This entire chapter may be regarded as designed to guard the Colossians against the seductive influence of the false philosophy which tended to draw them away from the gospel. It is evident from the chapter that there were at Colossae, or in the vicinity, professed instructors in religion, who taugh... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WOULD THAT YE KNEW - I wish you knew or fully understood. He supposes that this would deeply affect them if they understood the solicitude which he had had on their account. WHAT GREAT CONFLICT - Margin, fear, or care. The Greek word is “agony” - ἀγῶνα agōna. It is not, however, the word re... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEIR HEARTS MIGHT BE COMFORTED - Like all other Christians in the times of the apostles, they were doubtless exposed to trials and persecutions. BEING KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE - The same word which is used here (συμβιβάζω sumbibazō) occurs in Ephesians 4:16, and is rendered compacted; see the n... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM - Margin, “wherein.” The more correct translation is “in whom.” The reference is doubtless to Christ, as his name is the immediate antecedent, and as what is affirmed here properly appertains to him. ARE HID - Like treasures that are concealed or garnered up. It does not mean that none of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS I SAY - Respecting the character and sufficiency of the truth revealed in Christ. LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BEGUILE YOU - Deceive you, lead you away from the truth. WITH ENTICING WORDS - Artful words, smooth and plausible arguments; such as were employed by the Greek sophists and rhetoricians.... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
AS YE HAVE THEREFORE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD - Have received him by faith as your Saviour, or as you were instructed respecting his rank, character, and work. The object here is to induce them not to swerve from the views which they had of Christ when he was made known to them. They had at fi... [ Continue Reading ]
ROOTED ...IN HIM - As a tree strikes its roots deep in the earth, so our faith should strike deep into the doctrine respecting the Saviour. See the phrase used here explained in the parallel place in Ephesians 3:17. AND ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH, AS YE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT - To wit, by the founders of t... [ Continue Reading ]
BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU - The word “spoil” now commonly means, to corrupt, to cause to decay and perish, as fruit is spoiled by keeping too long, or paper by wetting, or hay by a long rain, or crops by mildew. But the Greek word used here means to spoil in the sense of plunder, rob, as when pl... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN HIM DWELLETH - That is, this was the great and central doctrine that was to be maintained about Christ, that all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him. Every system which denied this was a denial of the doctrine which they had been taught; and against every thing that would go to undermine... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM - Having no need, for the purposes of salvation, of any aid to be derived from the philosophy of the Greeks, or the traditions of the Jews. All that is necessary to secure your salvation is to be found in the Lord Jesus. There is a completion, or a filling up, in him, so a... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM - In connection with whom, or in virtue of whose religion. YE ARE CIRCUMCISED - You have received that which was designed to be represented by circumcision - the putting away of sin; Notes, Philippians 3:3. WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS - That made in the heart by the renunciatio... [ Continue Reading ]
BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM - See the notes at Romans 6:4. WHEREIN ALSO - In which ordinance, or by virtue of that which is signified by the ordinance. YE ARE RISEN WITH HIM - From the death of sin to the life of religion; Notes, Romans 6:4; compare the notes at Ephesians 2:5. THROUGH THE FAITH OF... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOU, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS - Notes, Ephesians 2:1. AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH - That is, Gentiles, and giving unrestrained indulgence to the desires of the flesh. They lived as those who had not by any religious rite or covenant brought themselves under obligations to lead holy live... [ Continue Reading ]
BLOTTING OUT THE HANDWRITING - The word rendered handwriting means something written by the hand, a manuscript; and here, probably, the writings of the Mosaic law, or the law appointing many ordinances or observances in religion. The allusion is probably to a written contract, in which we bind ourse... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVING SPOILED - Plundered as a victorious army does a conquered country. Notes, Colossians 2:8. The terms used in this verse are all military, and the idea is, that Christ has completely subdued our enemies by his death. A complete victory was achieved by his death, so that every thing is now i... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN, THEREFORE, JUDGE YOU - compare Romans 14:10, note, 13, note. The word judge here is used in the sense of pronouncing a sentence. The meaning is, “since you have thus been delivered by Christ from the evils which surrounded you: since you have been freed from the observances of the law, l... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME - See the notes at Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 10:1, note. They were only a dim outline of future things, not the reality. BUT THE BODY IS OF CHRIST - The reality, the substance. All that they signified is of or in Christ. Between those things themselves which are in C... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN BEGUILE YOU OF YOUR REWARD - Margin, judge against you. The word used here - καταβραβεύω katabrabeuō - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is a word which was employed with reference to the distribution of prizes at the Grecian games, and means, to give the prize against anyone... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT HOLDING THE HEAD - Not holding the true doctrine respecting the Great Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ; Notes, Ephesians 1:22. This is regarded here as essential to the maintenance of all the other doctrines of religion. He who has just views of the Redeemer will not be in much dang... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE - In view of all that has been said. If it be true that you are really dead to the world, why do you act as if you still lived under the principles of the world? IF YE BE DEAD WITH CHRIST - If you are dead to the world in virtue of his death. The apostle here, as elsewhere, speaks of a ve... [ Continue Reading ]
TOUGH NOT; TASTE NOT; HANDLE NOT - These words seem intended as a specimen of the kind of ordinances which the apostle refers to, or an imitation of the language of the Jewish teachers in regard to various kinds of food and drink. “Why are ye subject to ordinances of various kinds, such as this - To... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH ALL ARE TO PERISH WITH THE USING - This is commonly marked as a part of the parenthesis, or the quotation; and there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining its true meaning. It seems most probable that these are the words of the apostle himself, thrown in in the rapidity of composition, an... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH THINGS - Which scrupulous observance of the numerous precepts enjoining rites and ceremonies, the observance of days, and the distinctions between meats and drinks. HAVE INDEED A SHOW OF WISDOM - Have a great appearance of piety and of regard for the will of God They have a show of “wisdom,”... [ Continue Reading ]