THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle._ Usherian year of the world, 4066. -Alexandrian era of the world, 5564. -Antiochian era of the world, 5554. -Constantinopolitan era of the world, 5570. -Year of the Eusebian epocha of the Creation... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 1:2. _TO THE SAINTS_] Those who professed Christianity. Ephesians 1:1. _WHICH ARE AT COLOSSE_] Instead of εν κολοσσαις, at Colosse, or among the Colossians, ABC, and many other excellent MSS., with both the _Syriac, Coptic, Slavonic, Origen_, Gregory Nyssen, Amphilochus, Theodoret... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 1:3. _WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD_] Who is the author of all good; and from whom the _grace_, which has produced your conversion, has sprung by his mission of Christ Jesus. See the note on Ephesians 1:15; Ephesians 1:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 1:4. _SINCE WE HEARD OF YOUR FAITH_] This is very similar to Ephesians 1:15. And it is certain that the apostle seems to have considered the Church at Ephesus, and that at Colassa to have been nearly in the same state, as the two epistles are very similar in their doctrine and phras... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _WHICH IS COME UNTO YOU_] The doctrine of the Gospel is represented as a _traveller_, whose object it is to visit the whole habitable earth; and, having commenced his journey in Judea, had proceeded through Syria and through different parts of Asia Minor, and had lately arrived at their cit... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _AS YE ALSO LEARNED OF EPAPHRAS - WHO IS FOR YOU_] Who this Epaphras was we cannot tell; only it is likely that he was a Colossian, and became, by the call and grace of Christ, a deacon of this Church, faithfully labouring with the apostle, to promote its best interests. Some think that he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _YOUR LOVE IN THE SPIRIT._] _So we preached, and so ye_ _believed_. The heavenly flame in the heart of this minister communicated itself to those who heard him; it was _like priest_ _like people_. They enjoyed a spiritual, energetic ministry, and they were a _spiritual_ people; they had a _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _FOR THIS CAUSE_] See on Ephesians 1:15(note), where the same sentiment occurs. _THAT YE MIGHT BE FILLED_] Nothing could satisfy the apostle, either for himself or his hearers, but the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of peace. The Colossians had knowledge, but they must have _more_;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD_] Suitably to your Christian profession, exemplifying its holy doctrines by a holy and useful life. Ephesians 4:1; and on _"_Philippians 1:27_"_. _UNTO ALL PLEASING_] Doing every thing in the best _manner_, in the most proper _time_, and in a becomin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT_] That they might be able to walk worthy of the Lord, bring forth fruit, c. Ephesians 3:13, Ephesians 3:13, c. _ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS POWER_] According to that sufficiency of strength which may be expected from him who has all power both in the heavens and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _GIVING THANKS UNTO THE FATHER_] Knowing that ye have nothing but what ye have received from his mere mercy, and that in point of _merit_ ye can never _claim_ any thing from him. _WHICH HATH MADE US MEET_] ικανωσαντι. Who has _qualified_ us to be partakers, c. Instead of ικανωσαντι, some... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS_] Darkness is here _personified_, and is represented as having εξουσια, _power,_ _authority_, and _sway_; all Jews and Gentiles, which had not embraced the Gospel, being under this authority and power. And the apostle intimates here that nothing les... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION_] Who has paid down the redemption price, even his own blood, that our sins might be cancelled, and we made fit to be partakers of the inheritance among the saints in light. The clause, δια του αιματος αυτου, _Through his blood_, is omitted by ABCDEFG, and by m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _WHO IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD_] The counterpart of God Almighty, and if the _image_ of the _invisible_ God, consequently nothing that _appeared_ in him could be that _image_; for if it could be _visible_ in the _Son_, it could also be _visible_ in the _Father_; but if the Father b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. 17. _FOR BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED_, c.] These two verses contain parts of the same subject. I shall endeavour to distinguish the statements of the apostle, and reason from them in such a way as the premises shall appear to justify, without appealing to any other scripture in proof of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. See Clarke on Col 1:16... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY_] What the apostle has said in the two preceding verses refers to the _Divine_ nature of Jesus Christ; he now proceeds to speak of his _human_ nature, and to show how highly that is exalted beyond all created things, and how, in that, he is _head_ of the _Church... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _FOR IT PLEASED THE FATHER THAT IN HIM SHOULD ALL_ _FULNESS DWELL_] As the words, _the Father_ are not in the text, some have translated the verse thus: _For in him it seemed right that_ _all fulness should dwell_; that is, that the majesty, power, and goodness of God should be manifested... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _AND, HAVING MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS_ _CROSS_] Peace between God and man; for man being in a sinful state, and there being no peace to the wicked, it required a reconciliation to be made to restore peace between heaven and earth; but peace could not be made without an atonement... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _AND YOU, THAT WERE SOMETIME ALIENATED_] All men are _alienated_ from God, and all are _enemies in their minds_ to him, and show it by their _wicked works_; but this is spoken particularly of the _Gentiles_. The word απαλλοτριοω, which we render to _alienate_, to _give to another_, to _es... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH_] By Christ's assumption of a human body, and dying for man, he has made an atonement for sin, through which men become reconciled to God and to each other. _TO PRESENT YOU HOLY_] Having saved you from your sins. _UNBLAMABLE_] Having filled you with his Spirit,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH_] This will be the case if you, who have already believed in Christ Jesus, continue in that faith, _grounded_ in the knowledge and love of God, and _settled_-made _firm_ and perseveringly _steadfast_, in that state of salvation. _AND_ be _not moved away_] Not... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _REJOICE IN MY SUFFERINGS FOR YOU_] St. Paul always considers his persecutions, as far as the Jews were concerned in them, as arising from this simple circumstance - his asserting that God had chosen the Gentiles, and called them to enjoy the _very_ _same privileges_ with the Jews, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _WHEREOF I AM MADE A MINISTER_] Having received especial commission from God to preach salvation to the Gentiles. _ACCORDING TO THE DISPENSATION_] κατα την οικονομιαν. According to the Gospel _economy_ or _institution_; the _scheme_ or _plan_ of salvation by Christ crucified. _TO FULFIL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _THE MYSTERY WHICH HATH BEEN HID_] The mystery is this: that God had designed to grant the Gentiles the same privileges with the Jews, and make them his people who were not his people. That this is what St. Paul means by the _mystery_, see Ephesians 3:3, c. _MADE MANIFEST TO HIS SAINTS_]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _THE RICHES OF THE GLORY_] God manifests to these how abundantly glorious this Gospel is among the Gentiles; and how effectual is this doctrine of Christ crucified to the salvation of multitudes. _WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY_] In this and the following verse there are severa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 1:29. _WHEREUNTO I ALSO LABOUR_] In order to accomplish this end, I labour with the utmost zeal and earnestness; and with all that strength with which God has most powerfully furnished me. Whoever considers the original words, αγωνιζομενος κατα την ενεργειαν αυτου την ενεργουμενην -... [ Continue Reading ]