Colossians Commentary

Printed by Colonial Press Charlottesville, VA 22906

Copyright © 2005 Fellowship Tract League All rights reserved

The Fellowship Tract League is a nonprofit organization recognized for tax-deductable giving by the federal government. Printed in the USA The Book Division of the Fellowship Tract League publishes material that we believe to be doctrinally sound. However, Fellowship Tract League and Colonial Press may not necessarily endorse every position of the authors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

i

A Simple Commentary From An Unworthy Christian

ii

Introduction

iii

Chapter One

1

Chapter Two

31

Chapter Three

48



PREFACE

On one occasion when reading through the Book of Colossians, I was so impressed that I read through the book one hundred times in the next thirty days. It was during this time I became deeply impressed with the deep and rich spiritual truths presented in the book. The great doctrines of Colossians are presented against the background of Gnosticism, and intellectualism, that challenged direct creation and the incarnation of the Son of God. Because Paul was writing against this background, and to refute the heresy of Gnosticism, it drew from his brilliant mind the greatest presentation of Bible doctrine found anywhere in his writings. All of this made me aware of the fact that this book is not only good for the teaching of the doctrines herein contained, but a close exegesis would discover a wealth of doctrinal psychological counseling for believers. Since Paul is trying to correct the thinking of the Colossians, he has also left a work of Inspiration that the Holy Spirit designed to use as counseling material for the believers who would follow. Therefore, my aim is not only to present the doctrinal truths that make up our creed, but also, to look at the truth determined to counsel believers as to the right kind of walk in this world. I desire to offer personal counsel for the needy, as they need it in a world filled with traps set by Satan to ruin the Christian’s testimony and to neutralize the effects of the preaching of the gospel. I would like to give credit to those almost too numerous to name who have been an influence in my life. Many of the lessons that I have learned from others were in simple conversation and would be difficult to give personal credit. I thank God for my many friends who have encouraged me along the way. I also thank the Lord for the critics who challenged what I believe. It sent me back to the BOOK to reassure my own heart that I was not misrepresenting the truth as I understand it. It is my goal in this simple commentary to be an encouragement to those into whose hands it falls and a help to them in communicating God’s Word. I also am deeply indebted to Dr. Wash Pennington and the Fellowship Tract League and their willingness to print this commentary so that it can get into the hands of preachers and missionaries at no cost. We believe truth is not for sale. It is a joy for Dr. Wash Pennington and myself to get some Scriptural material into the hands of hungry and needy pastors and missionaries.

By Dr. Earl White

i

A SIMPLE COMMENTARY FROM AN UNWORTHY CHRISTIAN

This commentary uses only the King James Text and The Textus Receptus from which the King James was translated. It is my firm conviction that a translation can be no better than the text from which it is translated. It is a fact that all the new translations are translated from corrupt texts (called the most ancient texts) but though the texts were older they were copied by men who did not believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures, thus their copies were corrupted and therefore unreliable. I send this forth as a help to like-minded Christians, and make no apologies for the King James Bible. I believe God has preserved His Word for the English speaking people in this translation. For those who wish to make a scholarly and unbiased study of the Textus Receptus and how it came to be used by the King James 1611 translators and why the so-called most ancient texts are used by all the modern translations to correct the King James Bible, I recommend David Otis Fuller’s book, Which Bible. He does not attempt to change you from a modern text by intimidation but by simply presenting the facts.

By Dr. Earl White, PhD, D.D. Mlb.

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INTRODUCTION This is an epistle of Paul written from his Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30-31; Col. 4: 3,10,18) about A.D. 60. Wuest quotes Bishop J. B. Lightfoot as saying of this Epistle: “The doctrine of the Person of Christ is here stated with greater precision and fullness than in any other of St. Paul’s Epistles. The reason for this is that the Colossian heresy in its attack upon the Person of the Lord Jesus made it imperative that the great Apostle meet it with precision and fulness in doctrine regarding His Person as would successfully cope with the false teaching of this system. In order to understand the full implications of the truth in Colossians, the student must first acquaint himself with the heresy that Paul is combating. The heresy is that of Gnosticism. The word gnostic comes from a Greek word gnosis which means knowledge. It is the name designation of an intellectual group who set themselves up above all others as possessing superior knowledge. This school of thought was concerned with two questions: 1. How can the word of creation be explained? 2. How are we to account for the existence of evil? These two questions posed the problem of how can one explain the fact of a Holy God as Creator and a universe in which there is sin? The Gnostic says a Holy God could not create a universe in which there is sin; otherwise God would be the Author of sin. The Gnostic put forth the theory of some antagonistic principle by which God’s creative energy was thwarted and limited. The opposing principle of evil he thought to be the world of matter. Therefore, evil is seen by him to be residing in the material universe. The Gnostic then asks the questions: How then is creation possible? How can God act on matter? He answers his own question in the following way: 1. God must have limited Himself in some way in the act of creation. 2. There must have been some evolution, some influence from God. There was a germination of God. This first germination evolved a second, and the second a third, until through this process there was an emanation far enough away from Deity to contact matter. This is where creation took place according to the Gnostic. Thus, the gap between a Holy Creator-God and matter, which, according to the Gnostic is evil, is bridged by these emanations from God that are far removed from a Deity who is holy, that matter could be created which is inherently evil, and this act of creation could not be attributed to a holy God. In this way, the Gnostic brushes aside the intermediate agent in creation, the Lord Jesus; John 1:3, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made,” and the fact that God put a curse upon the perfect iii

creation because of sin; Romans 8:20, “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.” There are two opposing views of Gnosticism: 1. A rigid asceticism. All contact with matter should be reduced to a minimum. Thus, the material part of man should be subdued and mortified. One should live on a spare diet and abstain from marriage. The edible flesh of animals was forbidden. Colossians 2:20-23, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” The anointing of the body with olive oil, so necessary in hot climates, was prohibited. 2. An unrestrained license. These argued that matter is everywhere. People cannot escape contact with it; therefore, they would cultivate an entire indifference to the world of sense. They should not give matter any thought one way or the other, but just follow their own impulses. The true rule of life is to treat matter as foreign or alien to one, and as something toward which they have no duties or obligations and can choose to use or not use. This philosophy led to unbridled license. The way Gnosticism entered the church was through a sect of the Jews called the Essenes. The Essene was a mystic and a member of the brotherhood. The characteristic feature of Essenism was mystic speculation involving rigid asceticism. Some of their beliefs were: 1. A strict observance of the Mosaic ritual. They would not so much as light a fire on the Sabbath. 2. Marriage to them was an abomination. To keep their group going, they adopted children. 3. They drank no wine nor ate animal food. They lived on bread and vegetables. 4. They refused to anoint their bodies with olive oil. In hot climates this is almost a necessity to life. 5. They were sun worshipers. At daybreak they would address certain prayers to the sun as if entreating it to rise. 6. They did not believe in the resurrection of the body. They taught that the soul-life would continue on after death. This is in line with their teaching that matter is evil. 7. They rejected the blood sacrifices of Judaism. Instead, they sent bloodless offerings to the Temple as gifts. 8. They placed angels in the line of beings that should be worshipped. 9. They had secret doctrines. These were in the possession of the excluiv

sive few and they refused to tell except to members of their own order. These false doctrines and practices had entered the Church at Colosse. Paul’s letter to this church was designed to combat them. One of the teachings was that a select few had a monopoly in superior wisdom. The Apostle meets this by: 1. Contending for the universality of the gospel message. 2. By presenting the fact that every believer will be presented perfect in Christ; Colossians 1:28, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” 3. The word perfect was the term applied by the Gnostics to members of the exclusive group which possessed the superior wisdom. 4. The Gnostics made much of wisdom, sophis, intelligence, sunesis, and knowledge, epignosis. Paul takes up the language of the Gnostics and translates it to the higher spheres of Christian thought. Against the false wisdom of the Gnostics, the Apostle sets before them the true wisdom of the gospel. 5. The initiatory rites of these Gnostics in which certain were inducted into their order, were secret mysteries. Paul sets over against these the fact that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in that comprehensive mystery, the knowledge of God in Christ; Colossians 1:26, “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” Paul also had to combat the Gnostic teaching of successive emanations from deity, the angelic mediators who were responsible for the act of creation, and for the headship of the spiritual creation, which took the place of the Lord Jesus as Creator of the universe and Head of the Church. He meets this in Colossians 1:15-18, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

v

sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” This does away with the theory that the other apostles, and there were several, held the same office as the Twelve. The Lord Jesus has definite plans for the Twelve. The Future for the Twelve Apostles is to sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The words, Of Jesus Christ, refer to Paul as being an apostle belonging to Jesus Christ, and representing Him. Paul’s calling finds its source in Jesus Christ. Man had nothing to do with Saul becoming an Apostle. He was chosen by the Lord and personally trained. Not so with Matthias. He was elected to take Judas’ place. It was done by the apostles through prayer and the guidance of the Lord. The apostles were called the eleven after the death of Judas. Acts 1:26 says, “And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Then the disciples were called the twelve again before Saul was even saved. Acts 6:2, “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” You say, “Who was Paul then?” He was an apostle like the rest but did not have the office. Paul, in speaking of the resurrection of Christ, identifies those who saw Jesus Christ alive after the resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:58, “And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” I do not find thirteen thrones on which thirteen Apostles sit judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Paul mentions the twelve in this passage and then mentions himself separately. The words, by the will of God, authenticate his call to the apostleship. Romans 11:13,

CHAPTER 1 Colossians 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,” Paul always begins his Epistles by identifying himself. I understand that the letters then written were on a scroll and it made it convenient to know who was writing before you got to the end of the letter. The Lexicon says, “Paul or Paulus = small or little. Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 14 Pauline epistles .” Paul means “little” and identifies the author of the epistle. Timothy is also mentioned in this verse as an associate of Paul at the time of the writing. The word Apostle means, “one sent forth with a commission.” This word is also used of the Lord Jesus to describe His relation to God; Hebrews 3:1 says, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” It came to refer to a special office with gifts and authority. The office of Apostle was classified as one of the gifted men to the Church. There are gifted men and Spiritual gifts. They are not the same. This is brought out in 1 Corinthians 12:28, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” The Apostles were gifted men especially gifted for the work of the ministry. The original Apostles filled an office which will be carried over into the millennial age. Matthew 19:27, 28, “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall 

Commentary on Colossians “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” The preacher is one with a divine call. God continues to call men to give their lives in the ministry of the Gospel. The ministry is not a vocation that one can choose. I am sure that many have and are doing this but they are not God-called. The calling is necessary if one is to represent Jesus in preaching the gospel.

Colossians 1:2, “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul addresses this epistle, To the saints... Vine says, “In the plural, as used of believers, it designates all such and is not applied merely to persons of exceptional holiness, or to those who, having died, were characterized by excep-

PAUL’S CALL TO PREACH • He was saved and called on the road to Damascus; Acts 9:15, “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: • It was a grace calling; Galatians 1:15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,” • He was taught by the Lord after his salvation; Galatians 1:11,12,17, “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I

taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ . . . Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.” Many believe that the time Paul spent in Arabia was a time of teaching personally by the Lord just as He had taught the twelve. • His call involved suffering; Acts 9:16, “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Paul’s call was of divine origin and his purpose was to preach the gospel to the nations, it would be accompanied by intense suffering which would end in martyrdom.

When it came time for Paul to die a martyr’s death, and pass through skies, and through the gates of the New Jerusalem, he had no apology to make for his ministry. He had given it his best; and in doing so, left us all an example to follow in his steps. When we finish our course, let us not act like it is dying, let us act like it is the most glorious thing that has ever happened to us. It is a graduation. From the death bed to the streets of gold cannot be improved upon. The angels still carry the saved dead like they did in the case of Lazarus. Why do the angels do this? Because we go through enemy territory when we go from earth to heaven.

• He finished the work God called him to do and died victoriously; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” There is not the slightest complaint as he pens these words, “I am now ready to be offered . . .”

tional acts of saintliness.” It refers to the saved in Colosse. The mixed up carnal Christians at Corinth are called saints, i.e., our present text. Then he addresses this epistle to faithful brethren. “Faithful” means to be trusted, reliable. “Brethren” refers to the brotherhood of Christianity. All the saved are in the same family even though they may be divided by doctrinal interpretations. I heard Dr. Bob Jones Sr., the founder of Bob Jones University say, “It is not wrong to walk on the right road with a man as far as you can. It is wrong to walk any distance with any man on the wrong road.”



Chapter One

THE DOCTRINE OF POSITIONAL TRUTH 1. Every person in the world has a position, either in Christ or in Adam; 1 Corinthians 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 2. The result of being in Christ is life; all men by natural birth are in Adam, and this is eternal death if one does not accept God’s gift of salvation through Christ. 3. The Characteristics of our position in Christ. • Being in Christ does not cause some kind of emotional experience. It is what happens to all when they are saved; 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This happens suddenly and permanently when one receives Christ as personal Saviour.

perfectly and eternally and it can never be changed by any action on our part, and He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Are there other Scriptures that substantiate this interpretation? Jude 1:24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” What God has done is perfect and cannot be improved on. One can grow in grace after salvation, but he cannot add to his salvation because it is perfect and perfection has arrived. • It is not related to human merit. No works are involved is this. It is a gift of God’s grace to the guilty whose sins are forgiven and he receives in the place of the forgiveness of sin, God’s perfect righteousness imputed to his account. Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” Romans 5:17, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ)”

• It is not progressive; it cannot be improved on; Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” This verse is definitely positional truth that applies to every saved person. The offering of Christ is the instrument of THIS sanctification. See 10:10. The words, He hath perfected forever, The word perfected translates “teleioo” and is a perfect active indicative verb. The perfect tense is completed action in the past, that completed action having present result. In other words, what God did in the past remains true in the present. What He did in the past He did it • It is known only by divine revela-



tion found in God’s Word. 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” • Positional is eternal in its nature; Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Eternal life is not to be received after death or at some future judgment. Eternal life is experienced right now on this earth the moment we trust Christ as personal Saviour; John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” • Positional truth is obtained completely at the moment of salvation; Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Commentary on Colossians The words, In Christ, refer to positional truth. All the saved are in Christ. Being in Christ has nothing to do with faithfulness or church affiliation. Paul says, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” He identifies the only source of grace and peace. It is to our tremendous advantage that God does not only save us by His grace but deals with us by grace. Grace is eternal and irrevocable. People are seeking peace in every direction and from every source and are not finding it. Jesus is our peace. He is our only source. Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Peace on the experiential level is soul harmony. The properties of the soul are mind, emotion, and will. God is the only one that can bring harmony in this area. Satan, along with worldly circumstances, is constantly being upset. But when we allow the Lord to move in, the peace of God is complete calm.

is, “the Lord found us.” And this is something to be thankful for. Second, he is praying for them individually and for the Church as a whole. The Gnostics were after this church with their false doctrine. The word always means that the Colossians were continually on his mind and, as a result, He prayed for them. Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Paul practiced what he preached. He was a man given to prayer. In all probability, the church at Colosse survived in those early days because of the prayers of Paul and others who did not think that the time they spent on their knees was wasted.

Colossians 1:4, “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,” Here Paul gives the motivating factor in his prayers in their behalf. There are two things: Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, The words, since we heard, translate akouo and mean, “to understand, perceive the sense of what is said.” The verb form is an aorist active participle. It could be translated “having heard.” Paul had been correctly informed about the Church at Colosse and what he had heard caused him to be both thankful and cautious. He is thankful for their faith and caution knowing the damage the Gnostics could do to divide the body and neutralize its effectiveness. Faith is that by which the sinner is justified (Rom. 5:1), and without it, it is impossible to please God (Heb.11:6). It is the principle by which Christians live (Rom. 1:17). The words, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, are a cause for the Apostle’s rejoicing. Love literally permeated the early churches. On occasion love throws its arms out to embrace a man who claims to be a brother, when in reality he is an apostle of Satan. We must love with a cautious love. Satan has his

Colossians 1:3, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,” The words, We give thanks to God, mean that this salutation includes those who were with Paul at the time. There are two reasons for which Paul is thankful: First, he is thanking God for their salvation. Christians are constantly thanking Him for their salvation. We know that if it were not for God, we would never be saved. As Jonah said, “Salvation is of the Lord.” Every time we go to church to meet in the fellowship of the saints, we are reminded of where we were when God found us. I have heard a lot of people say, “I found the Lord,” when the truth of the matter 

Chapter One workers everywhere. 2 Corinthians 11:12-14, “But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” There is a great lesson to be learned here. They were not wrong in their love for all the saints. The only place they could be challenged was the possibility of gullibility where they allowed someone to come in and teach things before they saw that false doctrine was being taught. Paul warned the Ephesian elders of this. Acts 20:28-31, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves

enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” It is hard to strike a balance between receiving a brother or sister in love and at the same time watching the flock so that those who slip in spreading their false doctrines can be exposed and expelled from the fellowship.

Colossians 1:5, “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;” The words, For the hope, are used in the sense of “because of the hope.” The hope of reward has been an incentive to the Colossians in their faith in the Lord Jesus, and their love to the saints, encouraging both and causing both to make progress and grow more intense.

THE DOCTRINE OF HOPE • The definition of hope is the joyful anticipation of a reality. Hope in the New Testament is not a weak word.

my flesh shall rest in hope:”

• Hope is something in which a Christian can rejoice; Romans 5:2, “By whom also we have access • Hope that is seen is not hope. by faith into this grace wherein It is used as a synonym to faith we stand, and rejoice in hope of in Romans 8:24,25, “For we are the glory of God.” saved by hope: but hope that is • The Second Coming is called seen is not hope: for what a man the blessed hope; Titus 2:13, seeth, why doth he yet hope for? “Looking for that blessed hope, But if we hope for that we see and the glorious appearing of not, then do we with patience the great God and our Saviour wait for it.” Jesus Christ;”

• Hope is something for which we • Every believer should be able wait with patience; Rom. 8:24. to give a reason for the hope he • It is said that Christ rested in has; 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the hope of the resurrection during Lord God in your hearts: and be His three days and three nights in ready always to give an answer the grave; Acts 2:26 says, “There- to every man that asketh you a fore did my heart rejoice, and my reason of the hope that is in you tongue was glad; moreover also with meekness and fear:” 

• A person who has hope in the promises of Scripture will never be ashamed; Romans 5:5, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” • It is the Scripture that gives hope; Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” • Jesus is the only hope of heaven; Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Commentary on Colossians The words, Which is laid up for you in heaven, specify where the Christian hope is. Paul says, “Which is laid up,” and is the translation of apokeimai and means, “to be laid away, laid by, reserved.” The verb is present tense which means that it was in heaven awaiting them when this was written. The hope which every believer has is already set aside for him. The words, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, mean that their hope was not established through the law, or ordinances, or good works. It was established through the preaching of the gospel. The gospel is the answer for man’s separation from God. The believer is reconciled to God through believing the gospel. The words, In the word of the truth of the gospel, give faith’s resting place. Their hope was not established through law or ordinances or good works. It was established through the preaching of the gospel. The word truth is also associated with the gospel. There are false gospels (2 Cor. 11:4). He also mentions a perverted gospel (Gal. 1:7).

