1After saluting the saints at Colosse, 3Paul testifieth his thankfulness to God for the good account he had heard of their faith and love; 9and his continual prayers for their improvement in spiritual knowledge, right practice, and thanksgiving to God for the benefits of redemption by his Son. 15He sheweth them the exalted nature and mediatorial office of Christ, 21by whom they, who were once enemies, were now reconciled, if they continued true to the gospel, 23whereof he Paul was made a minister to preach it to the Gentiles.
1PAUL, 1an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
1 Of this entire superscription, see the annotations on the other epistles, especially Eph. 1:1, 2.
2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at 2Colosse: Graceabe unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 This was an important city in Phrygia, not far from Hierapolis and Laodicea, as may be seen in Col. 4:13, 16, where the apostle had never been himself, Col. 2:1, although he had different times preached the Gospel in Pamphylia, a region situated not far from there; from which it seems that he has sent Epaphras, and some others that way. See Acts 13:13; 14:24.
a Rom. 1:7; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; 1 Peter 1:2.
33Web give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
3 See of this appellation or designation of God, 1 Cor. 15 on verse 24; Eph. 1 on verse 3.
b Eph. 1:15; Philip. 1:3; 1 Thes. 1:2; 2 Thes. 1:3.
4Since we heard of 4your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
4 That is, the profession of your faith concerning Christ Jesus, to Whom true faith especially has respect, to obtain through Him forgiveness of sins and salvation, Acts 10:43; Rom. 3:24, 25, etc.
5For 5the hope whichc is 6laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before 7in the word of the truth of the gospel;
5 Eternal salvation, which we here hope for, and hereafter shall enjoy in heaven, Rom. 8:24; Eph. 1:18.
c 1 Peter 1:4.
6 That is, is kept safe, as Peter speaks, 1 Peter 1:4, to be received there in due time.
7 Or, through the word, Eph. 1:13.
6Which is come unto you, as it is 8in all the world; andd9bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also 10in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God 11in truth:
8 That is, among all the nations of the world, as is declared hereafter in verse 23. See also Rom. 10:18.
d Mark 4:8; John 15:16.
9 Namely, of true faith, and those who are made suitable for true repentance. See Mat. 3:8; 13:23, also Isa. 55:10.
10 Or, among you. Gr. in you.
11 That is, truly and sincerely, as Acts 10:34, which is understood of the Colossians, who have acknowledged the truth of the Gospel sincerely and without hypocrisy; or, of those who have first preached the same unto them, who have propounded it to them sincerely and without mixing of human doctrines, as he testifies of Epaphras in the next verse.
7As ye also learned of Epaphrase our dear fellowservant, who is 12for you a faithful minister of Christ;
e Col. 4:12; Philemon verse 23.
12 That is, for your good, and for your salvation.
8Who also declared unto us your love 13in the Spirit.
13 Or, through the Spirit, that is, which is wrought in you by the Holy Spirit, and proceeds from a spiritual mind and cause, which the apostle adds to distinguish this love from worldly love, which has its origin from worldly causes. See Rom. 14:17; Eph. 6:18.
9Forf this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not 14cease to pray for you, and to desire thatg ye might be filled with the knowledge of 15his will 16in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
f Eph. 1:15.
14 That is, as often as we pray, to pray for you also.
g 1 Cor. 1:5.
15 That is, God’s will revealed in the Gospel, of which he had spoken in verse 6.
16 These two gifts are thus distinguished, wisdom is properly the comprehending of spiritual mysteries and doctrines revealed unto us in the Gospel, but understanding is the competence to discern rightly the true doctrine of the Gospel from human additions, and to apply the same for edification and comfort, as the apostle hereafter also introduces both these concepts.
10Thath ye might walk 17worthy of the Lord 18unto all pleasing, beingi fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
h Gen. 17:1; 1 Cor. 7:20; Eph. 4:1; Philip. 1:27; 1 Thes. 2:12.
17 That is, even as it becomes those who know, confess and love the Lord. See likewise in Rom. 16:2; Eph. 4:1.
18 That is, that you may please the Lord in all your conduct.
i John 15:16.
