_Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God._ The assertion of St. Paul that the afflictions of the faithful “work together for good” is verified by constant experience (Romans 8:28; Psalms 119:71). As roses, the sweetest and fairest flowers, grow on a thorny stock, so from the piercing aff... [ Continue Reading ]
_To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ._ SAINTS I. Their character. Holy persons. The idea is derived from the sacred vessels of the temple, which might not be appropriated to common uses. In a more general sense, saints are those who are eminent for piety, not all who are flattered or der... [ Continue Reading ]
_We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ._ THE PRELUDE I. A thankful recognition of Christian excellence as introductory to warnings and remonstrances. Almost all Paul’s Epistles begin thus. Gentle rain softens the ground, and prepares it to receive the heavier downfall which wo... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven._ This is I. A very marvellous hope. 1. If we consider that it is a great act of grace that sinners should have a hope at all, there was a time when we were “without Christ, having no hope.” We had many false hopes, little will-o’-the-wisps, which... [ Continue Reading ]
_The word of the truth of the gospel which is come unto you._ THE ARGUMENT FOR THE GOSPEL BASED ON THE TRIUMPHS OF MISSIONS I. Think of the gospel as it affords inspiration to disseminate itself. Christianity is the religion of universal man. It recognizes no exception. 1. The principles of the ki... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which is come unto you as it is in all the world._ THE TRUE GOSPEL UNIVERSALLY THE SAME I. In It’s adaptation and enterprise. “Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world.” The gospel, though first proclaimed to the Jews, was net confined to them. It reached and changed the Colossians. In t... [ Continue Reading ]
_As ye also learned of Epaphras._ EPAPHRAS To commend Epaphras to the Colossians and secure to him their heart, Paul bears a strong testimony to his fidelity and goodness. 1. Paul knew how very important it is that churches should have a good opinion of their pastors; and with what artifices the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit._ The apostle rejoiced over the fact that the Colossians lived. This affirmation is to be proved. I. There are various kinds of life--of the plant, animal, man. Man has several lives, that of the animal, since he has a body; that of the intellect,... [ Continue Reading ]
_To pray for you and desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge._ THE PRAYER I. The fountain or root of all Christian character. “That ye might be filled … understanding.” 1. The thing desired is the perfecting of the Colossians in religious knowledge. (1) The idea of completeness up to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you._ THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIVINE WILL The petition asks-- I. For a bestowment of a knowledge of the divine will as attained by a spiritual understanding and wisdom. The faith and charity of the Colossians had been so re... [ Continue Reading ]
_Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power._ GOD’S ALL STRENGTH I. The strength. 1. The reference is not to intellectual strength, although no doubt as a highly intellectual man, the apostle would highly prize this in his brethren. It is important as a shield to protect from imp... [ Continue Reading ]
_Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet._ THE FATHER’S GIFT THROUGH THE SON 1. These grounds of thanksgiving are but various aspects of the great blessing of salvation. The diamond flashes green and purple and yellow and red, according to the angle at which its facets catch the eye.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness._ THE GREAT MORAL TRANSLATION I. Involves our enfranchisement from a state of dark captivity. 1. The unrenewed are in a realm of moral darkness. (1) Darkness denotes ignorance--moral blindness about the great mysteries of being, of sin and suffer... [ Continue Reading ]
_In Whom._ THE DEITY OF CHRIST Christ is Divine because-- I. He has redeemed us. II. He is the creator of all things. III. All things were created for His glory. IV. His eternal pre-existence. V. By Him all things consist. (_B. W. Noel, M. A._) CHRIST FIRST I. In the metaphysical order. 1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Christ the Image of the invisible God._ I. Christ is the image of God. Image signifies that which represents another, and as things are variously represented, so there is a great variety of images. 1. Some are imperfect, and express but some particular, and that defectively. (1) Artificial image... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who is the image of the invisible God._ This is the most exhaustive assertion of our Lord’s Godhead to be found in St. Paul’s Writings. This magnificent dogmatic passage is introduced, after the apostle’s manner, with a strictly practical object. The Colossian Church was exposed to the attacks of... [ Continue Reading ]
_By Him were all things created._ I. Some of those cases which illustrate the harmony between natural religion and our Christian faith. 1. The doctrine of the being of a God. I do not need to open the Bible to learn that. It is enough that I open my eyes, and turn them on the book of nature, where... [ Continue Reading ]
_By Him all things consist._ That is, Christ upholds, rules, and governs all things by His providence, as is shown elsewhere (Hebrews 1:2; Proverbs 8:15; John 5:12). Christ is not like a carpenter that makes his house and then.. leaves it, or like a shipwright that frames his ship and never guides... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He is the Head of the body, the Church._ CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH I. The Church. 1. The English word is formed from κυριακή--belonging to the Lord. (1) Sometimes a distinction is draw between Church and congregation. Although Christ is Lord of all, yet He bears a peculiarly endearing relation... [ Continue Reading ]
_For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell._ THE RECONCILING SON I. As before we have Christ in relation to God. 1. In the use of the term “fulness,” which was a very important term in Gnostic speculations, there is a reference to some of the heretical teachers’ expressions.... [ Continue Reading ]