I believe the early church got the gospel to the known world in their day. I doubt if the church has done that in any time period since. The words, bringeth forth fruit, are a present middle participle. The middle voice means that it brought forth fruit of itself. The gospel has built in power. Paul said in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The words, to the Jew first, are historically not in priority. There is no special race that has a claim on the gospel more than another. The words, As it doth also in you, is Paul’s message to the Jew and Gentile. The gospel worked in the lives of the Colossians, and it does the same no matter where you go in this world. The words, Since the day ye heard of it, mean the gospel was confirmed in the Colossians from the very day they heard it. The effect of the gospel on the believing heart is instantaneous. The starting point is salvation. Salvation is not the fruit; it is the origin of the fruit. The word, knew, translates epignosko, meaning, “to know fully.” This is also an aorist tense. The aorist tense represents a point of time divorced from time and perpetuated forever. A. T. Robertson said, “They fully apprehended the grace of God and should be immune to the shallow vagaries of the Gnostics.” The words, the grace of God in truth, mean “a correct understanding of the grace of God.” Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is something that man cannot add to or help. It is not a reward for faithful service. It is God’s free gift of salvation because of the cross. Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Grace is perverted, neutralized, and robbed of its saving power when anything is added to the Biblical definition. Paul fought those Jews

Colossians 1:6, “Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:” The words, which is come unto you, are present tense. This is the continuous present, i.e., it keeps on coming to you. Wuest says, “The Greek idea is ‘which is walking along side you.’” The idea is that the gospel has snuggled close up to the Colossian saints and they have taken it into their hearts. The words, as it is in all the world, set forth the gospel as a worldwide message. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This refers to the inhabited earth. It is hard for some to take Paul literally. However, 

Chapter One who tried to add to the gospel in the Book of Galatians. Paul said in Galatians 1:6-9, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” The gospel is clearly defined in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that

he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” We have here the definition of the gospel. When something is added to this definition, it renders it a perverted gospel that will not save. The Colossians had learned the difference between the gospel as it is in truth and the gospel that is not in truth. The gospel did not originate with man, it originated with God. It is God’s plan to save anyone who will repent and believe the truth that Jesus died for him on the cross, was buried, and was raised the third day. It cannot be added to or taken from, and it will effect salvation in the one who does it.

Colossians 1:7, “As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;” As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant. Epaphras was then with Paul, Philemon 1:23. “He had probably been sent to him by the church at Colosse to consult him

THE DOCTRINE OF A BONDSLAVE • He had no will of his own; Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” • He had no belongings of his own; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” • He had no program of his own; Matthew 28:19,20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them

to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” • He had no cares of his own; 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Matthew 6:25-34, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; 

they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Commentary on Colossians in reference to some matters pertaining to the church there. It is evident from this, that Epaphras was a minister of the church at Colosse. The apostle here says, that they had learned from Epaphras the true nature of the gospel; and he designs undoubtedly to confirm what he had taught them, in opposition to the teachings of errorists.” — Barnes Notes. Paul commends Epaphras and calls him our dear fellowservant, and with this comment he acknowledges the help Epaphras is to him. Then Paul adds, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ. Unger’s Bible Dictionary makes the following comment about Epaphras, “an eminent teacher in the Church at Colosse denominated by Paul ‘his dear fellow-servant’ and a faithful minister of Christ; Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” There is no greater recommendation that one could have than to have one like Paul make a statement like this about you. The martyrologies make Epaphras to have been the first bishop of Colosse and to have suffered martyrdom there. The word fellowservant is literally fellowslave sundoulou. The words who is for you, or, on behalf of you, Paul is saying that Colosse is being well represented in the person of Epaphras.

Colossians 1:9, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” The words For this cause give the reason for Paul’s prayer for them. The words, since the day we heard it, state when he began to pray in earnest for them and why. The words, do not cease to pray for you, Matthew Henry says, “The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power. The special use of this strength was for sufferings. There is work to be done, even when we are suffering. Amidst all their trials they gave thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, whose special grace fitted them to partake of the inheritance provided for the saints. To bring about this change, those were made willing subjects of Christ, who were slaves of Satan. All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared for heaven now. Those who have the inheritance of sons, have the education of sons, and the disposition of sons. By faith in Christ they enjoyed this redemption, as the purchase of his atoning blood, whereby forgiveness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings were bestowed. Surely then we shall deem it a favor to be delivered from Satan’s kingdom and brought into that of Christ, knowing that all trials will soon end, and that every believer will be found among those who come out of great tribulation.” Then Paul gives the reason for his prayers in their behalf: that ye might be filled with

Colossians 1:8, “Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.” The word declared translates deloō and is an aorist active participle which means, “to make manifest.” The Church at Colosse wanted to express their love for Paul. The words, your love in the Spirit, had to be a great moral booster for the apostle since he was writing this from prison. Paul says that this is the love wrought in you by the Holy Spirit. It was not mere natural affection, but love wrought in their hearts by the agency of the Holy Ghost. 

Chapter One the knowledge of His will. The words that ye might be filled translate pleroo and mean, “to make full, to fill up completely, i.e. to fill to the full.” This is a basic truth and the life of faith cannot be successful unless we are filled with the knowledge of His will. The more we know His will, the less likely are we to be deceived by the apostles of Satan. 2 Corinthians 11:13 says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” The words, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, have to do with the application of truth in one’s life. The word wisdom here translates sophia and means, “broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters.” The word spiritual translates pneumatikos and is applied to one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God.” The word understanding translates sunesis and means, “a running together, a flowing together with.” Paul is praying for their spiritual growth. He desires them to have the ability to interpret truth and apply it with clearness of understanding.

of their Lord. That is, He is to be their example in life and the copy must be like the example. The words, unto all pleasing, speak of a desire to please. The first step in pleasing God is to walk by faith. Hebrews 11:56, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” This is not something that comes easy for the natural man. The next step is to please those around us. 1 Peter 2:12-15, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:” The words, being fruitful in every good work, speak of spiritual health and that which grows out of a healthy plant. There is no crop failure with the Lord. He has planted us in this world and fruit will issue forth from this relationship. The words, and increasing in the knowledge of God, speak of growth. The word knowledge translates epignosis and means, “precise and correct knowledge.” Our growth in the knowledge of Him should never stop. Ephesians 4:11-13, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a per-

Colossians 1:10, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” The words, That ye might walk worthy of the Lord, state the result of that which is stated in verse 9. Paul prays that their knowledge of Christ might issue forth in a walk that is consistent with His teaching. The worthy walk is a walk of faith in Him. John Gill says, “the apostle prays that their knowledge might issue in practice; for knowledge, without practice, is of no avail: he first asks for knowledge, and then practice, for how should men act according to the will of God, or Christ, unless they know it? And when they know it, they should not rest in their knowledge, but put it in practice.” The saints are to see to it that their manner of life, their conduct weighs as much as the character 

Commentary on Colossians fect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

the presence and grace of Christ, is very heavy, and all afflictions and adversities of every sort, which are grievous to the flesh, and at which it recoils. God’s expectations come with His supply and power. The words, according to his glorious power, set forth His omnipotence. This is unlimited power. We observe daily His glorious power when we observe the green grass in the spring and the stars and constellations by night. Not only do we see His power in the creation but also His power over disease. He had power over death. Mark 5:35-42, “While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.” I have conducted many sad funerals over 48 years of ministry. I have watched a grieving family pass by to get one more glimpse of their dead loved one. I have heard them talk to the dead telling them how much they loved them and miss them. But I have never seen a corpse talk back. When Jesus addressed the dead, death lost it grip and had to step back in the presence of the Resurrection and wait another day.

Colossians 1:11, “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” The words, strengthened with all might, translate dunamoo, and the word might translates the same Greek verb. It could be translated, “in all might being made mighty according to the power of His glory.” This speaks of omnipotence. The word infinite describes a condition that is without boundaries. This is where faith must be the means by which eternal truth is accepted. Hebrews 11:3, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” This is still a continuation of the apostle’s prayer for these believers; for having prayed for an increase of spiritual knowledge, and that this might be put into practice, he proceeds to pray for strength for them, that they might be enabled to practice what they had knowledge of; to walk worthily, to please God in all things, to bring forth fruit with patience, to persevere in knowledge, practice, fruitfulness, and in an increase thereof. It implies, that believers are weak in themselves, and insufficient to do or bear anything of themselves, but stand in need of strength from above, even of “all might”; of all kind of spiritual might and strength, proportionate to the various kinds of services, temptations, and trials unto which they are called. They have need of every kind, degree, and supply of strength, to enable them to resist the temptations of Satan, to stand against them, and bear up under them; to oppose the corruptions of their own nature, that great company which comes upon them, wars against them, threatens to carry them captive, and destroy them, and against which they have no power of their own; to bear the cross, which, without 10

Chapter One Matthew 8:13, “When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” This might be called, “A touch of health.” Man catches disease. We are warned to take sensible precautions to keep from catching disease. Jesus took His holy life-giving miracle-working hand and touched the leper, and we are told when Jesus touched him, “And immediately his leprosy was healed.” He calmed the sea with a word. He cast out legions of devils who had bound and tormented the maniac of Gadara. Paul spoke of this power as glorious. There is no greater superlative that could be given to describe the power in operation in the Life of Christ as He constantly helped the poor, healed their diseases, and raised their dead. The words in Colossians 1:11 Paul prays, Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; No one knew the need for patience more than Paul. Most of us admit that patience is not one of our best characteristics. The old sin nature is constantly becoming irritated with the way others do things or they are not doing it fast enough. One of the things I have learned, you cannot push God. He will fulfill His promises in His time, and for us to presume that He is not doing something fast enough indicates a lack of surrender. Then to top it off, Paul says that we are to exercise patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. I can just hear someone say, “I just cannot do that.” The fact is God knows you cannot. However, if we let Him have control it will happen in our lives and we will know the source of the joyfulness. The Lord gets involved with those who will trust Him and get up by faith and go after it again when we fail.

Colossians 1:12, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” Giving thanks unto the Father translates a present active indicative verb. This means that giving thanks should be an on-going process in the life of the believer. The active voice means that the believer must take the initiative to do this. This is a decision that must be made if it happens. The words, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, credit the Father with this mighty work of salvation. The words, which hath made us meet, are translated from two words. First, made meet is an aorist active participle form hikanoo, meaning, to make sufficient, render fit, to qualify.” The standing of the believer in Christ is here in view, not his Christian character. The Father qualifies believers because of the Cross. This is a positional truth. The Father is the one who makes us meet (worthy through Christ) to be a partaker. Salvation is of the Lord.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE INHERITANCE • God is careful to tell us who will not inherit the kingdom of God; 1Cor 6:9; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5. • Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; 1Cor. 15:50. • The inheritance cannot be obtained by keeping the law; Gal. 3:18. • The inheritance is in Christ and believers have already obtained it; Eph. 1:11. • We have been given an Earnest of the inheritance; Eph. 1:14. • We have been made meet (to make fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints; Col. 1:12. • The inheritance is called a reward; Col. 3:24 • The inheritance is called an “eternal inheritance.” Heb. 9:15. • The inheritance is incorruptible; 1 Pet. 1:4. • The inheritance is reserved in heaven for us; 1 Pet. 1:4. 11

Commentary on Colossians Partakers of the inheritance is the portion of the lot. The inheritance is the lot. A.T. Robertson says, “the allotted portion or inheritance.” Believers have a part in that lot even now. 1 Peter 1:34, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” The words, in light, is the region in which the inheritance of the saints, and consequently our share in it, is situated. The words, in light, qualify inheritance - not saints.

today, it will be because he believes that Jesus died and rose again some 2,000 years ago. The middle voice is where the subject acts in His own interest, i.e., He is benefited by the action. The Lord Jesus is taking out of this world His bride. We are the glorious beneficiaries of His act of love at Calvary. The words, from the power of darkness, translates, exousia and means, “power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases.” The policeman pulls you over and writes you a ticket. You say, “You have no right to do this.” He simply says, “Do you see this badge? This badge gives me the right to write you a ticket when you break the law.” There is the power of the president. It is this power that he has. He was elected to this office by the people and when he acts he acts, with the authority of his office. Satan is a creature gone astray and has become an authority over the darkness of this world. Every unsaved man is in his kingdom. He operates freely in that kingdom and there is nothing one can do about it. However, when one is saved, he is delivered from the power of darkness. Satan is not free to do just anything with those who have been born into God’s kingdom. We have been delivered from the

Colossians 1:13, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” The words, Who hath delivered us, translate rhuomai and mean, “to draw to oneself, to rescue, to deliver.” This is an aorist tense middle voice verb. The aorist tense refers to a point of time. What point of time did this take place? It was the cross. The cross is where God’s great work of redemption took place. If one is saved

THE DOCTRINE OF DARKNESS • The plight of those who are in darkness is brought out in Matthew 4:16, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” They were sitting in darkness and the only hope they have of getting out is brought out in the words, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light. . .” • Every man is born into the kingdom of darkness. There is no hope for him to escape by his own power. God sent the light (the only begotten Son) into the region of darkness and the sad story is

described in John 3:19: 20, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” • The sure way out of the darkness is brought out in John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

• Jesus tells us here that those who walk in darkness do not know where they are going. They have bought into the Devil’s lie and are destined to go to the lake of fire with him. John 12:35, “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” Another sad thing this verse suggests is that there is a time when the light will leave and when He does, those in darkness are doomed without a chance in the future to get another chance. Continued on next page...

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Chapter One destiny of darkness and the rule of darkness. We no longer have to obey Satan. The words, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, tell us where one goes when the power of God’s redemption takes place. We are taken out of the power of darkness and put in the kingdom of God’s dear Son. This is not something that is going to happen some day. It is something that has already taken place. We are in the kingdom of His dear Son now. This is the reason for verses like Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” The next thing in this verse is we have redemption through his blood. The verb “we have” is a present tense verb. This means we have redemption now. There are many who believe that we will finally be redeemed when we are gathered before God in the final judgment. John Gill explains, “In whom we have redemption,” which is an excellent and wonderful blessing of grace saints have in and by Christ. Herein lies a deliverance from sin, all sin, original and actual, under which they are held captive, in a state of nature, and by which they are made subject to the punishment of death. Through the sacrifice of Christ it is taken, put away, finished, and made an end of; and they are freed from the damning power of it, or any obligation to punishment for it. In consequence of this, are we delivered from the enslaving governing power of it by his grace and Spirit, and will hereafter be entirely rid of the very being of it. It consists also of a deliverance from the law, the curse and bondage of it, under which they are held on account of sin,

Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” The words, In whom, refer to Jesus Christ. If you were to draw a circle and let the circle represent Christ, and you inside that circle, you would have an illustration of what we are being told here. Nothing can get to us without coming through Christ. Because He is God’s beloved Son, so are we beloved sons. All He is we are. 1 John 4:17, “Herein is our love made ...continued from previous page

• The darkness blinds the eyes of the unsaved. 2 Corinthians 4:34, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” A man that is blinded is in darkness. Satan blinds the people of his kingdom so that they walk in darkness and in darkness they cannot find the way. • Psalms 107:10 says, “Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron.” The word sit suggests

that they are satisfied; therefore, they do not look for a way out. We are also told they are, “Bound in affliction and iron.” No doubt, this is a reference to the bondage they are in. • Satan does not limit his warfare against those in his own kingdom, he is the primary enemy of the saved. Paul challenges us in Ephesians 6:12,13, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may 13

be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” The words, and having done all, to stand, emphasizes that any battle we encounter with Satan will take all the energy that we can muster. This is not fleshly energy; it is the energy that the Lord gives. We can praise His name that we will win because He has won the victory for us. But there are times when we know He has overcome Satan, yet as we apply the Scriptures by faith at the end of the battle we sometime wonder who won!!!

Commentary on Colossians the transgression of it. Being delivered from sin, they are also from the law, its accusations, charges, menaces, curses, and condemnation; as likewise out of the hands of Satan, by whom they are led captive; for through the ransom price paid by Christ they are ransomed out of the hands of him that was stronger than they, the prey is taken from the mighty, and the lawful captive delivered by him that has led captivity captive. In short, this redemption is a deliverance out of the hands of all their enemies, and from all evils and misery, the effects of sin, from death, and hell, and wrath to come. The author of it is Christ, the Son of God, the Son of his love, his dear Son.” The words, through His blood, give us the price of redemption. 1 Peter 1:18,19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” Peter calls the blood of Jesus “the precious blood” because this blood has secured our salvation. The price has been paid. The Father in heaven was satisfied completely with the sacrifice of Jesus. If Jesus had been an imposter, His body would still be in the tomb. But God!!! Romans 1:4, “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” His resurrection declared that He was truly the Son of God with power. Then Paul gives the result of redemption in the words, even the forgiveness of sins. The words, forgiveness of sins, set the believer free from any dread of future acceptance. We are accepted now. When the believer stands before God in the righteousness of Christ, there will not be one single charge brought against him. What God forgives, He forgets; (Heb. 10:17).

Colossians 1:15, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” Paul says of Christ, Who is the image of the invisible God. . . “Is” translates esti and is a present tense verb. This means that He is at the present time the image of the invisible God. God cannot be seen. He is invisible. So in order to appear to man in His exact form ,Jesus took up a body by means of the virgin birth so that when we see Jesus we see God. This corresponds with what Christ taught Phillip in John 14:79, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” Even though the disciples traveled with Him constantly and heard all His teaching, it was still a problem to believe that God was in Christ in His fulness. Colossians 2:9 says, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” The word, image, translates, ikon, and means, “an image, a figure, a likeness.” Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” The words, express image, mean, “the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect, i.e facsimile.” If one could see God in Spirit, he would see Jesus. When you see Jesus, you see the invisible God made visible. The words, the first born, translate prototokos and this “signifies not only priority in time but also the primacy of rank that accrues to Jesus with his resurrection.” -Kittel. As A.W. Tozer says, “Christ is prior.” To be God, He would have to be.

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Chapter One The words, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, identify some of the obvious things about which we ask questions and wonder where they came from. Well, this settles where they came from. God made them. God did not create evil, and He did not create Satan. He created all things in perfection. Theistic evolution is as false as Darwinian evolution. God created in perfection and all that one sees in the universe that is in chaos was caused by Satan and the fallen angels. God did not create it this way. God does not start with imperfection, He starts with perfection. All God had to do to create was to speak. Psalms 33:6 confirms this, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Psalms 33:9, “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Paul in this verse identifies the players in the battle of life. Colossians 1:16, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” • Jesus is here declared the Creator of all things.

