The three remaining chapters consist entirely of practical exhortations. Mutual agreement is the first subject, in the course of which a discussion is introduced respecting the government of the church, as having been framed by our Lord for the purpose of maintaining unity among Christians. 1._I th... [ Continue Reading ]
2._With all humility_. He now descends to particulars, and first of all he mentions _humility _The reason is, that he was about to enter on the subject of Unity, to which humility is the first step. This again produces _meekness, _which disposes us to bear with our brethren, and thus to preserve tha... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit. _With good reason does he recommend forbearance, as tending to promote the unity of the Spirit. Innumerable offenses arise daily, which might produce quarrels, particularly when we consider the extreme bitterness of man’s natural temper. Some consider... [ Continue Reading ]
4._There is one body. _(139) He proceeds to show more fully in how complete a manner Christians ought to be united. The union ought to be such that we shall form _one body and one soul. _These words denote the whole man. We ought to be united, not in part only, but in body and soul. He supports this... [ Continue Reading ]
5._One Lord. _In the first Epistle to the Corinthians, he employs the word _Lord, _to denote simply the government of God. “There are differences of administration, but the same Lord.” (1 Corinthians 12:5) In the present instance, as he shortly afterwards makes express mention of the Father, he giv... [ Continue Reading ]
6._One God and Father of all. _This is the main argument, from which all the rest flow. How comes it that we are united by faith, by baptism, or even by the government of Christ, but because God the Father, extending to each of us his gracious presence, employs these means for gathering us to himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
7._But to every one. _He now describes the manner in which God establishes and preserves among us a mutual relation. No member of the body of Christ is endowed with such perfection as to be able, without the assistance of others, to supply his own necessities. A certain proportion is allotted to eac... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Therefore he saith. _To serve the purpose of his argument, Paul has departed not a little from the true meaning of this quotation. Wicked men charge him with having made an unfair use of Scripture. The Jews go still farther, and, for the sake of giving to their accusations a greater air of plausi... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Now that he ascended. _Here again the slanderers exclaim, that Paul’s reasoning is trifling and childish. “Why does he attempt to make those words apply to a real ascension of Christ, which were figuratively spoken about a manifestation of the Divine glory? Who does not know that the word _ascend... [ Continue Reading ]
10._That ascended up far above all heavens; _that is, beyond this created world. When Christ is said to be in heaven, we must not view him as dwelling among the spheres and numbering the stars. Heaven denotes a place higher than all the spheres, which was assigned to the Son of God after his resurre... [ Continue Reading ]
He returns to explain the distribution of gifts, and illustrates at greater length what he had slightly hinted, that out of this variety arises unity in the church, as the various tones in music produce sweet melody. The meaning may be thus summed up. “The external ministry of the word is also comme... [ Continue Reading ]
12._For the renewing of the saints. _In this version I follow Erasmus, not because I prefer his view, but to allow the reader an opportunity of comparing his version with the Vulgate and with mine, and then choosing for himself. The old translation was, (_ad consummationem _ _,_) _for the completene... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Till we all come. _Paul had already said, that by the ministry of men the church is regulated and governed, so as to attain the highest perfection. But his commendation of the ministry is now carried farther. The necessity for which he had pleaded is not confined to a single day, but continues t... [ Continue Reading ]
14._That we may be no more children. _Having spoken of that perfect manhood, towards which we are proceeding throughout the whole course of our life, he reminds us that, during such a progress, we ought not to resemble children. An intervening period is thus pointed out between childhood and man’s e... [ Continue Reading ]
15._But, speaking the truth. _Having already said that we ought not to be children, destitute of reason and judgment, he now enjoins us to _grow up in the truth. _(145) Though we have not arrived at man’s estate, we ought at least, as we have already said, to be advanced children. The truth of God o... [ Continue Reading ]
16._From whom the whole body. _All our increase should tend to exalt more highly the glory of Christ. This is now proved by the best possible reason. It is he who supplies all our wants, and without whose protection we cannot be safe. As the root conveys sap to the whole tree, so all the vigor which... [ Continue Reading ]
