CHAPTER III. _The apostle exhorts the Colossians to heavenly-mindedness after_ _the example of Christ, that they may be prepared to appear with_ _him in glory_, 1-4. _Exhorts them also to mortify their members, and calls to their_ _remembrance their former state_, 5-7. _Shows how completely th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 3:2. _SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE_] τα αςω φρονειτε. Love _heavenly things; study_ them; let your hearts be entirely _engrossed_ by them. Now, that ye are converted to God, act in reference to heavenly things as ye did formerly in reference to those of earth; and _vice versa_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 3:3. _FOR YE ARE DEAD_] To all hopes of happiness from the present world; and, according to your profession, should feel no more appetite for the things of this life, than he does whose soul is departed into the invisible state. _YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD._] Christ is you... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 3:4. _WHEN CHRIST_, WHO IS _OUR LIFE_] When Christ comes to judge the world, ye shall appear with him in his glory, and in an eternal state of blessedness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _MORTIFY, THEREFORE, YOU MEMBERS_] νεκρωσατε. _Put them_ _to death_: the verb is used metaphorically to signify, to _deprive a_ _thing of its power_, to _destroy its strength_. Use no member of your body to sin against God; keep all under dominion; and never permit the _beast_ to run away w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _THE WRATH OF GOD COMETH_] God is angry with such persons, and he inflicts on them the punishment which they deserve.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _IN THE WHICH YE ALSO WALKED SOMETIME_] When ye were in your unconverted state, ye served divers lusts and pleasures. Romans 7:5, Romans 7:5, and _"_Ephesians 2:2_"_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _BUT NOW YE ALSO PUT ON ALL THESE_] Ephesians 4:22, Ephesians 4:22. Being now converted, sin had no more dominion over them. _ANGER, WRATH_, c.] They had not only lived in the evils mentioned Colossians 3:5, but also in those enumerated here and they had not only laid aside the former, but... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _LIE NOT ONE TO ANOTHER_] Do not deceive each other; speak the truth in all your dealings; do not say, "My goods are so and so," when you know them to be otherwise; do not undervalue the goods of your neighbour, when your conscience tells you that you are not speaking the truth. _It is naug... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN_] See on Romans 12:1 (note). _IS RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE_] IGNORANCE was the grand characteristic of the heathen state; KNOWLEDGE, of the Christian. The utmost to which heathenism could pretend was a certain knowledge of nature. How far this went, and how much it... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _WHERE THERE IS NEITHER GREEK NOR JEW_] In which new creation no inquiry is made what _nation_ the persons belonged to, or from what _ancestry_ they had sprung, whether in _Judea_ or _Greece_. _CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION_] Nor is their peculiar form of religion of any consideration,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _PUT ON - AS THE ELECT OF GOD_] As the principal design of the apostle was to show that God had _chosen the Gentiles_, and _called_ them to the same privileges as the Jews, and intended to make them as truly his people as the Jews ever were, he calls them the _elect_ or _chosen_ of God; an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER_] Avoid all occasions of irritating or provoking each other. _FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER_] If ye receive offence, be instantly ready to forgive on the first acknowledgment of the fault. _EVEN AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU_] Who required no satisfaction, and sought for nothing... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _AND ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS_] επι πασι δε τουτοις. _Upon all, over all_; as the _outer garment_ envelopes all the clothing, so let _charity_ or _love_ invest and encompass all the rest. Even _bowels of mercy_ are to be set in motion by _love_; from love they derive all their _feeling_, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD_] Instead of θεου, _God_, ξριστου, _Christ_, is the reading of ABC*D*FG, several others, both the _Syriac_, the _Arabic_ of Erpen, _Coptic, AEthopic, Armenian,_ _Vulgate_, and _Itala_, with several of the _fathers_; on this evidence _Griesbach_ has inserted it in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY_] I believe the apostle means that the Colossians should be _well_ _instructed in the doctrine of Christ_; that it should be their constant study; that it should be frequently preached, explained, and enforced among them; and that _all_ the _wis... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _WHATSOEVER YE DO IN WORD OR DEED_] Let your words be right, and your actions upright. _DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS_] Begin with him, and end with him; invoke his name, and pray for his direction and support, in all that ye do; and thus every work will be crowned with all requisi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _WIVES, SUBMIT YOURSELVES_] Having done with _general_ directions, the apostle comes to _particular_ duties, which are commonly called _relative_; because they only belong to persons in certain _situations_; and are not incumbent on all. No _woman_ has the duty of a _wife_ to perform but s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _BE NOT BITTER AGAINST THEM._] Wherever _bitterness_ is, there _love_ is wanting. And where love is wanting in the married life, there is hell upon earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _CHILDREN, OBEY - IN ALL THINGS_] That is, in _the_ _Lord_-in every thing that your parents command you, which is not contrary to the will or word of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _FATHERS, PROVOKE NOT_] Ephesians 6:4, Ephesians 6:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _SERVANTS, OBEY_] See on Ephesians 6:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _THE REWARD OF THE INHERITANCE_] Here, ye have neither _lands_ nor _property_; ye are _servants_ or _slaves_; be not discouraged, ye have an inheritance in store; be faithful unto God and to your employers, and Christ will give you a heavenly inheritance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Colossians 3:25. _BUT HE THAT DOETH WRONG_] It is possible for an unfaithful servant to wrong and defraud his master in a great variety of ways without being detected; but let all such remember what is here said: He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done; God sees him,... [ Continue Reading ]