If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Ver. 1. _If ye then be risen with Christ_] As ye profess to be,Colossians 2:12 . _ Seek those things, &c._] As Christ risen spake and did only the things pertaining to the kingdom of... [ Continue Reading ]
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Ver. 2. _Set your affections on things_] Things above outlast the days of heaven, and run parallel with the life of God and line of eternity. Things on earth are mutable and momentary, subject to vanity and violence; when we grasp them... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Ver. 3. _For ye are dead_] Crucified to the world, as Paul,Galatians 6:14, weaned as a child from the breasts, or rather botches of the world, as David, Psalms 131:2. Dead also in regard of daily miseries, Isaiah 26:19; 1 Corinthians 15:31 .... [ Continue Reading ]
When Christ, _who is_ our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Ver. 4. _Then shall we appear_] What then do we loading onrselves with thick clay, or moiling ourselves here as muckworms?... [ Continue Reading ]
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Ver. 5. _Mortify therefore_] Sin hath a strong heart, and will not be done to death but with much ado. _Peccata saepe raduntur, sed non e... [ Continue Reading ]
For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: Ver. 6. _On the children of disobedience_] Unpersuadable, uncounsellable persons, that regard not good courses or discourses.... [ Continue Reading ]
In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. Ver. 7. _When ye lived in them_] Man's life is a walk, and each action a step either to heaven or hell.... [ Continue Reading ]
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Ver. 8. _Filthy communication_] The devil's drivel. _See Trapp on "_ Eph 5:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; Ver. 9. _Lie not one to another_] No, not in jest, lest ye go to hell in earnest. _See Trapp on "_ Eph 4:25 _"_ Ye have put off the old man] As the serpent doth his slough, the eagle his bill, the lizard his skin in sp... [ Continue Reading ]
And have put on the new _man_, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Ver. 10. _After the image_] If moral virtue could be beheld with mortal eyes, saith the philosopher, it would stir up wonderful loves of itself. How much more would the image of God in the hearts o... [ Continue Reading ]
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond _nor_ free: but Christ _is_ all, and in all. Ver. 11. _Christ is all, and in all_] Not only in the hearts of men, but in all things else, εν πασι, in the neuter gender. This second Adam hath filled all... [ Continue Reading ]
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Ver. 12. _As the elect of God, holy and beloved_] Therefore holy, because elect, and therefore beloved, because holy; as God's name is holy, and therefore reverend, Psa... [ Continue Reading ]
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also _do_ ye. Ver. 13. _If a man have a quarrel_] Occasions will be given, and offences will happen. Now it is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression,Proverbs 19:11; see... [ Continue Reading ]
And above all these things _put on_ charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Ver. 14. _Above all these_] "Put on love," as the upper garment, the "parti-coloured coat," whereby all God's children are known (as Joseph, and Tamar, David's daughter, were), the cognizance of every true Christian, Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Ver. 15. _And let the peace of God rule_] βραβευετω, _it certaminis moderator:_ let it rule after the manner of a moderator or an umpire. Let it oversee and overrule in all your personal d... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Ver. 16. _Dwell in you richly_] ενοικειτω πλουσιως, indwell in you, as an ingrafted word, incorporated into your sou... [ Continue Reading ]
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, _do_ all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Ver. 17. _Do all in the name_] By the warrant of his word, and with an aim to his glory. For his sake and service; and to God's acceptance, through Christ's assistance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Ver. 18. _Wives, submit yourselves_] Inferiors are ordered before superiors to teach them to do duty before they expect it. Love descendeth, duty ascendeth. Submit is a short word, but of large extent. It comprehendeth, 1. R... [ Continue Reading ]
Husbands, love _your_ wives, and be not bitter against them. Ver. 19. _Husbands, love your wives_] He saith not, Rule over them, subdue them if they will not submit, but love them, and so win them to your will; make their yoke as easy as may be, for they stand on even ground with you, as yokefellow... [ Continue Reading ]
Children, obey _your_ parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Ver. 20. _In all things_] _Vultu saepe laeditur pietas._ _See Trapp on "_ Eph 6:1 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Fathers, provoke not your children _to anger_, lest they be discouraged. Ver. 21. _Provoke not your children_] _See Trapp on "_ Eph 6:4 _"_ Lest they be discouraged] αθυμωσιν, dispirited, and through despondency grow desperate in their resolutions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Servants, obey in all things _your_ masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: Ver. 22. _Not with eye service_] _See Trapp on "_ Eph 6:5 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Eph 6:6 _"_ It is in the original, "Not with eye services," in the plural,... [ Continue Reading ]
And whatsoever ye do, do _it_ heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Ver. 23. _Do it heartily, as to the Lord_] This is to make a virtue of necessity, while in serving men we serve the Lord Christ, going about our earthly businesses with heavenly minds, with not only a habitual, but an actual... [ Continue Reading ]
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Ver. 24. _The reward of inheritance_] And so be made of servants sons, whose it is to inherit. _ For ye serve the Lord Christ_] While godliness runneth through your whole lives as the woof doth t... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Ver. 25. _But he that doth wrong_] Be it but by not doing right to poor servants, which in those days were bondslaves. Note here, saith an interpreter, the apostle's candour; he was not of th... [ Continue Reading ]