Colossians 1:16, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” The words, For by him were all things created, identify Christ as Creator. This is addressed to faith, not reason. Science refuses to accept a Creator but spends time laughing at those who believe Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” There are believing scientists. It is to their credit that they go against the majority to take their stand with the Bible. The preposition by translates the Greek preposition en. Strong says that this is “a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time, or state), and (by implication) instrumentality.” This again makes Christ the source of all creation. The words, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, make Him the origin of all things. Christ is the Uncreated Creator. There is nothing that is in heaven or earth that He did not create. The words, visible and invisible, go a step further. We can see the visible. The Christian believes that Jesus created all things that are seen and all things that can be seen but are not. The “invisible” speak of the elements. Hebrews 11:3, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” The things seen are made of the invisible. It is interesting to listen to a believing physicist (the science that deals with matter, energy, motion, and force). He can really put things in perspective. His explanation is just great and it does shed light on the correct view of creation. When you listen to the Christian physicist, you are left realizing that only God could have created. What we see and do not see traces its origin back to God. To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

• Then Paul reveals what Jesus created: All that are in heaven and that are in earth. This covers both the visible and invisible. • Then he identifies the foes in the warfare that we are in. There are thrones, and dominions, and principalities, and powers. The purpose of Creation is stated. Paul says, “all things were created by him, and for Him.” Our Lord created us for Himself. He gave opportunity in Genesis for man to function as a free moral agent and he used his freedom to sever his relationship from God. Adam was not tricked into sin by Satan. He ate of the fruit with the full knowledge that he would die in the day he ate thereof.

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Commentary on Colossians Man truly misses the mark in this life if he does not acknowledge God and worship Him. He misses the whole purpose for which he is created.

He is here to stay because He said in Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” It is important to observe the qualifying statement, And he is the head of the body, the church: The church is a local visible organization and is to be after the order of the early Church. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Peter was not the rock. The word for Peter means a small rock. Peter was a faithful disciple and went on to do exploits for His Lord. He finally died by crucifixion. Peter asked his executioners to crucify him upside down saying he was unworthy to be crucified in the same way as His Lord. Jesus was that Rock. The word rock used in our text describes a huge rock. Paul writes the commentary on this word. 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus says, “Upon this Rock” pointing to Himself, “I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This means that the gates of hell will attempt to prevail against the Church. During the dark ages, the Church was assaulted and over fifty million Christian martyrs died for their faith. In the last 100 years Satan has changed his strategy. He joined the Church. At first there was a gradual decline. Today the decline is picking up speed because Satan has taken the Bible away. The sheer number of Bibles have people confused. If we have a Bible in our day, and we do, it is the one the Lord has blessed the use of for the last 400 years. It is the Authorized King James Bible. With this statement the Lord pledges His protection on the Church. This does not mean that some have not gone out of existence because of an attack of Satan. What it means

Colossians 1:17, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” A.W. Tozer said of Christ that He is PRIOR. He meant that Jesus is prior to anything found in the universe. He is before all things. He is uncreated though pro-created. What entered the virgin womb was before all things. The test says, And he is before all things. We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible. The Lord would not have chosen this word if He had not meant it. “He is” at the time of Paul’s writing before all things. This is declaring the ETERNITY OF CHRIST. He is before all things because He created them. He is the uncreated Creator. The words, and by him all things consist. The word consist means to bond together. Our planet earth and the solar system are held together by Him. He is not only the Creator but also the Sustainer. Jesus made claim to eternal timeless existence. (John 8:58). It is important for us to have this information. Paul needs to inform us and does in the words, “And he is before all things.”

Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” The Church on earth has a head. That head is Christ. That might be a little hard to comprehend, but it is in fact the truth. Jesus identifies with His people. He commends them when they are right and rebukes them when they are wrong. Jesus build the church during His personal ministry on earth. Can you imagine Him abandoning them and turning them loose with a great commission without a director? We have an invisible head that is with us constantly. 16

Chapter One is that there will be Churches alive and well until the coming of the Lord.

undeserving sinners. Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” The words, And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, declare that it has already happened. Jesus made peace with God in behalf of every sinner who would repent and believe the gospel. The words having made peace are an aorist active participle. The aorist tense is a point of time divorced from time and perpetuated forever. He (The active voice means He did it Himself) made peace at a point of time in the past, that point of time being the cross, and the element that took away sin for eternity is His blood. 1 Peter 1:18,19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” Jesus had to be spotless to do what He did— die. He had to die and shed His blood—to make peace between a holy God and a guilty sinner. The peace that God gives comes at the cost of the virgin birth, the sinless life, the substitutionary atonement, and the literal resurrection. If there is any part of that we do not believe, we are yet in our sins and one heartbeat out of hell. The next words of our text are: by Him to reconcile all things unto himself. The words, by Him, refer to Christ. He was the chosen One in the eternal life conference in eternity past to be the One in the Godhead to be the means of our salvation. This salvation is a “reconciliation” that brings the believer back into fellowship with God. He is completely reconciled to God. This reconciliation is the work of Jesus on the cross. So when we go to heaven our standing will be perfect because His reconciliation was/is perfect. Then again Paul says, “by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” The believer has been translated from

Colossians 1:19, “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” These are words used on more than one occasion. Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” He said this at His baptism. He said this at the transfiguration. Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” There was never a time when the Father was not well pleased with His Son. So we are told that the Father was pleased, “that in him should all fulness dwell.” What is meant by His fulness? It means that all the perfections of God are in Christ, as eternity, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability, independence, and necessary existence, and every other, or he would not be equal with God. Jesus, as He heads the Church throughout this age, will lack nothing that He will need to accomplish the task of world evangelism. God is full of everything good and nothing is lacking in all that it takes to be in full charge of the universe and all that is in it. The world will not put a strain on His omniscience, or His omnipotence, or His omnipresence, or His immutability. His fulness cannot be challenged. Anyone who tries it will find themselves as helpless as Satan to obstruct God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, is an act of God to be merciful to 17

Commentary on Colossians the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His dear Son. Everything that is alien to God will have been made right and the way God does it is through the cross. It is “by Him” that this takes place. I take it that this means the spirit world as well as mankind. Now I am not saying that Satan and his ungodly spirits will have a chance to be saved. I am saying that the Son of God will ultimately sweep every thing that offends into the tomb of time, wrap it up and cast it into the lake of fire, never to be heard of again. In heaven there will be nothing that offends. And we have to thank Jesus for that.

Adam died on the spot when he took of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he did not die physically. But physical death began to work on him, and he finally died at the good old age of 630 years. He died a middle aged man according to the ages of some of the others in Genesis. Man wanted back in that garden. I’m sure he tried until he finally realized that he was no match for God. God kept him out of the garden for his own personal benefit. Genesis 3:22, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:” This statement has brought up a lot of questions, and there are many more questions than there are answers. I choose to believe that God made man as an eternal being to live in a body that would never grow old. But for man to take of the tree of life a sinner would mean that there would never be an end to sickness, dying, wars, or all the other things that steal our right relationship to God. So God’s plan to bring man back into His presence and have access to the tree of life is to trust Jesus who made a way back into God’s presence. There is the tree of life in Genesis and does not show up again until Revelation 22:2, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Heaven is a real place where glorified saints will live in new bodies forever and ever. This should warm the coldest heart. Man has continually tried to get back into the presence of God his own way. He has made no progress whatsoever. Man in his natural state must be ruled by law or he will kill his neighbor, rape the women and little girls, and then he finally becomes a pervert so that nothing satisfies. Somewhere along the line, the degenerate continue on a path that will self destruct and kill the rest of the people on earth. But before that happens, God will step in and

Colossians 1:21, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.” Paul reminds them where they were before the gospel found them. The word, sometime, translates pote and speaks of their former condition before salvation. Every saved person has a past, that at that time, they were enemies and alienated from God. Now I’m sure they would not agree with that conclusion. Just like those who have a nominal faith in God feel they are all right. If you were to suggest that they were not saved, they would be deeply offended. To be alienated from God means to be shut out. The way this is described is in Genesis 3:23,24, “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” The words, to drive out, translate garash meaning, “to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away.” Man no longer knew the Lord in the same way he knew Him before. He died spiritually the moment he ate of the forbidden fruit. His spiritual death affected how he thought and what was reasonable to him. The language here implies that Adam did not leave the garden voluntarily. He had to be driven out. While 18

Chapter One The words, to present you holy, means that Jesus will present us holy to His Father in the day of judgment. His holiness is our holiness. No one could possibly ever rise to meet the standard of holiness found in the God-head. So Jesus is our Advocate and we are the products of His regeneration in His own likeness so that He will present us in His own holiness. The word, unblameable, translates amomos and means, “without blemish; as a sacrifice without spot or blemish.” There in no Christian that is without spot or blemish in our experience in this world. We know and do accept our position in Christ and we understand that we have been given His righteousness. This is brought out by Paul in Romans 5:17, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ).” What great assurance we have as saved sinners! Even though we try and fail, in the final analysis we are going to be presented by Jesus to the Father unblameable in His sight. The word, unreprovable, translates, anegkletos and means, “that cannot be called into account, unreproveable, unaccused, blameless.” These words are close in meaning. But since we believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible, we must not say they are the same. Even a minor difference in these words is describing another facet of our total acceptance by the Father. The words, in His sight, mean that God takes a look and nothing sinful or wrong gets by His holy gaze. When a man is right “in His sight”, he is a happy man. No man can be justified in God’s sight by the deeds of the law; Romans 3:20 says, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” God knows every human being and knows everything about him. Man can do nothing without God knowing it. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Neither is there any creature that is not mani-

bring judgment to the world and set up the millennial kingdom that will have no end. One more look at the text: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.” What you were: alienated and enemies. Why you were: by wicked works. What God has done: yet now hath he reconciled. A person reconciled to God is at peace with Him and can walk with Him and look forward to an eternal kingdom that will be set up when Jesus comes again.

Colossians 1:22, “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” The words, In the body of his flesh through death, give us the reason that He took upon a body, i.e., the virgin birth to sacrifice it on the cross to pay for man’s sins. Here is where reconciliation takes place. Jesus became a man, not an angel, to make reconciliation for man; Hebrews 2:16,17, “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” The words, through death, let us know that the incarnation of God in man was not enough. It took His death on the cross, even the shedding of His sinless blood, to make reconciliation for our sins. And God accepted the sacrifice that He made for us and this turned the face of a righteous holy God toward us to claim us as His own and give us His quality of life which is life without end. Reconciliation means that God has no inhibitions in drawing close to us, because all that separated us has been taken away. And we, His children, learn more and more that we can come to Him and not dread His holiness because one cannot be more holy than the blood of Christ makes him. 19

Commentary on Colossians The word, faith, can also describe personal faith in Christ. This is saving faith and faith to walk by. 1 Peter 1:8 says, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” The words, yet believing, are the verb form of the noun faith. God expects the believer to look and act differently once he becomes a Christian. The Lord Himself makes this possible. He makes our body His temple, and as He abides in us and we relate by faith to His indwelling presence a marvelous transformation takes place. Another thing that this phrase implies is that one cannot make Jesus a fire escape from hell. Salvation is believing, in the heart. It is a life changing decision to believe in Christ as Saviour. Those who drop out, for the most part, have never been saved to begin with. There is a good illustration of this in John 6:63-66, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Many of those who had professed to believe, but did not actually believe, quit following Him once they realized they did not have Him fooled. The words grounded and settled speak of stability. These are not easily changed. They are grounded in the Word and believe it and cannot be persuaded to abandon the faith. The word settled speaks of one who has his mind made up and needs no further convincing that Jesus is who He claimed to be. I am settled on the truth of the gospel and believe that it is the sole reason I am saved. God’s grace reached down and embraced me and I have never been the same since.

fest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” A believer can be well pleasing in His sight in this life, if He will let God work through Him to live the gospel message and preach the gospel message. Hebrews 13:21, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Answers to prayer come to those who choose to keep His commandments. 1 John 3:22, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” This is not a reference to the ten commandments. We are not under the law. This speaks of the believer following the instructions of the New Testament.

Colossians 1:23, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” “The words, If ye continue in the faith, are a first class condition (determined as fulfilled), with a touch of eagerness in the use of ge (at least). Epi adds to the force of the linear action of the present tense (continue and then some)” -A.T. Robertson’s Word Pictures. There is no doubt in the “if” when it is a first class condition. You can put the word since and you have the meaning of the first class condition. The words, in the faith, sometime refer to the body of doctrine espoused by the Church. Jude uses it this way in Jude 1:3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

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Chapter One The words, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, are words that needed to be said even though Paul had confidence in the salvation of the Colossian believers. The words, which ye have heard, translate an aorist active indicative verb. The active voice verb means that they responded positively to what they heard. The aorist tense speaks of that point of time that they heard it once for all. The good news of the gospel is not something that one enjoys temporarily. It is permanent, in that when it is received, one receives eternal life. When one has eternal life, there is never a need for that life to be renewed. 1 John 5:11,12, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” The words, which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, speak of the universality of the Gospel. The gospel is for all men and all men in that day heard the gospel. I know it is hard for us to accept, but the gospel was carried to the known world in the days of the early Church. This simply confirms it. The words, whereof I Paul am made a minister, set forth the part Paul had in the dissemination of the Gospel. He is just a minister, among others, who was in the process of taking the gospel to every creature.

The words, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church. Paul was an apostle. Apostles were spiritual gifts (1Cor. 12:28) to the Church. Therefore, the local churches were those for whom Paul suffered and served. This is brought out in 2 Corinthians 11:28, “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” Remember the Bible does not teach apostolic succession and preachers do not have this kind of authority over local churches today. The place of the pastor’s authority is in the local church of which he is pastor. Hebrews 13:7,17, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation... Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” The words, and fill up that which is behind, suggest the gleanings of the sufferings of Christ. He is not speaking of the substitutionary sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus. Jesus did not leave any sufferings behind so far as His redemptive sufferings are concerned. But there is a suffering for righteousness sake and this is the suffering that Paul is speaking of here. The words, That which is behind, according to A.T. Robertson mean, “The leftovers.” One has translated this, “I would make up the full sum of all that Christ has to suffer in my person.” The suffering of which Paul speaks is endured because he had identified with Christ, His Church, and His people. And he did this publicly suffering the consequences. 1 Corinthians 9:12, “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:5, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”

Colossians 1:24: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:” The words, Who now rejoice in my suffering for you, is Paul’s attitude toward his sufferings that are being endured in behalf of the Colossians. If the Church at Colosse could be saved from the gnostic heresy, Paul could literally rejoice in his suffering in their behalf. I think of the martyrs in recent years who gave up their freedom and suffered, many of whom died, in Russian prisons for the faith of Christ and for the strengthening of the Churches. 21

Commentary on Colossians The words, The afflictions of Christ, do not refer to His sufferings on the cross. The cross of Christ had to be borne alone. Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” The afflictions of which Paul is speaking of Christ’s sufferings endured in His humiliation prior to that event. This suffering refers to suffering for righteousness sake, i.e., sufferings incurred through exhausting service. It was heart sufferings due to the opposition of sinners, sufferings which were the result of persecution and for two reasons: (1) Because the atonement was a finished work; (2) Because the word for sufferings here, thlipsis, is never used of the vicarious sufferings of the Lord Jesus. This same thought is brought out in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” The words, in the flesh, identify the sphere of Paul’s sufferings. He is in prison at the time of this writing; Acts 28:30-31; Col. 4:3, 10, 18. The words, for His body’s sake, which is the church, give the reason for his sufferings. The body here is HIS body. It is not His glorified body in heaven. It is referring to the local Church which He organized while on the earth, commissioned after His resurrection and before His ascension, and gave it the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Satan has fought the church ever since its organization. But Jesus said, “The gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 17:18). The church is loved by the Lord. We are living in a time when the church is looked down on. So-called Christians think they can ignore it and this sin will be overlooked in the judgment. The excuses that people use to quit the church is so shallow that you don’t know whether to laugh or cry, i.e., laugh because it identifies them as idiots and cry because of what it does to the local church.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH • The Church is a local assembly. It can meet in four walls. It is not invisible. It is a body that meets, evangelizes, takes the Lord’s Supper, and baptizes converts. • The Church was organized by Christ Himself. John the Baptist prepared the material for the church. When Jesus came on the scene, John had been preaching in the wilderness for about six months or more. He introduced his disciples to Jesus. John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:3537, “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” • The Church was built on Jesus Himself. Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Though the gates of hell have stormed the church over the past two-thousand years, she is still standing and will stand until Jesus comes. • The Church has the commission to preach the gospel to every creature. There is no way for a church to be right and not do mission work. • The Church has authority over its members. In 1 Corinthians 5:45, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” • The Church has a living Head. Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who

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Chapter One is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” • The Church is the place where the Word of God is preached and the saints grow. Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” • One Church does not have authority over another. Each Church stands or falls before the living Head, even the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no place in Scripture where one church interfered with the work of another church. When one church goes bad, it does not follow that another church is taken into error with that church. Each church is a sovereign body. • The Church is a Theocracy run according to democratic principles. Jesus is the Head and we are to follow Him. But the church is His body through which He works. • Jesus ordained apostles and put them in the Church; 1 Corinthians 12:27,28, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of

tongues.” When Jesus ordained the apostles, the church was in existence so that He could place them in the church. • The church has the sole right to administer Scriptural Baptism. When Jesus was in the temple, the chief priests and the elders came to Jesus and asked Him by what authority he did these things? He answered them in Matthew 21:24,25, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?” John’s baptism had heaven’s authority. The Church had heaven’s authority because of the great commission. • The Church has the right to administer the Lord’s Supper. This is an ordinance left by the Lord for the Church to practice. The Church also has the right of discipline over the members who partake. If a member is in known sin, the church must deny him the Lord’s Supper until he gets right. 1 Corinthians 11:2333, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered

unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.”

local churches and ministered to them by his presence and through his inspired writings. The words, I am made a minister, are an aorist middle indicative from ginomai. It means “became.” The aorist tense refers to the point of time this took place the middle voice is where the subject (Jesus) acted in His own

Colossians 1:25, “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;” The word, whereof, means, “of which,” and refers back to the church. Paul established 23

Commentary on Colossians behalf and was benefitted by the action. Paul did not choose the apostleship. The Lord chose him and he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Acts 26:19 brings this out, “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:” The word minister means, “a servant, attendant, minister.” The word deacon comes from the same word. A preacher’s job is to serve and his duties are well defined in the word of God. The words, According to, are a preposition that shows the relationship between the object and the other words in the verse. Kata with the accusative (direct object) means, “according to, throughout, during.” The words, dispensation of God, translate oikonomian, made up of oikos (house) and nomos (law). It means, “The law of the household.” It speaks of a house-steward, one to whom is given the responsibility of administering laws regulating the proper conduct of the affairs of the household. It could be translated, “According to the stewardship” which gives the sense of what the text is speaking. The words, of God, show us where the authority for this stewardship came from. All the work of God done by man has to have God’s authority behind it. The words, which is given me for you, speak again of Paul’s authority to carry out his work of an apostle. The word given is an aorist tense which refers to a point of time. This point of time was on the road to Damascus. Paul’s call to salvation and apostleship occurred at the same time. The gift of apostleship was for the purpose of serving the churches. Paul truly fulfilled a great ministry having written 14 Epistles in the New Testament. To fulfil the Word of God. The word, fulfil, translates plēroo. A.T. Robertson says, “It is a fine phrase for a God-called preacher, to fill full or to give full scope to the Word of God. The preacher is an expert on the word of God by profession.”

