The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 18

ta thinking here of the rellltive, histo:rical Ver. 19.-For in him he was pleaeed thnt beginning of "the kingdom of the Son" all the fulness should dwell (eh. ii. 9 ; Eph. (ver. 13), there of the o.bsolute beginning i. 10; John i. 14, 16; Acts ii. 36; Heb. of the Divine work of redemption (comp. vii. 25; Mo.tt. xxviii. 18). Vers. 19, 2fJ 1 Cor. i. 80; iii. 23; and note on "nnto stand to vor. 18 as vers. 16, 17 to ver. 15. him," ver. 16). St. John, writing to the Tbe creative work of th(Son explains e.nd neighbouring '.Loodicea, echoes, appBrently, justifies his supremacy over the natural this lBnguo.ge of our apostle (Rev. iii.; 14). universe, and his reconciling work accounts AB Firstbom out of the dead ( eh. ii. 12, 13; for his lordship over the Church, as it iii. 1; Eph. i. 19, 28; Rom. i. 4; vi. 1-14; establishes his "pre-eminence in all things." 1 Cor. xv. 18-18 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 4; Aots In him dwelt the forces and laws of the xiii. 30-39 ; 1 Pet. i. 3, 21 ; Rev. i. 5, 18 ; first creation ; in him, likewise, all Ike ii. 8; Johu xi. 25), this Beginning o.ctually fulness engaged in the new creation. It begins; Christ becomes the source of a new is hard to say what is the grammatical humanity, a new creation (2 Cor. iv. 14 and subject of " was pleased." ( l) The great Rom. viii. 21). The apostle derives the majority of interpreters, both ancient and whole life and power of Christianity, modern, understand " the Father " as whether as seen in Christ or proved by his borrowed from vers. 12, 13, e.nd suggested people, Crom his resnrrection (see parallels). by the apostle's nse of this verb elsewhere The name First.born brings over with it into (see 1 Cor. i. 21; Gal. i. 15; Phil. ii. 13; this verse the glory which snrronnds it in Eph. i. 5, 9, 11); so, recently, De Wette, ver.15. The Divine Firstborn, who ie before Meyer, Lightfoot, Alford, Kliipper, R.V. and over all things, wins hie title a second (2) Ellicott, Ewald, R. Schmidt, Weiss, timo for his ee.njb.ly brethren's sake (Heb. R.V. margin, adopt the immediately follow- :Ii. 10-15). M he appears "out of the ing "all the fulness." (3) Cony bee.re, dead," born anew from the dark womb of Hofmann, with e. few others, prefer " the the grave, the nether abyss (Rom. x. 7; Son," the exclusive e.nd a.II-absorbing sub- Eph. iv. !) ; Phil. ii. 8), the Father declares ject of vers. 15-18. The second inte1·pre- to him, " Thou art my Son, this day have tation personifies Pleroma in a manner I begotten theo" (Acts xiii. 33 ; Heh. i. 5) ; unsupported by Pauline usage, e.nd more the Church exclaims, "My Lord and my suitable to the second century (see note on God" (John xx. 28); "all authority in "fnlness," below); bnt the considerations heaven and on earth" beoomes his (Matt. urged by its supporters a.go.inst the common xxviii. 18; John xvii. 2); he is made view a.re of great weight. In favour of "Firstborn over many brethren," who call the third interpretation given above, are the him Lord (Rom. viii. 29 ; xiv. 9; Rev. following reasons : that it supplies the v. 12); and proceeds to "subdue all things nearest subject, that which the Colossian unto himself" (Phil. ii. 9, 10 ; iii. 21 ; reader, without the nsage of other Epistles 1 Cor. xv. 25 ; Heh. x. 13 ; Rev. :rix. in his mind, wonld ne.tnre.lly assn.me ; that 11-16). "Firstbom out of the dead" in it prepares for the reference of the further the source of his new birthright of lordship predico.tee, "reconcile," "having me.de in the Church, he ie" Firstborn of the dead" peace," "present yon holy," etc. (vers. (Rev. i. 5, R.V.: comp. ver. 15) in his abiding 20-23), to Christ, in agreement with the relation to dying humanity. And he won closely pe.re.llel Eph. ii. 14-16; v. 27; this title so as to carry out an antecedent further e.nd especie.lly, that this view best purpose in hie mind (comp. Rom. xiv. 9; ho.rmonizes with the snstained and unique "In the mind of the father," say Meyer and emphasis with which the writer has dwelt others-a thought true in itself, but inter- on the s011ereignty of Christ in every clause polated here), viz. that he might _beoome in from ver. 14 onwards; and, lastly, that his all things pre-eminent (ver.13; eh. ii. 6; Eph. point of view is historical (note the e.orists v. 5; 1 Cor. xv. 25; Luke xi.x. 12-27; throughout vers. 18-20), as concerned not :uii. 29, 30; John xviii. 36; Rev. i. 5; with the "eternal purpose" e.nd absolute iii. 21 ; xi.x. l 6 ; Pa. ii. 7, 8). The purpose initiative of the Father, but with the estab- of oreation as" unto Christ" (ver. 17) had lishment of his own kingdom by the Son been frustro.ted, so for as related to man, (ver. IS; see note on·· unto him," ver. 16). by tbe entrance of sin and death, o.nd his There is nothing in the term" well pleased•• rightful pre-eminence denied him (John (" good pleasure") to prevent the apostle i 10), He must, therefore, recover it, applying it to the Son, if he finds occasion must beoome pre-eminent ; and this he does to do so. But " this view confuses the by hie death o.nd resurrection (John xii. theology of the passage hopelessly " (Light- 81, 32; Heh. ii, 14, 15; xii. 2; Phil. ii. foot). Just the same is said by Baur an,l 6-11; Isa. !iii. 12). "To this end Jesus Pfleiderer of the " unto him" of ver. 16, died and lived o.guin" (Rom. xiv. 9: comp. e.nd the "o.11 in all" of eh. iii. 11, as coru- 2 Cor. v. 15; Ilev. i. 18). po.red with the langui:ige of 1 Corinthians  12 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [oa. 1. 1-29.