11Strengthened 19with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all 20patience and longsuffering 21with joyfulness;
19 That is, with all manner of power, which He imparts unto us in our weakness, to overcome all these our enemies, when we desire that strength of Him in faith. See 1 Cor. 1:27; 2 Cor. 12:9; James 1:5, 17.
20Patience refers to the greatness of the affliction, which it endures patiently; longsuffering the long continuance of the same, whereby it faints not under the same, nor revenges itself, though this be sometimes in its power. See Isa. 30:15; Lament. 3:25.
21 Not for the afflictions themselves, which procure grief and wring forth tears, even from the faithful, John 16:20, but for the consolations which they feel therein, and the fruits and rewards which they obtain thereby. See Mat. 5:12; Acts 5:41; Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 1:5, etc.
1222Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us 23meetj to be 24partakers of the inheritance of the saints 25in light:
22 Namely, we, of which he has spoken previously in the 9th verse. The apostle begins here the second part of this epistle, consisting in the proposition of the doctrine of salvation and in the confutation of the contrary errors.
23 Namely, by His Word and Spirit.
j suitable, fit*
24 Or, to have part in the lot, that is, in the inheritance of the saints, as Acts 26:18.
25 That is, in the Kingdom of His grace and glory, which is called light, by reason of the true knowledge of God, which reigns therein; and by reason of the eternal glory and clarity in heaven, which follows thereupon, opposed to the kingdom of darkness, spoken of in the following verse.
13Whok hath delivered us from 26the power of darkness, and hath translatedlus into the kingdom 27ofm his dear Son:
k Eph. 2:4; 1 Thes. 2:12.
26 Of sin and of eternal death, the power over which is ascribed to Satan, Heb. 2:14, as the prince of darkness, Eph. 6:12, because he, by deception and ignorance of God and His will, reigns over unbelieving persons, 2 Cor. 4:3, 4, and brings them thus unto eternal death in eternal darkness, Mat. 8:12; 2 Peter 2:17; Jude verse 6.
l transfer, take up to heaven.
27 That is, of His well-beloved Son, Mat. 3:17; 17:5; an Hebraism, as in Psalm 15:1 Mount Sion is called the Mountain of His holiness, that is, His holy hill.
m Mat. 3:17; 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17.
1428In whom we have 29redemption throughn his blood, even 30the forgiveness of sins:
28 Namely, the Son of His love, that is, Christ Jesus, Whose Person he describes afterwards.
29 Gr. setting free, or, release by a ransom. See also Eph. 1:7.
n Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19.
30 Here this redemption, which we have in Christ Jesus, is explained further, and forgiveness of sins is here only expressed, as also Luke 1:77, not because we have not more by the redemption of Christ, but because this is the first part of our redemption, and the ground whereupon the right and title to eternal life and sanctification, and withal the earnest of the Holy Spirit necessarily follow, as the apostle everywhere else declares, especially Eph. 1:7, etc., of which this epistle is a compendium. See also Gal. 3:12, etc.
15Whoo is 31the image 32of the invisible God, thep33firstborn of every creature:
o 2 Cor. 4:4; Philip. 2:6; Heb. 1:3.
31Christ is here thus called in respect of His eternal generation of the Father, because He is the express and eternal Image of the Person of the Father, of one Essence with the Father, Prov. 8:22; Micah 5:1; John 10:30; Heb. 1:3, as well as also in respect that He, being become Man, God in Him and by Him, does, as it were, represent before our eyes His own attributes, namely, His wisdom, goodness, righteousness and omnipotence. See John 14:9; 1 Tim. 3:16.
32 Namely, of the Father, Who is therefore called invisible, because His Essence is invisible, 1 Tim. 6:16, and because He has not manifested Himself before the eyes of men, while the Son has done this in the human nature which He assumed. See John 1:18, 33.
p Rev. 3:14.
