III. (1-4) As the partaking of the death of Christ taught the negative lesson of death to the Law, so the partaking of His resurrection teaches the positive lesson of the spiritual life. We observe that this celebrated passage occupies a place at the close of the doctrinal portion of the Epistle, ex... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE THEN BE RISEN (rather, _ye rose_) WITH CHRIST. — In these words is marked the beginning of the spiritual life, referred evidently to baptism. (See Colossians 2:12.) It is a “resurrection with Christ” and in Christ; as such it is dwelt upon in detail in Romans 6:1. We may note that this phrase,... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE DEAD. — Properly, _ye died._ See Colossians 2:20, and Note there. The phrase here is to be taken in its whole sense, both of “death to sin” and “death to the visible world.” YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD... CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE. — In these two phrases, again, we pass from a lower to a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN CHRIST... SHALL APPEAR, THEN SHALL YE ALSO APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY. — This describes the last stage of the spiritual life — the glorification with Christ in heaven, manifesting what now is hidden, and perfecting what exists only in germ. (Comp. 1 John 3:1, “Now are we the sons of God, and it d... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) MORTIFY THEREFORE YOUR MEMBERS WHICH ARE UPON THE EARTH. — The expression is doubly unique. It is the only passage where “mortification” — the killing of anything in us — is enjoined; and it is also notable, as not explicitly distinguishing between the members themselves, and the evil of which t... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 3:5 contain the negative section of St. Paul’s practical appeal, drawing out the consequences of the “death with Christ,” in the mortification of all tendencies to impurity, malice, and falsehood. For these are the opposites to purity, love, and truth — the three great attributes of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
[5. Practical Exhortation, General. (1) NEGATIVE. — To MORTIFY THE OLD MAN, by fleeing from — (_a_) _Uncleanness and lust_ (Colossians 3:5); (_b_) _Wrath and malice_ (Colossians 3:8); (_c_) _Falsehood_ (Colossians 3:9). (2) POSITIVE. — To PUT ON THE NEW MAN, making Christ our “all in all.”... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WHICH YE ALSO WALKED SOME TIME, WHEN YE LIVED (_were living_) IN THEM. — The former condition of heathenism was that in which “they were living,” with contagion of evil on every side. But St. Paul is not content without noting their own active participation — “ye walked in them.” (Comp. Ephes... [ Continue Reading ]
ANGER, WRATH, MALICE, BLASPHEMY (_slander — _see Ephesians 4:31 and Notes there), FILTHY COMMUNICATION. — The word is “foul,” and the context here seems to show that it refers to grossness of insult and abuse, rather than (as in the cognate word of Ephesians 4:4) to “filthiness.”... [ Continue Reading ]
LIE NOT ONE TO ANOTHER. — Comp. Ephesians 4:25, and note the characteristic insertion there of a clause to which there is nothing here to correspond, “for we are members one of another.” SEEING THAT YE (HAVE) PUT OFF THE OLD MAN. — Comp. the fuller description of Ephesians 4:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEW MAN, WHICH IS (_being_) RENEWED. — There are here the same two different words which are found in the parallel passage. (See Notes on Ephesians 4:22). “The new man” is here properly the _youthful man_ “which is renewed,” that is, to which is given a nature really fresh and new.... [ Continue Reading ]
(10-17) In these verses we have the corresponding positive exhortation, connected with the idea of resurrection with Christ, through which we put on the new man, holding Christ to be our all in all. Of the new nature there are two marks — towards man love in all its various forms, towards God thanks... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE THERE IS NEITHER... — This passage naturally suggests comparison with Galatians 3:28. “There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither bond nor free; there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Jesus Christ.” In comparing the passages (passing by the insertion here of “circumcisio... [ Continue Reading ]
ELECT OF GOD. — For the description of the election here signified see Ephesians 1:4. The name is obviously applied to the whole Church, as “elect to privilege “; it is not opposed to “called” (as in Matthew 20:16), but coincident with it, representing, indeed, the secret act of God’s gracious will,... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:31; Ephesians 5:1. The word “tenderhearted” in those passages corresponds to the “bowels (or, _heart_) of mercies” here;” kindness” and “forgiveness,” “humility,” “gentleness,” “forbearance,” appear in both. But the enumeration here is more exact in order of idea. St... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU. — The MS. authority is in favour of the word “Lord” instead of Christ; but since the name “Lord” is specially applied to Christ in these Epistles (see, for example, Ephesians 4:5) there is no real difference. In Ephesians 4:31 we have “God in Christ forgave you,” because... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOVE ALL. — Properly, _over all — _as a bond or cincture to keep all together. Love is the general principle, harmonising all the special graces named above. THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS. — The bond of that harmony of character which is perfection. The phrase is remarkable, apparently suggested by the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEACE OF GOD. — The true reading is _the peace of Christ_ — that which He gives (John 14:27), that which He is (see Ephesians 2:14). The ordinary reading is, no doubt, borrowed from Philippians 4:7. This verse forms a link between the preceding exhortation to love of man, and the following exhor... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD OF CHRIST. — Here again the definite phrase, “the word of Christ,” takes the place of the commoner phrase, “the word of the Lord,” “the word of God.” It is to “dwell in their hearts.” Hence it is the engrafted word” (James 1:21) — the truth of Christ conceived in the heart, striking root in... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. — Comp. here the more general exhortation of 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” This is the first principle of all godly life. The main object of all life, speculative or practical, is declared to be, not... [ Continue Reading ]
(18) AS IT IS FIT IN THE LORD. — For the explanation of this special fitness “in the Lord,” _i.e.,_ in virtue of Christian unity, see the grand description of Ephesians 5:23; Ephesians 5:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
[6. Special Exhortation as to the relations of life. (1) THE DUTY OF WIVES AND HUSBANDS (Colossians 3:18). (2) THE DUTY OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS (Colossians 3:20). (3) THE DUTY OF SLAVES AND MASTERS (Colossians 3:22 to Colossians 4:1).]... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT BITTER. — Properly, _grow not bitter,_ suffer not yourselves to be exasperated. The word is used metaphorically only in this passage, literally in Revelation 8:11; Revelation 10:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVOKE NOT... TO ANGER. — This, in the text followed by our version, is borrowed from Ephesians 6:4. The true reading is _provoke to emulation,_ as in 2 Corinthians 9:2. What is forbidden is a constant and restless stimulation, “spurring the willing horse;” which will end in failure and despondency... [ Continue Reading ]
(22-25) Compare throughout Ephesians 6:5. The only peculiarity of this passage is the strong emphasis laid on “the reward of the inheritance.” “The reward” is in the original, _a perfect recompense_ or _requital._ The “inheritance” is exactly that which no slave could receive; only a son could be an... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT DOETH WRONG is clearly here the master (see Ephesians 6:9), though, of course, the phrase cannot be limited to him.... [ Continue Reading ]