To obtain the greatest and richest of all blessings for himself and his fellow-Christians, Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, was in the habit of seeking them from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, in a manner which showed that he knew them both to be divine.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE HOPE; that is, connecting these words with "we give thanks," on account of the hope. But we may better connect them with verse Colossians 1:4, and render, through the hope; meaning faith and love exercised under the influence of the hope laid up for them in heaven-the hope here standing for... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ALL THE WORLD; wherever the gospel was embraced it produced the same effects as in Colosse. The gospel, wherever preached, influences all who embrace it in truth, whatever may have been their past character and condition, to lives of holy obedience; and inspires them with a hope which tends to pu... [ Continue Reading ]
AS YE ALSO LEARNED OF EPAPHRAS; learned "the grace of God in truth" of Epaphras, who seems to have been their first teacher, and was now with Paul in Rome.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE; that which the Holy Spirit produces.... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING; understanding of spiritual things as revealed in the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO ALL PLEASING; in a manner constantly or every way pleasing to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
PATIENCE; endurance under trials. That patient and joyful submission under trials which becomes the friends of Christ, it is difficult for them to exercise, and nothing will effectually secure it but the power of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE US MEET; prepared us. SAINTS IN LIGHT; in the enjoyment of the bliss of heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE POWER OF DARKNESS; dominion of sin and Satan.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD; the invisible God made manifest. Christ is the image of God, as possessing perfect equality with the Father in substance and divine perfections. Compare his own words: "He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father." John 14:9. THE FIRST - BORN OF EVERY CREATURE; or, th... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HEAVEN-IN EARTH, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE; the apostle labors to assert in the most absolute way that the whole universe of created things is the work of Christ. Compare John 1:3, and Hebrews 3:4. "He that built all things is God." THRONES-POWERS; words that denote the different orders of created in... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSIST; are upheld in their present state. Compare Hebrews 1:3. "Upholding all things by the word of his power.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAD OF THE-CHURCH; source of its life, light, and all its blessings. FIRST - BORN FROM THE DEAD; the first who rose never again to die, and who will raise all the dead-some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. John 5:28-29. HAVE THE PREEMINENCE; as head of the created... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL FULNESS; all the fulness of the Godhead; as a Saviour, then, he has all that is needful to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by him. Hebrews 7:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE PEACE; opened the way for peace. THINGS IN EARTH-THINGS IN HEAVEN; that the opposition between heaven and earth, which sin has occasioned, may be removed, and all things in heaven and earth may be united under Christ as their head in one harmonious body.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALIENATED; from God. BY WICKED WORKS; literally, in wicked works, these being, as it were, the element in which they lived.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH; by his propitiatory death on the cross in human nature. TO PRESENT; to present you before God, as the final result of his work of redemption. Ephesians 1:4. In Ephesians 5:27, the nature of the figure-Christ and the church his bride-required the apostle to sa... [ Continue Reading ]
GROUNDED AND SETTLED; firm and steadfast in the belief and practice of the truth. TO EVERY CREATURE WHICH IS UNDER HEAVEN; the apostle in these words expresses the design of the gospel and its final destiny. Those who would be saved must not merely believe in Christ, profess him before men, and beg... [ Continue Reading ]
FILL UP THAT WHICH IS BEHIND; that which remains to be yet endured. THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRIST; afflictions to be undergone by Christ in his body the church; that is, in the persons of his disciples. Of these every believer has his share to fill up, and ought to rejoice in it, because God with these... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREOF; of which church. FOR YOU; for the benefit of you Gentiles. TO FULFIL THE WORD OF GOD; to fulfil my stewardship of God's word by dispensing it faithfully. Compare Romans 15:19, where the original is, "I have fulfilled the gospel of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN THE MYSTERY; added to show wherein the fulfilling of the word of God lies, namely, in unfolding the mystery, etc. The mystery is that so fully unfolded in Ephesians 2:13-22, namely, God's purpose to unite Jews and Gentiles through Christ on equal terms in one holy and spiritual body.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MYSTERY AMONG THE GENTILES; because it is in the reception of the Gentiles to God's spiritual fold that the glory of this mystery is especially displayed.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRIVING; or struggling. See note to chap Colossians 2:1. WORKETH IN ME; God working in Paul was the cause of his working, and the reason why his work was efficacious in reconciling men to God through Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]