an unnatural construction, and the enlightening of the eyes of the heart is not so much a new element in the Divine teaching as a special result involved in the gift of the spirit of revelation. It is therefore best to connect the words with
uJmi'n
, the case being determined by the following infinitive (
eij" to; eijdevnai uJma'"
) with which it goes closely. There are somewhat similar irregularities of order: Eph. 3:18; Luke 24:47
(
ajrxavm. ajpo; jI. uJmei'" mavrture"
).
tou;" ojfq. th'" kardiva"
] The heart expresses the whole personality of man. Comp. Eph. 4:17, 18 (
nou'", diavnoia, kardiva
) note. Spiritual sight includes the action of feeling as well as of intellect.
For the image pefwtismevnou" see John 1:9; 1 John 1:7; 2:8 ff.; Apoc. 22:5 (21:23); Heb. 6:4; 10:32 (notes): 2 Cor. 4:6; cc. 3:9; 5:8, 13 notes; 2 Tim. 1:10. Compare 2 Cor. 4:4, 6. The corresponding darkening is described Rom. 1:21.
18, 19.
tiv" ejstin hJ ejlpiv"...tiv" oJ plou'to"...tiv to; uJperb. mevg
....] Three distinct
objects of spiritual knowledge are set before us. Two concern the nature of our destinythe hope of our calling, and the wealth of the glory of GOD'S inheritance; and the third, the power of GOD by which it is fulfilled. As we pass from thought to thought, we pass more and more from man to GOD, from our feeling to His works, though all is of Him and referred to Him: it is His calling; His inheritance; His might; the calling which He has given, the inheritance which He has prepared, the power which He has shewn; there is at the same time an increasing fulness of development in the successive stages:
(1)
tiv" hJ ejlpi;" th'" klhvsew" aujtou'
.
(2)
tiv" oJ plou'to" th'" dovxh" th'" klhr
.
aujtou' ejn toi'" aJgivoi"
.
(3)
tiv to; uJperbavllon mevgeqo" th'" dunavmew" aujtou' eij" hJma'" tou;" pisteuvonta" kata; th;n ejnevrgeian tou' kravtou" th'" ijscuvo" aujtou' h}n ejnhvrghken ejn tw'/ cristw'/
. The three great moments correspond with the experience of life, which brings out into evidence evils, capacities, failures, which a growing intelligence of the nature and will and working of GOD alone can meet. We can face the sorrows and sadnesses of personal and social history in the hope of GOD'S calling. We can rejoice in the possession of capacities and needs to which our present circumstances bring no satisfaction when we look to the wealth of the glory of GOD'S inheritance in the saints. We can overcome the discouragements of constant failures and weaknesses by the remembrance of the power of GOD shewn in the Raising of Christ.
tiv" ejstin hJ ejlpiv"
...] The question in each case (
tiv"...tiv"...tiv
...) is of the essence and not of the quality (
poiva
).
What is the hope of His calling
, the hope, the one hope of their calling for all Christians (Eph. 4:4), kindled and sustained in us by the fact that GOD has called us to His presence. Such a Divine call is a revelation of human destiny. Man can in Christ behold GOD and live (comp. 1 John 3:2 f.; 2 Cor. 3:12). His hope enters within the veil where Christ has entered in (Heb. 6:19 f.). Compare 1 Pet. 1:3, 5. His hope is a hope of righteousness (Gal. 5:5). Without GOD man has no hope (Eph. 2:12).
Klh'si" is used in regard to the circumstances of the call to the outward society of Christians (1 Cor. 1:26; 7:20), but more especially of the call as a divine