Colossians 1:26, “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” Even the mystery, The word mystery translates musterion. The root of this word is muo and means, “to shut the mouth.” The Lord was silent in the Old Testament concerning the New Testament Church and the way He would work with it to evangelize the world. This mystery is now opened to all by the apostle Paul. He has more to say about the mystery than all the other writers. Which hath been hid from ages and from generations, simply means that God was closed mouthed concerning the mystery that is now revealed. It makes one wonder if the Old Testament prophets knew there was something in God’s plan that He was not telling them. But now is made manifest to his saints, means a truth that was once hidden but is now revealed. The Gnostics talked much of mysteries. Paul takes their very word and uses it for the gospel.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE MYSTERY • It was hidden in the Old Testament; Col. 1:26. • Jesus told His disciples that it was given to them to know the mystery; Mark 4:11. • The mystery included blindness of the Jews; Rom. 11:25. This blindness will last unto the fulness of the Gentiles is come in. • The preaching of Jesus Christ is the revelation of the mystery; Rom. 16:25; Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3. • The mystery reveals the wisdom of God; 1 Cor. 2:7. • The mystery was revealed in detail through Paul; Eph. 3:3-9. • The church is a part of the mystery; Eph. 5:32. • The mystery is Christ in us; Col. 1:27. • We are to hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience; 1 Tim 3:9. • Godliness is a mystery beyond explanation; 1 Tim. 3:16. • The rapture is included in the mystery; 1 Cor. 15:51. 24

Chapter One 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” There are two preceding verses in this chapter that suggest this is future glory: Colossians 1:12, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” Colossians 1:22, “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” To whom God would make known, is referring to the Gentiles being brought into the family of God by the New Birth. These Gentiles of whom He speaks, God would inform them concerning His plan for them in Christ. The words, make known, are in the aorist tense and mean that He will do it at a point of time. This shows that God has been working according to a plan from eternity past. What is the riches of the glory of the mystery among the Gentiles, are descriptive terms magnifying the word mystery. The Gentiles were looked down upon by the covenant people (the Jews). God had not made a covenant with the Gentiles and it looked like they were left out. But God’s plan included a special relationship with the Gentiles once the time came. Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, This statement is one of the gems of the Bible. “Christ in you” is almost beyond human comprehension. We are sinners beyond personal rescue, i.e., we can’t rescue ourselves. One would think that in order for the Lord to dwell in us in any way would take a personal cleansing on our part. When we got clean enough He would move in; but it doesn’t happen that way. When we are saved, God creates a new man within the old and lives in the new man created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24). The hope of glory, could refer to our destiny in heaven with Him. Sometimes glory refers to heaven. There are other times that glory refers to the Shekinah that dwelt in the cloud in the Old Testament wilderness or the light that shined between the angels as they hovered over the mercy seat in the Temple. Christ in us is the ONLY hope of glory if glory means heaven. Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Colossians 1:28, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Whom we preach, refers to Christ and the message of the gospel. Preach, is a present active indicative from katoggello meaning, “to declare, to proclaim.” This word originally meant to denounce, but in the New Testament it means, “to announce.” Paul is probably announcing the gospel to denounce the Gnostic heresy. Warning every man, is present tense and means, “to continually warn every man.” “Every man” gives the scope of our calling. And teaching every man in all wisdom, refers to teaching doctrine. The teaching of the Word of God is the best counsel that a person can have. “In all wisdom” The Gnostic spoke of the blind faith for the higher Gnoses (knowledge) for the few. Paul declares that the fullest wisdom is offered to all alike. The character of the teaching is as free from restriction as are the qualifications of the recipient. That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, Paul preached the gospel and his goal was to preach it to every creature. The potential is there for the salvation of every man. When a man puts his trust in Jesus, he is put into Jesus, and in Christ he has Christ’s righteousness. This is the perfection that 25

Commentary on Colossians Paul is speaking of. This speaks of the same thing as Colossians 1:22: “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” Note again the three things that Christ can do for those who trust Him: He can present you holy, unblameable, and unreproveable.

THE MYSTERY OF NEW TESTAMENT FAITH Colossians 1:26-29 “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”

Colossians 1:29, “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” Whereunto I also labour, the word Whereunto is “for which also.” Labour refers to a strenuous work, i.e., a wearing out work. Paul gave it all he had whether in prison or out. The first furlough he had was when his head yielded to the Roman ax that sent him scurrying down the streets of gold as the angels, saints, and Jesus met him with great joy and gladness. Striving according to His working, The word striving translates agonizomai, and is the word from which we get our word agony. It also means, “to contend.” This same word is used in Jude 1:3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” “According to his working” means that what Paul was doing outwardly in striving, the Lord was doing inside Him. So he was laboring together with Christ. “To his working” The word working is energeia from which we get our word energy. The Lord was energizing in him the energy to speak the truth and stop the mouths of the Gnostics.

Paul is the apostle through whom the Lord chose to reveal what He calls the “mystery.” God is sovereign in what He does, why He does it, and when He does it. There are questions that can never be answered in this life. But how other could we expect God to be? He is God and not limited by our knowledge of things. When He does something that is normal to Him it will always be miraculous to us. It leaves us saying, “How did He do that?” It is in man’s nature to want to have an explanation of how things happen. So here is how it is. God tells man He created all things. Man is not satisfied to believe what God says. He sets out to find out how creation came about in complete disregard for what God said. So man’s search and explanation is with complete disregard for what God says. To prove that what I have just said is true, all you have to do is to read the approach of science to creation, and sit in a classroom where our children study origins. They will not even give the Bible a hearing. Well, that won’t work for those of us who believe the Bible. We as Christians must continuously undermine the teaching of a secular society. There is no way a Bible believing Christian is going to let the lie of so-call science be taught to our children without our making the correction. 26

Chapter One Now let’s look at the text. THE MYSTERY HIDDEN Paul says, “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations.” The word, mystery, translates musterion hidden thing, secret, mystery; generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals.” The words, hath been hid, translate apokrupto and mean, “to hide.” It is a perfect passive participle. This means that it was hidden in the past and remains hidden. Now this is not a contradiction. He qualified that the mystery revealed is “to his saints.” The natural man (1Cor. 2:14) still cannot see this truth. In other words, it is a mystery hidden in the past, but revealed today to the believer. It remains hidden to the unbeliever. Faith in Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour turns on the light of understanding. This is the reason the gospel is so clear to us and so hidden from them. Until we learn the truth that is declared here, it will be a mystery to us why the unsaved cannot understand the plain gospel of Jesus Christ. Saved wife, this is the reason your unsaved husband cannot understand. And he will never be persuaded by reason. This is the reason Peter gave instructions on how a saved wife is to witness to her lost husband. “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (1 Peter 3:1-4). Note the following: • This is especially addressed to Christian wives. • Peter instructs them to subject themselves to the men even if they “obey not the word.”

• Peter says, “they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.” The definite article “the” is not in the Textus Receptus from which our KJV is translated. It is literally, “they also may without [a] word be won by the conversation of the wives.” Once the husband has the plan of salvation explained to him, it will drive him away to continue to push the gospel on him. So, Peter says the way a saved wife is to witness to an unsaved husband is by her conversation. The word, conversation, translates anastrophe and means, “manner of life, conduct, behavior, deportment.” It has nothing to do with the use of the tongue. It is the practice of the truths of Christianity in daily living. Then Peter describes some of the things about a godly lifestyle. He deals with modesty and the outward manifestation of the hidden man of the heart. He talks about the “meek and quiet spirit.” Peter is saying that God can use that to reach an unsaved and rebellious husband. Paul is speaking about a mystery that has been hidden in the past. Now he speaks of, THE MYSTERY REVEALED Our text says, but now is made manifest to his saints. The words, is made manifest, translate phaneroo and mean, “to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way.” It is an aorist passive indicative verb. The aorist tense speaks of a once-for-all act in the past. I believe that this Greek tense gathers up Jesus in His incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, and literal resurrection,” i.e., it is a snap shot of the whole thing. The Old Testament Jew did not see a Messiah in this way. The mind of the Jew was so infested with traditions and opinions that the truth shot right over their heads. So much so that they believed that Jesus was a blasphemer and accused Him of casting out devils by the power of the Devil. The mystery is now revealed to His saints. The word saint simply refers to the believer. 27

Commentary on Colossians Every believer is a saint because of the imputed righteousness of Christ. God has given the believer the Holy Spirit as a seal of salvation. He secures us and sanctifies us and enlightens us. Glory to God and the Lamb forever. Someone hold my mules!!! Hallelujah!!! The mystery has been revealed. Fellow believers, we have an understanding that the men and women with all their degrees cannot understand. They are completely in the DARK. I think we frustrate them. They know something is working in our lives, that there is a joy there that they would like to buy with money, and we face death totally different than they. I love what Isaiah said in Isaiah 55:1: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money ; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Do you not just love that? You do not have to have money to get your thirst quenched. If God charged, none of us would ever have enough money to buy it. So God fixed it where we could have it, if we are willing, at His expense. This is what the Bible calls GRACE. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The mystery was hidden, but now it is revealed. Not only is this true but, THE MYSTERY IS IDENTIFIED Our text says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus explained this to the disciples using the parable of the Vine and branches. Then in His great high priestly prayer He prayed: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:21-23).

• Jesus desired oneness with His disciples and He came that this might be true. It is not accomplished by human effort. It is an act of God. Today, salvation puts Christ in the believer and the believer in Christ. • There is something about this union that makes God in us visible to the unsaved world. Jesus prayed to His Father, “that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them.” The glory of God resided in Jesus and set Him apart from all others. It was a mystery about His life that was beyond human rationalism. The glory that God had given Christ, Christ gave to us His disciples. I believe this is only visible in the life of a yielded saint. When we walk in the Spirit and in obedience to Him, there will be that mystic about us as well. The mystery identified is “Christ in you (us).” How can God live in a man? It is a mystery, but it is true. THE MYSTERY’S POSSIBILITY Paul says, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” The experience of this mystery is possible for every man. Paul says “warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom.” Salvation is not just limited to a few. It is possible for all men. Jesus died for all men. God has made His existence so real and His gospel so universal. He tells us in Romans that men are without excuse: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20). It is not only possible in that it has been offered to all men, but it is possible in that God has made faith the means of obtaining it. Paul said, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of 28

Chapter One Abraham; who is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16). Paul is saying here that it is of faith “to the end that the promise might be SURE to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham.” If we had to pay a big price, many would not be able. If one had to be educated to receive God’s salvation, then salvation would be out of the reach of millions. If it were the result of deeds accomplished, people like the thief on the cross would not stand a chance. (Caps mine for emphasis). God has put the experience of this mystery in the reach of all. Then next let us notice, THE MYSTERY PROCLAIMED Paul says, “Whom we preach.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 says, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Preaching is God’s way of getting the information to the unsaved: 1 Corinthians 1:21 says, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Then Paul’s explanation to this is: “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25). God is not foolish, and nothing He says is foolish. But these are the terms used because the unsaved world cannot imagine God choosing the medium of preaching to save the believer. But it is God’s way and He is not going to change it because it puts the intellectuals, socially prominent, and wealthy on the same ground before God as a poor illiterate person. Not only is this mystery proclaimed but finally let us look at,

ent every man perfect in Christ” of verse 28. The words, I also labor, translate kopiaoto and mean, “to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief); to labor with wearisome effort, to toil.” This is Paul’s personal testimony of submitting to the Lordship of Christ. It is no easy task. It is a lot easier to lose your temper than it is to discipline your responses to the obedience of Christ. It is desirable to the flesh to take the second and third look of something or someone that attracts one to lust. It is a lot easier to stay in bed of a morning rather than to arise and spend time with God in prayer. Paul was a normal man like us. He waged a constant warfare in his own personal life to stay right with God. A verse that really brings this out is 1 Corinthians 9:27: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” The words, I keep under my body, literally mean that Paul beat his body black and blue. Why would a holy man do this to his body? This is the secret to Paul’s experiential holiness. He refused to do wrong no matter what. His body wanted to go one direction and the Lord wanted him to go another. Paul says, “I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” The words striving according to his working translate agonizomai and mean, “to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games, to contend with adversaries, fight.” Spiritual warfare is what Paul is talking about. It will wear you out. This is not an easy warfare. It involves a struggle with people you love, such as a saved woman married to an unsaved man with whom she has to struggle to even go to church or saved young people who must obey unsaved parents. I remember one young man who would slip out on Sunday morning and climb over the back fence to come to Sunday School and church. I remember one young lady who professed faith in Christ and was baptized into our fellowship.

THE MYSTERY WORKED OUT

This is brought out in verse 29: “Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:29). The word whereunto connects: “to pres29

Commentary on Colossians She became convicted about being modest in dress. And the parent blew their stack and would not allow her to change her dress from immodest to modest. She felt so defeated in her Christian walk that she finally gave up and quit even coming to Church. I have often wondered what happened to her. Jesus said in Mark 9:42: “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” I would hate to be in those parents’ shoes when they stand before God. Then Paul says, “striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” The words, his working, translate a word from which we get our word energy. The Holy Spirit energizes in us to work the works of Christ. A man who lives out the Christian life is working in cooperation with the Holy Spirit who has made our body His temple. He is working in us and we work with Him. So we have Him as our helper. This does not mean to live the Christian life is easy, but it does mean it is possible. The Lord inside us enables us to slay the giants of Satan that come up against us constantly. The mystery worked out is the visible manifestation of the invisible Christ at work in and through His saints today. This is Paul’s explanation of the mystery of New Testament faith.

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Chapter Two The words, be comforted, is an aorist passive subjunctive verb from parakaleō, meaning to console, to encourage, to alleviate grief. The aorist tense speaks of an event (point of time). The passive voice means the subject is acted upon. The subjunctive mood is potential. This reveals one of the reasons Paul writes this Epistle. One can be comforted by the Scriptures when going through severe trials. Being knit together in love, The words, “being knit together in love” is an aorist active participle from sumbibazō, meaning to cause to coalesce, to join or knit together. This could be a reference to the divisive tendencies of the false teaching of Gnosticism. It was probably causing problems between members. The words “in love” is the super-glue that binds believers together in such a tight relationship it is hard for the false teachers to penetrate. Gill says, “as the members of an human body are, by joints and bands; as love is the bond of union between God and his people, Christ and his members, so between saints and saints; it is the cement that joins and keeps them together, and which edifies and builds them up, and whereby they increase with the increase of God; it makes them to be of one heart and one soul; it renders their communion with one another comfortable and delightful, and strengthens them against the common enemy, who is for dividing, and so destroying; and is what is the joy of Gospel ministers, and what they labour at and strive for, and which is another reason of the apostle’s conflict:” And unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, John Gill says, “for as there is such a thing as the assurance of faith, and the assurance of hope, so likewise of understanding of the Gospel, and the truths of it; concerning which there ought to be no doubt, being to be received upon the credit of a divine testimony: moreover, such a knowledge and understanding of divine things is intended, as is large and abundant, signified by “all riches”; for though it is not complete and perfect in this life, yet it takes a vast compass, and reaches to

CHAPTER 2 Colossians 2:1: “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh” The words, I would that ye knew, are the way Paul presents himself to the Church at Colosse. He wants them to know that he is praying fervently for them. What great conflict, can be translated, “how great a struggle.” Paul did not take the conflict with Gnosticism lightly. It was a struggle with the powers of darkness. He is an example of a mother hen when something is attacking her young. I have for you, is “on behalf of you.” It means, “For I wish that you knew what a battle I am fighting for you.” This shows that one can carry on a battle for other Christians through prayer. And for them at Laodicea, Paul’s concern reached out to all the churches; 2 Cor. 11:28. And for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, It means, “to see.” Vine says, “It specifically indicates the direction of the thought to the object seen.” It should be a comfort to know that a man like Paul is really burdened about your problems, especially when you have never met him in person.

Colossians 2: 2: “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” That their hearts might be comforted, Vine says of their hearts, “the word came to stand for man’s entire mental and moral activity, both rational and the emotional elements.” In other words, the heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of the personal life. 31

Commentary on Colossians all the deep things of God; to whatever relates to the person and grace of Christ; to all the things of the Spirit of God; to all the blessings and promises of the covenant of grace; to the riches both of grace and glory, to the things of time and eternity, and which is more clearly explained by the following clause:” The full assurance of understanding, means that the Colossian’s best defense is to know the Scriptures and have a full understanding of their meaning. To the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. Acknowledgment comes from a word meaning, to observe, fully perceive, notice attentatively. The Father, the first person, so called, in relation to his Son, which is no small part of the mystery of the Gospel; and Christ, the second person, who is equally God with the Father; and the Spirit, who, though not mentioned, is not excluded from this adorable mystery: and which is the mystery “of Christ”, he being both the efficient cause and the subject matter of it; it treats of his deity and personality; of his offices, as Mediator, prophet, priest, and King; of his incarnation and redemption; of his grace, righteousness, sacrifice, and satisfaction; of justification by him, pardon through him, and acceptance in him. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Hallelujah!!!

knowing. This text is saying that all there is to know about God is found in Christ. That is the knowledge. But there is the “wisdom” which is the ability to properly apply the knowledge. Both of these are hidden in Christ. There is in Christ all that there is to know about God and His ways. Bishop Moule comments on this verse: “He is the Father’s glorious casket, in which are shut all the mysteries and treasures of grace, planned and wrought by the eternal Mind, and so “hidden” in Him that, outside Him, “eye hath not seen them, nor have they entered into the heart of man to conceive”; aye, and even in Him they are hidden still, veiled in their own glory, as to our complete knowledge. Dr. John Phillips says, “Knowledge! Jesus has it all. ‘In [Him] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ The cult at Colosse claimed to have special knowledge. Nonsense! Jesus has it all. The humblest believer who knows the Lord Jesus has access to more essential knowledge and wisdom than any unsaved person, no matter how brilliant that person might be.” In [Him] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We have plenty of knowledge. But we do not have much wisdom. Just before He went to Calvary, the Lord said that in the last days just before His return, there would be perplexity of nations (Luke 21:25). W.E. Vine suggests various ways of rendering this phrase. He says that it can be translated at a loss for a way or no solution to their embarrassments, or at their wit’s end. I suggest that we have reached that place today. The Palestinians say that they want peace, but they do not want peace without the annihilation of the Jews. So it does not look like peace is in view for the Middle East. There are wars and rumors of wars that confront us constantly. Jesus has all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is the one to go to to obtain this information. I would like to suggest that He has revealed some of it in His Word. Some of it will stay with Him until we reach the eternal kingdom.

