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862 B
862 B
But if it is by grace
Paul is continuing to explain how God's mercy works. AT: "But since God's mercy works by grace"
What then?
"What should we conclude?" AT: "This is what we need to remember." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion)
God gave them a spirit of dullness, eyes so that they should not see, and ears so that they should not hear
This is a metaphor about the fact that they are spiritually dull. They are not able to see or hear spiritual truth.
spirit of
Here this means “having the characteristics of,” such as the “spirit of wisdom.”
eyes so that they should not see
The concept of seeing with one's eyes was considered to be equivalent to gaining understanding.
ears so that they should not hear
The concept of hearing with the ears was considered to be equivalent to obedience.