Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST BY THE WILL OF GOD, [ dia (G1223)] - 'through,' etc. (note, 1 Corinthians 1:1.) The same designation of himself as in 1 Cor., 2 Cor., Ephes., 2 Tim. The fuller titular distinction is... [ Continue Reading ]
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. COLOSSE. So 'Aleph (') Delta G f g, Vulgate. But in B, 'Colasse.' As "saints" implies union with God, so "faithful brethren" union with Christians (Ben... [ Continue Reading ]
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Thanksgiving for their 'faith, hope, and love.' So in the twin letter sent by the same bearer, Tychicus (Ephesians 1:15). WE - I and Timothy. AND THE FATHER. So 'Aleph (') A, Vulgate. But B Delta O omit "an... [ Continue Reading ]
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, SINCE WE HEARD - literally, 'Having heard,' etc.: implying that he had only heard of, and not seen them (Colossians 2:1). Compare Romans 1:8, where like language is used of a church which he had not at... [ Continue Reading ]
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; FOR. To be joined with the words preceding: 'the love which ye have (continue having) to all the salute because of [ dia (G1223): on account of] the hope' (here, the thing hoped for),... [ Continue Reading ]
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: WHICH IS COME UNTO YOU, [ tou (G3588) parontos (G3918) eis (G1519) humas (G5209)] - 'Which is present (having come) unto you:' wh... [ Continue Reading ]
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; AS YE ALSO LEARNED. "Also" is omitted in 'Aleph (') A B C Delta G f g, Vulgate. Those inserting it thought that Paul had preached the Gospel to the Colossians as well as Epaphras; whereas the omi... [ Continue Reading ]
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. YOUR LOVE () - "to all the saints." IN THE SPIRIT - the element IN which alone true love is found (; ), as distinguished from that of those "in the flesh" (). Even they needed to be stirred up to greater love (Colossians 3:12). Love is the fir... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; FOR THIS CAUSE (Colossians 1:8) - as in the games we most urge on those near the victory (Chrysostom) ... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 'So as to walk,' etc. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking conformably to it. WORTHY OF THE LORD - Jesus in Paul's letters (Ephesians 4:1). U... [ Continue Reading ]
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; [ En (G1722) pasee (G3956) dunamei (G1411) dunamoumenoi (G1412)] 'Being made mighty with (literally, in) all (every kind of) might.' ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS POWER - `according to... [ Continue Reading ]
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: You (not "we," from Colossians 1:9) "giving thanks unto the Father." Note, Colossians 1:10: this clause is connected with 'That ye may walk' (Colossians 1:10). UNTO THE FATHER - of... [ Continue Reading ]
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: DELIVERED US - implying that we were captives. FROM, [ ek (G1537)] - 'out of the power;' out of the sphere in which the power of the prince of darkness is exercised. DARKNESS - blindness... [ Continue Reading ]
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: WE HAVE - `we are having.' REDEMPTION, [ teen (G3588)] - 'the redemption.' THROUGH HIS BLOOD. So Irenaeus. Omitted in 'Aleph (') A B C G g, Vulgate. Probably inserted from Ephesians 1:7. SINS, [ ton (G3588) hamartioon... [ Continue Reading ]
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: They who have experienced "redemption" (Colossians 1:14) know Christ in the glorious character here, as above the highest angels for whom the false teachers (Colossians 2:18) claimed worship. Compare the two other passages as... [ Continue Reading ]
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: FOR, [ hoti (G3754)] - 'because:' the proof that He is not included in the thing... [ Continue Reading ]
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (John 8:58) 'And He Himself [ Autos (G846): the great HE] is (implying essential being) before all things,' in time, as well as dignity. Therefore He is before even time - i:e., from eternity (cf. Colossians 1:15, note). The contrast is... [ Continue Reading ]
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Relation of Christ to the Church, the new creation, as its Originator. HE - emphatic [ Autos (G846)], HIMSELF. Not angels: in opposition to the false d... [ Continue Reading ]
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; The ellipsis is least by translating (as Colossians 2:9 confirms) 'In Him (Christ) the whole fullness (of the Godhead) The ellipsis is least by translating (as Colossians 2:9 confirms), 'In Him (Christ) the whole fullness (of the God... [ Continue Reading ]
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. The order is, 'And through Him (Christ) God (implied in "the fullness") was pleased to reconcile again completely [ apokatallaxa... [ Continue Reading ]
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled The Colossians are included in this general reconciliation (Colossians 2:13). SOMETIME - `once.' THAT WERE ... ALIENATED - a double participle [ ontas (G5607) apeellotrioomenous (G526)]:... [ Continue Reading ]
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH - the element in which His reconciling sufferings had place. Compare Colossians 1:24, "afflictions of Christ in my flesh" (1 Peter 2:24). Angels, who have not a 'b... [ Continue Reading ]
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; IF - `If at least' [ eige (G1489)]: not otherwise shall ye be so presented... [ Continue Reading ]
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: WHO. So Delta G f g, Vulgate. But A B C omit "who:" 'Now I rejoice.' To enhance Christ's glory as paramount, he mentions his own suffering... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; AM - Greek, 'I was made a minister:' resuming Colossians 1:23, end. There it was of the Gospel; here, of the Church: to be a minister of the Church is to be a minister of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: THE MYSTERY (notes, Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:5) - once hidden, now revealed: redemption for the whole Gentile world THE MYSTERY (notes, Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:5) - once hidden, now... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: WOULD, [ etheleesen (G2309)] - 'willed to make known.' He resolves all into God's will, that man should not glory except in God's grace. WHAT - how inexha... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: PREACH, [ katangellomen (G2605)] - 'announce.' WARNING ... TEACHING. "Warning" leads to repentance, refers to conduct, and is addressed to the heart. "Teaching" leads... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. WHEREUNTO - namely, 'to present every man perfect in Christ.' I ALSO LABOUR - rather, 'I labour also' (2 Cor. 6:51 . I not only 'announce' (Colossians 1:28) Christ, but I labour also. STRIVING, [ agooniz... [ Continue Reading ]