuscripts, and in several Greek and Latin interpreters, as well as in the Vulgate. St. Chrysostom has them. Similar phrases occur elsewhere in these epistles, c. iii. 7 ; Ep. ii. c. ii. 26. Without these words the sense is imperfect, in the judgment of Baumgarten-Crusius.