This chapter embraces the following topics: (1) The usual salutation to the church; Colossians 1:1. (2) Thanks to God for what He had done for the Colossians, and for the fruits of the gospel among them; Colossians 1:3. (3) Prayer that they might persevere in the same course, and might walk worth... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST - See the notes. at Romans 1:1 BY THE WILL OF GOD - Notes, 1 Corinthians 1:1. AND TIMOTHEUS OUR BROTHER - On the question as to why Paul associated others with him in his epistles, see the notes at 1 Corinthians 1:1. There was a particular reason why Timothy should... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE BE UNTO YOU - See the notes at Romans 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD - See the notes at the parallel place in Ephesians 1:15. PRAYING ALWAYS FOR YOU - See the Romans 1:9, note; Ephesians 1:16, note; compare 1 Thessalonians 1:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
SINCE WE HEARD OF YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS - To wit, by Epaphras, who had informed Paul of the steadfastness of their faith and love; Colossians 1:7. This does not prove that Paul had never been at Colossae, or that he did not establish the church there, for he uses a similar expression respecting... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE HOPE WHICH IS LAID UP FOR YOU IN HEAVEN - That is, “I give thanks that there is such a hope laid up for you.” The evidence which he had that this hope was theirs, was founded on the faith and love to the saints which he heard they had evinced. He fully believed that where there was such fait... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS COME UNTO YOU - It has not been confined to the Jews, or limited to the narrow country where it was first preached, but has been sent abroad to the Gentile world. The object of the apostle here seems to be, to excite in them a sense of gratitude that the gospel had been sent to them. It was... [ Continue Reading ]
AS YE ALSO LEARNED OF EPAPHRAS - Epaphras was then with Paul. Philemon 1:23. He had probably been sent to him by the church at Colossae to consult him in reference to some matters pertaining to the church there. It is evident from this, that Epaphras was a minister of the church at Colossae, though... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ALSO DECLARED UNTO US YOUR LOVE IN THE SPIRIT - The love wrought in you by the Holy Spirit. It was not mere natural affection, but love worked in their hearts by the agency of the Holy Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT CEASE TO PRAY FOR YOU - Colossians 1:3. The progress which they had already made, and the love which they had shown, constituted an encouragement for prayer, and a reason why higher blessings still should be sought. We always feel stimulated and encouraged to pray for those who are doing well... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD - That you may live as becomes the followers of the Lord. How this was to be done he states in this and the following verses. UNTO ALL PLEASING - So as to please him in all things; compare Hebrews 11:5. BEING FRUITFUL IN EVERY GOOD WORK - This is one way in wh... [ Continue Reading ]
STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT - This was also an object of Paul’s earnest prayer. He desired that they might be strengthened for the performance of duty; to meet temptations; and to bear up under the various trials of life. ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS POWER - Not by any human means, but by the power of... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER - This is another mode by which we may “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” Colossians 1:10; to wit, by rendering appropriate thanks to God for his mercy. The particular point which the apostle here says demanded thanksgiving was, that they had been called from the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS - The power exerted over us in that dark kingdom to which we formerly belonged - the kingdom of Satan. The characteristic of this empire is darkness - the emblem of: (1)Sin; (2)Error; (3)Misery and death. Over us, by nature, these things had uncont... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION; - See this explained in the notes at Ephesians 1:7. The passage here proves that we obtain forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ; but it does not prove that this is all that we obtain through that blood.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD - εἰκὼν τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου eikōn tou Theou tou aoratou. The objects. here, as it is in the parallel place in Ephesians 1:20, is to give a just view of the exaltation of the Redeemer. It is probable that, in both cases, the design is to meet some errone... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED - This is one of the reasons why he is called “the image of God,” and the “first-born.” He makes God known to us by his creative power, and by the same power in creation shows that he is exalted over all things as the Son of God. The phrase which is used here by th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS - As he must be, if he created all things. Those who regard this as referring to a moral creation, interpret it as meaning that he has the pre-eminence over all things; not as referring to his pre-existence. But the fair and proper meaning of the word “before” (πρὸ pro)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH - Notes Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23, note. WHO IS THE BEGINNING - In all things - alike in the work of creation and in the church. He is the fountain of authority and power, and commences everything that is designed to uphold the order of the universe,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT PLEASED THE FATHER - The words “the Father” are not in the original, but they are not improperly supplied. Some word must be understood, and as the apostle in Colossians 1:12 referred to “the Father” as having a claim to the thanks of his people for what he had done, and as the great favor fo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAVING MADE PEACE - Margin, “making.” The Greek will bear either. The meaning is, that by his atonement he produces reconciliation between those who were alienated from each other; see the notes at Ephesians 2:14. It does not mean here that he had actually effected peace by his death, but that h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOU, THAT WERE SOMETIME ALIENATED - In this work of reconciling heaven and earth, you at Colossae, who were once enemies of God, have been reached. The benefit of that great plan has been extended to you, and it has accomplished in you what it is designed to effect everywhere - to reconcile enem... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH - The death of his body, or his death in making an atonement, has been the means of producing this reconciliation. It: (1) Removed the obstacles to reconciliation on the part of God - vindicating his truth and justice, and maintaining the principles of his gov... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH - In the belief of the gospel, and in holy living. If this were done, they would be presented unblameable be fore God; if not, they would not be. The meaning is, that it will be impossible to be saved unless we continue to lead lives becoming the gospel. GROUNDED - On a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO NOW REJOICE IN MY SUFFERINGS FOR YOU - For you as a part of the Gentile world. It was not for the Colossians alone, but he regarded himself as suffering on account of his labors in preaching to the pagan at large. His trials at Rome had come upon him because he had maintained that the wall of pa... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THE DISPENSATION OF GOD - The arrangement which God has made. That is, he designed that the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and, in accordance with that arrangement, he has called me to be a minister. Notes, Ephesians 3:2. TO FULFIL THE WORD OF GOD - Margin, “fully to preach... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN THE MYSTERY - To make that mystery fully known. See this explained in the notes at Ephesians 3:2. The great doctrine that salvation was to be proclaimed to all mankind, Paul says, had been concealed for many generations. Hence, it was called a mystery, or a hidden truth. BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFE... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM - To the saints. GOD WOULD MAKE KNOWN - “Willed (Greek) to make known;” that is, he was pleased to make this known. It was concealed in his bosom until he chose to reveal it to his apostles. It was a doctrine which the Jewish people did not understand; Ephesians 3:5. WHAT IS THE RICHES OF... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM WE PREACH, WARNING EVERY MAN - This does not mean warning of danger, but “admonishing all of the claims of the gospel to attention.” Our word warn is commonly used in the sense of cautioning against danger. The Greek word here means to put in mind; to admonish; to exhort. The idea of the apostl... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREUNTO I ALSO LABOUR - See the notes at 1 Corinthians 15:10. STRIVING - Greek agonizing. He taxed all his energies to accomplish this, as the wrestlers strove for the mastery in the Grecian games. ACCORDING TO HIS WORKING - Not by my own strength, but by the power which God alone can give; see... [ Continue Reading ]