ει 1487 COND δε 1161 CONJ η 3588 T-NSF αδικια 93 N-NSF ημων 2257 P-1GP θεου 2316 N-GSM δικαιοσυνην 1343 N-ASF συνιστησιν 4921 5719 V-PAI-3S τι 5101 I-ASN ερουμεν 2046 5692 V-FAI-1P μη 3361 PRT-N αδικος 94 A-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM επιφερων 2018 5723 V-PAP-NSM την 3588 T-ASF οργην 3709 N-ASF κατα 2596 PREP ανθρωπον 444 N-ASM λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. Commend (sunisthsin). Only twice outside of Paul's writings, Luke ix. 32; 2 Pet. iii. 5, both in the physical sense. Lit., to place together. Hence of setting one person with another by way of introducing or presenting him, and hence to commend. Also to put together with a vein of showing, proving, or establishing. Expositors render here differently: commend, establish, prove. Commend is the prevailing sense in the New Testament, though in some instances the two ideas blend, as Rom. v. 8; 2 Corinthians vii. 11; Gal. ii. 18. See Rom. xvi. 1; 2 Cor. iv. 2; vi. 4; x. 18.Who taketh vengeance (o epiferwn thn orghn). Rev., much better, who visiteth with wrath. Lit., bringeth the anger to bear. The force of the article it is difficult to render. It may be the wrath, definitely conceived as judicial, or, more probably, as in Matt. iii. 7, referring to something recognized - the wrath to come, the well-understood need of unrighteousness. See on Rom. xii. 19.
As a man (kata anqrwpon). Rev., after the manner of men; i.e., I use a mode of speech drawn from human affairs. The phrase is thrown in apologetically, under a sense that the mode of speech is unworthy of the subject. Morison aptly paraphrases: "When I ask the question, 'Is God unjust who inflicteth wrath?' I am deeply conscious that I am using language which is intrinsically improper when applied to God. But in condescension to human weakness I transfer to Him language which it is customary for men to employ when referring to human relationships." Compare 1 Cor. ix. 8; Rom. vi. 19.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:5 {What shall we say?} (ti eroumen?). Rhetorical question, common with Paul as he surveys the argument. {Commendeth} (sunistesin). this common verb sunistemi, to send together, occurs in the N.T. in two senses, either to introduce, to commend (#2Co 3:1; 4:2) or to prove, to establish (#2Co 7:11; Ga 2:18; Ro 5:8). Either makes good sense here. {Who visiteth the wrath} (ho epiferwn ten orgen). "Who brings on the wrath,"the inflicter of the anger" (Vaughan). {I speak as a man} (kata anqrwpon). See #Ga 3:15 for same phrase. As if to say, "pardon me for this line of argument." Tholuck says that the rabbis often used kata anqrwpon and ti eroumen. Paul had not forgotten his rabbinical training.
