The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 10

oven aa tho "seo.l of tho Spirit" (Eph. i. implying iaheront energy) precedes grow- 14) o.nd the "pea.co of Christ in their ing-the first "describing the inner work- hearts" (oh. iii. 15; see nolo) o.ro to them- ing," the second" the outward extension of selves. Similo.rly, in Phil. i. 27, 28 and 2 the gospel" (Lightfoot). .!!'or "bearing These. L 4, 5, from the present faith and fruit," comp. Epb. v. 9; Ga.I. v. 22; Phil. i. po.tienoe of the BBints the oert11inty of 11; John xv. 8, 16: and for "growing," 2 their future blessedness is a.rgned. By Tbess. iii. 1; Matt. xiii. 31-33; and ptuallel singling out this hope && chief matter of passages; see also ver. 11. In the last clause tho.nksgiving here, the apostle enha.nce11 it• the expression "doubles be.ck upon itself" certainty and its value in his readers' eyes. in a fashion characteristic of St. Paul, whoso (On this verse, see the Fapositor, first series, sentences grow and cha.age their form like vol. x. pp. 74-80.) From the general living things while he indites them (comp. occasion and ground of his thanksgiving eh. iii.13; l These. i. 5-8; iv. 1, R.V.): the in the Christian state o.nd prospects of his coming of the gospel to Colossm suggests the readers, St. P,iul proceeds to d woll on thought of its advent in the world, and this certain special circumstances which enhanced gives place to the fuller idea. of its fruitful- his gratitude to God (vers. 5 b-8). Whioh ness and expansion, which in turn is (hope) ye heard of before. in the word of the evidenced by its effect at Colossm. Since truth of the gospel ; or, good tidings ( vers. the day that ye heard (it), and knew wall the 7, 23; oh. ii. 7; Eph. i. 13; iv. 15, 21 ; grace of God in truth (ver. 5; eh. ii. 6, 7; GaL i. 6-9; iii. 1-4; iv. 9 ; v. 7; 1 These. Epb. i. 13; iv. 21; 1 These. ii. 1, 2, 13; i. 5; ii. 13; iv. 1: 2 Thess. ii. 13-15; 1 1 Cor. ii. 1-5; xv. 1-11 ; 2 Cor. i. 19; Ga.I. Pet. v. 12). There is o. veiled polemic i. 6, 11; iii. 1-3; 2 Tim. iii. H). For reference in "the word of the truth of the their progress had been continuous (comp. gospel" (comp. ver. 7 and parnllels from Phil. i. 5). Meyer and Ellicott, with the Galatians). The word "before" (ajoretime) A. V., better maintain the connection of "contrasts their earlier with their later thought in understanding "the gospel " as lessons, the true gospel of Epaphro.s with object of" heard." The verb ,1r,-yvorre, knew the false gospel of recent teachers" (Light- well, with ,1r["'fll.,<T1S (ver. 9, etc.), belongs foot). Others interpret, less suitably: heard specially to the vocabulary of this group of already (before my writing), or heard before- Epistles. K7lOU/ledge, in 1 Corinthians, is hand (before the fulfilment of the hope). It is denoted by the simple gnoais. But this in St. Paul's manner to refer bis readers word became at au early time the watch- at the outset to their conversion and first word of the heretical Gnostics (" men of Christian experiences (see parallel passages), knowledge: " comp. l Tim. vi. 20); and the 'fbeir hope was directly at stake in the false teachers of Colossm pretended to an controversy with Colossian error. Here we intellectual superiority, asserted, we may meet the first of those cumulative com- imagine, in much the same way (comp. eh. binations of nouns, so mo.rked a feature ii. 2-4, 8, 23). The apostle now prefers the of the style of Colosaia.ns and Ephesians, more precise and distinctive epianosis (i1r1- which are me.de a reproach age.inst these -y,vcf,u,c"'), meaning" accurate,, or '' advanced Epistles by some critics; but each is appro- knowledge" (see Lightfoot here, o.nd ou ver. priate in its plaoe. 9). " To hear the gospei" is "to know well Ver. 6.-Tha.t is oome unto you, 1>ven as the grace of God" (Actsxx. 24; Rom. iii. 21 also (it is) in all the world, bee.ring fruit and -26; 2 Cor. v. 20-vi. 1; John i. 17); the inorea.sing, as in you also (Rom. i. 8; full knowledge of which "in truth" (ver. 5; 1 Theas. i. 8; 2 Cor. ii. 14; Acts ii. 47; v. 14; Eph. iv. 14, 15, 20-24) would preserve vi. 7; ix. 31; xi. 21; xii. 24; xix. 20). The the Colosaia.n.s from know ledge falsely so words, "and increasing," a.re added to the ea.lied. text on the testimony, all but una.nimous, of Ver. 7.-A.Bye learned from Epa.phras, our the older witnesses. Their propriety is beloved fellow-servant; literally, bondmaa manifest; for the success of the gospel at (Eph. iv. 20; 2 Tim. iii. H). Only in eh. iv. Coloasm was a gratifying evidence, both of 7 does the epithet "fellow-bondrua.n" ap- its inherent fruitfulness, and of its rapid pear a.gain in St. Paul (the Revisers m progress in the Gentile world. Sta.Lionary these two plo.ces omit their marginal "bond- nt Rome (see Introduction, § 3), and with servant "). The dominant thought of Christ bis wcaijengers ooming o.nd going, and r.ews Jesus '' the Lord" (cb. ii. 6; iii. 22-iv. 1) reaching him from time to Limo of the ad- possibly dictates this c:i.:pression. That the vance of the Christian cuuae, the strong Colossians had receiYed the gospel in thb expression, "in all the world," is no.tum! to way from Epa.phras, a disciple of St. Paul, St. Paul. From Rome "all the world" is was a striking proof of its fruitfulness, and surveyed, just ns what takes place at Rome a further C11use for thanksgiving on his owu seems to resound " in o.ll the world " (Rom. part. Who is a faithful minister of Christ i, 8). Bearing fruit (verb in middle voice, on our (or, your) behalf (eh. iv. 12, 13; 2  4 THE EPISTLE TO THE OOLOSSIANS. [OH, I, 1-29,