8 But to those are contentious. The speech is somewhat confused. First, because the tenor, form, or fashion of the talk is broken. For the course of speech required that the second part of comparison should cleave unto the first after this sort, the Lord will give eternal life to those, which by perseverance in good works seek glory, honour, and immortality: but to the contentious and disobedient eternal death. Then should be added the illation or conclusion, namely that there is prepared for those, glory, honour, and incorruption: but for these there is laid up wrath and affliction. Secondly, because these words: indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish, are applied unto two divers members:1 yet this troubleth not the sense of the speech, which ought to suffice us in the writings of the Apostles. For out of others we must seek for eloquence: here is spiritual wisdom to be sought for, under a base and simple stile of words. Contention here is put for rebellion, and stiffneckedness: because Paul hath to do with hypocrites who through gross and reckless cockering, make a mockery of God. Under the name of trueth, is simply understood the rule of Gods will, which is the only lantern of trueth. For this is a common thing to all the wicked, that they had rather subject them selves in service to iniquity, then take upon them the yoke of God. And ⟨image 36⟩what obedience so ever they pretend, yet they cease not stubbornly to murmur, and strive against the word of God. For as they which are openly wicked,2 scoff at this trueth, so the hypocrites doubt not to oppose their counterfeit servings and worshippings against it. Moreover, the Apostle hereby putteth in mind, that such stubborn people do serve iniquity: For there is no mean, whereby they should not presently fall into the servitude of sin, who will not be ruled by the law of the Lord. And this also is a just reward of frantic licentiousness, that they are made the bondslaves of sin, who thought it much to obey God. Indignation and wrath. The property of the words hath caused me to turn it thus: For Thumos with the Grecians signifieth that, which Cicero teacheth Excandescentiam to note with the latins:3 namely, a sudden inflammation of wrath. In the others I follow Erasmus.
8 But to those are contentious. The speech is somewhat confused. First, because the tenor, forme, or fashion of the talke is broken. For the course of speeche required yt the second part of comparison shoulde cleaue vnto the first after this sort, the Lorde will giue eternall life to those, which by perseuerance in good workes seeke glory, honour, and immortalitie: but to the contentious and disobedient eternall death. Then should bee added the illation or conclusion, namely that there is prepared for those, glory, honour, and incorruption: but for these there is laide vppe wrath and affliction. Secondly, because these woordes: indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguishe, are applied vnto two diuers members:1 yet this troubleth not the sense of the speache, which ought to suffise vs in the writinges of the Apostles. For out of others wee must seeke for eloquence: heere is spirituall wisedome to be sought for, vnder a base and simple stile of wordes. Contention heere is put for rebellion, and stiffeneckednesse: because Paul hath to doe with hypocrites who through grosse and rechlesse cockering, make a mockerie of God. Vnder the name of trueth, is simply vnderstoode the rule of Gods will, which is the onely lanterne of trueth. For this is a common thing to al the wicked, that they had rather subiect thē selues in seruice to iniquitie, then take vpon thē ye yoke of God. And ⟨image 36⟩what obediēce so euer they pretende, yet they cease not stubburnely to murmure, and striue against the woorde of God. For as they which are openly wicked,2 scoffe at this trueth, so the hypocrites doubt not to oppose their counterfeite seruinges and worshippinges against it. Moreouer, the Apostle heereby putteth in minde, that such stubburne people doe serue iniquitie: For there is no meane, whereby they shoulde not presently fall into the seruitude of sinne, who will not be ruled by the lawe of the Lorde. And this also is a iust rewarde of franticke licenciousnesse, that they are made the bondslaues of sinne, who thought it much to obey God. Indignation and wrath. The property of the wordes hath caused mee to turne it thus: For Thumos with the Grecians signifieth that, which Cicero teacheth Excandescentiam to note with the latines:3 namely, a sudden inflammation of wrath. In the others I followe Erasmus.
- 1In the scriptures we must seek for spiritual wisdom, and not for eloquenceIn ye scriptures we must seeke for spirituall wisedome, and not for eloquēce
- 2Between the service of God and sin there is no mean: so that if we serve not God, then do we serve sin.Betweene the seruice of God and sinne there is no meane: so that if we serue not God, then do we serue sinne.
- 3•usc. 4.
