_To write. From hence it would appear, says Grotius, that St. Paul had intended to have finished his letter at the end of the preceding chapter; but something new occurring to him, he added the two following chapter; but something new occurring to him, he added the two following Chapter s._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beware of dogs. [1] The Jews called so the Gentiles; and St. Paul now applies it to those among the Jews who spread false doctrine, who privately snarled and publicly barked against the true apostles. None deserve sharp reprehension more than heretical preachers. --- Beware of the concision, or as... [ Continue Reading ]
_For we are the circumcision. We Christians now use the only profitable and commendable spiritual circumcision; which, to the Colossians (ii. 11.) he calls the circumcision of Christ, and to the Romans (ii. 29.) circumcision of the heart in the spirit. --- Not having confidence in the flesh; i.e. in... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any other thinketh he may have confidence in the flesh, in being of the Jewish race and of their religion, I more; i.e. I have greater reasons to glory than they have, being circumcised of the stock of Israel, &c. --- But what things, &c. as soon as I was miraculously called to the knowledge and... [ Continue Reading ]
_I may be found in him not having my justice, which is of the law; i.e. not pretending to be justified either by my own works or by the works of the Jewish law, but by that which proceedeth from faith in Christ, and by his merits. (Witham) --- St. Augustine expounds the sense thus: not that justice... [ Continue Reading ]
_That I may know him. This knowledge of Christ the apostle prefers to all honours and advantages accruing from his adherence to the synagogue._... [ Continue Reading ]
_If by any means I may attain to the resurrection, which is from the dead; i.e. may attain to a happy resurrection, when the dead shall rise again. (Witham) --- This manner of expression does not betray any distrust or fear, but merely insinuates the difficulty of the enterprise, the uncertainty of... [ Continue Reading ]
Not as though I had already attained the happiness I hope for, or am now become perfect as to that perfection in virtue, which I must always endeavour to increase in; but, like a person still running a race for a prize, I pursue and run as well as I can, I stretch myself with perseverance towards[2]... [ Continue Reading ]
_I do not count myself. That is, I do not suppose that vain security is sufficient to put my salvation out of doubt, and that Christ having died, nothing remains for me to do. No; I consider myself as a wrestler at the games, uncertain of success. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
[BIBLIOGRAPHY] Ad destinatum, _Greek: kata skopon dioko. See St. John Chrysostom of the necessity of good works, ( Greek: log. is. p. 65) and of the uncertainty a man is always in of his salvation. p. 67._... [ Continue Reading ]
_ Be followers of me, always in distrust of your own merits, and always eager to advance in perfection, as I am. It is a happy thing when a pastor can thus in all sincerity and simplicity address his flock. --- He exhorts them to follow him in what he had taught them, and in the model of a good life... [ Continue Reading ]