Colossians 2:3, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” In whom are hid, Christ in His incarnate Person has been chosen by the Father to have in Him all the things that pertain to God and His plan for the ages. These things cannot be found anywhere else. They must be found in Christ because that is where they are hidden. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, John Gill says, “This may be understood either of the mystery of the Gospel, which contains the rich mines and hidden treasures of all divine truths; so called, because of the richness and intrinsic value and excellency of them.” God is infinite in knowledge. He is omniscient, i.e., all 32

Chapter Two Yet I am with you in the spirit, This is not to be taken lightly. Prayer and faith take us where those are for whom we pray. Paul’s love and concern make Him aware that he was with them in spirit. So he makes the Colossians aware that he is there with them in spirit. This is not an out of body experience. The lesson we learn is that we can be with those missionaries that we support. As we pray for them, let us be aware that what we do in spirit is not confined to the geographical location where we are at a particular time. Lightfoot’s comment is: “It is the common antithesis of the flesh and the spirit, or body and spirit.” Joying and beholding your order, The word joying means, “to be filled with joy.” It is in the present tense. So Paul is pleased with them at the time of this writing. The word beholding means, “to see or to watch.” This is also in the present tense. He is a witness of their conduct. The word order can mean, “discipline.” Weymouth translates: “and am delighted to witness your good discipline.” John Gill says, “By their ‘order’ is meant, either their orderly walk and conversation, which being as becomes the Gospel of Christ, was very pleasing and delightful to the apostle; or rather the order of their church discipline, they having regular officers, pastors, and deacons, ordained among them; who rightly performed their offices, and had respect and subjection yielded to them; the ordinances of the Gospel were duly administered, and constantly attended to.” And the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. The word stedfastness means, “a solid foundation.” It is like we say, “I am set in concrete on this.” They were strong in their faith in Christ so that false teachers could not move them. The words, “your faith in Christ,” can mean either of two things: Paul could be referring to the initial faith in Christ for salvation. He has mentioned this in chapter 1 and verse 4: “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,” Hebrews 3:14, “For

Colossians 2:4: “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” This refers to what was just said. Paul had a purpose in writing this Epistle. It was to inform them of the truth so that they would not be led astray. I say is present active indicative, meaning, to say or speak. Robertson says, “Paul explains why he has made this great claim for Christ at this point in his discussion.” Lest any man should beguile you, Lest means, “in order that not.” The words, any man, mean, “no one.” A right understanding of the Scriptures will insulate us against any man peddling any heresy. Instead of researching what the heretics believe, we need to become grounded in the Word of God. This will close the door against the heretics. Beguile, is present middle subjunctive from paralogizomai, meaning, “to reckon wrong, to deceive by false reasoning, delude, to lead astray by false reasoning. The subjunctive mood is potential. Present tense means they were in present danger. Enticing words, comes from one word meaning, persuasive words. It is speech adapted to persuade. It can be seen in these verses that it is possible to be led astray by persuasive words. There is a real danger here, so Paul is trying to fortify the Colossians against such. We all have an emotional make up. That and the Old Sin Nature makes us vulnerable to slick talk and false wisdom. Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Colossians 2:5, “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.” For though I be absent in the flesh, means that this did not diminish Paul’s concern for them, nor did it keep them from being ministered to by him. 33

Commentary on Colossians we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” These verses seem to give credence to this statement. Faith in Christ alone saves; but the faith in Christ that saves is never alone. When Christians were being assaulted by the Devil and his crowd, Paul urged them to be steadfast in their faith in Christ. Paul could also be talking about their continued faith in Christ as the Lord of their lives. We are to walk by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight).” If we walk by faith, it is a continual trust in Him for every move we make. Galatians 5:6, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” We walk by sight in the natural world. Everything has to rationalized and it has to make sense or we do not get involved. But the moment we are saved we enter a spiritual world. The Spiritual is more real than the natural. The spiritual will never end and the natural will when God has finished His plan for the present creation. I want to quote Tozer here: “At the root of the Christian life lies belief in the invisible. The object of the Christian’s faith is unseen reality.” Our uncorrected thinking, influenced by the blindness of our natural hearts and the intrusive ubiquity ( the state or capacity of being everywhere at the same time.) This tends to make us draw a contrast between the spiritual and the real—but actually no such contrast exists. The antithesis lies elsewhere—between the real and the imaginary, between the spiritual and the material, between the temporal and the eternal; but between the spiritual and the real, never. The spiritual is real. If we would rise into that region of light and power plainly beckoning us through the Scriptures of truth, we must break the evil habit of ignoring the spiritual. We must shift out inter-

est from the seen to the unseen. For the great unseen Reality is God. “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). This is basic in the life of faith. From there we can rise to unlimited heights. “Ye believe in God,” said our Lord Jesus Christ, “Believe also in me” (John 14:1). Without the first there can be no second.”

Colossians 2:6, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord. The word, As, means, “in like manner.” Paul lays down a profound truth here. How had they received Christ Jesus? They had received Him by faith as Lord and Saviour. It was a simple faith. It was not a faith one could brag on. It was a faith given to them by the Lord and they made the simple choice to believe Him. The kingdom walk is by the same identical principle of faith as the entrance requirement. You enter the kingdom by faith, and then you walk by that same faith. So walk ye in Him. This means the Christian walk is walking by the same principle of faith as it took to be saved. This verse reveals the simplicity of the Christian life. The believer is to walk by the same simple faith by which he was saved. The place of identification with Him which God has given us is to be carried out in practice here. We are to walk as identified with Him. • That means the same recognition of sin; Rom. 7:18. • The same recognition of mercy; Rom. 12:1. • The same attitude of humility; Phil. 2:5. • The same simple faith - faith that appropriates the promises of God that apply to this life.

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Chapter Two

John Gill says, “Receiving Christ is believing in him: faith is the eye of the soul, that sees the beauty, glory, fulness, and suitableness of Christ; the foot that goes to him, and the hand that takes hold on him, and the arm that receives and embraces him; so that this is not a receiving him into the head by notion, but into the heart by faith; and not in part only, but in whole: faith receives a whole Christ, his person as God and man; him in all his offices, as prophet, priest, and King; particularly as a Saviour and Redeemer, he being under that character so exceeding suitable to the case of

a sensible sinner; and it receives all blessings of grace along with him, from him, and through him; as a justifying righteousness, remission of sins, adoption of children, grace for grace, and an inheritance among all them that are sanctified; and both Christ and them, as the free grace gifts of God; which men are altogether undeserving of, and cannot possibly give any valuable consideration for: so these Colossians had received Christ gladly, joyfully, willingly, and with all readiness; and especially as “the Lord”, on which there is a peculiar emphasis in the text; they had received him and believed in him,

as the one and only Lord and head of the church; as the one and only Mediator between God and man, to the exclusion of angels, the worship of which the false teachers were introducing; they had received the doctrines of Christ, and not the laws of Moses, which judaizing preachers were desirous of joining with them; they had heard and obeyed the Son, and not the servant; they had submitted to the authority of Christ as King of saints, and had been subject to his ordinances; wherefore the apostle exhorts them to continue and go on, believing in him, and holding to him, the head.

crete. Our faith does not need to be like a reed shaken by the wind. Some people are open to change when just anybody comes along with a story that seems reasonable to them. This is an insult to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ who gave Him to die for us on the cross. The words, in the faith, are both personal faith in Christ and the doctrines believed. Jude 1:3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” The word faith as used here is the doctrines believed. It is like someone asking “What faith are you?” And the answer being, “I am Baptist, or, I am Methodist, etc. As ye have been taught, is ever as, plus the aorist passive indicative from Didaskō meaning to teach or give instructions. Abounding means to be in abundance. This means as their faith was constantly being established they would have it in abundance. Thanksgiving, is the sphere in which the abundance is manifested. Rooted illustrates the Christian’s source. Until a person is saved he

Colossians 2:7, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Rooted is a perfect passive participle in the Greek expressing abiding result. Wuest says, “Having been rooted with the present result that you are firmly anchored.” Ephesians 3:17, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,” Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Built up, is a present passive participle speaking of continuous action, being constantly built up. Building up is not something that you do once-and-for-all. One can regress in his Christian life if he ceases to exercise himself in godliness. Vincent says, “note the changing metaphor from the solidity of military array to walking, rooting of a tree, and then to building. It is ever a progressive action as we engage in the work of the Lord. We are to occupy till He comes. And stablished in the faith, The word, stablished, means, “to make firm” like it is in con35

Commentary on Colossians is rooted in Adam (self), therefore, under condemnation. The believer has a different source and environment for growth. This is the same truth about which Jesus spoke in John 15; the vine and the branches. Once the plant has been rooted in the proper environment (Jesus Christ), the process (constantly being established) of growth can take place. The instrument by which our growth takes place is our faith; Heb. 11:6. The reason this could be said of them and is being affected in their lives is because they were taught. An attitude of thanksgiving must be maintained.

as the innocent harmless sheep are drove, and carried away by wolves, and by the thief that comes to steal, to kill, and destroy; intimating, that such as these were the heretics of those times; wherefore it became them to be upon their guard, to watch, look out, and beware, lest they should be surprised by these deceitful workers, who lay in wait to deceive; were wolves in sheep’s clothing, who transformed themselves into the apostles of Christ; and therefore it became them to take heed, lest any man hurt them, be he ever so wise and learned, or be thought ever so good, religious, and sincere; since men of this cast put on such masks and false appearances, on purpose to beguile. The things by which they imposed upon weak minds are as follow, and therefore to be shunned, avoided, and rejected:” Philosophy, is a transliteration of a word which meant originally “the love of wisdom.” It is used here by Paul as “vain speculation.” The definite article is present before philosophy, therefore, his philosophy. It identifies the philosophy with the person about whom Paul is warning the Colossians. Vain deceit, Vain is the translation of kenos, meaning, “empty, devoid of truth, futile, fruitless, without effect.” It is used of things that will not succeed, that are to no purpose, that are in vain. The word deceit means, “to cheat, deceive, beguile.” When you put these two words together you discover the emptiness and the wickedness that identify the false teachers. They have nothing to offer with their words of human wisdom. No one can be helped by obedience to what they say. They are deceivers who cheat the unsaved out of salvation and the saved of their reward. Tradition, translates Paradosis, meaning that which is handed down. Wuest quotes Vincent: “The term is especially appropriate to the JudaeoGnostic teachings in Colosse, which depended for their authority, not on ancient writings, but on tradition. The later mystical theology or metaphysic of the Jews was called Kabbala, literally meaning reception or

Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Beware is present active indicative from Blepō (I see). Wuest says, “Be constantly looking out, keep a watchful eye ever open.” Lest any man places a caution upon the sentence, Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “The Form of the sentence is a measure of the imminence of the peril.” He is telling them to be on guard. There shall be, is a verb totally left out of the translation. It is estai, third person singular future middle indicative from eimi, translated “there shall be.” It could also be read as: “Be ever on your guard lest there shall be someone who leads you astray through his vain speculation, even futile deceit, which is according to the tradition of men, according to the rudimentary teachings of the world, and not according to Christ.” Spoil is a present active participle from a word meaning, “to carry off booty, to carry off as a captive and slave.” John Gills says of this: “Or despoil you; rob you of the rich treasure of the Gospel, strip you of your spiritual armor, take away from you the truths and doctrines of Christ, and divest you of your spiritual privileges and blessings; suggesting, that the false teachers were thieves and robbers, and men of prey: or drive and carry you away as spoils, 36

Chapter Two received doctrines, tradition.” Tradition is an accumulation of beliefs based on interpretation and not on the exegesis of the Word of God itself. God does not bless man’s interpretation of His Word by the scholars. After the rudiments of the world, Rudiment is Stoicheia (rudimentary teachings) such as “ceremonialism, meats, drinks, washing, Essenic ascetism, Pagan symbolic mysteries and initiatory rites - all belonged to a rudimentary moral stage” (Vincent) The “world” means, “Worldly wisdom that has no foundation in truth.” And not after Christ. Christ means the person of Christ, not teaching about Christ. The false teachers put these angels in the place of Christ. Grant says, “Here (in this verse) he adds one of his warnings not to be led away, therefore, through philosophy and vain deceit; that is, through the working of man’s mind apart from revelation. Christ is the subject of revelation, plainly. No human thought could have discovered Him; none can add to Him. All mere human teaching has upon it the essential marks of the world itself, a world into which He came in love, but which had no heart for Him.”

19, number 4. This was a favorite word with the gnostics. For Paul to say that in Jesus is “all the fulness” of the Godhead bodily would be nothing short of blasphemy. Paul laid the ax at the root of the Gnostic’s tree of false teaching. Godhead, Wuest says, “Paul is declaring that in the Son there dwells all the fulness of absolute Godhead; they were not mere rays of divine glory which gilded Him, lighting up His Person for a season and with splendor not His own; but He was, and is, absolute and perfect God; and the apostle uses theotes to express this essential and personal Godhead of the Son. Here the word divinity will not do, only the word, deity.” Bodily, makes Him our own. He has come out of the invisible to be with us; Hebrews 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:16,17, “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”He came in that body to deliver us and make reconciliation for sin; Philippians 2:9-11, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Robertson says, “Paul here disposes of the Docetic theory that Jesus had no human body as well as the Cerinthian separation between the man Jesus and the aeon Christ. He asserts plainly the deity and the humanity of Jesus Christ in corporeal form.”

Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” In Him speaks of location. Where is God? The answer is, “In Him.” Dwelleth, is third person singular present active indicative from Katoikeō. This is a combination of two words, oikeō, (to be at home), and Kata, prefix, meaning down, thus showing permanence. Wuest says, “The compound verb was used of the permanent residents of a town as compared with the transient community. The verb is in the present tense, showing durative action.” All the fulness, The word fulness is plārōma, and means, as we have seen before, “the sum total of the divine power and attributes.” See the comment on this word under Chapter 1, vs. 37

Commentary on Colossians And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power, What Paul means is that in Christ they find the satisfaction of every spiritual want. It, therefore, follows that they do not need the angelic powers; that Christ is the Head of every principality and power is a further reason why they should not seek them. All they need they have in Christ. This is positional truth. It has nothing to do with feeling though feelings must ultimately be affected. Do you feel inadequate? Then stop it. You are adequate in His adequacy. Do you have inferior feelings? Then you must stop. Paul said, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ...” II Cor. 2:14. How can a person feel inferior who has this promise? There is only one of two reasons: He either has not discovered the truth of this verse or he is not committing himself completely to Christ and resting in its truth. Our verse speaks of a present continuous condition. This means that this is a state of being. It is the very nature of his position in Christ; the word complete is a perfect passive participle. The perfect tense is action completed in the past with present results. The passive voice shows that we did not attain the fulness in Christ but that it was a gift. We were acted upon, therefore, that fulness is ours. We must take it by faith for it to become real in experience. Which, is a nominative singular masculine relative pronoun and should be translated who. Which, leaves the impression of neuter gender. Head There is no other place for Christ. He is first; 1:18, in time and in rank. All rule and authority come after Christ, whether angels, aeons, kings, etc. The fact is that He is the Head of all. Principality is rule. These are angels that kept not their first estate. They are in a governing position over this world. They gained it when they took it through Adamic sin. The word principality suggests territorial spirits over certain parts of this world. Jesus is the Head over all. They can do damage but ulti-

Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power”: Ye are, is a present active indicative verb from eimi. It is “ye keep on being.” The linear action is there. It represents action as going on in the present. Complete, is a perfect passive participle from pleroō. For the meaning, see Chapter 1, vs. 19. Wuest says, “It is a participle in the perfect tense. Literally it is, ‘And you are in Him, having been filled full, with the present result that you are in a state of fulness’.” In Him, here is where completeness is found. No one can be complete outside of Him. Dr. John Phillips comments: “Paul is referring to the believer as being a member of the Lord’s mystical body, the church. Human philosophy and the world’s religions know nothing of that. The word for “complete” is plēroō. It means ‘to be made full.’ We are filled full in Him. Our fulness comes from His fulness. We are mystically so united to Him that we, as members of His body, share His life to the full. This truth is developed more fully in Paul’s companion letter to the Ephesians. “The truth of all of this we can grasp only falteringly. It is beyond all finite thought. Gnostic notions and supposed secrets are trash and tinsel in contrast to the vast gold mine of truth that we have here. In a coming eternity, all of that fulness and completeness that is ours in God’s Beloved will be displayed, ‘worlds without end,’ to all the awe-struck created beings in the universe and to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills throughout all the ages yet to be.” “The cult at Colosse was offering to ‘complete’ the Christian believers by initiating them into their secrets. ‘Nonsense!’ says Paul. We are already complete in Him. At most, what the Gnostics had to offer was some worthless trivia. At worst, it offered access to the deep thing of Satan and to forbidden secrets that are dark, dreadful, and damning in nature, effect, and consequence.” 38

Chapter Two mately they can only go so far as He says. This was true with Job. And power The word, power, translates exousia and means, “(in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:—authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength. That is a lot of definition for such a little word, but the demons that operate under Satan are fierce. They hate us and they are constantly working to defeat us and make us have shipwreck of our faith. It is comforting to know that Christ our Saviour is over them and protects us. Amen!!!

believer is not only forgiven of his sins, but also the old sin nature that produces those sins is severed from him so that it can no longer produce condemning sins. This is done by the crucifixion of Christ. This is a truth addressed to faith. Our old sin nature continues to haunt us. Paul said, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The truth of the matter is that Paul was delivered but was yet to be delivered. This sin nature was stripped off through the crucifixion of Christ so far as any future judgement is concerned. Yet it remained to carry on a struggle against him as long as he lived. Paul was not his old sin nature. He was the new man created in Christ Jesus. He was a new man but dragged about the old man as a reminder of that from which he was saved. Jesus dealt with our old man by crucifixion. This crucifixion cut away the old man and in the process set the believer free from condemnation. It did not set him free from having to deal with the old man on a daily basis. The old man is corrupt and try as you will to live a perfect life by ridding the old man of sins will leave you shouting out with Paul, “O wretched man that I am.” No saved man who has been created in Christ Jesus and has an inward man that does not sin can ever be satisfied with sin in his life. Sin damns souls to hell and put our Saviour on the cross. The believer hates sin just as Jesus does.

Colossians 2:11: “In whom also ye are circumcised after the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ”: In whom, continues the subject of positional truth. Therefore, what is in this verse relates to our position in Him and does not deal first with experience. (For the meaning of positional truth see page 8). Ye are circumcised also. Notice the “also” belongs to “ye are circumcised.” The verb is aorist passive indicative. It is speaking of the cutting away of the flesh of Christ on the cross. What is true of Christ is also true of us; Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” It is a past fact. The passive voice means that we did not crucify ourselves but that we were in Christ when it happened to Him. The circumcision of which this speaks is true of every believer. After the circumcision made without hands, is a reference to the work of the cross in the crucifixion of Christ. His death dealt with the old sin nature, i.e., the old man. It is called a circumcision made without hands. In putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, is “a putting off, or, stripping off.” The

Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Buried, is an aorist passive participle from Sunthaptō, meaning to bury with, or together (The prefix sun means “with”); is used in the metaphorical sense only of the believer’s identification with Christ in His burial, as set forth in baptism; Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should 39

Commentary on Colossians walk in newness of life.” Baptism is a pictorial ordinance. When one accepts the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for salvation, he is put into Christ by the Holy Spirit and his life becomes retroactive back through the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Baptism pictures what one believes. The preposition attached to this word shows identification with Him in His burial. It is literally coburied. The aorist tense refers to the time of our profession in baptism. At the time of our baptism, we were testifying to our faith in Him and our identification with Him in His burial and His resurrection. In baptism, is literally, “in the baptism.” The definite article is present, identifying water baptism. There is only one baptism; Eph. 4:5. The word baptism comes from bapto (to dip). It means to dip, to immerse, or to submerge. Wherein also, is literally “in whom also”. This shows the continuous action of the identification we have with Christ. Our identification with Him does not stop with our identification with His death. Ye are risen with him, is aorist passive indicative from Sunegeirō, meaning, to raise together (sun). It is used of the believer’s spiritual resurrection with Christ; Ephesians 2:6, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” The aorist tense speaks of an event accomplished in the past. The passive voice is where the believer is acted upon by Christ. Through the power of the new birth we were put into Christ on the cross, in the grave, and in the resurrection, and in the ascension. We are seated in Christ in the heavenlies right now while still on earth. John 3:13, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” Jesus is in heaven at the same time He is on earth in this verse. That is also true of us. If we are already seated in Christ in the heavenlies, and we die physically, how long do you think it will take for us to get where He is? Hallelujah!!!! Through the faith of the operation of God. This is faith in God’s mighty operation in rais-

ing Jesus from the dead which is saving faith. The operation translates, energeia from which we get our word energy. This is God’s energy; God’s power. This is power without limits. Who hath raised Him from the dead, Jesus was dead. He died a real death. Some teach that He just swooned or went into some kind of a coma. He died and in doing so He conquered death. Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” When Jesus walked out of that borrowed tomb, He had hanging at His side the keys of death and hell. Amen and amen.

