_Address and Greeting_ Comp. on Ephesians 1:1-2, which closely resembles this passage. Colossians 1:1. PAUL, etc. The writer designates himself in precisely the same terms as in Ephesians 1:1. On the Pauline greetings, see _Romans,_ chap. Colossians 1:1-7, and the references there. TIMOTHY THE BR... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:3. WE GIVE THANKS, etc. The Apostle usually begins with thanksgiving; comp. his earliest Epistle (1 Thessalonians 1:2) which exactly corresponds. The plural (‘we') is probably occasioned by the mention of Timothy (Colossians 1:1); but in 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3, the singular... [ Continue Reading ]
I. DOCTRINAL PART: CHRIST THE HEAD OF ALL THINGS. This division of the Epistle resembles the doctrinal part of Ephesians (chaps, 1-3.); but here the Person of Christ is more prominent; there Christ as the Head of the Body. The liturgical tone is less obvious here, and the style less involved. But in... [ Continue Reading ]
I. _The Apostle's Thanksgiving for the Faith and Love of his Readers._ This section might be termed ‘introductory,' because of its personal character. Yet even here the doctrinal motive is apparent Paul usually begins with thanksgiving on behalf of his readers; but as he omits even such implied com... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:4. HAVING HEARD. ‘ After hearing,' rather than, ‘since we heard,' or, ‘ because we heard.' YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. He is the sphere and object of the faith; comp. Ephesians 1:15. THE LOVE WHICH YE HAVE TO ALL THE SAINTS. The Italics of the E. V. are unnecessary, since the better... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:5. ON ACCOUNT OF, etc. This verse is to be closely joined with what precedes. ‘Which ye have on account of,' etc. It is improper to connect it with ‘give thanks.' THE HOPE, _i.e.,_ the thing hoped for, the hope as respects its contents, since only in this sense could it be defined by... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:6. WHICH. This refers directly to ‘the gospel.' IS COME, lit, ‘is present,' UNTO YOU. There are two ideas suggested here: its reaching them (‘unto you') and its abiding with them (‘is present'). AS IT IS IN ALL THE WORLD. This need not be limited to the Roman world, or the chief pla... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:7. EVEN AS, ‘ according as,' explaining ‘in truth.' YE LEARNED OF EPAPHRAS. A resident of Colossæ or its neighborhood (chap. Colossians 4:12), a ‘fellow-prisoner' of Paul at Rome (Philemon 1:23). This verse indicates that be was the founder of the Church at Colossæ, or one of the first... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:8. WHO ALSO DECLARED unto us. Epaphras was with Paul at Rome (chap. Colossians 4:12), and had brought tidings respecting the Colossian Christians. YOUR LOVE IN THE SPIRIT. This ‘love' is that spoken of in Colossians 1:4, but here described as to its source and sphere; it was in the fel... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:9. FOR THIS CAUSE; referring to the entire preceding paragraph (Colossians 1:3-8), because of what had been heard respecting the Colossians. WE ALSO; comp. Colossians 1:3. ‘Also' marks the change of subject: ‘we on our part' as well as others, probably with special thought of Epaphras... [ Continue Reading ]
2. _The Apostles Prayer for their Progress in the Knowledge of Christ as Head of all Things_. The Apostle's thanksgiving is naturally followed by the mention of his petition for the Colossians. The immediate object of his prayer is that they may have fuller knowledge of God's will (Colossians 1:9),... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:10. TO WALK. The best authorities omit the subject (answering to ‘ye') of the Greek infinitive. Hence it is best to render by the English infinitive, especially as this verse does not depend on ‘asking,' but explains the purpose of being thus filled. WORTHY OF THE TORN, _i.e._, Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:11. STRENGTHENED WITH (lit., ‘in') ALL STRENGTH. The noun is usually rendered ‘power,' but to do so here destroys the verbal correspondence which is found in the Greek. ‘With all strength;' by means of every form of strength imparted by God (Meyer). Some take ‘in' as pointing to the ele... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:12. GIVING THANKS, etc. This is parallel with ‘being fruitful,' and the other participles, defining still further the worthy walk. It is fruitful, growing, strong to suffer, and grateful: the last is the most distinctively Christian characteristic. UNTO THE FATHER, _i.e._, of our Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:13. WHO (_i.e._, the Father) DELIVERED US. A strong expression, suggesting snatching from danger, as wretched captives (so Theophylact). OUT OF THE POWER OF DARKNESS. ‘Darkness' is personified, as it were, and ‘power' refers to the dominion, more literally ‘authority,' which the darkn... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:14. IN WHOM. Comp. Ephesians 1:7, which closely resembles this verse. Here, however, the phrase ‘through His blood' is to be rejected, since it is sustained by no ancient Greek manuscript. THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS. In Ephesians 1:7: ‘trespasses,' which points more to the outward ac... