[1. Introduction. (1) SALUTATION (Colossians 1:1). (2) THANKSGIVING, for their faith and love and hope, with an emphatic reference to the “word of the truth of the gospel” as first preached unto them in all faithfulness by Epaphras, the fellow-servant and representative of the Apostle (Colossians... [ Continue Reading ]
TIMOTHEUS OUR BROTHER. — Except in the mention of Timotheus (as in the other Epistles of the captivity; see Philippians 1:1; Philemon 1:1), the salutation is almost verbally coincident with the opening of the Epistle to the Ephesians (where see Note). The mention of Timotheus here, and the omission... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. — The best MSS. show here, that the salutation should run simply “from God the Father,” thus varying from St. Paul’s otherwise universal phraseology. Such variation can hardly be accidental. Could it have been suggested to St. Paul’s mind, in connection... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Ephesians 1:15, where there is an almost exact verbal coincidence. Whatever may be the force there of the words “having _heard_ of your faith,” clearly here they harmonise with many indications that the Colossian Church, though well known to St. Paul, was not known by personal knowledge.... [ Continue Reading ]
(3-8) In this expression of St. Paul’s thanksgiving for them there is as usual a peculiar correspondence to their circumstances. They had been full of faith, love, and hope, the fruit of a true gospel preached by Epaphras; there was fear now lest they should be beguiled from it, although that fear w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE HOPE WHICH IS LAID UP FOR YOU IN HEAVEN. — The union of hope with faith and love is natural enough. Compare the fuller expression of 1 Thessalonians 1:3, “your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope.” But the place assigned to hope in this passage is notable. “For the hope”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS COME UNTO YOU... — There is much variety of reading here, but the text followed by our version is certainly incorrect. The probable reading is, _which is come unto you, just as in all the world it is now bringing forth fruit and growing, as also it does in you._ In this sentence there are t... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO LEARNED OF EPAPHRAS. — Of Epaphras we know nothing, except what we gather from this passage, and from Colossians 4:12; Philemon 1:23. The name is a shortened form of Epaphroditus, but it is most unlikely that he is the same as the Epaphroditus of Philippians 2:25; Philippians 4:18. Being, it... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ALSO DECLARED UNTO US. — This refers to news recently brought by Epaphras to St. Paul at Rome. He had been a minister in St. Paul’s stead; he now, like Timothy afterwards, visited him to give account of his deputed work. YOUR LOVE IN THE SPIRIT. — “In the Spirit” is “in the grace of the Holy Gh... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT CEASE TO PRAY FOR YOU. — Comp. Ephesians 1:16. “To pray” (see Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6) is the general word for “to worship”; “to desire” indicates prayer, properly so called, asking from God what is requisite and necessary for ourselves or for others. THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL. — The... [ Continue Reading ]
(9-12) From thanksgiving St. Paul passes, as always, to pray for them. The prayer is for their full and perfect knowledge of God’s will; but this is emphatically connected with practical “walking” in that will, first by fruitfulness in good work, next by showing themselves strong in Christ to endure... [ Continue Reading ]
WALK WORTHY (_worthily_) OF THE LORD. Here St. Paul begins to dwell on the practical life, much in the same spirit in which, in Ephesians 4:1, he returns from the profound thought of Colossians 2:3 to the entreaty “to walk worthy of the vocation with which they are called.” “The Lord” is here, as us... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS GLORIOUS POWER. — Properly, _the strength of His glory,_ His glory being His manifestation of Himself in love to man. (Comp. Ephesians 3:16, “According to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man.”) On this use of “the glory” of God, frequent in these... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVING THANKS UNTO THE FATHER. — These words naturally follow the words “with joyfulness,” with which, indeed, they may be grammatically connected. But the “thankfulness” here is, as the context shows, the thankfulness of humility, sensible that from the Father’s love we have received all, and can b... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS. — “Delivered” is “rescued,” properly applied to dragging a person out of battle or the jaws of danger. “The power of darkness” (see Luke 22:53) is, of course, the power of evil, permitted (see Luke 4:6) to exist, but in itself a usurped tyranny (as C... [ Continue Reading ]
We enter on this great passage, as is natural, and accordant with St. Paul’s universal practice, through that living and practical truth of our redemption in Christ Jesus, which in the earlier Epistles he had taught as the one thing needful (1 Corinthians 2:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
