The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 27

neWI! indeed. So in the case of a child or friend; how much more in thnt of a whole communit_y ! W~at boundless and end_less pos~\bilities of good are implied in this single fact! It 1s the birth of true, eternal life (eh. 11. 12, 13; Rom, vi. 1-11 • John i. 12 • iii. 36; vi. 4i, Si; xvii. 3), the entrance into a fellowship with Christ' (1 Cor. i. 9) _which brings a -~appiness and pow:er to whi~h ~here is no measure (1 Pet. i. 8; 1 ,John 1. 3, ~; John ni. 38; xv. 11; xvi. 22; Ph1L 1v. 13). (2) "Faith worketh by love" (CnL v. 6) ; hearing of the first, if it be genuine, one is sure to hear of the second. Love is the first "fruit of the Spirit " (Cnl. v. 22), the witness of a Divine life in the roul (1 John iii. 14; v. 1). This love is oot,lwlic-a family affection, goina out to all the children of God, tM saints everywhere and of all times, whenever we ~ee them or bear or read of them; o,erleaping every national, social, or (alas that we should have to add!) ecclesiastical barrier (eh. iiL 11; Cnl. iii. 28). (3) But the present state and character of Christians call for thanksgiving on their account, most of all, "because of the hope in store for them in heaven." Faith and love are unspeakable blessings even now ; but what "if in this life only we had hoped in Christ" (1 Cor. xv. 19)? It is the thought of what awaits the Colossian believers in heaven, the conviction that they ha..-e "Christ in them, the hope of glory" (ver. 27; eh. iii. 4), that fills the apostle's heart with joy (Phil. i. 6; 2 Thess. L 3-5; 1 Pet. i. 3-7; John xiv. 2, 3; xvii. 24). So in regard to himself (Phil. i. 21-23; 2 Cor. v. 1-8; 2 Tim. iv. 6-8). Finis coronat opus. It is the grand outlook, the glorious prospect beyond death, that gives security and di:!nity, a serene calmness and a buoyant energy, to the Christian life (Rom. v. 1-5; ,·iii. 18, 35-39; 1 Cor. xv. 58; 2 Cor. iv. 16-18; Phil. i. 20; 2 Tim. i. 12; Heb. xi. 13, 35; Rev. ii. 10). This hope will not deceive; it is fonnded on" the word of the truth of the gospel " (1 Cor. xv. 15 ; 2 Pet. i. 16). 2. The progress of the gospel. (Vers. 6-8.) (1) It spreads by its inherent fruitfulness, by the living energy with which it works in those who receive it, by the silent contagion of conviction and example, acting continuously as leaven on the surrounding mass of the world (Matt. xiii 33). The fruit it produces in the lives of those who receive it becomes seed in its turn for the soil around. Epaphras has heard the gospel from St. Paul ; he carries it home and teaches and practises it there, and the Church of Colossm springs up ( comp. 1 Thess. i. 8-10). (2) At the same time, it has its special mess6'Tlgers and advocates -" ser..-ants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Cor. iv. 1); "Ye learnt from Epaphras" { eh. iv. 12; Rom. xii. 5-8; 1 Cor. xii. 28; Eph. iv. 11, 12). " A faithful minister of Christ : " how honourable the title! how great the reward (1 Pet. v. 1-4) ! We note the care of the apostle to commend and support hisfellow-· servant, and the grateful and graceful way with which he refers to the love of the Colossians to himself. The progress of the gospel is not a little helped by mutual: recognition and confidence of this kind on the part of Christ's servants towards each other. III. TBE OPENING PBAYER. I. Christian knowledge. (Vers. 9, 10.) (l} We so often find knowledge divorced from action, the head and the heart at variance, that we are apt to exclaim, "Knowledge, alas! 'tis all in vain.'' But it is, nevertheless, a pre- condition of all saving faith and all right action. In it lies the beginning of the soul's life (ver. 6 b), the means of its growth and advancement (ver. 10, "by the knowledge of God"), and the end towards which it strives (eh. iii. 10; 1 Cor. xiii. 12; J~hn xvii. 3). True," we know in part," and are "rather ~nown by _God" t~an_ know him (Gal. iv. 9); and knowledge, therefore, must go hand-m-hand with _the faith that worketh l,y love." Otherwise it" puffeth up," and needs to be humbled beneath the supremacy c,r love (1 Cor. viii. 1-3; xiii; 1 John iv. 7, 8; John xiii. 17; xiv. 15-17; xvi. 13). But it is possible to exalt love in a one-sided, prejudicial way; and then the prayer of Phil i. ~ should be called to mind. (2) Knowledge in the form of a sound and manly wr.derstanding (1 Cor. xiv. 20), an instructed and well-ordered comprehension of the Eystem of Christian truth, is necessary for the Church, absolutely necessary for her teachers, and especially in times of mental conflict., such as that on which the Asiatic Churches were theo enterinl!, and such as that which is now reaching an acute stage in our mooern Christendom. In her contention with heresy and scepticism, the Church's strength depends on the amount of " spiritual wisdom and understanding" possessed by btr members. And the understanding is a spiritual faculty, that needs to bo illformed and guidr;d by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of tr1Jth. (3) Yet Qhristi"n know• oh, I. 1-20.] 'rHE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSTANS. 21