33 He does not say the first created, but firstborn, which must be understood of His Divine nature, and eternal regeneration of the Father before all creatures, and of His excellence above all creatures, as is noted on the word image, and more plainly appears in John 1:1, compared with verse 14, the rather, because He is here called the firstborn, not among many brethren, as Rom. 8:29, but of every creature, whereby He is notably distinguished from all creatures, and consequently is brought in, not as a creature, but as the Creator of all things, as is declared in more detail in the following verse.
16Forq34by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be 35thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and 36for him:
q Gen. 1:3; Psalm 33:6; John 1:3; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2.
34 Gr. in Him, that is, through Him as a Co-worker with the Father, as is declared at the end of this verse. See also John 1:3 and 5:19.
35 These names are here given to the angels in heaven, because God oftentimes uses them as kings (to whom thrones properly belong) princes, authorities and potentates, for the governing of countries and kingdoms, as may be seen in Daniel, Zechariah and the other prophets. See also Eph. 1:21; 3:10.
36 That is, for His sake, in order that He might be an Heir and Lord even of them all. See Heb. 1:2. Or, for His honor, as unto the honor of the Father and the Holy Spirit. See John 5:23; Rom. 11:36.
17And he is 37before all things, and by him all things 38consist.
37 That is, before anything was created, as Prov. 8:22; John 17:5.
38 That is, all creatures, that are made, are preserved by Him in essence, life and motion. See John 5:17; Heb. 1:3, etc., by which is all proved the eternal Godhead of the Son, and consequently the unity of His Essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit; seeing there is but one only God, Who has created and does preserve heaven and earth. See 1 John 5:7.
18Andr he is 39the head of the body, the church: who is 40the beginning, thes41firstborn from the dead; that 42in all things he might have the preeminence.
r Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23.
39 Since in the previous verse he spoke of the excellence of the Person of Christ, as the eternal Son of God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, he now proves also the excellence of His Person above all His elect members, in regard that He as God and Man became a Mediator between God and men; whereof the first is, that He is the spiritual Head of the congregation, which is His spiritual body, which, by His merits and Spirit, receives all spiritual life and salvation from Him. Whereof see in detail, Eph. 1:22; 4:15, 16.
40 That is, the Firstfruits from the dead, as Paul calls Him in 1 Cor. 15:20, and Christ is thus called, not only because He is the One, Who arose by His own power, and through Whose power all others did, and hereafter shall arise, but also because He is the First Who arose unto eternal glory, that He might raise up all His faithful ones with Him unto the same glory hereafter. See 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thes. 4:14, etc.
s 1 Cor. 15:20; Rev. 1:5.
41 That is, the Firstborn amongst them who shall arise from the dead unto eternal glory, whereby as also by the word beginning is given to understand, not only that He is the First in order, and the Cause of the resurrection of others, but moreover also that He shall far excel in glory above others, even according to His human nature, as the firstborn in the Old Testament were set above all their brethren, which the following words that in all things he might, etc. do also remarkably imply.
42 Or, among all, namely, His brethren.
19For it pleased 43the Father that int him should 44all fulness dwell;
43 That is, God of His Father, of Whom he also speaks in the following verses. See 2 Cor. 5:18.
t John 1:14, 16; Col. 2:9.
44 Namely, of all spiritual gifts and glory. Namely, not only to possess the same for Himself, but also to impart the same to all members according to the measure of His gifts. See John 1:14, 16; 3:34, 35; Eph. 4:7, etc.
20And,u having made peacev45through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things 46in earth, or things in heaven.
u 2 Cor. 5:18; 1 John 4:10.
v Isa. 9:7; John 16:33; Acts 10:36; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14.
