_HE EXHORTETH THEM TO BE FERVENT IN PRAYER, TO WALK WISELY TOWARD THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET COME TO THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST: HE SALUTETH THEM, AND WISHETH THEM ALL PROSPERITY._ _Anno Domini 62._ HIS account of relative duties the Apostle finishes in the beginning of this chapter, with a directio... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAYING ALSO FOR US,— Dr. Whitby justly observes, that it is very remarkable that St. Paul, who so often and so earnestly entreats the intercession of his Christian friends, should never speak of the intercession of the Virgin Mary, or of departed saints or angels, if he believed it a duty to seek i... [ Continue Reading ]
LET YOUR SPEECH BE ALWAY WITH GRACE,— "Always conducted in the most mild and courteous, the most proper and graceful manner; so that it may appear influenced by a governing principle of divine grace and unfeigned piety in your hearts. Let it in this respect be so seasoned with the salt of heavenly w... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MY STATE SHALL TYCHICUS DECLARE— From comparing this verse with Ephesians 6:21 where _Tychicus_ is mentioned as sent by St. Paul from Rome to Ephesus, which was not very far from Colosse, it may be very probably inferred, that these two epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians, which contain man... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ONESIMUS,— This verse makes it possible, that this epistle, if it was not written after, was at least delivered after that to _Philemon;_ and that the admirable letter to _him,_ produced its desired effect. See the introductory note to _Philemo_... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISTARCHUS,— See Acts 15:37; Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4. _Aristarchus_ and _Epaphras_ are mentioned as _saluters_ in this epistle, and in that to Philemon written at the same time. Instead of, _Ye received commandments,_ &c. Doddridge reads, _Ye have received instructions;_ and Heylin, _letters of recom... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ONLY ARE MY FELLOW-WORKERS— That is, he had none other of _the circumcision;_ for _Luke_ and _Demas_ were with him. See the next note.... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE, THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN,— From comparing this with Colossians 4:11, where St. Paul says he had no fellow-labourer of the circumcision but those whom he had named, Lord Barrington concludes that Luke was a proselyte of the gate before he was converted to Christianity; and it may certainly be fair... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EPISTLE FROM LAODICEA.— The epistle from Laodicea could not have been written by St. Paul from thence, since he had never been there, ch. Colossians 2:1. It seems probable that it was either his epistle to the Ephesians (see the analysis), or some letter which he had written to those of Laodicea... [ Continue Reading ]
SAY TO ARCHIPPUS, &C.— This seems an intimation that Archippus was not so diligent and active in the prosecution of his ministry as could have been wished. Dr. Heylin says he then performed the pastoral office among the Colossians, instead of Epaphras the bishop, who was detained at Rome. _INFERENCE... [ Continue Reading ]