The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 23

Chrut" in their mim'fltriu as distinguished well ne of joy. Aa tho Chureh'e mln1i1M, fram their ffl«liatorial aspect. (2) The latter he is bound to toil and to suffer in who.tevcr 91fflf'C is, however, put on the phrase by way her welfare requires. Elsewhere he Romanist divines, who quote the text in styles himself" minister of tho gospel" (ver. Eapport of the dootrine of the merit of the 23; Eph. iii. 7), "of God," "of Christ," "or Mints, in contnidiotien t.o the uniform teach- anewcovenant"(2Cor.iii.6). (On "minister," ing of St. Paul a.od the whole New Testa- see note, ver. 7. Aooording to the steward- ment., that the sacrifioe of Christ is the sole ship of God, that was given me to you-ward merit.orious ground of salvation for all men, (Eph. iii. 1-13; 1 Cor. iv. 1-4: ix. 17; 1 leaving nothing ~ jiil up (vers. 20-22; Tim. i. 4, R.V.; iii. 15; Luke xii. 42; xvi. Eph. ii. 16; Rom. iii. 2.\ 26; 2 Cor. v.18, 2-4; Heb. iii. 2-6; 1 Pet. iv. 10). Ot,copoµla. 19 ; Gal. iii. 13 ; Heh. ii. 9; ix. 26 ; x. 14; (" ceconomy ") is first "house-management." Act.Ii iv. 12; xiii. 38, 39; John i. 29; 1 John then " administration " generally; the ol,c&- ii 2 ; 1 Pet. ii. 24, e~.). It is worthy of poµos (" house-st.eward ") was a oonfidentio.l not.e that, unless it be in the Epistle t.o the upper servant., frequently a elo.ve, who con- Hebrews. St. Paul never uses the words trolled the general arrangements of a large " suffer," " suffering" (much lees " afflic- establishment, and was responsible imme- tion ") in connection "ith. the at.oning sacri- diately to the master. Such o.n office the fice. He dwells rather on the objective fact apostle holds, along with others (1 Cor. iv. itself-'·ib.e death," "th" cross," "the blood." 1), in the Church," the house of God" (Eph. (S) The prevailing int~pretation (Chrysos- ii 19-22; 1 Tim. iii. 15; 2 Tim. ii. 20: this tom, Augustine, down to Alford. Ellicott) conception, like tho.t of " the body of Christ" finds here tJi.e o.ffeictions of the Church (in- -eomp. note on ver. 18-is fully developed cluding Paul's) made Christ', by my,tu, only in the later Epistles). In this office he ~pathy (Eph. v. 23, 29). But this view "administers the gospel" (1 Cor. ix. 17, 18), identifies Paul's sufferings with his Me.eter's. "the grace of God" (Eph. iii 2; 1 Pet. iv. while he expressly distinguishes them; and 10), and here more especially" the mystery" the idea, however beautifnl in itself, is with- of vere. 26, 27 (comp. Epb. iii. 9, R.V.). In nut Pauline analogy. (4) Meyer holds the Eph. i. 10 and iii. 2, the ol,copoµla. is referred nfll.ictions to be Paur, = aiftiction8 which are Christ's by ethical identity, as belonging to God himself, tb.e supreme Dispenser in bis own house. Thie office "was given" him, to th.e same class. This approaches (I), but and specifically o.s "toward the Gentiles" is leas simple grammatically, and again con- (for" you" points to the Colossians as Gen- fuses the antithesi.s involved in the pointed tiles, vers. 24, 27, notes ; Eph. iii. 1, 2; Rom. iz.,.,.[. (5) Other modifications of this view- :ri. 13), when he first became a serve,nt of aifiicl:icnu coming from Chri8t, cm account of Christ (Acts iL 15; x.xii. 21 ; n:vi. 16-18; Chrut, ctc.-are less plausible. Dr. G loag, Gal. i. 15, 16; 1 Tim. i. 11-15; Rom. xv. jn the Exporitar, first series, vol. vii. pp. 15, 16). Some interpreters connect "to you- 224-236, fully diBcusses the passage and ward" with the word "fulfil," but less suit- ably defends (3). In my ftesh (:! Cor. iv. 10, ably(comp. Eph. iii. 2; Rom. xv. 16). To fulfil 11; ni. 5; Gal. iv. 13, 14); for St. Paul's the word of God (Rom. xv. 16-19; xvi. 25, phyi;iCl&l nature felt keenly the pangs of 26). "To fulfil" (see vere. 9, 24, and "ful- imprisonment, the chafing of" these bonds." ness," ver.19; also eh. ii. 9, 10; iv. 12) is either And thus be puts honour on the despised "to complete,'' to give full development and flesh, o.s capable of such high servioe (see extension to the gospel message (vere. 5, 6; note, ver. 22:). On behalf of his body, which 2 These. iii. I; 2 Car. ii.14-17; Rom. xv. is the Church (ver. 18; eh. ii. 19, Eph. i. 19; Acts xx. 20, 21, 27); or" t.o accomplish" 23; iv. 16; v. 23; 2 Tim. ii 10). The the prophetic word (Rom. ix. 24-26; xv. 8 int.erests of the Church demanded his suffer- -12; Acts xv. 15-17), o.s in Acts xiii. 27, ings. They are " for you•· (Colossian Gen- and frequently in the Gospels. This verb tiles); but, in his view, the full possession of ,r1'.T1p&01, however, is not used by St. Paul th.e gospel by the Gentiles and the existence elsewhere in the lo.tter sense, and the former of the Church itself were vitally bound up precisely suits the context (compare parallels together (Eph. ii Hi, 21, 22; iii. 6). If from Romans). Other interpretations-" t.o "Christ loved the Church. and gave himself preach abundantly,'' "t.o continue Christ's for her " (Eph. v. 25), he might well in his preaching" (Eph. ii. 17; Heh. ii 3), "to turn ruffer on the same accoUDt. The mag- execute the Divine commission "-miss the nitude of the interests invalved are measured sense of the verb. The word which it is the by his 6-rtatuc.-ss whose booy the Church is object of the apostle's ministry to fulfil, and (verE. lG-18). (On "body," aeenote, ver.18.) in regard tow hich he had a special steward- V ,:;r. 25.-0f which •1 became a miniater mi p, is none other than- (2 Cor. iv. 5; vi. 3-10; xi 28, 29; I These. Vcr. 26.-The mystery which hath been ii. 1-12; Act.a xx. 28; l Pet. v. 1-4). His hidden away from the ages and from the ~uf!'~r:r,ge o.rf:, tbtrefore, matter of duty, as generatiollll (Eph. ii. 2, 3; iii, 5, 9; Rom. xvi. OH, I, 1-2!),) 'l'IIE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 17