45 That is, through His bloody sacrifice once accomplished on the cross, Heb. 10:10, etc.
46 See the exposition of this place in the annotation at Eph. 1 on verse 10.
21And 47you, that were 48sometimew alienated and 49enemies in your mind by 50wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
47 Namely, the believers from among the Gentiles.
48 Namely, before you were converted unto Christ. See Eph. 2:12, etc.
w formerly, at one time, once*
49 That is, hating God, and hated of God. See John 15:25; Rom. 1:30; 5:10; James 4:4.
50 That is, which always keep itself busy in evil, Gen. 6:5.
2251In the body of his flesh through death, tox present you holy and unblameable and 52unreproveable in his sight:
51 That is, in His body, consisting of flesh and blood, and like unto us in all infirmities, sin excepted, Heb. 2:14, which title the apostle adds, that he might distinguish His body, which He gave up to death for us, from the spiritual body of His congregation, whereof he spoke a little before, and also from His glorified body, wherewith He triumphs in heaven, and which is no more subject to any weakness or mortality, Rom. 6:9, 10.
x Luke 1:75; Eph. 1:4; 5:27; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 2:12.
52 Namely, because the righteousness of Christ is imputed unto us by faith, and all our faults are covered by His blood and intercession, Rom. 8:33, 34, and we, being regenerated by God’s Spirit, shall also hereafter be freed from all the remainders of sin; Eph. 5:26, 27.
23Ify ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from 53the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to 54every creature which is under heaven; 55whereof I Paul am made a minister;
y John 15:6.
53 That is, the hope of eternal salvation, which is promised to believers through the Gospel.
54 That is, all nations or sorts of people in the world, as Christ declares in Mat. 28:19, and Mark also speaks in Mark 16:15.
55 Namely, the Gospel among all nations.
24Whoz now rejoice in my 56sufferings foraa you, and fill up that which is 57behind 58of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh forab59his body’s sake, which is the church:
z 2 Cor. 7:4.
56 That is, to strengthen you by my example in the truth received. See 2 Cor. 12:15; 2 Tim. 2:10.
aa Eph. 3:13; Philip. 2:17; 2 Tim. 2:10.
57 Or, that which is wanted. This is not to be understood of the suffering of Christ for our sins, as if there would be anything lacking thereof for our redemption; for, that is complete and perfect in all parts, so that there is nothing wanting thereof, Col. 1:20; Heb. 10:14; 1 John 1:7; 2:2, but of the suffering that is laid upon His members, for His sake. See 2 Cor. 1:5; Heb. 11.26.
58 That is, which, either Christ suffers in His members, Acts 9:4; 2 Cor. 1:5, or the faithful suffer for Christ’s cause, 2 Cor. 4:10; Heb. 11:26.
ab Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:12; 5:23.
59 That is, for confirmation and edification of His congregation, as He said before for you.
25Whereof I am made a minister, according to 60the dispensationac of God whichad is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
60 That is, according as He has imparted this His charge and these His gifts unto me as lord over his house. See the exposition of this word in Eph. 1:10.
ac administration, stewardship, distribution
ad Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:9; 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:10; Titus 1:3; 1 Peter 1:20.
26Even the mystery 61which hath been hid from ages and from generations, butae now is made manifest to his saints:
61 See the exposition hereof in the annotations on Eph. 3:5, etc.
ae Mat. 13:11.
27Toaf whom God would make known what is 62the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; 63which 64is Christ in you, 65theag hope of glory:
af 2 Cor. 2:14.
62 That is, the abundance and glory; or, the glorious abundance.
63 Namely, riches of glory.
64 For in Him are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge of God, as he speak hereafter in Col. 2:3. He therefore who has Christ dwelling in him by faith, has all things with Him, Rom. 8:32.
65 That is, in Whom, and by Whom we receive the hope of eternal glory.
ag 1 Tim. 1:1.
28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man 66in all wisdom; that we may present 67every man 68perfect in Christ Jesus:
66 Namely, necessary unto salvation. See Acts 20:27; 2 Tim. 3:15.
67 Namely, whoever he be, whether Jew or Gentile.
68 That is, teach to place and to seek his perfection in Christ alone; or, in the faith and doctrine of Christ. See Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16.
29Whereunto I also labour, 69striving 70according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
69 A similitude taken from those who strive or fight for a prize, and who use all the energy which they have to be victorious.
70 That is, according to the measure of His working, which is not idle in us. See 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Tim. 1:6, 7.