3 Another reading of this sentence may be: "If we reflect, it is by a more wonderful work of Christ that every one who believeth rises again to life: if we reflect all, and understand, it is by a more horrible death that every sinner dieth."
6 Luke vii. 37-47. Augustine is mistaken here, although his error has been followed by many ancient writers, and some in more recent times. The time, place, and circumstances make it impossible for the incident here referred to, to be the same as that which took place in Bethany immediately before our Lord's crucifixion. On that last occasion only was it Lazarus' sister, Mary, who anointed Jesus. Luke here speaks only of a woman that was a sinner, and there is little evidence to connect her with any of the other Scripture women, even with Mary of Magdala, as is often done, and who is first mentioned by Luke in a different connection in the following chapter (viii. 2).-Tr.
15 Optionibus, assistants, underlings. In the Mss., it is written, but incorrectly, optionibus; for Varro, Isidorus, and others think the optiones were so called ab optando, as being doubtless chosen as assistants to the decuriones and military adjutants. They were also attached to various offices: and hence there were artisan optiones, and those belonging to official or prison life, in which last signification they are used here; as also in Ambrose's works (Commentary on the Ephesians, chap. 4) in these words: "Nor did Paul and Silas delay to baptize the jailor (optionem carceris)."
19 That is (Augustine here would suggest the emblem) of one who was lying under the fourth and most terrible form of spiritual death referred to before.-Tr.
21 Matt. xxii. 32, and Luke xx. 37, 38.
23 As in margin of English Version.
6 The full expression is nardi pistici pretiosi: Gr. "na/rodou pistikh=j poluti/mou:"pistiko/j from pisti, trustworthy, hence, genuine, pure;-though Aug. seems to indicate that it may also have had a geographical reference.-Tr.