17._This I say therefore. _That government which Christ has appointed for the edification of his church has now been considered. He next inquires what fruits the doctrine of the gospel ought to yield in the lives of Christians; or, if you prefer it, he begins to explain minutely the nature of that e... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Being alienated from the life of God. The life of God _may either mean what is accounted life in the sight of God, as in that passage, “they loved the praise of men more than _the praise of God_, ” (John 12:43,) or, that life which God bestows on his elect by the Spirit of regeneration. In both... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Who being past feeling. _The account which had been given of natural depravity is followed by a description of the worst of all evils, brought upon men by their own sinful conduct. Having destroyed the sensibilities of the heart, and allayed the stings of remorse, they abandon themselves to all... [ Continue Reading ]
20._But ye have not. _He now draws a contrast of a Christian life, so as to make it evident how utterly inconsistent it is with the character of a godly man to defile himself regardlessly with the abominations of the Gentiles. Because the Gentiles walk in darkness, therefore they do not distinguish... [ Continue Reading ]
21._If ye have heard him. _To excite their attention and earnestness the more, he not only tells them that they had _heard Christ, _but employs a still stronger expression, _ye have been taught in him, _as if he had said, that this doctrine had not been slightly pointed out, but faithfully delivered... [ Continue Reading ]
22._That ye put off. _He demands from a Christian man repentance, or a new life, which he makes to consist of self-denial and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. Beginning with the first, he enjoins us to lay aside, or _put off _the old man, employing the metaphor of garments, which we have already... [ Continue Reading ]
23._And be renewed. _The second part of the rule for a devout and holy life is to live, not in our own spirit, but in the Spirit of Christ. But what is meant by — _the spirit of your mind? _I understand it simply to mean, — _Be renewed, _not only with respect to the inferior appetites or desires, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
24._And that ye put on the new man. _All that is meant is, “Be renewed in the spirit, or, be renewed _within _or _completely, _— beginning with the mind, which appears to be the part most free from all taint of sin.” What is added about the creation, may refer either to the first creation of man, or... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Wherefore, putting away lying. _From this head of doctrine, that is, from the righteousness of the new man, all godly exhortations flow, like streams from a fountain; for if all the precepts which relate to life were collected, yet, without this principle, they would be of little value. Philosop... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Be ye angry, and sin not. _Whether or not the apostle had in his eye a part of the fourth Psalm is uncertain. The words used by him ( ᾿Οργίζεσθε καὶ υὴ ἁμαρτάνετε) occur in the Greek translation, though the word ὀργίζεσθε, which is translated, _be ye angry, _is considered by some to mean _trembl... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Neither give place _( τῷ διαβόλῳ) _to the devil. _I am aware of the interpretation which some give of this passage. Erasmus, who translates it, “neither give place to the Slanderer,” (_calumniatori _ _,_) shews plainly that he understood it as referring to malicious men. But I have no doubt, Pau... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Let him that stole steal no more. _This includes not merely the grosser thefts which are punished by human laws, but those of a more concealed nature, which do not fall under the cognizance of men, — every kind of depredation by which we seize the property of others. But he does not simply forbi... [ Continue Reading ]
29._No filthy speech. _He first forbids believers to use any _filthy _language, including under this name all those expressions which are wont to be employed for the purpose of inflaming lust. Not satisfied with the removal of the vice, he enjoins them to frame their discourse for edification. In an... [ Continue Reading ]
30._And grieve not. _As the Holy Spirit dwells in us, to him every part of our soul and of our body ought to be devoted. But if we give ourselves up to aught that is impure, we may be said to drive him away from making his abode with us; and, to express this still more familiarly, human affections,... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Let all bitterness. _He again condemns anger; but, on the present occasion, views in connection with it those offenses by which it is usually accompanied, such as noisy disputes and reproaches. Between _wrath and anger _( Θυμὸν καὶ ὀργὴν) there is little difference, except that the former denote... [ Continue Reading ]
32._And be ye kind one to another. _With _bitterness _he contrasts _kindness, _or gentleness of countenance, language, and manners. And as this virtue will never reign in us, unless attended by _compassion, _( ουμπάθεια,) he recommends to us to be _tender-hearted _This will lead us not only to sympa... [ Continue Reading ]