Colossians 3:15

the peace of God Read, with decisive documentary evidence, the peace of Christ. Cp. John 14:27; John 16:33. It is the chastened but glad tranquillity caused by knowledge of Christ, and communion with Him, as our all-sufficient Atonement, Life, Friend, and King.

rule Lit., arbitrate (so R.V. margin). The Lord's peace, received and enjoyed, is to decideevery internal debate between self and God, self and others; to give its casting-vote always on the side of holy love. "I have peace with God, and in God, through Christ; how can I use such a gift but for the Giver?" The Greek verb, brabeuein, means first to act as an athletic umpire, then generally to arbitrate, then to rule. The two latter meanings blend here.

Wyclif has "enioie," and the Rhemish (Romanist) Version "exult." Both are from the Vulgate Latin, exsultet;this probably is a free interpretationof the Greek, which was taken to mean "to have its way," and so, "to break forth into joy."

in your hearts Such settlement of debates therewould quite preclude all harsh conflicts in the community.

to the which Into which (peace).

ye are called Cp. Ephesians 4:4, where the "call" of grace appears in a similar connexion. On the meaning of "call," "calling," in the Epistles (a meaning nearly represented by the popular use of the word "conversion" in religion now) see note in this Series on Ephesians 1:18.

in one body I.e., so as to form one body, in which now you are. Cp. again Ephesians 4:4. Each true convert was, as such, brought into Divine peace, so as to be a living unit in a divinely peaceful society.

Here for the last time in the Epistle is named the mystical Body, vivified and ruled by its glorious Head. See Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24; Colossians 2:19.

thankful See below, Colossians 3:17.