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:15. WHO IS. In Colossians 1:15-20 we have a description of the person of Christ (‘the Son of His love'), well adapted to counteract the errors which the Apostle wishes to oppose. The subject is the Son of God, but ‘in Colossians 1:15-17, the reference is rather to the _pre-incarnate_ So... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:16. BECAUSE (more exact than ‘for', giving a reason for Colossians 1:15, in him (the emphatic phrase), as the conditional element of the creation, preexistent and all-including, WERE ALL THINGS (taken collectively as a whole = the created universe) CREATED. The reference here is to the... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:17. AND HE (emphatic) IS BEFORE ALL THINGS. ‘Before' in time, preexistent to ‘all things,' not simply ‘all beings.' He did not become thus preexistent, but ‘is' prior in time. AND IN HIM ALL THINGS SUBSIST, more literally, ‘stand together.' This is not a repetition of the first clause... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:18. AND HE (emphatic, as before) is the head of the body, the church. The emphasis resting on ‘He' suggests a reference to the errors prevalent in the Colossian Church (see above). Here the subject is the now glorified Christ; comp. Ephesians 1:22-23, where the same idea is expressed, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:19. BECAUSE; in proof of the last clause: ‘that in all things,' etc. IT PLEASED THE RATHER, etc. The construction has led to much discussion. ‘All the fulness' may be the subject of ‘pleased,' or of ‘dwell' The sense is substantially the same in either case, since ‘God' (or, ‘the Fathe... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:20. THROUGH HIM (as the instrument in Redemption as in Creation) TO RECONCILE ALL THINGS UNTO HIMSELF; lit, ‘unto Him,' but the reference to God seems necessary; comp. Ephesians 2:16, where moreover the word ‘reconcile' occurs in the same form. Here, as there, it seems best to take the... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:21. In Colossians 1:21-23 the Apostle indicates how the Colossians share in this reconciliation. AND YOU. Comp. Ephesians 2:1. A new sentence begins here, and the construction is regular, according to the better supported reading. BEING ONCE, _i.e.,_ formerly, ALIENATED; comp. Ephes... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:22. IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH. Historically and locally ‘in' the human body of the Son of God made flesh, the reconciliation was effected. The peculiar phrase is due, either to the emphasis thus placed upon the historical Person on earth, or to some false teachings prevalent at Colossæ,... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:23. IF INDEED; the same particle as in Ephesians 3:2; Ephesians 4:21; it does not express doubt, but calls attention to the necessity of faith, in order to be presented thus before God (Colossians 1:22). YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH. ‘ The faith' does not mean Christian doctrine, but Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:24. NOW I REJOICE. The reading ‘who,' which is not well supported, can readily be accounted for. ‘Now' is not to be taken as a conjunction: ‘at the present time,' as a prisoner, contrasted with his previous preaching, not with a previous time of sorrow. IN MY SUFFERINGS; lit, ‘the suf... [ Continue Reading ]
_3. The Apostle's Joy in His Sufferings and Labor for Christ_. The need of stedfastness (Colossians 1:23) had been enforced by a reference to the Apostle's personal relation to the gospel. This thought is naturally enlarged upon by the ‘prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles' (Ephesians... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:25. WHEREOF (of which Church) I BECAME A MINISTER. As minister of the gospel (Colossians 1:23) he became also minister of the Church which proclaims the gospel. In the Church there is no true ministry apart from the ministry of the gospel. ACCORDING TO THE DISPENSATION, etc. The word... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:26. EVEN THE MYSTERY, etc. Comp. Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:4-9. Here as there the reference is not merely to the salvation of the Gentiles, but to Redemption in Christ as belonging to the eternal plan of God. HATH BEEN HID from THE AGES AND FROM THE generations. This particular phras... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:27. TO WHOM GOD WILLED; ‘ it was His will,' etc. ‘Would' is not strong enough; both ‘desired' and ‘purposed' are inexact. ‘Free grace' may be interred from the term, but is certainly not expressed. God's design in thus making manifest the mystery to the saints was TO MAKE KNOWN WHAT (bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:28. WHOM WE SET forth, or, ‘announce,' not the word usually ‘rendered preach.' ‘We,' the preachers of the true gospel, in contrast with errorists, referring (as in Colossians 1:3; Colossians 1:9) to Timothy, but to others also. ADMONISHING EVERY MAN, etc. This indicates the manner of... [ Continue Reading ]
Colossians 1:29. WHEREUNTO (_i.e.,_ for the end just named) I LABOR ALSO. Besides preaching, he labors in every way. ‘I,' not, ‘we,' since Paul's individual toils and struggles were doubtless before his mind. STRIVING. The earlier commentators referred this to external contests (1 Timothy 4:10; 1 T... [ Continue Reading ]