Title The oldest known form is the briefest, To (the) Colossians, or Colassians (see note on Colossians 1:1 below). So in the "Subscription" to the Epistle, which see. The title as in the Authorized Version agrees with that adopted in the Elzevir editions of 1624, 1633.... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:1-2. Greeting 1. _Paul Paulos_. See Acts 13:9. The Apostle probably bore, from infancy, both the two names, _Saul_(_Saoul, Saulos_) and _Paul_. See on Ephesians 1:1, and _Romans_, p. 8, in this Series. _AN_ _apostle_ Lit., AN ENVOY, A MISSIONARY; in the Gospels and Acts always in the s... [ Continue Reading ]
_to the saints_ HOLY ONES; persons possessed of holiness, separated from sin to God. It is true that this is the language of "charitable presumption" (Pearson, _Exposition of the Creed_, Art. ix. p. 353); when a community is thus described St Paul does not thereby positively assert that each individ... [ Continue Reading ]
thanksgiving for the colossian saints 3. _We give thanks_ So Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Philemon 1:4. Thanksgiving is the instin [ Continue Reading ]
_since we heard_ More simply, HAVING HEARD. He refers to the information given by Epaphras (Colossians 1:7), probably quite recently. On the question whether he had ever visited Colosssæ, see on Colossians 2:1 below, _Introd_., pp. 20, 21, and Appendix A. This verse gives no decisive evidence in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_for the hope_ I.e. ON ACCOUNT OF THE HOPE. "That blessed hope," full of Christ, and the object of an intensely _united_expectation, gave special occasion, by its nature, for the exercise alike of the faith and the love just mentioned. "Faith, love, hope," thus appear together, as 1 Corinthians 13:1... [ Continue Reading ]
_is come unto you_ Lit., "_is present to you;_" but the A.V. and R.V. are idiomatically right. _as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth_, &c. The word "_and_" here is textually doubtful; the adverse evidence though not decisive is considerable. If it is omitted, the rendering will be, AS ALSO... [ Continue Reading ]
_as ye also learned_ In the word "_as_" he refers to the "truth" just spoken of (Lightfoot). _So_, and not otherwise, had Epaphras phrased his message. The word rendered "_also_" should certainly be omitted, on documentary evidence. As it stands, it simply emphasizes the fact; "_as you_actually _le... [ Continue Reading ]
_also_ "As he preached to you from us, so _also_he brought back from us to you the tidings, etc." (Lightfoot.) _your love_ See on Colossians 1:4 above. _in the Spirit_ "In" Whom they were (Romans 8:9). Cp. Romans 15:30, where probably "the love" spoken of is that quickened in the hearts of the sain... [ Continue Reading ]
thanksgiving passes into prayer that they may will and walk with god 9. _For this cause_ In view of the whole happy report from Colossæ. _we also_ The "_also_" means that the news of the loving life at Colossæ was _met_by the loving prayer of Paul and his friends. _since the day_, &c. The phrase... [ Continue Reading ]
_walk_ A very frequent word in St Paul; most frequent in Eph., where see Colossians 4:1 for a close parallel. See 1 Thessalonians 2:12 for one still closer verbally. The word denotes life in its action and intercourse. The spiritual knowledge which he asks for them is thus sought for the most sacred... [ Continue Reading ]
_strengthened_ "_made powerful;_" R.V. marg. The same verb occurs in the LXX. of Psalms 67:(Heb. and Eng. 68.) 28, and some other O.T. passages, and in Hebrews 11:34. A compound of it occurs Acts 9:12; Romans 4:20; Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13. The three last reff. are a full spiritual commentar... [ Continue Reading ]
_giving thanks_ as the disciple is to do "in everything" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). So would the deep-felt "joy" be specially expressed. See on Colossians 1:3 above. _unto the Father_ Who is always revealed as the ultimate Object of thanksgiving, the eternal Fountain of the whole Redemption. Cp. e.g. M... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought pursued: the greatness of their Redemption, and of their Redeemer 13. _hath delivered_ Better, DELIVERED, RESCUED. The time-reference is the same as that of "_qualified us_," explained in the last note but one. The verb is that used in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:13), and e.g. 1Th 1:10... [ Continue Reading ]
_redemption through his blood_ Omit the words "_through His blood_," on clear documentary evidence. They stand unchallenged in the parallel verse, Ephesians 1:7. And the truth they express comes out explicitly below, Colossians 1:20_; Colossians 1:22_. " _Redemption:_" lit., "_the redemption_," here... [ Continue Reading ]