Colossians 2:13: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses”; And you being dead in your sins. Being is a present active participle from eimi showing a present state of being i.e., being continually dead. This was a living death prior to salvation. A person can be dead to God and alive to man. Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” Paul is speaking here about the Ephesians pre-salvation days. They were dead. They were not physically dead. They were not raised from a grave. They were given spiritual life which they did not have. It is called “quickened” in this verse. And the uncircumcision of your flesh, Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “The paraptōma (trespasses) are the actual definite transgressions, while the akrobustia tes sarkas (uncircumcision of the flesh is the impure carnal disposition which prompts them...The external fact is mentioned, not for its own sake, but for its symbolical meaning. The outward uncircumcision of the Gentiles is a type of their unchastened carnal mind. In other words, though the literal meaning is not excluded, the spiritual reference is most prominent.” Paul is talking about the fact that when God saves a person, He breaks the power of 40

Chapter Two the indwelling sin nature. This is the same as Romans 6. The Colossians, in their unsaved state, were possessed by the sinful nature; the power of which is not cut off until salvation, therefore, their flesh was uncircumcised. Hath he quickened together, is the translation of one word. It is a third person singular aorist active indicative from Suzopōieō (to make alive together with) someone else. Wuest says, “This occurred when our Lord was raised from the dead. All believers at that time in the mind and purpose of God were identified with Him in His resurrection, and potentially given resurrection life, which later was actually received by them when they placed their faith in Him as Saviour.” Having forgiven you, is aorist middle participle (to bestow a favor unconditionally). The aorist tense refers to a point of time. The point of time is when they received God’s offer of salvation through the gospel. The middle voice is where the subject participates in the result of the action. God did this and He did it for Himself. All trespasses, gives us the extent of the forgiveness. Grant says of this verse, “Here is a change of condition as well as the change of position spoken before. We have life, a new life, a life which has come to us through Christ’s death, and which is the result of divine power working towards us in Him.”

one will be saved. There are reasons for this: • One of the basic reasons is given in Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” The weakness of human flesh to rise to meet the commandments makes it impossible for one to be saved in that way. • Another reason that one cannot be saved by keeping the Law is brought out in James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Now meditate on this verse. You live a lifetime keeping the whole law, you never break it a time, (which is impossible), then just before you die you break ONE of the commandments. What happens? James said if you break one, you have broken the whole law. According to that, you would go to hell. • The next and most convincing reason is that God says in Romans 3:19,20, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” This is repeated in Galatians 2:16, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” That was against us. Our nature made it so. Man inherited a fallen nature from Adam and received it at birth. A child is born with a sin nature. It does not take long to discover it. How many of you had to train your children to do wrong? A kid comes in from playing outside, and he comes out with a word that shatters mama. “Where did you learn that word??? That is a nasty word. We do not talk like that around here. Johnny, the next time you say that word, I will spank you.” My grandmother’s

Colossians 2:14: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross”; Blotting out, is an aorist active participle from Exaleiphō (to wipe off, wipe away, to obliterate, erase). The aorist tense refers to the past fact (the cross) and the active voice means God did it. The handwriting of ordinances, refers to the Law. God wrote the original with His own hand. The Ten Commandments are accepted by many as a means of salvation. If that is true, no 41

Commentary on Colossians remedy was to wash your mouth out with soap. The soap they had when I was a child, did not taste as good as the perfumed soap of today. The law of commandments was constantly telling you that you did wrong. So there was a problem. It was not long before you realized that if you made it to heaven, you would have to find some other way. The Ten Commandments were just too tough. You constantly had the feeling of condemnation. Which was contrary to us, the same word for contrary is translated adversary in Hebrews 10:27, “But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” The word adversary means, “opposed to, contrary to, an adversary.” The law was not a friend to the people, it constantly ruled against them. And took it out of the way nailing it to His Cross, this is easy enough to understand. But there are those who believe that the law is still in effect. Grace is that by which Jesus governs His people today. A person who attempts to go to heaven by keeping the Law is a little short on intelligence. What he needs to do is to repent of his error and turn to the God of all grace, and enabling grace will be a never-ending friend to help you the rest of your life. Took, is third person singular perfect active indicative from airo (hath taken). Robertson says, “The perfect tense emphasizes the permanence of the removal of the bond which has been paid and canceled and cannot be presented again.” Nailing it to the cross, is an aorist active participle from Preseloō (to nail to). The figure here is the nailing of the removed things in triumph to the cross. The cross is where Jesus died and all this took place.

Summary Of The Law • It was given to Israel only (Lev. 27:34; Rom. 3:12). • It was never intended to save (Gal. 3:21). • It was meant to stop men’s mouths and produce guilt (Rom. 3:19,20; 5:20). • It cannot be kept by man because of the weakness of the flesh (Rom. 8:3). • The Law is not of faith (Gal. 3:12). Noah was saved by faith; Abraham was saved by faith; we are saved by faith; therefore, we are not saved by the Law. • The Law was intended to lead us to Christ (Gal. 3:24). • The end of the Law for righteousness is faith in Christ (Rom. 10:4). • The Law has been taken out of the way (Col. 2:14). • Colossians chapter 2, Verse 15 says: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing after them in it.” Jesus did not just die the death of pain though He did suffer those things. But Jesus suffered• “And having spoiled” is an aorist middle participle from Apekduomai (putting off ). Middle voice: “having Himself put off.” The battle was the Lord’s and He won it. • “Principalities” refer to the fallen angels. It is literally “rulers.” They were assaulting Him on the cross. The cross was the battle ground of all battle grounds. • “Powers” is exousias meaning “authorities” and is another reference to fallen angels. See Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:13 • “He made a shew” is an aorist active indicative from deigmatizō (to make an example of ). • “Openly” means that He put the battle and victory on open display so that all could see. • “Triumphing” is an aorist active participle from thriambeurō (to lead in triumph). It is used of a conqueror with reference to the vanquished. His victory over the Kingdom of Darkness was on public display at the cross. As the sinless Saviour, He offered Himself without spot to God as the sin substitute so men would have a Saviour from their sins instead of a Law of Condemnation. In doing this, He overcame the principalities and powers of darkness by removing the only thing (the Law) by which they could make a claim against men. 42

Chapter Two Of things to come, is literally of things coming. “Coming” is a present active participle. The action of the present participle represents action as taking place at the same time as the action of the main verb. So it is not referring to things yet to come but to things coming relative to the time the shadow was all that was seen. But the body is of Christ, Robertson says, “The some (body) casts the skia (shadow) and so belongs to Christ (Christou, genitive case).”

Colossians 2:16: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath day.” Let judge is a present active imperative from Krinō (I judge). The imperative mood signifies a command. The present tense refers to the time of the writing. We are under orders not to allow anyone to judge us in these particular areas that are about to be mentioned. Meat is Brōsis (the act of eating). Drink is Pōsis (the act of drinking). In respect means in the division or category or could be translated in the matter of. Holy day is heorte (a festival or feast day). It is not a holiday, but a holy day; a sacred day. New moon, this is a special day observed by the blowing of trumpets, special sacrifice, feasting, and religious instruction. No one worked and no national or private feasts were permitted to take place. The authorities took great pain to fix (accurately) the beginning of the month devoted by the appearance of the new moon. Messengers were placed at commanding heights to watch the sky, and as soon as the new moon appeared, they hastened to communicate it to the synod, being allowed even to travel on the Sabbath for this purpose. The witnesses were assembled and examined and when the judges were satisfied, the president pronounced the words, “It is sanctified,” and the day was declared new moon. Sabbath, this is the weekly festival of the sabbath.

Colossians 2:18: “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,”: Let beguile, is third person singular present active imperative from Katabrabeuō. This word means to decide against, to declare unworthy of the prize. Wuest quotes Vincent: “The attitude of the false teachers would involve their sitting in judgment as to the future reward of those who refused their doctrine of angelic mediation.” No man, is no one. This is a reference to all who attempt to lead them astray by the use of false doctrines. Voluntary is Thelō (taking delight in, devoting himself to). Wuest quotes Vincent: “It falls in, in the regular participial series, with the other declarations as to the vain enthusiasm for their false doctrine, and their conceited self-complacency which prompted them to sit as judges. The worship of angels involved a show of humility, an affectation of superior reverence for God, as shown in the reluctance to attempt to approach God otherwise than indirectly: in its assumption that humanity, debased by the contact with matter, must reach after God through successive grades of intermediate beings.” Humility, is Tapeinophrosune (lowness of mind). Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “Humility is a vice with heathen moralists, but a virtue with

Colossians 2:17: “Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body of Christ.” Which things, refers to the things mentioned in vs. 16. Are is a present active indicative from eimi (I am). The present tense means they continue to be. A shadow, speaks of the image or outline cast by an object. 43

Commentary on Colossians Christian apostles. Moreover, the character of the humility in this case is further as a worshiping of angels, which was altogether a perversion of the truth.” Worshiping, translates, threskeia, and signifies religion in its external aspect; religious worship, especially the ceremonial service of religion. It is used here of the worshiping of angels which they themselves repudiate; this is brought out in Revelation 22:8,9, “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” Intruding, translates, embateuō (to enter, investigate, search into, scrutinize minutely). These false teachers scrutinized minutely the things which they imagined or professed to have seen in a vision. Vainly, translates, eike (in vain, without success or effort). Puffed up, translates phusioō (to inflate, blow up, to be puffed up, bear oneself loftily, be proud). Great pride is a characteristic of false religion. Fleshly mind, is literally the mind of the flesh. Wuest quotes Vincent: “The intellectual faculty in its moral aspects an determined by the fleshly, sinful nature . . . The teachers boasted that they were guided by the higher reason. Paul described their higher reason as ‘carnal’.” The false teachers cannot cause damnation to the soul of the believer but they can cause the loss of reward. This is taught in 2 John 1:8,9, “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” They do it through a fleshly system. Therefore, their doctrine would be based on empiricism and rationalism, not Divine Revelation.

Colossians 2:19: “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Holding translates, krateō (to be strong, mighty, to prevail). There are some things we are asked to do with strength. It is active voice which means the subject does the acting so volition is involved. It is also negated. It is showing what the false teachers are not doing. The Head refers to Christ as Head of the Church; 1:18. Robertson says, “The Gnostics dethroned Christ from his primacy (1:18) and placed him below a long line of aeons or angels. They did it with words of praise for Christ as those do now who teach Christ as only the noblest of men. The headship of Christ is the keynote of this Epistle to the Colossians and the heart of Paul’s Christology.” The body refers to the church as in 1:24. The Church is being effected by the apostasy today. We hold the right doctrines but our practice is wanting. We are immersed in a sea of professing Christendom that has sold out to the devil for money and earthly security and it has had its effect on the true churches of Jesus Christ. We might as well face it. The joints and bands. Wuest quotes Vincent: “The word (joints) means primarily touching, and is used in classical Greek of the touch upon harp strings, or the grip of a wrestler, not quite the same as joints in the sense of the parts in contact, but the relations between the adjacent parts. The actual connection is expressed by bands or ligaments.” The human body is used as an illustration here of the relation and coordination of the church as the body. This is marvelous and only God could do it. Having nourishment, is a present passive participle from epichoregeo (to supply fully, abundantly). It could be translated being supplied. It is a continuous tense. It is passive voice which means the body does not supply itself but is rather supplied by the Lord. Knit together, is a present passive partici44

Chapter Two ple from sumbibazō (to cause to coalesce, to join or knit together). Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “The discoveries of modern physiology have invested the apostle’s language with far greater distinctness and force than it can have worn to his own contemporaries. Any exposition of the nervous system more especially reads like a commentary on his image of the relations between the body and the head. At every turn we meet with some fresh illustration which kindles it with a flood of light. The volition communicated from the brain to the limbs, the sensations of the extremities telegraphed back to the brain, the absolute sympathy between the head and the members, the instantaneous paralysis ensuing on the interruption of continuity, all these add to the completeness and life of the image.” This truth should challenge us to maintain an unbroken fellowship with our Lord. Increaseth, is a present active indicative from auxanō (to grow or increase), of the growth of that which lives naturally or spiritually. This is the result of God’s supply. Of God, Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “i. e., which partakes of God, which belongs to God, which has its abode in God. Thus the finite is truly united with the Infinite; the end which the false teachers strove in vain to compass is attained; the gospel vindicates itself as the true union of the human being with God, after which the human heart is yearning and the human intellect is feeling.”

sian believers died with Christ at the Cross. Paul deals with this also in Romans 6:24, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” They were thus separated from all such things as are mentioned in vss. 20-23. The death of the believer with Christ is a death to his old relations, to sin, law, guilt, the world... They had died with Christ to legalism, how absurd then for ordinances to be imposed upon them.” With Christ, refers to identification with Him in His death. This is positional truth. See page 8 for a summary of the doctrine of positional truth. Rudiments, translates stoicheia meaning “any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite. Elementary teachings and practices.” World, is used in its ethical sense, Wuest says, “the sum total of human life in the ordered world, considered apart from, alienated from, and hostile to God, and of the earthly things which seduce from God.” Are ye subject to ordinances, is a present middle indicative, meaning to subject yourselves to ordinances. It is true today when people go into error they do it of their own volition. To subject oneself to ordinances is an act of the will.

Colossians 2:20: “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances.”

Colossians 2:21: “(Touch not; taste not; handle not”;

If ye be dead, is a first class condition. Ye be dead is aorist active indicative from apothneskō meaning, “to die off or out.” Wuest says, “the aorist indicative verb speaks of a past action. It is, ‘in view of the fact that you died with Christ, or if, as is the case, you died with Christ.’ Death means separation. The Colos-

Paul names some of the ordinances: “Touch” translates haptomai, and is an aorist middle subjunctive, and means, “to fasten one’s self to, to cling to”. It does not refer to accidental touching. It speaks of a conscious effort to touch. 45

Commentary on Colossians Taste, translates geuomai and is an aorist middle subjunctive meaning, “to make to taste”. This is also speaking of a conscious effort to taste. Handle, translates thigganō and is an aorist active subjunctive meaning, “to handle in a superficial or transitory way”. Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “These prohibitions relate to defilement contrasted in diverse ways by contact with impure objects. Some were doubtless re-enactments of the Mosaic Law, while others would be exaggerations or additions of a rigorous asceticism, such as we find among the Essene prototypes of these Colossian heretics, e.g. the avoidance of oil, of wine, or of fleshmeat, the shunning of contact with a stranger or a religious inferior, and the like.”

ing of meanings by their interpretation. There are those who interpret apart from exposition. We do not need to super impose our views of the Scripture. We need to get our views from the Scriptures.

Colossians 2:23: “Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, Paul gives credit to the worldly appeal that these false teachers have. They appear to be logical in their thinking. Which things, translates hatina. The relative and indefinite pronoun classifies putting these precepts and teachings and all that are like them in one category, a class of things. Have, translates estin, and is the third person singular present active indicative, meaning “are.” Show means “a plausible reason, a show of reason, hence, a reputation for wisdom. Will worship, translates ethelothreskeia and means, “a voluntary worship, a worship which one devises and prescribes for himself, contrary to the contents and nature of faith which ought to be directed to Christ. Lightfoot defines it, “in volunteered, self-imposed, officious, supererogatory service, one or both of these two ideas, (1) excessive readiness, officious zeal, (2) affectation, unreality, are involved in this and similar compounds.” Humility translates, tapeinophrosune, in worshiping of angels, and not coming directly, and with boldness, to God or Christ; or rather in subjecting themselves to the yoke of the law, and submitting to the decrees of the fathers and doctors of the church, who were more wise, and learned, and knowing than they, and so had the appearance of prudence, gentleness, and goodness:” —John Gill Neglecting of the body, comes from two words that mean “hard treatment of the body.” This is a self-imposed punishment of the body.

Colossians 2:22: “Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?” Which are to perish with the using, refers to the meats and drinks. In other words there is no lasting value in the touching and tasting. We do not have such ordinances in the Church today. The two ordinances of the Church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. If you touch a dead body, you are not defiled like you were under the law. What Paul is doing here is showing them the liberty they have in Christ. Commandments, translates entalma and means, “a precept” Doctrines, translates didaskalia and means, “teachings, doctrinal instructions.” 0f men, refers to the origin of these commandments and doctrines. The phrase, after the commandments and doctrines of men, describes the rudiments of vs. 20. See what Jesus says about this in Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” These men used the Bible to teach their doctrine! It is dangerous to follow any man who does not follow Scripture exposition as his method. You will find yourself being guided in your understand46

Chapter Two Paul is speaking reproachfully of this voluntary humility. Not in any honor, if the rites of the ceremonial law itself were weak and beggarly elements, much more must these additions to it, and corruptions of it, be such; and at most only regarded things external. To the satisfying of the flesh, Wuest quotes Vincent: “To means as a remedy against... Paul says that these ascetic observances, while they appeal to men to be of superior wisdom and piety, have no value as remedies against sensual indulgence.” If these practices would have an appeal to men because of a manifestation of wisdom, then there must have been something good from a human standpoint in it. This is where many make their mistake. There are many good and profitable things which could be incorporated into religion which would have less than no value with God. His Word is the only standard and when men go outside His Word, it is rebellion, even in good things. The Word of God is our only rule of faith and practice.

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Commentary on Colossians CHAPTER 3

Colossians 3:2: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Colossians 3:1: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

Set your affection, is one word and is a present active imperative from Phroneō, meaning to direct one’s mind to a thing. We must think heaven. It is a command. A man cannot think on things on this earth and act heavenly. The more we think of Christ on the throne making intercession for us, the more like Christ one becomes. Not on things on the earth, is the contrast. The man of the world thinks worldly. When our citizenship is in heaven, we should think on heavenly things. Abraham was saved and lived as a pilgrim on this earth because he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God; Hebrews 11:10, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

If, is a first class condition and could be translated “since.” It is if and it is true. It is a fulfilled condition. Ye be risen, translates sunegeirō and is an aorist passive indicative meaning to raise together. Some translate it co-raised. The aorist tense refers to the point of time in which this took place which was on resurrection morning. The passive voice means that we did not raise ourselves but were raised by God. It is not an experience to be sought but a fact to be reckoned upon: Romans 6:11, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Seek, is present active imperative. The present tense means to constantly seek. The imperative mood is a command to be obeyed. Obedience to this command would automatically separate the Christians in Colosse from the Gnostics who placed the emphasis on earthly things. Things which are above, refers to heavenly things. Laying up rewards in heaven; Mt. 6:19,20. Study the Word. Win the lost. Give, etc. Things above would be heaven’s interests. Where Christ sitteth, is a present middle participle. Christ sitting at the right hand of God always speaks of finished work. All the work that had to be done in order to obtain salvation, He finished when on the cross. Now He sits. He does not need to do anything else. When He saves, it is always based upon what He did at the cross. The Colossians are to rest in Him. Christianity in not a touch not, taste not, religion. It is a resting by faith in His finished work. What a refutation of the Gnostic heresy!

