CHAP III. _He sheweth how we should seek Christ; he exhorteth to mortification, to put off the old man, and to put on the new man; recommending charity, humility, and several other duties._ _Anno Domini 62._ IN the 12th verse of the preceding chapter, the Apostle had told the Colossians, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE THEN BE RISEN, &C.— The Apostle here proceeds, upon the principles that he had laid down, to graft a most important practical exhortation on what he had said; than which nothing could more effectually tend to take them off from those bigotted attachments which he was so solicitous to root out;... [ Continue Reading ]
SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE,— The original is _mind, regard:_ "Prefer and pursue the things that are above:" — Τα αω φρονειτε.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE ARE DEAD, &C.— "For ye are, by profession and obligation, and all true believers really are, by communion with Christ in his death, dead in your hearts and affections as to the Mosaic law, and crucified with Christ to sin and the world; so as not to seek your portion, and place your happiness... [ Continue Reading ]
_Colossians 3:5_. St. Paul, having concluded the principal design of his writing, comes now, according to his usual manner, to give the Colossians some rules and directions for their Christian behaviour and conversation. These rules are of four kinds: _First,_ such as concerned themselves _personall... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WHICH YE ALSO WALKED— _Amongst whom ye also once walked,_ [partaking in all their enormities,] _when ye lived among them._ Doddridge. Mr. Peirce paraphrases the verse as follows: "Among which children of disobedience you also some time had your conversation, when, being unconverted, you lived... [ Continue Reading ]
BLASPHEMY,— The original word properly signifies_blasphemy;_ but it includes not only impious speeches with regard to God, which is the highest degree of malignant language, but all railing and reproachful speeches against ourbrethren. See Matthew 15:19. Ephesians 4:31. By _filthy communication, obs... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE THERE IS NEITHER GREEK, &C.— St. Paul's main design in this Epistle was, to establish the Colossians in theiradherence to the gospel mystery of the calling of the Gentiles, and maintaining their freedom against the Jewish dogmatizers; and though he had already concluded that matter, yet, havin... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT ON THEREFORE, &C.— The exhortation in this verse is not inconsistent with what was said in Colossians 3:10 of their having already _put on the new man;_ as the Apostle intended here to exhort them to advance more and more in those benevolent dispositions which did, through divine grace, in some... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT ON CHARITY,— _"Put on love,_ which is the bond of that perfect union which ought to reign in the body of Christ, and by which the whole church becomes perfect." See l John 4:12; John 4:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE, &C.— See Philippians 4:7. The word Βραβευετω, rendered _rule,_ is a term borrowed from the Grecian games, and alludes to the office of the master, who presided at those games, deciding all the controversies between the competitors, and determining who should have the p... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY, &C.— That is, "The gospel which you have received;" which the Apostle exhorts them to lay up in their hearts, to meditate upon continually, and to endeavour to improve wisely to the best purpose. But Peirce and others give a different interpretation, as fo... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN, OBEY—IN ALL THINGS:— That is, "which are lawful, or to which the parental authority extends." This must be understood with some such limitation; and there can be no hurt in supplying the sense from Colossians 3:18 with εν κυριω, _in the Lord;_ and so it is expressed, Ephesians 6:1. That is... [ Continue Reading ]
DO IT HEARTILY,— 'Εκ ψυχης, _from the spirit,_ or "from a spiritual principle, and not from worldly motives." Heylin. _Inferences._ How much the _metaphorical_ language of scripture has been mistaken, and what errors and absurdities men have fallen into, under pretence of adhering to the literal sen... [ Continue Reading ]