[2. The Doctrine of Christ. (1) His SALVATION AND REDEMPTION of us all (Colossians 1:13). (2) His NATURE AS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, the creator and sustainer of all things heavenly and earthly (Colossians 1:15). (3) His HEADSHIP OF THE CHURCH (Colossians 1:18). (4) His MEDIATION, reconc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD. — This all important clause needs the most careful examination. We note accordingly (1) that the word “image” (like the word “form,” Philippians 2:6) is used in the New Testament for real and essential embodiment, as distinguished from mere likeness. Thus in Hebrews 1... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY HIM... ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY (_through_) HIM, AND FOR (_to_) HIM. — Carrying out the idea of the preceding clause with accumulated emphasis, St. Paul speaks of all creation as having taken place “by Him,” “through Him,” and “for Him.” Now we note that in Romans 11:36, St. Paul, in a burs... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS. — The words “He is” are both emphatic. He, and He only, is; all else is created. It is impossible not to refer to the “I am” of Eternal existence, as claimed by our Lord for Himself. “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58; comp. also John 1:15). Hence the word “before” should... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS THE HEAD. — “He” is again emphatic. “He who is the image of God, He also is the Head.” (On the title itself, see Ephesians 1:22.) THE BEGINNING. — Chrysostom reads here a kindred word, _the first-fruits._ The reading is no doubt a gloss, but an instructive one. It shows that the reference is... [ Continue Reading ]
(18-20) In these verses St. Paul returns from dwelling on the eternal nature of the Son of God to describe Him in His mediatorial office as Son of Man, becoming the “Head” of all humanity, as called into “His Body, the Church.” In this he touches on a doctrine more fully developed in the Epistle to... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT PLEASED THE FATHER. — (1) The construction is doubtful. There is nothing corresponding to “the Father” in the original. Our rendering involves the supply of the nominative _God, i.e.,_ “the Father,” or _Christ_ to the verb, so that the sentence may run, _the Father_ or _Christ determined of H... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS. — On this verse, where St. Paul returns to the subject of the Atonement, with which he began, comp. Ephesians 2:13, and Notes there. In the Ephesian Epistle the treatment of the subject is fuller, and in one point more comprehensive, viz., in bringin... [ Continue Reading ]
ALIENATED. — Not naturally aliens, but estranged. (See Note on Ephesians 2:12.) BY WICKED WORKS. — Properly, _in your wicked works._ The enmity of heart is not properly caused by wicked works, but shown in them, and probably intensified by reflex action through them.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH. — There seems to be some emphasis on the word “flesh:” just as in the parallel of Ephesians 2:16, the expression is “in one body,” with a characteristic emphasis on the word “one,” suiting the genius of the passage. The meaning is, of course, His natural body, as distinguis... [ Continue Reading ]
IF. — The word, as in Ephesians 3:2; Ephesians 4:21 (where see Notes), conveys a supposition hardly hypothetical — “If, as I presume;” “If, as I trust.” St. Paul cannot refrain from needful warning, but he refuses to anticipate failure. GROUNDED. — _Built on the foundation._ Comp. Ephesians 2:20, “... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO NOW REJOICE. — In the true reading of the original there is no relative pronoun. The sentence starts with emphatic abruptness, “Now (at this moment) I rejoice” (just as in 2 Corinthians 7:9). In all the three Epistles of the Captivity this same rejoicing is declared in himself and urged on his b... [ Continue Reading ]
(24-29) Here (as in Ephesians 3, in the same connection) St. Paul dwells on his own mission to set forth the universal gospel to the Gentiles. In the Ephesian Epistle this declaration is made a direct introduction to practical exhortation (comp. Colossians 4:5; Colossians 4:6); here it leads up to t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREOF I AM MADE (or, _became_) A MINISTER. — Above (in Colossians 1:23) St. Paul describes himself as a “minister of the gospel,” here as a “minister (or, _servant_) of the Church.” Elsewhere he is always the “minister of God” and “of Christ”; here of the Church, as the Body of Christ, and so indi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MYSTERY. — On the Scriptural sense of the word “mystery,” and its relation to the modern use of the word, see Note on Ephesians 1:9. In this passage, perhaps, most of all, it is defined with perfect clearness, as “a secret long hidden, and now revealed.”... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM GOD WOULD — _i.e., God willed._ The expression is emphatic. It was of God’s own pleasure, inscrutable to man. So in Ephesians 1:9, we read “the mystery of His will.” Note also, in Ephesians 1:4, the repeated reference to the predestination of God in His love. THE RICHES OF THE GLORY. — See... [ Continue Reading ]
WARNING EVERY MAN, AND TEACHING. — In “warning” is implied the idea of reproof of folly or sin. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:5.) “Teaching” is simply instruction — including, of course, practical exhortation — of those already warned. PERFECT. — See Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:15,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREUNTO I ALSO LABOUR. — In this verse St. Paul passes from the plural to the singular, evidently in preparation for the strong personal remonstrance of Colossians 2:1. HIS WORKING... — See Ephesians 1:12, and Note there. Perhaps, as in Galatians 2:8 (“He that wrought effectually in Peter to the... [ Continue Reading ]