Section 78
173Gk. ἐν τοῖς ἔϱγοɩς τοῖς πονηϱοῖς, the ἔϱγα being πονηϱά because they are the outworking of an inner enmity toward God (cf. G. Harder, TDNT 6, p. 557, n. 73, s.v. πονηϱóς). Hence ἐν, the “maid of all work” among the Greek prepositions, is rendered “as was shown by” above; this excludes any suggestion that the enmity was the consequence of the wicked works.
174For the majority reading ἀποϰατήλλαξεν, the aorist passive ἀποϰατηλλάγητε (“you were reconciled”) is read by P46 B and Hilary. The passive reading involves an anacoluthon after the accusative ὑμᾶς at the beginning of v. 21, but for that reason might be regarded as original. The variants ἀποϰαταλλαγέντες (D* F G b Iren.lat Ambst) and ἀποϰατήλλαϰταɩ (33) may be attempts to mend the anacoluthon; if so, the majority reading could represent a more successful attempt.
175If ἀποϰατήλλαξεν be read, the following words show that Christ, not God, is now the subject.