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his old master are imposed upon him. The rite takes place before witnesses; a record is
taken, and often perpetuated on stone."
"Another form, which does not occur elsewhere, but which makes the nature of the
rite particularly plain, is furnished by an inscription of 200-199B.100: on the polygonal
wall at Delphi: Date. Apollo the Pythian bought from Sosibius of Amphissa, for
freedom, a female slave* (The word used is actually Soma, "body" and further
illuminates the references to "the body", e.g., Rom. 6: 6) whose name is Nicæa, by race
a Roman, with a price of three minæ of silver and a half mina. Former seller according to
the law; Eumastus of Amphissa. The price he hath received. The purchase, however,
Nicæa hath committed unto Apollo for freedom. Names of witnesses, etc., follow."
It will be seen at once that the apostle has actually used the words of this legal formula
in the epistles, in such passages as:--
"Ye were bought with a price" (I Cor. 6: 20; 7: 23).
"For freedom did Christ set us free . . . . . ye were called for freedom" (Gal. 5: 1-13).
In numerous records of manumission the nature of the newly-obtained liberty is
illustrated by the enfranchised person being expressly allowed henceforth to "do the
things that he will". Paul, therefore, is referring to the danger of a relapse into servitude
when he points to the possible result of the conflict between flesh and spirit: "That ye
may not do the things that ye would" (Gal. 5: 17).
Numerous manumissions, again, expressly forbid, sometimes under heavy penalties,
that the enfranchised shall ever "be made a slave" again. This throws light on the evil
intentions of those "who . . . . . spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that
they might bring us into bondage" (Gal. 2: 4). And we understand warnings like this in
the letters:--
"For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in
a yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5: 1).
And the still more moving exhortation:--
"Ye were bought with a price; become not slaves of men" (I Cor. 7: 23).
When, in numerous documents, the obligation is imposed upon the enfranchised slave
to "remain with N.N." (his former master), or, for instance, to abide with Euphronius
. . . . . behaving decently", we are reminded of the apostle's words in Corinthians:--
"Let him abide with God" (I Cor. 7: 24).
"That which is decent, and attending on the Lord without distraction" (I Cor. 7: 35).
We trust these references to the actual practice of the times will be of help in
illuminating the argument of Rom. 6: We will not attempt any further amplification
here, but hope to take up the teaching of Rom. 6: 16-23 without further preface in our
next article.