CHAPTER II. _The apostle shows his great concern for the Church at Colosse_ _and at Laodicea; and exhorts them to steadfastness in the_ _faith, and to beware of being seduced by specious and enticing_ _words_, 1-5. _And to walk in Christ, as they had been taught, and to abound in_ _faith and h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 2:2. _THAT THEIR HEARTS MIGHT BE COMFORTED_] That they might have continual happiness in God, having constant affiance in him. _BEING KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE_] The word συμβιβασθεντων, or συμβιβασθεντες, which is the true reading, but both of equal import here, signifies being united... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 2:3. _IN WHOM ARE HID_] Or rather _in which_; referring to the _mystery_ mentioned above. In this glorious scheme of Christianity all the treasures-the abundance and excellency, of wisdom and knowledge are contained. No scheme of salvation, or Divine knowledge, ever equalled in its... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 2:4. _LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BEGUILE YOU_] The word παραλογιζηται means to deceive by sophistry or subtle reasoning, in which all the _conclusions_ appear to be fairly drawn from the _premises_, but the premises are either _assumed_ without evidence, or _false_ in themselves; but this... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _FOR THOUGH I BE ABSENT IN THE FLESH_] It is hardly possible that such words as these in this verse could have been used to perfect _strangers_; they argue a considerable knowledge of the people, and a knowledge founded on personal acquaintance. The original is exceedingly soft and musical:... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _AS YE HAVE THEREFORE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS_] Many persons lay a certain stress on the words _as_ and _so_, and make various fine heads of discourses from them; viz. _As_ ye received Christ in a spirit of _humility, so_ walk in him; _as_ ye received him in a spirit of _faith, so_ walk in hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM_] It is not usual with the apostle to employ this double metaphor, taken partly from the _growth of a tree_ and the _increase of a building_. They are to be _rooted_; as the good _seed_ had been already _sown_, it is to take root, and the roots are to spread far,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU_] The word συλαγωγων, from συλη, _prey_, and αγειν, _to lead_ or _carry away_, signifies to _rob_, or _spoil_ of their goods, as if by _violence_ or rapine. Their goods were the salvation they had received from Christ; and both the Gentile and Jewish teachers... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _FOR IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS_] This is opposed to the _vain_ or _empty_ doctrine of the Gentile and Jewish philosophers: there is a _fulness_ in Christ suited to the _empty,_ _destitute_ state of the human soul, but in the philosophy of the Jews and Gentiles nothing like this was fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _AND YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM_] και εστε εν αυτω πεπληρωμενοι. And, ye are filled with him. Our word _complete_ quite destroys the connection subsisting in the apostle's ideas. The philosophy of the world was _empty_, κενη, but there was a πληρωμα, or _fulness_, in Christ; the Colossians wer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _IN WHOM ALSO YE ARE CIRCUMCISED_] All that was designed by circumcision, literally performed, is accomplished in them that believe through the Spirit and power of Christ. It is not a cutting off of a _part_ of the flesh, but a _putting off_ the _body_ of the _sins_ of the flesh, through... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM_] Alluding to the _immersions_ practised in the case of _adults_, wherein the person appeared to be buried under the Water, as Christ was buried in the heart of the earth. His rising again the third any, and their emerging from the water, was an emblem of the re... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _AND YOU, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS_] Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:1, :, c. _THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH_] This must refer to that part of the Colossian Church which was made up of converted _heathens_, for the _heathens_ alone were _uncircumcised_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _BLOTTING OUT THE HAND-WRITING OF ORDINANCES_] By the hand-writing of ordinances the apostle most evidently means the _ceremonial law_: this was against them, for they were bound to fulfil it; and it was contrary to them, as condemning them for their neglect and transgression of it. This l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _AND HAVING SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS_] Here is an allusion to the treatment of enemies when conquered: they are _spoiled of their armour_, so much the word απεκδυειν implies; and they are _exhibited_ with contumely and reproach to the populace, especially when the victor has the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _LET NO MAN - JUDGE YOU IN MEAT, OR IN DRINK_] The apostle speaks here in reference to some particulars of the _hand-writing of ordinances_, which had been _taken away_, viz., the distinction of _meats_ and _drinks_, what was _clean_ and what _unclean_, according to the law; and the neces... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _WHICH ARE A SHADOW_] All these things were _types_, and must continue in force till the Christ, whom they represented, came; the apostle therefore says that the _body_ - the _substance_ or _design_ of them was _of Christ_ - pointed him out, and the excellent blessings which he has procure... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _LET NO MAN BEGUILE YOU_] μηδειςυμαςκαταβραβευετω. Let no man take the _prize_ from you which the βραβευς, _brabeus_, or judge in the contests, has assigned you, in consequence of your having obtained the victory. This any reader will see, is an allusion to the Olympic and Isthmian games,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _AND NOT HOLDING THE HEAD_] Not acknowledging Jesus Christ as the only Saviour of mankind, and the only _Head_ or _chief_ of the Christian Church, on whom every member of it depends, and _from_ whom each derives both light and life. For a farther explanation of these words Ephesians 4:16,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _IF YE BE DEAD WITH CHRIST_] See the notes on Romans 6:3; Romans 6:5. _FROM THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD_] Ye have renounced all hope of salvation from the observance of Jewish rites and ceremonies, which were only _rudiments, first elements_, or the _alphabet_, out of which the whole scien... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _TOUCH NOT; TASTE NOT; HANDLE NOT_] These are forms of expression very frequent among the Jews. In _Maccoth_, fol. xxi. 1: "If they say to a Nazarite, _Don't drink, don't drink_; and he, notwithstanding, drinks; he is guilty. If they say, _Don't shave,_ _don't shave_; and he shaves, notwit... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _WHICH ALL ARE TO PERISH WITH THE USING_] These are not matters of eternal moment; the different kinds of meats were made for the body, and go with it into corruption: in like manner, all the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion now perish, having accomplished the _end_ of their ins... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 2:23. _WHICH THINGS HAVE INDEED A SHOW OF WISDOM_] All these prescriptions and rites have indeed the appearance of wisdom, and are recommended by plausible reasons; but they form a worship which God has not commanded, and enjoin macerations of the body, accompanied with a humiliatio... [ Continue Reading ]