the thought continued: greatness of the redeemer as head of creation 15. _who is_ Here opens, in closest connexion with the preceding matter, a confession of truth and faith about the Person of the Redeeming Son of God, the King of the redeemed. He appears in His relation to (_a_) the Eternal Fathe... [ Continue Reading ]
_for_ BECAUSE. Now follows the proof, given in the creative action of the Son, of His priority to and lordship over created being. _by him_ Lit. and far better, IN HIM. "The act of creation is supposed to rest in Him, and to depend on Him for its completion and realization" (Ellicott). In other wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_he_ Emphatic in the Greek; He, and no other who could even seem to rival or obscure His sublime eminence. _is before all things ante omnes_, Latin Versions. The Greek genitive form is ambiguous; it might be either masculine or neuter. But the mention in the last clause, in the unambiguous nominati... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought continued. Greatness of the Redeemer as Head of the Church, Bearer of the Divine Plenitude, and Atoning Sacrifice 18. _And he is_ The same words as just above, and a solemn echo of them. _He_, the same Person, _is_also, necessarily, all that is now to be stated. The Head of Nature is th... [ Continue Reading ]
_For it pleased_the Father, &c. "_The Father_" is supplied by the translators (A.V. and R.V., and the older versions from Tyndale (1534) downwards, except the Roman Catholic Rhemish (1582) which reads "_in Him it hath well pleased al fulnes to inhabite_." The Old Latin reads _in ipso complacuit omni... [ Continue Reading ]
_having made peace_ Between Himself, the Holy Judge and King, and His subjects. He is thus now "the God of Peace" (Romans 15:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20); and "we, justified by faith, have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). The Subject of the statement is, as be... [ Continue Reading ]
The Subject pursued: the special case of the Colossians with regard to Redemption 21. _you_ In the Greek "_you_" is accusative, and (in the best supported reading) the only verb to govern it is "_to reconcile_" in Colossians 1:20. (See note on "_hath He reconciled_" just below.) Thus the _construct... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the body_ Cp. for this word in a similar connexion Romans 7:4; Hebrews 10:10. And see Matthew 26:26 (and parallels); 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1Co 11:27; 1 Peter 2:24. In all these passages the thought is of the blessed Body not generally, as regarding the Incarnation, but particularly, as regarding... [ Continue Reading ]
_if_ With a certain emphasis in the Greek, _pressing_on the saints the need of watching and prayer; a need which leaves untouched in their proper sphere the sure promises of the "final perseverance" of the saints. "If we look to stand in the faith of the sons of God, we must hourly, continually, be... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle's joy, and labour, in his Ministry 24. _Who_ This word is undoubtedly to be omitted, on the evidence of documents. Read, NOW I REJOICE. _now_ as I review the glory of our Redeemer in His Person and His Work, the scope of His Gospel, the blessedness of His service. _rejoice in my suffe... [ Continue Reading ]
_whereof_ That is, of the Church; on behalf of it, serving its holy interests. _according to_ His "ministry" was _conditioned_and _guided_by the terms of "the dispensation" just about to be mentioned. _the dispensation_ Better, THE STEWARDSHIP. So Ephesians 3:2, a close parallel. For the figure se... [ Continue Reading ]
_the mystery_ I.e. as always in N.T., a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, a holy _secret;_whether or no, when revealed, it is what we can or cannot understand. See our note on Ephesians 1:9. We have this "secret" unveiled and described just below. Lightfoot points out that the Greek word _m... [ Continue Reading ]
_would_ Lit., WILLED, or (as R.V.) WAS PLEASED. All was sovereign mercy. Cp. Matthew 11:27. _the riches of the glory_ "_Riches_" is a favourite term with St Paul, in reference to Divine things. Cp. Romans 2:4; Romans 10:12; Romans 11:12; Rom 11:33; 1 Corinthians 1:5; 2Co 8:9; 2 Corinthians 9:11; Eph... [ Continue Reading ]
_we_ Emphatic. He has the alien emissaries in mind. _preach_ Slightly better, as R.V., PROCLAIM. The Greek word recurs with Christ as its living Object, Acts 17:3; Philippians 1:16; Philippians 1:18. _warning_ Better, as R.V., ADMONISHING; a word which is rather more general in its scope. The kind... [ Continue Reading ]
_also_ i.e. "_actually_," "as a matter of fact." _labour_ The Greek verb denotes _toil even to weariness_. It (or its cognate noun) occurs e.g. 1Co 15:10; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 4:11; Php 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1Th 5:12; 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 2:6; Revelation 2:2-3. _striving_ The Gr... [ Continue Reading ]