Colossae. The form of the name appears to have been both Kolossai and Kolassai, the former being probably the earlier. The city was in Phrygia, in the valley of the Lycus, about ten or twelve miles beyond Laodicaea and Hierapolis. The region is volcanic, and the earthquakes common to large portions... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Father. Some of the best texts omit and. So Rev. The form with and is the more common. Compare ch. 3 17. Praying always for you. Rather connect always with we give thanks, and render we give thanks for you always, praying, or in our prayers. According to the Greek order, praying for you (a... [ Continue Reading ]
For the hope [δ ι α τ η ν ε λ π ι δ α]. The A. V. connects with we give thanks (ver. 3). But the two are too far apart, and Paul's introductory thanksgiving is habitually grounded on the spiritual condition of his readers, not on something objective. See Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:15... [ Continue Reading ]
Which is come unto you [τ ο υ π α ρ ο ν τ ο ς ε ι ς υ μ α ς]. Lit., which is present unto you. Has come and is present. Compare Luke 11:7, "are with me into bed." In all the world. Hyperbolical. Compare Romans 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; Acts 17:6. Possibly with a suggestion of the universal characte... [ Continue Reading ]
Fellow - servant. Used by Paul only here and ch. 4 7. Minister [δ ι α κ ο ν ο ς]. See on Matthew 20:26; Mark 9:35. For you [υ π ε ρ υ μ ω ν]. Read hJmwn, us as Rev., on our behalf : as Paul's representative.... [ Continue Reading ]
Declared [δ η λ ω σ α ς]. Or made manifest. See on 1 Corinthians 1:11. In the Spirit. Connect with your love. Compare Galatians 5:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
We also. Marking the reciprocal feeling of Paul and Timothy with that of the Colossians. Pray - desire [π ρ ο σ ε υ χ ο μ ε ν ο ι - α ι τ ο υ μ ε ν ο ι]. The words occur together in Mark 11:24. The former is general, the latter special. Rev. make request is better than desire. The A. V. renders ind... [ Continue Reading ]
Walk worthy [π ε ρ ι π α τ η σ α ι α ξ ι ω ς]. The phrase occurs Ephesians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:12. Rev. gives the correct adverbial rendering worthily. Unto all pleasing [ε ι ς π α σ α ν α ρ ε σ κ ε ι α ν]. So as to please God in all ways. Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:1, Areskeia pleasing, only her... [ Continue Reading ]
Strengthened [δ υ ν α μ ο υ μ ε ν ο ι]. Only here in the New Testament, but found in Septuagint. The compound (ejndunamow to make strong) is frequent in Paul, Romans 4:20; Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13; 1 Timothy 1:12. Power - might [δ υ ν α μ ε ι - κ ρ α τ ο ς]. See on 2 Peter 2:11; John 1:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Made us meet [ι κ α ν ω σ α ν τ ι]. See on 2 Corinthians 3:6. To be partakers of the inheritance [ε ι ς τ η ν μ ε ρ ι δ α τ ο υ κ λ η ρ ο υ]. Lit., for the portion of the lot; that is, the portion which is the lot. Compare Acts 8:21, where the two words are coordinated. In light [ε ν τ ω φ ω τ ι].... [ Continue Reading ]
Power [ε ξ ο υ σ ι α ς]. See on Mark 2:10; Mark 2:18; Mark 2:5 Translated [μ ε τ ε σ τ η σ ε ν]. The word occurs five times in the New Testament : of putting out of the stewardship, Luke 16:4; of the removal of Saul from the kingdom, Acts 13:22; of Paul turning away much people, Acts 19:26; and of r... [ Continue Reading ]
Redemption [α π ο λ υ τ ρ ω σ ι ν]. See on Romans 3:24. Continuing the image of an enslaved and ransomed people. Omit through His blood. Forgiveness [α φ ε σ ι ν]. See on remission, Romans 3:25; forgiven, James 5:15. Forgiveness defines redemption. Lightfoot's suggestion is very interesting that thi... [ Continue Reading ]
The image [ε ι κ ω ν]. See on Revelation 13:14. For the Logos (Word) underlying the passage, see on John 1:1. Image is more than likeness which may be superficial and incidental. It implies a prototype, and embodies the essential verity of its prototype. Compare in the form of God, Philippians 2:6 ... [ Continue Reading ]
By him [ε ν α υ τ ω]. Rev., in Him. In is not instrumental but local; not denying the instrumentality, but putting the fact of creation with reference to its sphere and center. In Him, within the sphere of His personality, resides the creative will and the creative energy, and in that sphere the cre... [ Continue Reading ]
He is [α υ τ ο ς ε σ τ ι ν]. Both words are emphatic. Estin is, is used as in John 8:58 (see note), to express Christ's absolute existence. "He emphasizes the personality, is the preexistence" (Lightfoot). For similar emphasis on the pronoun, see Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 4:10; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
And He. Emphatic. The same who is before all things and in whom all things consist. The head of the body, the Church. The Church is described as a body, Romans 12:4 sq.; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; 1 Corinthians 10:17, by way of illustrating the functions of the members. Here the image is used to emphas... [ Continue Reading ]
It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell [ε ν α υ τ ω ε υ δ ο κ η σ ε ν π α ν τ ο π λ η ρ ω μ α κ α τ ο ι κ η σ α ι]. Eujdokew to think it good, to be well pleased is used in the New Testament, both of divine and of human good - pleasure; but, in the former case, always of God the... [ Continue Reading ]
Having made peace [ε ι ρ η ν ο π ο ι η σ α ς]. Only here in the New Testament. Having concluded peace; see on John 3:21. The participle is parallel with to reconcile, and marks peace - making and reconciliation as contemporaneous. The kindred eijrhnopoiov peacemaker, only in Matthew 5:9. The phrase... [ Continue Reading ]
Enemies. To God, in the active sense. Mind [δ ι α ν ο ι α]. See on imagination, Luke 1:51. The spiritual seat of enmity. By wicked works [ε ν τ ο ι ς ε γ ρ ο ι ς τ ο ι ς π ο ν η ρ ο ι ς]. Rev., better, in your evil works. In the performance of - the sphere in which, outwardly, their alienation had... [ Continue Reading ]
Body of His flesh. Which consisted of flesh; without which there could have been no death (see next clause). To present [π α ρ α σ τ η σ α ι]. Purpose of the reconciliation. Compare Romans 8:30. See on shewed himself, Acts 1:3. Compare Romans 12:1, where it is used of presenting a sacrifice. 192 Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
Continue in the faith [ε π ι μ ε ν ε τ ε τ η π ι σ τ ε ι.]. The verb means to stay at or with [ε π ι]. So Philippians 1:24, to abide by the flesh. See on Romans 6:1. The faith is not the gospel system (see on Acts 6:7), but the Colossians' faith in Christ. Your faith would be better. Grounded and se... [ Continue Reading ]
Who now. Omit who. Now is temporal : in the midst of my imprisonment and sufferings, after having become a minister of the Gospel, and having preached it. In my sufferings. Not as our idiom, rejoice in, as rejoice in the Lord, but in the midst of; while enduring. Fill up [α ν τ α ν α π λ η ρ ω]. On... [ Continue Reading ]