this passage. The house of Philemon was open to the congre gations of believing Colossians, Philem. ver. 2.
16. ' Avayvufftyj shall be read) publicly, in the church. Comp. 1 Thess. v. 27 ; Rev. i. 3 ; Deut. xxxi. 11. — T\ S-TTIGTOX^ the epistle) this very one. — woiqaart, cause) So also 1 Thess. as above. — rrtv IK Aaofaxsiag, the one from Laodicea) Mill is of opinion that the Epistle to the Ephesians is intended, which was to be got from Laodicea, and to be brought to Colosse. It is certainly not without a reason that Paul mentions the town from which the epistle was to be procured, rather than those to whom he sent it.
17. E/VaT-g, say) Speak ye, in my name, as witnesses. This was more affecting than if he had addressed Archippus himself. And perhaps Archippus, a minister, was prevented from going to the public assembly by weak health or old age. For that he was near the end of his career, may be inferred from the word fulfil, Philem. ver. 2. Moreover it is not the different overseers of the Church, but the Church itself, which is commanded to speak to Arcliippus. Therefore the epistle was directed to the Church, although its subject is very sublime. [Why then are laymen, as they are called, to be prevented from reading the Scriptures ? — V. g,] — %v <7rape\a(3s:, which thou hast received) by a mediate calling [i.e. through the mediate instrumentality of men, who ordained him] ; for there does not follow, from the Lord, but in the Lord.
18. 'O affvaffpos, the salutation) Paul adds this verse with his own hand, acknowledging that all which goes before, proceeded from himself.— /^^/xovfusrg, be mindful) especially in prayer, ver. 3.