nnd governing iden of thie Epietle, that of hnvc existed nt ColoeBlll in eome incipient !he aupreme wrdship nf Oltrist (vere. 15-20; form. Bot ench nn nbuse of the term seems oh. ii. 6, 10, 19, eto.); nnd this pneeage affords to imply a well-established nnrl familiar o. clue which will, we truet, guide ue through Christian nee. Philo, who speaks the Jan- eome of the grentest difficulties which fol- gnnge or the Jewish philosophic mysticism low. (On •• the kingdom of the Son," comp. of the first century, has no such naage. Eph. i. 20-23; Phil. ii. 6-11; Rom. xiv. In firm, clear lines the apostle aas retraced, 9; 1 Cor. viii. 6; xv. 24-28; Heh. i. 1-4; in vers. 12-14 (comp. vers. 20-23; eh. ii. ii. 5-10; Rev. i. 5-7, 18: v., etc.; John v. 11-14), the tenching of his earlier Epistles 22-27; xvii. 2; xviii. 36; Mntt. xxv. 31- on the doctrines of ea.lvation. Here he 46; xxviii. lS--20.) Only here and in Eph. nsllllmes, in brief nnd comprehensive terms, v. 5; 2 Tim. iv. 1, 18; 1 Cor. xv. 24, 25, what in writing to the Galatians nnd Romans does the npoetle speak of tho kingdom ns he had formerly been at so much pnins to Christ'&; otherwise ne God's (and future). prove. The "Son of hie love" is not simply the Vera. 15-23.-SECTION II. Tm: REDEEM• "beloved Son" (Eph. i G; Mo.tt. iii. 17, ING SoN AND ms KINGDOM. We now approach eto.), hnt the representntive nnd depositary the real subject of the apostle's letter, and of his love: " Who is hie love made mani- that which is its distinction nnd glory fest" (Augustine, Lightfoot; eee ver. 2, note; amongst the Epistles, in the great theo- John iii. 16; xvii. 26: 1 John iv. 8, 9, 14- logice.l deliverance of vers. 15-20 concern- 16 ; Eph. ii. 4: Titus iii. 4-6; Rom. v. 8), ing the Person of Christ. This passage being at once our "Redeemer-King" (ver. 13, occupies a place in the Christology of St. 14) and the " Image of the invisible God" Paul corresponding to thnt which belongs (ver. 15). to Rom. iii 19-26 in regard to his Soterio- Ver. 14.-In whom we hnve (or, harI) our Iogy. Here he treats directly and expressly redemption, the forgiveness of onr sins of the sovereignty of Christ and the nature (Eph. i. 7; Gnl. iii. 10-13 ; Rom. iii. 19- of his Person-subjects which elsewhere in 26; 2 Cor. v. 18-21 : 1 Pet. iii. 18, 19). hie writings are for the most pa.rt matter Eph. i. 7 suggested to eome Inter copyists of assumption or mere incidental reference. the interpolntion "through his blood," But the pnragraph is no detached or inter- words highly suitable in the Ephesian polated piece of abstract theology. It doxology. This verse is the complement of depends grammatically nnd practically on the last : there ea.I ve.tion appenre as a rescue the previous verses (12-14). It sets forth by sot1ereig11 pOtDer, here ne a release by legal who he is and what place he fills in 1M uni- ransom ( ,bro->.6-rpo,a-u). The ransom-price 11erse-the.t Son of God's love in whom we Christ had declared beforehand (Matt. xx. have redemption, and in whose kingdom 28 ; x:s:vi. 28 ; comp. Rom. iii. 24-26 ; Ge.I. the Fnther has placed ua; and what cause, ii. 20; 1 Tim. ii. 6; Heh. ix. 12-14; 1 Pet. therefore, there is for the Colossie.ns to give i.18; Rev.i.5,R.V.; v. 9). "Weha-z,eredemp- thanks as having sueh a Person for their tion " (" had it," according to a few ancient redeeming King. The pnssage falls into witneeeee) in present experience in" the for- two parts, closely corresponding both in giveness of our eine" (vere. 21, 22 ; eh. ii. 13, form and sense, and governed, like other of 14; iii. 13; 2 Cor. v. 21; Rom. iv. 25; v. 1; the npostle's more fervid and elevated ntter- viii. I; Titus ii. 14: Heh. ix. 14; x. 1-18; nnces, by o. Hebraietio antithetical rhythm 1 Pet. ii. 24; 1 John i. 7-ii. 2; iv. 10). or expression, which should aid llB in the Rom. iii 24 gives ite objective ground. difficulties of its interpretntion. A twofold The "redemption of the body" (also bought headship is a.scribed to the Lord Christ- by the eame price, 1 Cor. vi. 20) will make natural (vers. 15-17) and redemptional the work complete (Eph. i. 13, 14; Rom. (vers. 18-20) : the first the source and viii.19-23; 1 Cor. i. 30). Lightfoot sug- ground of the second ; the second the issue gests tho.t the apostle intends to contro.dict and consequence of the first, its reassertion the doctrine of redemption taught by the and consummation. This symmetrical Gnostice, who made it consist in initiation structure we ma.y nttempt to exhibit in the into their ••mysteries" (see note on vor. 27); following way:- and supposes that this notion mo.y o.lready
I. Ver. 15. (a) Who is Imnge of God the invisible, Firetbom of all creation: Ver.16. (b) For in Him were created nll things, • (a) In the heavens aud on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible- whether thrones, whether lordships, whether prinoipalities, whether dominions- Vor. 17. (rI) All things through Him nnd unto Him hnve been created; ., (e) Aud He is before all things, nnd in Him all things consist. 8 THE EPISTLE TO THE OOLOSSIANS. [OII, I, 1-29,