Colossians 1:25

Whereof I am made a minister; see under what title he suffers for the church, because a minister, (in the more general acceptation of the word), as Colossians 1:23, not (as one of the ancients saith) to give the price of redemption, but to preach. He looked not on his apostleship as a domination, but ministration, 2 Corinthians 5:18; and though in regard of his call he was an extraordinary apostle, yet he, (remembering his Master's injunction, Matthew 20:26), no more than Peter did affect dominion or a lordship over Christ's heritage 2 Corinthians 1:24 1 Peter 5:1, according to his singular and eminent call to be a minister and a witness, Acts 26:16. As he doth elsewhere make mention of the minister of God, 2 Corinthians 6:4 1 Thessalonians 3:2; of the New Testament, gospel, word, reconciliation, Acts 6:4 2 Corinthians 3:6, 2 Corinthians 5:18,19 Eph 3:7; of Jesus Christ and of the Lord, Romans 15:8 1 Corinthians 4:1 Ephesians 6:20 1 Timothy 4:6; so he doth here, by reason of the union between the Head and the body, own himself to be constituted a minister of the church, which some, of a lower rank, like not now to be called. According to the dispensation of God; and that by Divine vouchsafement and commandment, being called from persecution of the church to this ministry, Acts 9:15,16 1 Corinthians 4:1 2 Corinthians 5:19 Ephesians 1:1. Yea, and also for them at Colosse, who, being of the Gentiles, were in his commission, according to the gift of the grace of God given to him, Ephesians 3:7. Which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; fully to preach the word of God amongst them, as well as to the Romans and others, Romans 15:19, and so to fulfil the prophecy, Malachi 2:11, for the calling of the Gentiles by the promulgation of the gospel amongst them, Acts 22:21 Romans 1:5, Romans 11:13 1 Timothy 2:7; and so fulfilling God's word, by fully expounding the whole doctrine of salvation amongst them, and promoting of it to the end of his life.