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; Ver. 1. _For I would that ye knew_] Little do most men know what incessant care and pains their faithful ministers take for their souls' health. But we w... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 2. _That their hearts may be comforted_] Ministers are "sons of consolation," while by... [ Continue Reading ]
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Ver. 3. _In whom are hid_] What so great a matter is it then if we be obscured, and our good parts not so noticed? _Usque adeone scire tuum nihil est?_ (Pers.) Christ was content his treasures should be hidden. _In maxima sui mole se minimu... [ Continue Reading ]
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. Ver. 4. _With enticing words_] With probable and persuasible speeches, πιθανολογια. It is not safe for simple men to hear heretics; for though they may think themselves able enough to answer them, yet they have a notable faculty o... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _Your order, and the stedfastness_] Faith and order, that is, doctrine and discipline, saith one. These two make the Church "fair as the moon,... [ Continue Reading ]
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, _so_ walk ye in him: Ver. 6. _So walk ye in him_] Continue well affected, as ye were at your first conversion; fall not from your own stedfastness, 2 Peter 3:17. Happy is he that can say in a spiritual sense (as it was said of Moses), that after... [ Continue Reading ]
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Ver. 7. _Abounding therein with thanksgiving_] Thankfulness for smaller measures of grace gets more. _Efficacissimum genus est rogandi, gratias agere._ (Plin. Panegyr.)... [ Continue Reading ]
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Ver. 8. _Lest any man spoil you_] A metaphor either from sheep stealers or plunderers, συλαγωγων. Seducers plunder men of their precious souls. They... [ Continue Reading ]
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Ver. 9. _All the fulness of the Godhead bodily_] That is, essentially, not in clouds and ceremonies, as once between the cherubims, which the Jews called Shechinah; whereunto the apostle here alludeth.... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Ver. 10. _And ye are complete_] Ye have that true happiness of a man, which philosophers hunted after in the thicket of earthly vanities, and lost themselves in the chase. Varro makes report of 288 different opinions that... [ Continue Reading ]
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Ver. 11. _Made without hands_] Oh, how honourable (saith an interpreter) is the work of mortification, even as to make those huge heavens, &c. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with _him_ through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Ver. 12. _Buried with him in baptism_] Which succeedeth in the place of circumcision, and is also to us a seal of the righteousness of faith, Romans 4:11. T... [ Continue Reading ]
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Ver. 13. _And you being dead_] _See Trapp on "_ Eph 2:1 _"_ Hath he quickened] The first springing in the womb of grace is precious before God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Ver. 14. _Blotting out the handwriting_] Crossing out the black lines of our sins with the red lines of his Son's blood.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Ver. 15. _He made a show of them_] A plain allusion to the Roman triumphs. _See Trapp on "_ Eph 4:8 _"_ Christ made the devils a public spectacle of scorn and derision, as Tamerlane did Bajaze... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath _days_ : Ver. 16. _Let no man therefore judge you_] That is, set not up any such for a judge over your consciences; or, if any usurp such an authority, slight him, according to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body _is_ of Christ. Ver. 17. _Which are a shadow_] And so a sign of Christ, obscurely and imperfectly representing him to the old Church, and now abolished by his coming in the flesh. In the twelfth year of our Saviour's age (the same year wherein he t... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Ver. 18. _Let no man beguile you_] Gr. βραβευετω, brave it over you. Confer Exodus 8:9; "Glory over me," _Gloriam assume... [ Continue Reading ]
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Ver. 19. _And not holding the head_] This is worse than all the former, that they despoiled Christ of his dignity; as if he alone were not suf... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, Ver. 20. _Are ye subject to ordinances_] Why do ye dogmatize; or be burdened with rites or traditions, as they now are in the Papacy? John Aunt, a Roman Catholic, i... [ Continue Reading ]
(Touch not; taste not; handle not; Ver. 21. _Touch not, taste not, &c._] The words of those impostors, which are here mimetically, or by way of imitation, related. See the like Ecclesiastes 10:14, where the wise man graphically describeth the fool's tautologies, "A man cannot tell what shall be, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Ver. 22. _Which all are to perish_] The very daily perishing of food and raiment are types of thy perishing also, saith a divine.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Ver. 23. _And neglecting of the body_] Gr. αφειδεια. Not sparing of it, as the old and new Baalites, these Flagellantes; and those also among us (go... [ Continue Reading ]