In the Lord. Connect with 7s jitéing, and compare wedl- pleasing in the Lord, ver. 20.
19. Be not bitter (41) wixpaiveode). Lit., be not embittered. Used only here by Paul. Elsewhere only in the Apocalypse. The compounds vrapamrixpaivw to ewasperate, and tapamuixpac- pos provocation, occur only in Heb. iii. 16 ; iii. 8,15. Compare Eph. iv. 31.
20. This is well pleasing. Expanded in Eph. vi. 2, 3. Unto the Lord should be in the Lord.
21. Provoke to anger (épedifere). Only here and 2 Cor. ix. 2, where it is used of stirring up to good works. To anger
is added by A. V.
* And too many of which are embodied in modern Hymnals.
508 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. IIL.
Be discouraged (aJuua@aw). Only here in the New Testa- ment. Lose heart, or become dispirited.
22. Masters (xupiows). See on Lord, 2 Pet. ii. 1, and Matt. xxi. 8. Kupusos Lord and deomorns master came to be used in- terchangeably in the New Testament, though originally the latter involved such authority as is implied in our use of des- pot, or in the relation of a master to a slave. The Greeks ap- plied deczorns only to the gods.
With eyerservice (év dp3arpodovreiais). Only here and Eph. vi. 6. The word seems to have been coined by Paul.
Men pleasers (avIpwidpeckot). Only here and Eph. vi. 6. Compare Plato: “And this art he will not attain with- out a great deal of trouble, which a good man ought to under- go, not for the sake of speaking and acting before men, but in order that he may be able to say what is acceptable to God, and always to act acceptably to Him as far as in him lies. For there is a saying of wiser men than ourselves, that a man of sense should not try to please his fellow-servants (at least this should not be his first object), but his good and noble masters” “ Phaedrus,” 2738).
Singleness (daAdrnt). See on Rom. xii. 8. Without du- plicity or doubleness.
Fearing the Lord (rov Kvpiov). The one Master contrasted with the masters (xuptows) according to the flesh. The parallel in Eph., vi. 5, has as unto Christ.
23. Ye do—do it (roujte—épydtecde). Rev., correctly, ye do—work ; the latter being the stronger term as opposed to idleness. See on Jas ii. 9. An idle man may do. Compare épyacta diligence, Luke xii. 58.
Heartily (é« yuyijs). Lit., from the soul. With a personal interest. Note that the apostle uses both heard (Kapdias, ver. 22) and soul (uy); and in Eph. vi. 7, adds per’ edvolas with good disposition (A. V., good will). See on Rom. xi. 8; vii. 23; 1. 21. Compare odvurapuyor of one accord, Philip. ii. 25 todypuyop
Cu. IV.] THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 509
like-minded, Philip. ii. 20; pod poy with one mind, Philip. 12
24. Of the inheritance. Which consists or is in the inher- itance. Compare the similar construction, ch i. 12. See Matt. xxi. 85-38, where the dodd0s bond-servant and the «Anpovopos heir are contrasted ; and Rom. viii. 15-17; Gal. iv. 1-7.
For ye serve (yap dovdevere). Omit for. Some take the verb as imperative, serve ye; but the indicative is better as ex- plaining from the Lord.
25. He that doeth wrong (6 déucév). Compare Philem. 18. The reference is primarily to the slave; but the following clause extends it to the master. If the slave do wrong, he shall be punished ; but the master who does wrong will not be ex- cused, for there is no respect of persons. Tychicus, who carried this letter to Colossae, carried at the same time the letter to Philemon, and escorted Onesimus to his master.
Shall receive (xouicera). See on 1 Pet. i. 8. Compare Eph. vi. 8.
Respect of persons. See on Jas.ii.1. In the Old Testa- ment it has, more commonly, a good sense, of kindly reception, Savorable regard. In the New Testament always a bad sense, which came to it through the meaning of mask which attached to mpocwrov face.