Colossians 3:3: “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” For is a connector and is about to reveal something that will give purpose to the last statement. Ye are dead is an aorist active indicative from Apothnēskō, meaning to die off or out. The aorist tense means it is referring to a past fact. It is ye died. The time is with Christ at the cross. Hid is a perfect passive indicative from Kruptō, meaning to cover, conceal, keep secret. It is has been hidden. The perfect tense represents action as having reached its completion or termination and existing in its finished results. The passive voice is where the subject is acted upon. The subject is the Colossian believers. God is the One Who is the actor. So we arrive at two conclusions: The believer’s life (spiritual life) has been perfectly hidden. It is out of the reach of Satan. This is security. The act of hiding was done by the Lord so that this places salvation wholly in His hands. With Christ refers to our identification with 48

Chapter Three Him and our position in Him. The believer can never think of His salvation or glorification apart from Him. In God tells us where the life is hidden. This reminds one of the song.

of eternal life; John 5:24. That life has not yet been fully manifested but will be at the Second Coming of Christ. Ye shall also appear, is future passive indicative from the same word. It refers to the time when the believer’s life will be manifested. The more a believer enters by faith into the blessed truths mentioned in these four verses, the more will the things above be for him the great attraction and the things on earth lose their attractiveness. What we need as Christians is an increasing realization in faith of our position in Christ and then be energized by the indwelling Spirit to seek those things which are above and not the things on the earth. Such a life would mean joy and peace. But until we lay hold of these truths, any service to Him will seem a sacrifice and any parting with the things of the world will seem a sacrificial loss.

“A Mighty Fortress.” A mighty fortress is our God A Bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing, Were not the right Man on our side, The man of God’s own choosing.

Colossians 3:5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is He; Lord Saboath is His name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle.

Mortify is aorist active imperative from nekroō, meaning to put to death. Robertson says, “to treat as dead.” - A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures of The New Testament, Vol. IV. The active voice means that the subject does the acting. So this is a task that is to be done by the believer after salvation. This proves that the old sin nature is not eradicated at salvation. The aorist tense speaks of this as an act. It is looking at it as an event. It is in the imperative mood which means it is commanded expressing urgency. Note these lessons: • This mortification follows salvation. It also follows a change of mind. • It is something that is definitely expected; imperative mood. • It is something that the believer must do; active voice. • It happens when the believer comes to the realization of this truth and surrenders to it.

A mighty fortress is our God, and being hidden in Him is perfect protection. Praise the Lord!

Colossians 3:4: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Who is our life, identifies the eternal life of the believer. Life is not a feeling or a religious act, it is Jesus Himself. This is brought out in 1 John 5:11,12, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” Shall appear, is aorist passive subjunctive from Phaneroō meaning, “to make manifest or visible.” The reference is to the Second Coming. The believer is in present possession 49

Commentary on Colossians Therefore, connects the thoughts of the past, vss. 1-4, to the present. Followed out to its necessary conclusion our death with Christ at the cross finds its proof in the mortification of fleshly lusts. Members, are the fleshly instruments of lust. We are to habitually repress the members of our flesh as the temptation comes to violate the law of holiness. This is a higher law than this world knows about. Instead of refraining from fornication, the believer will not tolerate the though of adultery. Which are upon the earth. There is a part of us in heaven; vss. 1-4. Ephesians 2:5,6 says, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” There is also a part of us on earth i.e., the body in which the old sin nature dwells. Fornication, means illicit sexual intercourse. It refers to sexual sin in general and can cover homosexuality and sodomy and such sins. Adultery is sexual intercourse with a married person. Uncleanness. This is uncleanness in the moral sense. There are many moral sins that come under this one word such as lustful, luxurious profligate living. Inordinate affection, means, “depraved passion.” These men who kidnap and rape little girls have inordinate affection. Evil concupiscence means “evil, wicked cravings; a feeling which the mind suffers.” Covetousness, means, “a greedy desire to have more.” Idolatry, translates eidolatreia (the worship of false gods), used here as the worship of mammon. Mortify therefore your members does not mean that we are to fight the flesh. If this could be done successfully, the Law would save. It means to keep them in the place of death where they have been put by the death of Christ. We are to take the position of victory

by faith; Rom. 6:11, and walk in the Spirit; Gal. 5:16. The Spirit is the power in the believer for victory, including victory over the flesh.

Colossians 3:6: “For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience”: For which things, is “because of which.” It sets the stage for a reason. The wrath of God. The word wrath is orgē and means, “anger.” “Of God” means that God can and does get mad. Cometh, is present middle indicative from erchomai meaning, “to come.” The present tense means that God is already exercising His wrath upon the children of disobedience. This is not just speaking of the final judgment. It means that God will also deal with the disobedient now.

Colossians 3:7: “In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” In the which, is literally in which indeed. This pictures the sins mentioned in verse 5 as being something like a house in which a person would live. The idea is that this was their lifestyle. Ye walked, is aorist indicative from peripateō. The aorist tense refers to the past fact. Active voice refers to their volition. It refers to behavior. They had conducted themselves in the sphere of these evil things. Ye lived, is imperfect active indicative from zaō. The imperfect tense is linear action or continuous action in time past. It was their continuous way of life before salvation. Repentance is clearly seen in this verse. Paul speaks of their habit of life in time past. But the aorist tense of “ye walked” shows that it is not in progress now. This same thing can be said of any Christian.

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Chapter Three Colossians 3:8: “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

Colossians 3:9: “Lie not one to another seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”

But now, says in effect, “Now that you have passed from that life of sinful conduct, see that you strip yourselves of these sins.” Put off, is an aorist middle imperative from apotithēmi. “Put off” in the middle voice means to put off from oneself. Also, see Eph. 4:22. It is also a command expressing urgency. It is urgent that the believer put off these sins. Anger, is orgē is an abiding, settled habitual anger that includes in its scope the purpose of revenge. Wrath, is thumos and means, “the boiling agitation of the feelings, a sudden violent burst of anger.” Malice, translates kabia and means, “malignity, ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity.” Blasphemy, translates blasphēmia and means, “slander, detraction, speech injurious to another’s good name.” Filthy communication, translates airchrologia and means, “foul speaking, low and obscene speech.” Born again believers have received a new nature that gives them the ability to want the right thing; 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” And a new power that enables them to do the right thing; Romans 8:11-13, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” There is no need for a man to live in bondage to the things just mentioned. More than that, it is sinful if he does.

Lie, is second person plural present middle imperative from pseudomai, meaning, “false, that which is not true.” We get our word Pseudo from this word and Webster defines it as sham, feigned, spurious. It serves as a prefix to many of our words: pseudoclassic means pretending to be; pseudonym means a fictitious name; pseudospiritually means a false spirituality. The present imperative is a command forbidding the continuance of an action already going on. It also expresses that it is urgent that they do so. These people had carried over into the new life the sin of lying. Seeing that ye have put off, is an aorist middle participle from apekduomai meaning a putting off, a stripping off. The aorist tense means it has been done. It means, “wholly put off; utterly renounced.” Robertson says, “having stripped clean off.” The aorist tense probably also refers to a climatic experience at a point of time in the past. The old man, refers to the unregenerate man; what he was in Adam; Ephesians 4:22 says, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” After a man is converted, it is often said that he is not the same man. Deeds, refer to the actual practices before conversion.

The Doctrine Of The Old Man • The old man is what we are in Adam; Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” All are guilty. We are born that way. • The old man cannot inherit the kingdom of God; 1 Corinthians 15:50, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” • The old man is corrupt according to the deceit51

Commentary on Colossians new creation is analogous to the first creation. As a man was made in the image of God naturally, so now spiritually.” Christ is the type of the new man. The Holy Spirit is within trying to bring the life of Christ from within to the surface of our lives. Compare with Gal. 2:20; 4:19.

ful lusts; Ephesians 4:22, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” • For the believer, the old man was crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed; Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” • The believer is to reckon himself dead to sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ in the light of this truth; Romans 6:11, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” • The practice of sin will not be maintained in the life of one who has put off the old man with his deeds; Colossians 3:9, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”

The Doctrine Of The New Man • The new man is created by God; 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” • The new man is equivalent to the new birth; John 3:5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” • The new man is what counts with God; Galatians 6:15, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” • The new man is created after God in true holiness; Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” • The new man is to be put on by believers; (Eph. 4:24). • The new covenant is made with the new man (Heb. 8:8-13). • The new man is empowered by the Holy Spirit; (Rom. 8:11-17).

Colossians 3:10: “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”: Have put on, is an aorist middle participle from enduo meaning, “to put on, like a garment.” The aorist tense refers to the fact of its having been done. This happened when they were saved. Paul is acknowledging that this has happened to them personally. The new man, means, “recently born, young” Paul is discipling a group of new believers. They received their new nature, i.e., the inward man. It is the believer’s responsibility to let that new man out to where he can be seen. Which is renewed, is a present passive participle from anakainō, meaning, which is ever being renewed. The present tense is something that continues to go on. The passive voice is where the believer receives the action. He does not perform the act of renewing but receives the renewing from the Lord. In knowledge, translates epignosin and this word means, “full knowledge.” This gives us the way or method God uses for renewal. After the image of him that created him, The

Colossians 3:11: “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” Where there, is followed by a list which for the mind of the people in that day included some way-out people. This is something we need to get into our thinking. There is no such thing as a difference in race or class in Christ. This simply shows that we all have a position in Christ and in that sphere there is no distinction. Christ in all. To the renewed man this is a fact. He is in all. In Colossians, He is the One 52

Chapter Three Bowels, referred to, in that day, as the seat of the tender affections, especially kindness, benevolence, compassion, and tender mercies. Mercies, means compassion, pity, mercy. It means to have compassion to the undeserving. Kindness, speaks of a gentle, gracious disposition. We say, “That person is a kind person.” Humbleness of mind, comes from one word meaning to have a humble opinion of oneself, a deep sense of one’s moral littleness, modesty, lowliness of mind. Meekness, Wuest says, “is an inwrought grace of the soul, that temper of spirit in which we accept God’s dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. It is the humble heart which is also the meek; and which, as such, does not fight against God, and more or less struggle and contend with Him. This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by God for the chastening and purifying of His elect.” Longsuffering, speaks of the man, who having to do with injurious persons, does not suffer himself easily to be provoked by them, or to blaze up in anger. The word expresses patience under the ill treatment of others.

who delivered us from the power of darkness, 1:13; the Image of the Invisible God, 1:15; Creator, 1:16; Ruler of all invisible power, 1:16; before all things, 1:17; the Sustainer of all things, 1:17; Head of the Church, 1:18; the Preeminent One, 1:18; One in Whom all fulness dwells, 1:19; the Indweller and Hope of all believers, 1:27, etc. HE IS ALL, NOT PART. And in all, Every saved person has Christ dwelling in him. Christ in us is our assurance. It is our power to live a godly life. He is there to comfort and to strengthen us when we are weak. Christ is in all.

Colossians 3:12: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering”; Put on, is an aorist middle imperative from enduo, meaning, “to envelope in, clothe with.” The figure here is to be clothed with. The imperative mood means it is a command. Elect, means, “chosen ones.” Every believer is a chosen one and should live in the light of this. How does this choosing take place? God chooses the believer. Until you believe, you are not chosen. Holy, does not suggest sinless perfection when applied to man, but it does speak of separation from the world and a spotless life. Our holiness is Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” 2 Cor. 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Being made the righteousness of God in Him is the believer’s holiness. Beloved, is a perfect passive participle from agapaō, meaning having been loved. The perfect tense is used to show the far reaching and the abiding character of that love. The saints are those who have been loved by God with the present result that they are the objects of His love.

Colossians 3:13: “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Forbearing one another, is a present middle participle from anechomai meaning, “to bear with, endure.” The Word of God assumes that we will have problems with other believers. To preserve the unity, forbearance is the key. Forgiving one another, is a present middle participle from charizomai meaning, “to show one’s self gracious, kind, benevolent, to grant forgiveness.”

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Commentary on Colossians Quarrel, means, “cause of blame, matter of complaint.” It is where you blame someone for something. Sometime people are to blame. Then, at other times we blame people who are not to blame. Regardless, the believer is to forgive just as the Lord has forgiven us.

In your hearts. This is the sphere where the peace is to act as umpire. The heart is put for the seat of the emotions. The victorious believer must guard his heart. If he is led astray in his heart, it will come out in bad conduct. We have a good illustration of what can happen in the case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:13, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” To the which also ye are called. The verb is an aorist passive indicative from Kaleō. The aorist tense refers to the time of their salvation and the purpose of their salvation. Salvation is God’s call for man’s response. Those who respond are called “the called.” In one body, refers to the local church at Colosse. Peace in the local church, which is the body, was the sphere in which this peace was to be manifested. Wuest says, “Disunion in the body is incompatible with the peace of the individual members.” Be ye thankful, is present middle imperative from ginomai. The present tense means to continue to be thankful, and the imperative mood is a command expressing urgency. It is urgent that the believer exhibit a spirit of thanksgiving. The eternal souls of men, women, boys and girls depend on it. Unless Christianity is put on display in our lives, then Christianity appears just another religion among many.

Colossians 3:14: “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” And above all these things, “that which is just about to be mentioned is to be regarded more than what has just been mentioned.” Paul is about to make a great point and he sets them up in this verse to receive the importance of it. Put on charity, The words, put on, are not in the Greek text. The words are in italics in the A.V. indicating this. The word charity is literally love. The words, put on, are justified and the translator put them there to show that this is a continuation of what he said in verse 12. Berry’s literal translation puts it, “in addition to these things.” Which is the bond of perfectness, means, “that which binds together. Wuest quotes Thayer on the expression: “that in which all the virtues are so bound together that perfection is the result, and not one of them is wanting to that perfection.”

Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” And let the peace of God, This verse tells us how to act while the other things are put on. Peace is tranquility of heart which Jesus left as a legacy to His disciples; Jn. 14:27. Rule, translates brabeuō, and is a present active imperative meaning “to umpire.” Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “wherever there is a conflict of motives or impulses or reasons, the peace of Christ must step in and decide which is to prevail.” 54

Chapter Three that the Word of God is to find a home in the believer. The present tense means that this is to be the continual practice of the believer and the imperative mood means if the Word of God is not at home in the believer, he is disobedient to a Divine command. Is the Word of God at home in you? Richly, is an adverb and is used in the sense of abundance. One of the best ways for this to happen is to memorize great portions of Scripture. In wisdom, wisdom is the proper application of knowledge. We are not to beat people over the head with the Word of God. We are to handle the Word delicately and the ones to whom we teach or preach the same way. Teaching and admonishing one another, refers to instruction in the Word. It is present active participle which refers to a continuous process. We are to continually help our fellow believers in their understanding of the Word and the right application of it. In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, the word psalms refers to the Old Testament psalms. The W. E. Vine Expository Dictionary of New Testament words explains it, “primarily denoted a striking or twitching with the fingers on strings; then a sacred song, sung to musical accompaniment.” Hymns, Vine says is, “A song of praise addressed to God.” The hymns are songs, not necessarily inspired like the Book of Palms, but written with Scriptural doctrinal messages. These are sung sometimes in direct praise to God, and other hymns are testimonials of the singers singing to one another. The hymns teach and admonish one another. Spiritual songs, are always used in the New Testament in praise of God or Christ. It is the same word used in Rev. 15:3 where the song of Moses celebrates the deliverance from sin. The reason spiritual is used with songs is because the word for songs can mean any kind of song. Singing with grace in your hearts, Singing is a present active participle. It comes from a

The Doctrine Of Peace • It is not known to the unsaved. This is brought out in Romans 3:17; “And the way of peace have they not known:” • It is based on reconciliation; Ephesians 2:14-18, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” • It comes to the believer through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1; “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” • The Gospel produces peace; Romans 10:15, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Faith is necessary; Romans 15:13, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” The Word refers to the Bible. It is the Word of Christ. There is nothing more important for the believer than to spend time in the Word of God. Let dwell, translates, enoikeō, and is a present active imperative verb. This word comes from oikos, which means a home. It is compounded by the preposition “in.” It means 55

Commentary on Colossians verb that is used for lyrical emotion in devout souls. The present tense suggest that the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are to be a part of our regular worship. Emotion is always involved in singing. It is a release of gratitude, thanksgiving, and gratitude to God.

even as water rises to the height from which it descended. This is what characterizes the life of the Christian.” Giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Even our giving of thanks to the Father must be through Him. Just as no one can come to God in salvation apart from Christ; John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” No one can worship God apart from Christ. Some think all that is necessary to salvation or worship is sincerity. They should read this verse and others like it. No matter how sincere a person is, if he attempts to approach God apart from Christ, he is unacceptable. We much worship God in Spirit and in TRUTH.

Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” And whatsoever ye do, is literally, “and everything whatever ye do.” This clause covers everything. We are to do nothing independent of our Lord. This is not bondage, but it is freedom to submit to the service of Christ. In word has to do with what we have to say. The overflow and fulness of the Holy Spirit should be evident in the speech of the believer. When kindness flows in the words of the believer, it will not go unnoticed. Or deed, means, “work, employment.” The Christian faith is to bleed through every work that the believer does. The Christian should be one of the best employees on the job where he works. It is a sad thing that this is not the way it is in many places. A lot of unsaved people would be surprised if they found out we claim to be a follower of Christ. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. To this Gaebelein says, “This consciousness of relationship with Christ, in the life which is of Him in us, applies to everything. Nothing is done without Him. If He is the life, all which that life does has Him for its end and object, as far as the heart in concerned. He is present as that which in the governing motive, and gives its character to our actions, and which preoccupies our heart in performing them... There in the sense of His presence; the consciousness that everything relates to Him, that We can do nothing - unless carnally - without Him, because the life which we have of Him acts with Him and in Him, does not separate from Him, and has Him for its aim in all things,

Sermon Thoughts There are three guidelines Paul gives the Christians at Colosse: • Let the peace of God act as an umpire • Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly • Do all that we do in the name of the Lord

Colossians 3:18: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, The verb “submit: is present middle imperative from hupotassō. It is a military term and means to rank under, therefore to be in subjection. This is the order in which God built the home. And the man who refuses to be head and the wife who refuses to place herself under his headship is in for trouble. There are a lot of troubled marriages in the world today because both men and women are not assuming the roles that God has placed them in. As is fit, is imperfect active indicative from anēkō. The word refers to actions that are due someone. It has to do with moral obligation. Imperfect tense could be translated as “keeps on being fit.” This is not a rule that the Lord will change in this life. This is the rule that 56

Chapter Three keeps on being the way it should be done. In the Lord, Christian wives are the ones addressed here. Those who are saved have the obligation to obey God in this matter.

which God is pleased with. God said of His Son, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” He will also say the same thing of those who take the role God put them in seriously and do what He says.

