The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 22

x. 85, 86)-thnt whioh is its peculinr proporty Eph. i. 20-iii. 13. Here, howovor, the nnd glory, the crown of Christ's reclecmi □ g second of these topics has been mn.rlo quite work (ver. 22), tho encl of his servant's subordinate (vers. 21-23: comp. Eph. ii.). lnbours (ver. 28), for whicb, by anticipation, The third is the subject of our next section. ho 11.lreacly gives thanks (var. 5), but which Vere. 24-29.-SEC'rYON III. THE APOSTLE was directly three.tenecl and brought in AND HIS M:rssroN. .A.nalyai8: (1) The apostle's question by Oolossian enor (see notes on ministry is at present one of suffering (ver. eh. ii. 18; iii. 15). (The gospel) which you 24). (2) Christ, the Hope of the Gentiles, the heard (vers. 5, 7: notes), which was preached Secret of the ages, is its theme (vera. 25--- in all oreation,that is under the heaven (ver. 27) ; (3) and its aim the individual perfec- 6; Rom. xvi. 26; }fork xvi. 15; Me.tt. x.xviii. tion of all to whom it is addressed (ver. 28). 19, 20; xxiv. 14). The tro.nsition from (4) In seeking which he is sustained by a "you" to "all creation" resembles that of supernatural power (ver. 29). vers. 5, 6 (comp. vera. 20, 21). "Preo.checl" Ver. 24.-N'ow I rejoice in my sufferings is literally" heraldecl," "loudly and oillcially for your sake (eh. iv. 3; Eph. iii. 1, 13; vt. announced;" so, frequently in St. Paul (see 19, 20; Phil. i. 12, 16, 29; ii. 17; Philem. 2 Tim. i. 11), also in Mark xvi. 15. Greek 9, 13; -2 Tim. i 11, 12; .Acts ix. 16; x.xvi. usage does not support the interpretation 29). "Who" is wanting in the older manu- which makes 1C"Ti0"1s ("creation") equivalent scripts. Tbe abrnptness of expression indi- to" humanity." This sense of the word, which, cates a sudden outburst of feeling (comp. 2 even in Mark, such interpreters as Bengel, Cor. vii. 9; 1 Tim. i. 12). "Now-as these Lange, .Alford, reject, is quite Hebraistic and thoughts fill my mind" (Lightfoot) ; or, exceptional. The phrase, "all creation," the better, "In my present position (with tho writer baa already used in ver. 15; here, as chain rouncl my wrist:" Eadie). St. Paul's there (see note), without the article (Revised sufferings as apostle of the Gentiles and in Text). The universe.I meaning it canies defence of their rights in the gospel-so there is now limited by" under the heaven." "for your sake" (comp. Acts xiii. 44-50 ; The ea1·thlycreation, subject as it is to Christ, xxii. 21, 22; 1 Thess. ii. H-16; Rom. xv. is the sphere of this proclamation, the preach- 16; Ga.I. v. 11; 1 Tim. ii. 7)-were matter ing-room which is to resound everywhere of joy to him as they were of benefit to them. with the glad tidings (comp. Pa. I. l; xcviii. And a.m filling up in my tnm the thmgs 7; Isa. Iii. 7; Iv. 12; Rev. x. 2; xiv. 6). that are lacking of the a.fllictions of Christ And with this range it was proclaimed, for (Mark x. 39; John xv. 20; Rom. viii. 17; 2 from the first it claimed universal audience. Cor. i. 5; 2 Tim. ii. 12; Phil. iii. 10). "Am Whereof I became, I Paul, e. mmister (vers. filling up" (ctV,ur.\71pow) has the same object 24-29; Eph. iii. 1-13; 1 Tim. i. 11-14; ( &O'T< p11µ.a) in 1 Cor. xvi. 17; Phil. ii. 30 ii. 7; 2 Tim. i. 11; Rom. i. 5; xi. 13; xv. (comp. 2 Cor. ix. 12; xi 9; l Thess. iii. 10). 15-19; 1 Cor. iii. 5, 10; ix. 1, 2, 16, 17; 2 Here it is further compounded with avT, Cor. iv. 1-G; vi. 1-10; Go.I. i. 1, 15, 16; (" over against "), which implies some sort 1 These. ii. 4; .Acts ix. 15; xxvi 16-18). of correspondence-between defect and sup- (For"minister," seever. 7.) The later Epistles ply, say Meyer, Alford, Ellicott ; but this is betray a markedly heightened sense in the surely contained in the idea uf filling up, apostle of the unique dignity and importance whereas aJl'Tl bears as a rule, and always in of his own position, and those who question St. Paul, o. distinct and pointed reference of their authenticity press this fact against its own. "He says not simply ava.1r.\71pw, them. But the difference of tone is what but aVTa.110.1r"-11pw, that is, Instead of the Lord one would expect in "such a one as Paul and Master, I the slai•e and disciple" (Pho- the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ tius). Christ, the Head, had borne bis part, Jesus" (Philem. 9). .As the Gentile Churches now the apostle in tum fills up bis part, in grew, reverence for his person deepened; and the great sum of suffering to be undergone the success of his life-mission became more on beho.lfof the body of Christ (see parallels). assured, especially now that the struggle The verb being so understood, then, with with reo.ctiono.ry Jude.ism, signalized by the Lightfoot, we infer that "the afflictions of Epistles of the third missionary journey, was Christ" (a phrase peculiar to this passage) to 11, large extent decided in his favour. The are : (1) Christ's o,cn ministerial sufferings, false teachers he is now opposing did not, endured at the hands of men. .Ajftiction. is we should gather, attack the apostle per- 11, co=on term for !Ill th!lt Christians suft"er sonally; but may rather have claimed to be as being in "thfa present evil world" (2 on his side. Thess. i. 4-6; Rom. v. 3; 2 Cor. iv. 17 : The movement of thought we have followed comp. John xvi. 33). Such suffering is in vers. 15-23 proceeds from Christ's re- common to the Master o.nd his servants cleemingwork to theexpel'ienceof tlie Colossians (John xv. 20), a.nd he leaves behind to each in receiving it, and the labour~ of the apostui his fitting llD.d correspondent share therein. in publishing it; and is pnmllel to that of These a,Of ictiom are "the sufferings of the  18 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [OH, I, 1-29,