Present and coming powers; love of God holds
Next comes the clause when he abolishes every rule and every authority and powerAfter that stand 'the things present.' Ask whether these can point to the world-ruler of this darkness, and not merely to present human affairs; another reader would refer 'present things' to what is seen and temporary.
Then consider what 'the things to come' are. They may be the struggles still ahead for the apostle in this life's sojourn, measured from the days when the letter was written; or they may be what meets the soul at once after this age and after departure—when the ruler of this world and powers under him will try to seize the one who has gone abroad, yet cannot touch those who have already laid hold of the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Next after these is 'neither powers,' which seems to name a kind of rational being outside a mortal body.
Greek
καὶ εἰς τὸ ὅταν καταργή ῃ πᾶ αν ἀρχὴν καὶ πᾶ αν ἐξου ίαν καὶ δύναμιν. ἑξῆς τούτ<ῳ> ἐστὶ τὰ ἐνεστῶτα· ταῦτα δὲ ἐπίσκεψαι εἰ δύναται ἀναφέρεσθαι ἐπὶ τοὺ κο μοκράτορα τοῦ κότου τούτου, καὶ οὐχὶ ἐπί τινα ἐνεστῶτα ἀνθρώπινα· ἄλλος δ' ἂν λέγοι τὰ ἐνεστῶτα ἀναφέρεσθαι ἐπὶ τὰ βλεπόμενα καὶ πρό καιρα. μετὰ τοῦτο ἴδωμεν τίνα τὰ μέλλοντα καὶ ἤτοι <τὰ> πρὸς τὸν μέλλοντα χρόνον παλαίσοντα τῷ ἀποστόλῳ τῆς ἐν τῷ βίῳ τούτῳ παρεπιδημίας, ὡς πρὸς τὰς ἐνεστηκυίας αὐτῷ τῆς γραφῆς τῆς ἐπιστολῆς ἡμέρας, ἢ τὰ μετὰ τὸν ἐνεστηκότα αἰῶνα καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἔξοδον εὐθέως ἀπαντησόμενα, ὅτε ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κό μου τούτου καί τινες ὑπ' αὐτῷ δυνάμεις βουλήσονται μὲν κρατεῖν τοῦ ἐκδημήσαντος, οὐ δυνήσονται δὲ ἐπὶ τῶν προανειληφότων τὴν ἀγάπην τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. ἑξῆς δὲ αὐτῶ<ν> ἐστὶν τὸ οὔτε δυνάμεις, ὅπερ ἔοικεν εἶναι εἴδους τινὸς τῶν ἔξω θνητοῦ σώματος λογικῶν,
About this text
Origen of Alexandria, Commentarii in epistulam ad Romanos (catena Greek) (Greek).
Original English Translation of Origen’s Commentarii in epistulam ad Romanos (catena Greek) — new OET from PG 14 Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 14 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.