Colossians 3:19: “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”

Colossians 3:21: “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”

Husbands love your wives, Love is present active imperative from Agapaō. It is a command and an obligation. This also carries with it the sense of urgency. It is urgent that the husbands love their wives. If a man does not love his wife, he will have to give an account to God for it. Be not bitter against them, “Be not bitter” is a present passive imperative verb from a word meaning, “to embitter, exasperate, irritate.” Wuest says, “show no bitterness, behave not harshly. The fact that the husband is the head of the wife does not give him the right to act in a harsh manner toward her. He is commanded to love her. If his position as head goes to his head and he does not act in love toward her, he is out of the will of God and God will deal with him in chastening. A preacher who had a good marriage said, “I believe that the Lord will let husband and wife be together in heaven.” A lady popped up and said, “If that is true, I don’t want to go. I’ve had to put up with him down here and I sure don’t want to up there.”

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, is present active imperative from erathizō. It means to provoke or irritate. Irritation is the first consequence of being too exacting with children, and irritation leads to anger. By perpetual fault-finding, children are discouraged. This is speaking of abuse to a child, not normal correction. Lest they be discouraged, is present active subjunctive meaning, “to be disheartened, dispirited, broken in spirit, lose heart.” The life can be ruined when the incentive is broken.

Colossians 3:22: “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God”: Servants, is doulos meaning slaves. Wuest says, “The case of slaves is treated at greater length than that of the other family relations, probably on account of Onesimus.” Gaebelein says, “The servants exhorted were slaves, who had believed and become in Christ true freedmen. Not a word in said about the wrong of slavery. Sin is responsible for it. But these Christian slaves are exhorted to obey their masters according to the flesh in all things.” There is no word in the Bible against slavery. I mention this to make the point that the purpose of Christianity has never been to change social order; Ephesians 6:5, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;” Obey, is the same word that is used of children; vs. 20. It is very surprising that the Bible does not say a word about freeing slaves. It

Colossians 3:20: “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Children, obey your parents in all things: This is a present active imperative verb from hupakouō, meaning, “to listen, attend, and so, to submit, to obey.” The child is to listen to his parents and give heed to what they say. “In all things” means, “in all respects.” There is absolutely no room for disobedience in children. Saved children have, as a Christian duty, obedience to parents. For this is well pleasing unto the Lord, “well pleasing” means, “commendable.” That 57

Commentary on Colossians oida meaning to have seen or perceived; to know from observation. The reward of the inheritance, means that which is paid back. The Lord has an inheritance for the Saints. 1 Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” For ye serve the Lord Christ, The real service is to the greater Lord, the Lord Christ. J. F. Brown says, “Knowing that it is from the Lord (the ultimate source of reward), ye shall receive the compensation (or recompense, which will make ample amends for your having no earthly possession, as slaves now) consisting of the inheritance.”

tells the Masters to treat their slaves right and tells the slaves to be obedient to their masters. In all things, is also the same as vs. 20. Masters according to the flesh, The word masters is literally lords. According to the flesh distinguishes these lords from the slaves’ One Lord in Heaven. Ephesians 6:9, “And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.” Not with eyeservice, speaks of service performed under the master’s eye or just when the master is watching. Menpleasers, The Christian’s first duty is to please the Lord. If our motive is to please men, we lose sight of our primary purpose to please the Lord. Singleness of heart, is an exhortation against the double dealing of eyeservice. Fearing God, is in contrast to fearing man. The fear of man bringeth a snare.

Colossians 3:25: “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” But he that doeth wrong, is a present active participle. It means to do wrong. This doesn’t mean do wrong in Church but also on the job. Shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, There is a payday someday. God holds His children responsible for their actions. He tells us to pray for our persecutors. That does not mean that the persecutors will go off scot free. God will bring every man into account for the things done in this life. There is one way out. Get forgiveness. And there is no respect of persons. The reference here is to masters and slaves. When a master violates God’s rules and does wrong, he will be judged for it. Being a master does not enter God’s thoughts. If a slave does wrong, God will judge him. He does not respect the person of men when it comes to judging for wrong.

Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”; And whatsoever ye do, is not without qualifications. The remainder of the sentence qualifies it. 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, Heartily means to put your heart into it. Do it with enthusiasm. Do it as unto the Lord. Our service to man and one another is a service to the Lord. We do not want to be sloppy. For the Lord we need to turn out good work. The words “and not unto men” mean do not serve men as men serve men. Men serve for a paycheck. We serve God for eternal reward.

Sermon Suggestions on verses 23-25

Colossians 3:24: “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

The Labors Of The Christian The Universality Of Our Good Works; “And Whatsoever Ye Do” The Dynamics Of The Doing; “Do It Heartily.” The Focus Of Our Action; “As To The Lord.”

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive... Knowing is a perfect active participle from 58

Chapter Four Colossians 4:2: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

CHAPTER 4 Colossians 4:1: “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”

Continue, is a present active imperative from Proskartereō, meaning to give constant attention to a thing, to give unremitting care to a thing, to persevere, to wait continually upon, to be in constant readiness for. Prayer, is an important subject for anyone. It is especially true in the place of leadership. There are a very few things settled in prayer. Most take action on the basis of how they feel about it. Well, our feelings can lead us very far astray. Watch, is a present active participle from grēgoreō meaning, “to give strict attention continuously to, to be continuously active, to take heed lest through remissness and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one.” Wuest quotes Lightfoot:, “Long continuance in prayer is apt to product listlessness. Hence the additional charge that the heart must be awake, if the prayer is to have any value.” Thanksgiving, is an attitude which the Christian is to constantly possess. This would be especially true of a master. If the master on earth is constantly thankful to the Master in Heaven for His mercy, it will help him to maintain an attitude of mercy and understanding toward the slave. A message from this passage:

Masters, The thought is not broken between chapters 3 and 4. He has given instructions to slaves and now he gives instructions to masters. Masters is literally lords. Just and equal, means, “to treat them right, be just to them.” The word equal means, “to treat all alike.” Since God is no respecter of persons, the earthly lord should not be. Knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven. In other words, the masters have a Master to whom they must give an account. This is probably a veiled warning to the masters. The Master in heaven can cause crop failures. The Lord is not passive to His children who treat one another badly .

THE DOCTRINE OF MASTERS AND SERVANTS

• Definition: “A man who rules, governs or directs; a possessor, owner.” • Servants to be obedient and respect their masters (Eph. 6:5) • Masters were masters according to the flesh (Eph. 6:5). • Masters were not to threaten their slaves (Eph. 6.:9). • Masters were to recognize that they themselves were serving God Who is no respecter of persons (Eph. 6:9). • Slaves were to serve their masters heartily “as unto the Lord” (Col. 3:23). This means they did it in obedience unto the Lord. • The slaves were promised a reward for their obedience (Col. 3:24). • Masters were to treat their slaves with equality (Col. 4:1).



PRAYER AND PRAYER REQUESTS

Col. 4:2-4 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” There are several things I want us to look at in these verses about prayer.

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Commentary on Colossians THE INTENSITY OF PRAYER We see in Paul’s exhortation to the Colossians a vital key to answered prayer. The word Continue means, “to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one; to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing.” This verb is a present active imperative. The present tense represents a continuous action in the present tense. The active voice is where the subject does the acting. In this case, I believe Paul is referring to the entire body of believers in Colosse. The imperative mood is a command that expresses urgency. Putting this verb in the imperative mood will have the effect of urgency on the believers there. John Gill comments: “This is not said particularly to masters, as in the foregoing verse, but to all the members of the church in general; for the apostle having taken notice of some special duties relating to persons in different stations of life, returns to such as were common to them all; as this of prayer to God is, for such prayer is intended; for though the object is not expressed here, he is in the following verse, and the Mediator Christ is supposed, and also the Holy Spirit, whose assistance is necessary to it.” We should pray fervently. James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We have an example of this kind of praying in Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” THE ALERTNESS IN PRAYER This is brought out in the words, of verse 4, “...and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” The word watch means “to give strict attention to.” It is easy for the Christian to see the need for prayer but difficult for him to believe that prayer really changes things.

The man who prays fervently will stay at it until the answer comes. I cannot pass judgment upon those who do not practice in the Christian lives the thing taught by Paul in this verse. It is not for us to pass judgment. Even Christ did not come to pass judgment. John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Our lack of convictions concerning the outcome of prayer is measured by the lack of testimony to answered prayer. Next, THANKSGIVING IN PRAYER Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” Is thanksgiving to be offered in gratitude for past answers to prayer, or, is thanksgiving to be offered in faith that what we are praying for is already on the way? One of the things that is absolutely necessary in our relationship to God is thanksgiving. Luke 17:12-18, “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” Jesus commented on the Samaritan’s attitude of gratitude. We take so many things for granted. Next, PERSONAL REQUESTS IN PRAYER Paul requested that they pray for him that God would grant him an open door of utterance to speak the Mystery of Christ. If Paul did not strongly believe that prayer makes a difference, you can be sure he would not have requested prayer. So this makes prayer a vital part of preaching. If God grants utterance the 60

Chapter Four For which I am also in bonds. Paul was in prison for preaching the Gospel of Christ. This was during his Roman imprisonment, probably about A.D. 62.

message will be effective. If He does not, then there will be an absence of power and an absence of Scriptural results. Paul requested in Colossians 4:4, “That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” To make it manifest, there must be simplicity of speech. There must be skill and wisdom in the presentation of the message if they are to believe. Paul did not have the pride of an outstanding orator. He was a sinner saved by grace, and regardless of the amount of public speaking skills, sinners will be left in their unsaved state if he is not given utterance.

Colossians 4:4: “That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” That I may make it manifest, shows the purpose for which Paul is requesting prayer. The door speaks of opportunity. Paul wanted this opportunity to preach because it was his whole life. I ought to speak, Here is a word of responsibility. Even though Paul had been through much for the Gospel, and was now in prison for preaching it, the responsibility still weighs heavy upon him. He said, “I ought.” Here is a passage that will shed some light on the meaning: 1 Corinthians 2:15, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” This passage of Scripture limits how the message of the gospel is presented. If you do not believe it, read and meditate on the verses above. I praise the Lord for every soul that is saved under any condition if the conversion is genuine. Paul said, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.” And he says I came this way, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” I understand Paul to be saying that the message could be presented in such a way that men would put their trust in the “wisdom of men” rather than “The power of God.” We need to be

Colossians 4:3: “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds :” Praying, is a present middle participle from Proseuchomai. It is the ordinary word for prayer. It means to keep on making requests. Withal, is homa and means, “at the same time.” For us, is “concerning us.” Paul is here making a personal request. That is “in order that” and starts a purpose clause. God would open unto us a door of utterance, God is the only One that can do that. And Paul does teach us to pray for “a door of utterance.” To speak the mystery of Christ, is the specific request. 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” This is a big dose of knowledge to lay on a bunch of heathen Gentiles. Only God can open their hearts to understand enough to believe. This is also brought out in Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” 61

Commentary on Colossians careful that we do not violate the principle that Paul presents here.

the idea of works. Salvation is not by grace and works. It is by grace alone. Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Man in his pride wants to interpret the Bible so that he will have some credit for salvation. This is heresy according to this present verse. Let your speech be alway with grace, means that the believer’s speech should be like Christ. It should not issue forth with condemnation. John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Jesus did not have a condemning ministry. 1 Peter 2:23 says, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” Seasoned with salt, Salt, among the Greeks, was the emblem of wit. Here the meaning seems to be, that our conversation should be seasoned with piety or grace in a way similar to that in which we employ salt in our food. It makes it wholesome and palatable. There should be something mixed in our witnessing that makes the message palatable. I do not speak of irreverence. I speak of words carried on the wings of joy. That ye may know how ye ought to answer every man, seems to suggest that in the frame of mind suggested in this passage that a wise answer will come to us. There are many questions. Many of them are difficult. It is important that we know HOW...TO ANSWER EVERY MAN.

Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time .” Walk, is a present active imperative. It means, “to keep on walking.” There is urgency in Paul’s command to walk. If we do not live the life, people will not hear the message. In wisdom, This is something that comes from God (James 1:5). Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. Them that are without, refers to those who are without the church. See I Cor. 5:12,13. The believer in the Church has an obligation to those outside the church to demonstrate the joy and assurance of salvation. There is nothing that will attract the unsaved more than to be able to observe one who is a committed Christian. I’m talking about a Christian with a smile on his face, a spring in his step, and an overflow of joy that is contagious. Redeeming the time, means buying up the time. Ephesians 5:15,16, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Redeeming the time means to take advantage of every opportunity to witness to the unsaved.

Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Grace is what God is free to do for the sinner because of the cross. It is God’s only way of salvation. Grace and works are contrasted in the Scripture. Paul is the master teacher on the subject of grace. Romans 11:5,6 says, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” The idea of works destroys the idea of grace, and the idea of grace destroys

Colossians 4:7: “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord” : All my state, speaks of details. Why did God not let Paul speak of details concerning his personal state? Could it be that we are not to think of man more highly than we should think? 62

Chapter Four Tychicus, is mentioned on Paul’s third missionary journey. Acts 20:4, “And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.” A beloved brother and faithful minister, is Paul’s description of this man of God. When you say a man is faithful, you do not speak of a man who periodically attends church or gives a little money. A faithful man is a man consistent in his faith. He is always there and ready to serve. Fellowservant, is literally fellowslave. Paul considered himself a slave of Jesus Christ. He also thought of others who were sold out to the service of the Lord to be a slave of Christ. In the Lord is the sphere of the slavery.

pening to Paul in Rome that did. not need to be in the inspired Word of God. Therefore, we see God in wisdom and providence leading Paul to put in this letter what belonged and to leave out what did not belong. Colossians was written from his Roman imprisonment; Acts 28:30.

Colossians 4:10: “Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him; )” Aristarchus my fellowprisoner. Many believe this man voluntarily stayed with Paul in prison to minister to his needs. In the early church, sacrifices such as this were common. Saluteth, means to greet, wish well. Marcus, is John Mark, the writer of the Gospel. Sister’s son, means cousin. Wuest quotes Expositors: “Paul may have feared that Mark’s defection from him, which led to the sharp quarrel between him and Barnabas, might prejudice the Colossians against him. The mention of his relationship to Barnabas was probably intended as a recommendation to their kindness. He seems to have been unknown to the Colossians.

Colossians 4:8: “Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts” ; Whom I have sent, is Paul’s messenger or ambassador. The same purpose, refers to a faithful minister and fellowservant. Estate, is literally things concerning you. Comfort, is to encourage. This was to be done by the tidings and exhortations.

Colossians 4:11: “And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.”

Colossians 4:9: “With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.”

Jesus, is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew Joshua and was a common name in those days. Who are of the circumcision, means they were Jews. Circumcision came to stand for Jewish religion; Rom.3:12. These only, are words both to be rejoiced in and a reason for sadness. It is a joy to know that there are those too would identify with Paul in his imprisonment. They were there to encourage and help. It is sad when you consider that

Onesimus, was from Colosse. This is the same Onesimus about whom the letter to Philemon is written. A faithful, speaks of his reliability. Beloved, is a term of endearment. Brother, shows the relationship between believers. Here we have a highborn educated Jew calling a lowborn slave brother. Only Christianity could do this. They shall make known all the things which are done here. There were some things hap63

Commentary on Colossians in that day of enthusiasm and fervor there were those who were unwilling to sacrifice. There were those who would not get involved. Fellowworkers unto the Kingdom of God, is a statement of joint effort and cooperation. Christians are to exert a joint effort to promote the Kingdom of God. Comfort, means solace, relief, alleviation, consolation, encouragement. The Greek word is Parēgoria, from which we get our word Paregoric.

Colossians 4:14: “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you .” Luke, is the author of the Gospel, the Book of Acts, and Paul’s traveling companion. Physician, comes from a word that means “to heal or to cure.” He was a Gentile, which is shown by his Greek name, and the fact that Paul does not include with those of the circumcision in vs. 11. He shows a knowledge of medical terms in his Gospel. The beloved, speaks of Paul’s gratitude for his services. Demas. Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “Luke is described with a special tenderness as the Physician, the beloved one, Demas alone is dismissed with a bare mention and without any epithet of commendation.” This is the Demas who let Paul down during his second Roman imprisonment; II Tim. 4:10.

Colossians 4:12: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God .” Epaphras, as we mentioned at the beginning of the study, was probably the founder of the Church of Colosse. Who is one of you, words such as this are so important to us today. It helps us to further identify this man. This shows God’s wisdom in inspiration. A servant of Christ, is a slave belonging to Christ. Laboring, is a present middle participle from the same word we get our word agonize.

Colossians 4:15: “Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house .” Salute, means “greet.” The church which is in his house. There is no record of a separate building set apart for worship within the Roman Empire before the third century. This is an illustration of what was done. They met in private homes, which is just another fact that demonstrates the church is local.

Colossians 4:13: “For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.”

Colossians 4:16: “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”

For I bear him record, is literally, “I bear witness.” Zeal, is from a word from which we get our word zealot. This speaks of his attitude toward them in prayer and speech. Laodicea, is the same as in Rev. 3. Hierapolis, is a city that was an important center of Christian influence and was situated near Colosse and Laodicea in the Lycus River Valley of Phrygia. The city was a wealthy, dying center. Extensive ruins, including two theaters, a gymnasium and baths have been excavated.

And when this epistle is read. The reading of the Word was an important function in the church. It did not need as much explanation as it does with us. The customs and illustrations taken from Oriental life were already understood. Cause, is an aorist active imperative which means that this is commanded. 64

Chapter Four In the church of the Laodiceans. Why read it in this church? It was written to Colosse. The reason is because Paul understood that he was writing the Word of God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. While he was writing it specifically to Colosse, it was an application to all Christians. Likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. What epistle is this? First, some believe it is a lost epistle. Second, others believe it was an epistle from the Laodiceans to Paul, conveyed by Epaphras, to be read in the Church of Colosse, together with Paul’s epistle to the Colossians themselves. Third, that it is the same as the epistle to the Ephesians.

Remember my bonds, shows that he wrote from imprisonment. As he signed this letter, the chain that was fastened to his hand would impress him to remind them to pray for him. This should remind us to pray for our brethren who are in bondage for their faith.

THE END

Colossians 4:17: “And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Archippus, Paul calls a man’s name not only from the pulpit but in an epistle for Christians through the ages to see. Take heed, is a present active imperative. It is active voice which means Paul is calling him to take his place of responsibility. It is imperative which means it is a command. The ministry, refers to the ministry of the Word of preaching. Thou hast received, is an aorist active indicative. The aorist tense refers to the fact of his call. The active voice speaks of the willingness with which he received God’s call. God called him and he willingly received it. Fulfil it, means to discharge fully.

Colossians 4:18: “The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.” The salutation, or greeting was written by Paul’s own hand. The rest of the epistle was written by a secretary at the dictation of Paul. Romans 16:22 lets us know that this was Paul’s practice.

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