ver. 23, was vain deceit. — Kara, according to) This definitely points out what philosophy is intended, and restricts the general appellation to the Jewish philosophy. This is indicated in the discussion, ver. 11, 16, 20; wherefore the proposition in ver. 8 ought not to be more widely extended, as if also applying to the Gentile philosophy, although the Jews had taken their phi losophy from the Gentiles ; and, by parity of reasoning, this remark applies to all philosophy. — ruv avfyurtuv, of men) The antithesis is, of the Godhead, ver. 9. — ra ffroi%s?a9 the elements [rudiments]) The antithesis is, bodily, ver. 9, 17 : comp. elements, Gal. iv. 3, note. — xal ov nark Xputrbv, and not according to Christ) He ought therefore peculiarly and solely to approve of the doc trine that is according to Christ.
9. "Or/) for, since. The reason is hereby given, why those alone should be attended to, who teach according to Christ. — sv avr&, in Him) John xiv. 10. — xaroixe?, dwells) ch. i. 19, note. — nav TO KXvipupa rqg dsorqros, all the fulness of the Godhead) Be lievers are filled with [rather into, s/g rb vfXqpuf&a,, so as to enter into a living participation of] all the fulness of God ; Eph. iii. 19. But all the fulness of the Godhead, i.e. the Godhead in its greatest fulness, dwells in Christ ; not merely the Divine attri butes, but the Divine nature itself; ch. i. 19. The abstract word is most significant.1 — ffupanxus, bodily) God is the head of Christ, 1 Cor. xi. 3, and Christ is the head of all, ver. 10 ; and Christ is related to God, as His body, the Church, is to Christ ; but Christ could not with propriety be called the body of God. Therefore the language is varied. The Godhead itself, as it were the very entire substance (essence) of the Godhead, dwells in Christ, in a manner most immediate (vividly present) and most real. The type was God's glory dwelling in the temple of Solomon. S^a, the body, does not always denote the body properly so called; ver. 11, 17
10. Ka/) and therefore. — sari) ye are. — ^STATJ^W/ASI/O/, filled up, made full [complete']) John i. 16. The fulness of Christ re dounds to the Church ; Ps. cxxxiii. 2. Therefore His fulness is infinitely more abundant. He Himself is full ; we are filled
1 u Of the Godhead," in its essence : not merely foiorwogt of the godlike character. — ED.