Observe here, 1. That this epistle to the Colossians contains many of the same things, and often the very same words, with that to the Ephesians, particularly the salutation here is the same with that to the Ephesians; in which, note, 1. The person saluting, PAUL, once. persecutor, now. professor,... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle, to give the Colossians. full assurance of the firmness of his love unto them, acquaints them, that himself and Timothy, from the time they heard of their conversion, did never to give solemn thanks to God for it, and particularly, for their faith in Christ, and for the love which they b... [ Continue Reading ]
Here, 1. St. Paul discovers the motive which excited the Colossians to such steadiness and constancy in the faith of Christ, and in love one to another; and that was THE HOPE LAID UP FOR THEM IN HEAVEN; that is, the great and good things here hoped for, and there to be enjoyed. As the sinners miser... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The person who first preached the gospel of Christ to the Colossians, and converted them to the Christian faith, it was Epaphras; AS YE LEARNED OF EPAPHRAS. Observe, 2. The commendation given to Epaphras, and his character by St. Paul; he was regularly called to the work, and. dili... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle sets down the end of his prayer in the fore-mentioned manner for the Colossians, why he desired that their knowledge should so exceedingly increase; it was in order to practise, that they might WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD, UNTO ALL PLEASING, AND BE FRUITFUL IN EVERY GOOD WORK; this is t... [ Continue Reading ]
In the former verses, prayer was offered up to God by St. Paul, to enable the Colossians to do his will, his whole will, acceptably; in this verse he pleads with God, to strengthen them with an almighty power to bear afflictions, the sharpest and longest afflictions, patiently and joyfully: STRENGTH... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having prayed for the Colossians in the foregoing verses, here breaks forth into the duty of thanksgiving on their behalf, GIVING THANKS UNTO THE FATHER, &C. Where note, 1. description of heaven, or the blessed state of good men in another world: It is an inheritance, an INHERITANCE OF... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words our apostle declares how God makes his children and people meet for the inheritance of heaven and eternal glory, namely, by bringing them out of that dark state of heathenism, sin and misery, in which they lay, and translating them into. state of grace, called here THE KINGDOM OF GOD'... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle further declares how we are made MEET FOR THE INHERITANCE OF HEAVEN, AND DELIVERED FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, namely, BY OUR REDEMPTION IN CHRIST from sin, Satan, death and wrath; by. price paid by the Mediator, to the justice of God his Father. IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION, that is,... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle having mentioned our redemption in the former verse, describes the person of our Redeemer in this and the following verses, in such lofty characters, as evidently bespeak him to be. divine person, truly and really God, and consequently the fittest person to undertake so great and gloriou... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark the connection: The apostle affirms Christ to be the first-born of every creature, namely, because BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, AND BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST: Now if all things were created by him, surely he himself cannot be. creature. And thus the sense of the apostle's words runs easy; C... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having, in the former verses, described what Christ is in himself, comes next to describe him with relation to his church; shewing, 1. That he is her Head, he is the Head of the body, the church; as the head and the members make one body, so Christ and his people constitute one church;... [ Continue Reading ]
Still our apostle proceeds in describing the person of our Redeemer, and the admirable qualificatons found in him for the work and service of our redemption; he declares here, that there was. perfect and complete fulness of all divine graces and excellencies dwelling in the Mediator, and that by the... [ Continue Reading ]
Here one special reason is assigned why all fulness dwelt in our Lord the Redeemer, namely, to fit him for the great work and office of. Mediator or Reconciler, that so he might happily make up that breach which sin had made between God and the world, having removed the enmity which was betwixt them... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul having treated of Christ's work of reconciliation in general, in the preceding verse, in this he applies it ot the Colosssians in particular: Where 1. He describes to them the miserable state and deplorable condition they were in before they were converted to the Christian faith; they were... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle declares to the Colossians, how they may know whether they were indeed of the number of those who were actually reconciled to God by the blood of his Son, namely, if they persevered in the faith, and continued grounded fast in their holy religion; IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH GROUNDE... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "I am not only contented with, but. greatly rejoice in, my sufferings for you converted Gentiles, and help, as much as in me lies, to fill up some part of that which is, by God's decree, behind, unfulfilled of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake which... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle in these words, seems to assign. reason why he underwent the sufferings mentioned in the former verse so cheerfully, as even to rejoice in them; namely, because he was. minister of the church, by the special dispensation of God, to preach the mysteries of the gospel to the Gentile world.... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. What was the principal subject of the apostle's preaching, it was Christ; WHOM WE PREACH; Christ was the matter of his preaching, and the great end of his preaching. Observe, 2. The manner of St. Paul's preaching; it was by informing the understanding and judgment, and of the dange... [ Continue Reading ]