τῷ ἐκτρώματι. The word refers to a birth out of the usual course of nature, about which there is therefore (1) something violent and strange. Such was the nature of St Paul’s conversion, an event unparalleled in Scripture. Moreover, (2) such children are usually small and weakly, an idea which the next verse shews St Paul also had in mind. St Paul saw the Lord on more than one occasion. See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 9:1. The τῷ points out St Paul as the only member of the Apostolic band of whom this could be said. So Winer, Gr. Gram. § 18. Yet τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ (Luke 18:13) signifies the sinner κατ ̓ ἐξοχήν.

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Old Testament