1._I would have you know. _He declares his affection towards them, that he may have more credit and authority; for we readily believe those whom we know to be desirous of our welfare. It is also an evidence of no ordinary affection, that he was concerned about them in the midst of death, that is, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
2._That their hearts may receive consolation. _He now intimates what he desires for them, and shews that his affection is truly apostolic; for he declares that nothing else is desired by him than that they may be united together in faith and love. He shews, accordingly, that it was by no unreasonabl... [ Continue Reading ]
3._In whom are all the treasures. _The expression _in quo _ (_in whom_, or _in which_) may either have a reference collectively to everything he has said as to the _acknowledgment of the mystery_, or it may relate simply to what came immediately before, namely, _Christ_. While there is not much diff... [ Continue Reading ]
4._This I say, that no man may deceive you. _As the contrivances of men have (as we shall afterwards see) an appearance of wisdom, the minds of the pious ought to be preoccupied with this persuasion — that the knowledge of Christ is of itself amply sufficient. And, unquestionably, this is the key th... [ Continue Reading ]
5._For though I am absent in body. _Lest any one should object that the admonition was unseasonable, as coming from a place so remote, he says, that his affection towards them made him be _present with them in spirit_, and judge of what is expedient for them, as though he were present. By praising,... [ Continue Reading ]
6._As ye have received. _To commendation he adds exhortation, in which he teaches them that their having once received Christ will be of no advantage to them, unless they remain in him. Farther, as the false apostles held forth Christ’s name with a view to deceive, he obviates this danger twice, by... [ Continue Reading ]
7._And confirmed in the faith. _He now repeats without a figure the same thing that he had expressed by metaphors, — that the prosecution of the way, the support of the root, and of the foundation, is firmness and steadfastness of faith. And observe, that this argument is set before them in conseque... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Beware lest any one plunder you. _He again instructs them as to the poison, which the antidote presented by him should be made use of to counteract. For although this, as we have stated, is a common remedy against all the impostures of the devil, (359) it had, nevertheless, at that time a peculia... [ Continue Reading ]
9._For in him dwelleth_. Here we have the reason why those _elements of the world_, which are taught by men, do not accord with Christ — because they are additions for supplying a deficiency, as they speak. Now in Christ there is a perfection, to which nothing can be added. Hence everything that man... [ Continue Reading ]
10._And ye are complete in him. _He adds, that this perfect essence of Deity, which is in Christ, is profitable to us in this respect, that we are also perfect in him. “As to God’s dwelling wholly in Christ, it is in order that we, having obtained him, may posses in him an entire perfection.” Those,... [ Continue Reading ]
11._In whom ye also are circumcised. _From this it appears, that he has a controversy with the false apostles, who mixed the law with the gospel, and by that means made Christ have, as it were, two faces. He specifies, however, one instance by way of example. He proves that the circumcision of Moses... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Buried with him, in baptism. _He explains still more clearly the manner of spiritual circumcision — because, being _buried with Christ_, we are partakers of his death. He expressly declares that we obtain this by means of baptism, that it may be the more clearly apparent that there is no advanta... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And you, when ye were dead. _He admonishes the Colossians to recognize, what he had treated of in a general way, as applicable to themselves, which is by far the most effectual way of teaching. Farther, as they were Gentiles when they were converted to Christ, he takes occasion from this to shew... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Having blotted out the hand-writing which was against us. _He now contends with the false apostles in close combat. For this was the main point in question, — whether the observance of ceremonies was necessary under the reign of Christ? Now Paul contends that ceremonies have been abolished, and... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Spoiling principalities. _There is no doubt that he means devils, whom Scripture represents as acting the part of accusing us before God. Paul, however, says that they are disarmed, so that they cannot bring forward anything against us, the attestation of our guilt being itself destroyed. Now, h... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Let no one therefore judge you. _What he had previously said of circumcision he now extends to the difference of meats and days. For circumcision was the first introduction to the observance of the law, other things (384) followed afterwards. To _judge _means here, to hold one to be guilty of a... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Which are a shadow of things to come. _The reason why he frees Christians from the observance of them is, that they were _shadows _at a time when Christ was still, in a manner, absent. For he contrasts shadows with revelation, and absence with manifestation. Those, therefore, who still adhere to... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Let no one take from you the palm. _(389) He alludes to runners, or wrestlers, to whom the _palm _was assigned, on condition of their not giving way in the middle of the course, or after the contest had been commenced. He admonishes them, therefore, that the false apostles aimed at nothing else... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Not holding the Head_. He condemns in the use of one word whatever does not bear a relation to Christ. He also confirms his statement on the ground that all things flow from him, and depend upon him. Hence, should any one call us anywhere else than to Christ, though in other respects he were big... [ Continue Reading ]
20._If ye are dead_. He had previously said, that the ordinances were fastened to the cross of Christ. (Colossians 2:14.) He now employs another figure of speech — that we are _dead _to them, as he teaches us elsewhere, that we are _dead to the law_, and the law, on the other hand, to us. (Galatians... [ Continue Reading ]
21._Eat not, taste not. _Hitherto this has been rendered — _Handle not_, but as another word immediately follows, which signifies the same thing, every one sees how cold and absurd were such a repetition. Farther, the verb ἅπτεσθαι is employed by the Greeks, among its other significations, in the se... [ Continue Reading ]
22._All which things tend to corruption. _He sets aside, by a twofold argument, the enactments of which he has made mention — because they make religion consist in things outward and frail, which have no connection with the spiritual kingdom of God; and secondly, because they are from men, not from... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Which have indeed a show. _Here we have the anticipation of an objection, in which, while he concedes to his adversaries what they allege, he at the same time reckons it wholly worthless. For it is as though he had said, that he does not regard their having a_show of wisdom_. But _show _is place... [ Continue Reading ]