Colossians 2:5

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. FOR - motive for their not being beguiled; i:e., regard to his personal authority as though he were present. JOYING AND (JOYING WITH YOU, INASMUCH AS) BEHOLDING YOUR ORDER - your good order (cf. "knit together," Colossians 2:2). AS A WELL ORGANIZED BODY. 'Good order gives stedfastness to a military phalanx: so in the Church, love establishes all things, and there being no schisms' (Theophilus) (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:33; 1 Corinthians 14:40)....

5._For though I am absent in body. _Lest any one should object that the admonition was unseasonable, as coming from a place so remote, he says, that his affection towards them made him be _present with them in spirit_, and judge of what is expedient for them, as though he were present. By praising, also, their present condition, he admonishes them not to fall back from it, or turn aside. _Rejoicing_, says he, _And seeing_, that is — “Because _I see_. ” For _and _means _for_, as is customary among the Latins and Greeks. “Go on as you have begun, for I know that hitherto you have pursued the right course, inasmuch as distance of place does not prevent me from beholding you with the eyes of the mind.” _Order and steadfastness. _He mentions two things, in which the perfection of the Church consists — _order _among themselves, and _faith _in Christ. By the term _order_, he means — agreem

1-7 The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. When we not only believe with the heart, but are ready, when called, to make confession with the mouth. Knowledge and faith make a soul rich. The stronger our faith, and the warmer our love, the more will our comfort be. The treasures of wisdom are hid, not from us, but for us, in Christ. These were hid from proud unbelievers, but displayed in the person and redemption of Christ. See the danger of enticing words; how many are ruined by the false disguises and fair appearances of evil principles and wicked practices! Be aware and afraid of those who would entice to any evil; for they aim to spoil you. All Christians have, in profession at least, received Jesus Christ the Lord, consented to him, and taken him for theirs. We cannot be built up in Christ, or grow in him, unless we are first rooted in him, or...

Verse 5. _FOR THOUGH I BE ABSENT IN THE FLESH_] It is hardly possible that such words as these in this verse could have been used to perfect _strangers_; they argue a considerable knowledge of the people, and a knowledge founded on personal acquaintance. The original is exceedingly soft and musical:- Ει γαρ και τη σαρκι απειμι, Αλλα τῳ πνευματι συν ὑμιν ειμι, Χαιρων και βλεπων ὑμων την ταξιν, κ.τ.λ. The whole verse shows that this Church was _sound_ in _doctrine_, and _strict_ in _discipline_. They had _steadfast faith_ in Christ, and regular _order_ or discipline among themselves....

FOR THOUGH I BE ABSENT IN THE FLESH, YET AM I WITH YOU IN THE SPIRIT - That is, I seem to see you; I feel as if I were there, and were looking upon you; and I have the same solicitude as if I were there, and saw all the danger which exists that your beautiful order and harmony should be disturbed by the influence of false philosophy; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 5:3. The word “spirit,” here, does not refer to the Holy Spirit, or to any inspiration by which the apostle was enabled to see them; but it is equivalent to what we mean when we say, “My heart is with you.” He seemed to be beholding them. JOYING AND BEHOLDING YOUR ORDER - That is, I rejoice as if I saw your order. He had such confidence that everything would be done among them as became Christians, that he could rejoice as if he actually saw it....

EXPOSITION COLOSSIANS 2:1 SECTION IV. THE APOSTLE'S CONCERN FOR THE COLOSSI. AN CHURCH. So far the contents of the letter have been of a general and preparatory character. New the writer begins to indicate the special purpose he has in view by declaring, in connection with his concern for the welfare of the Gentile Churches at large (Colossians 1:24), _the deep anxiety which he at present feels respecting the Colossian and neighbouring Churches._ COLOSSIANS 2:1...

FOR THOUGH I BE ABSENT IN THE FLESH,.... Or body, as the Ethiopic version reads it, and as it is expressed in 1 Corinthians 5:3; here the apostle anticipates an objection which might be made, how he could have such a conflict and concern for them, and express so much affection for them, and know so much of their affairs, in what condition and situation they were, and how liable to be deceived by false teachers, when he was absent from them, and had never been among them. That he had never been corporeally present with them, nor was he then, he owns; but this did not hinder but that he might be in another sense present with them, and so have cognizance of them and their state, and be affected towards them, and concerned for them: YET AM I WITH YOU IN THE SPIRIT; as he was with the Corinthians in the place above cited, judging the incestuous person, determining conc

Colossians 2:1. _For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;_ Paul had not met these Colossian Christians, but he had heard of their faith, and hope, and love, and he so desired their good that he had a continual care for them in his heart. He carried that care to God in prayer, yet he still bore them in loving remembrance. They were always on his heart as a sick child is ever on the heart of its mother. Colossians 2:2. _That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ._ In whom are hid all the treasures of wi

II. COMPLETE IN HIM, IN WHOM ALL THE FULLNESS DWELLS CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The mystery of God (Colossians 2:1)_ 2. Complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9) 3. Exhortations and warnings (Colossians 2:16) Colossians 2:1 In view of the last verses of the preceding chapter we can understand his anxiety and the great conflict he had for the Colossians and for those living in nearby Laodicea, and for as many who had not seen his face in the flesh. He was deeply concerned about them after he heard of their danger of going into error. It was a spiritual conflict. He was greatly exercised in his th

AN URGENT WARNING AGAINST A DEGRADING THEOSOPHY. Let them not be led away by false reasonings, however persuasive. They must think of Paul, despite his bodily absence, as being with them in spirit (1 Corinthians 5:3 f.*), as a sharer of their joy, and a spectator of the ordered line and steadfast front of their loyalty to Christ. As, then, they received the Messiah, Jesus the Lord, so let them walk in Him, true to the instruction they received, rooted and built up in Him, strong in loyalty, overflowing in thanks-giving. Let them, even so, be on their guard against the very real danger that some person may make a prey of them by means of a philosophy which is mere empty deceit, based not upon Christ, but on human tradition and the doctrine of elemental spirits. The truth is that the entire fulness of the Godhead resides concretely embodied in Christ. To Him as head every rule and auth