Colossians 1:1

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, 4290.

-Year of the Julian period, 4772.

-Year of the minor Jewish era of the world, 3822.

-Year of the Greater Rabbinical era of the world, 4421.

-Year from the Flood, according to Archbishop Usher, and the English Bible, 2410.

-Year of the Cali yuga, or Indian era of the Deluge, 3164.

-Year of the era of Iphitus, or since the first commencement of the Olympic games, 1002.

-Year of the Nabonassarean era, 809.

-Year of the era of the Seleucidae, 374.

-Year of the Spanish era, 100.

-Year of the Actiac or Actian era, 93.

-Year from the birth of Christ, 66.

-Year of the vulgar era of Christ's nativity, 62.

-Year from the building of Rome, according to Varro, 814.

-Year of the CCXth Olympiad, 2.

-Jesus, high priest of the Jews.

-Common Golden Number, 6.

-Jewish Golden Number, 3.

-Year of the Solar Cycle, 15.

-Dominical Letter, C.

-Jewish Passover, April 10th.

-Easter Sunday, April 11th.

-Epact, or the moon's age on the 22d of March, or the Xth of the Calends of April, 25.

-Year of the reign of Nero Caesar, the sixth emperor of the Romans, 9.

-In the first year of Albinus, governor of the Jews.

-Year of Vologesus, king of the Parthians, 12.

-Year of Domitius Corbulo, governor of Syria, 3.

-Roman Consuls, P. Marius Celsus, and L. Asinius Gallus, from Jan. 1st to July 1st; and L. Annaeus Seneca, the philosopher, and Trebellius Maximus, for the remainder of the year.

CHAPTER I.

The salutation of Paul and Timothy to the Church at Colosse,

1, 2.

They give thanks to God for the good estate of that Church, and

the wonderful progress of the Gospel in every place, 3-6;

having received particulars of their state from Epaphroditus,

which not only excited their gratitude, but led them to pray to

God that they might walk worthy of the Gospel; and they give

thanks to Him who had made them meet for an inheritance among

the saints in light, 7-12.

This state is described as a deliverance from the power of

darkness, and being brought into the kingdom of God's dear Son,

13, 14.

The glorious character of Jesus Christ, and what He has done for

mankind, 15-20.

The salvation which the Colossians had received, and of which

the apostle had been the minister and dispenser, 21-26.

The sum and substance of the apostle's preaching, and the manner

in which he executed his ministry, 27-29.

NOTES ON CHAP. I.

Verse Colossians 1:1. Paul, an apostle - by the will of God] As the word αποστολος, apostle, signifies one sent, an envoy or messenger, any person or persons may be the senders: but the word is particularly restrained to the messengers of the everlasting Gospel, sent immediately from God himself; and this is what St. Paul particularly remarks here when he calls himself an apostle by the will of God; signifying that he had derived his commission from an express volition or purpose of the Almighty.

And Timotheus] Though Timothy is here joined in the salutation, yet he has never been understood as having any part in composing this epistle. He has been considered as the amanuensis or scribe of the apostle.