The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 32

and his experience, 1. The apostle styles himself (1) mini.,ter of the gospel (ver. 23 b), of the glad tidings of salvation for all men, from all sin, in Jesus Christ (Matt. i. 21; Luke i. 68-79; Acts v. 31; xiii. 38, 39, 47; 1 Tim. ii, 3-7; Titus ii. 11-14), "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts xx. 24). It is this that be hll.ll to serve-to publish, explain, apply it, to carry it everywhere and to aJI its practical issues. And in thus serving the gospel, he knows that he is best serving the interests of mankind (Titna iii. 3-8; 2 Cor. iv, 6; Eph. v. 9; Phil. iv. 8, 9). There is no charge so serious and responsible, requiring so high a character (1 Thess. ii. 4) or eo much boldness and power of utterance in its minister (Eph. vi. 19, 20). (2) He is also minister of the Ohurch (ver, 25), pastor and teacher as well as evangelist (Epb. iv. 11). And minister means "servant." The Church doP.H not exist for his sa.ke, but he for the Church's sa.ke: "We preach ourselves your servants [slaves] for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor. iv. 5; comp. ver. 24; 1 'l'hess. ii. 6-8 ; 1 Pet. v, 2, 3; John x. 9-15; Ezek. xxxiv.). He has authority, which he does not hesitate to use when need arises (1 Cor. iv. 19-v. 5; 2 Cor. x. 2-6); but it is that "which the Lord gave for edification" (2 Cor. x. 8; xiii. 10). To the Church he can say, "1 seek not yours, but you;" "whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, all are yours;" "I wiJI most gladly spend and be spent for yonr souls" (2 Cor. xii. 14, 15; 1 Cor, iii. 22 ; Phil. ii. 17 ; 1 Thess. ii. 8). And well may he do this, for he serves the Church for which the Lord Jesus" gave himself," which he" loves," which he" nourishes and cherishes as his own body" (ver. 24; Eph. v, 25, 29). He foJlows in the steps of "the good Shepherd," who" giveth his life for the sheep" (John x.11). (3) His ministry is a Divine trust, a stewardship of God (ver. 25; Eph. iii. 2, 9; 1 Cor. iv. 1; ix. 17). He was "separated from his mother's womb " (Gal. i. 15), was " sent" ( Acts xxii. 21), "was put to ministry" (1 Tim. i. 12), "appointed herald and apostle and teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth" (1 Tim. ii. 7). And in accordance with bis inward caJI, he was "separated" for his particular work by "the Holy Ghost," acting through the officers of the Church at Antioch (Acts xiii. 1-3). He is, therefore, a "minister of Christ," a "minister of God," and " steward of the mysteries of God" (~ Cor. ii. 23 ; vi, 4; 1 Cor. iv. 1). Hence the dignity and authority of his office (Gal. i. 1, 11, 12), and the power with which it invests him (ver, 29; 2 Cor. x. 4, 8; xii. 12; xiii. 3-6), and his responsibility for the final account (1 Cor. iv. 1-5; 2 Cor. v. 11 ; Phil. ii. 16; 1 Thess. ii. 19, 20; Heb, xiii.17). His business is to "serve the Church," but" to please God" (Gal. i. 10). 2. The aim of his ministry is twofold. (1) To fulfil the word of God (ver. 25}--to give it the widest possible extension (vers. 6, 23, Rom. xv. 17-21 ; 2 Thess. iii. 1), to carry it through every" open door" (eh.iv. 3; Epb. iii. 9; 1 Cor. xvi. 9; 2 Cor, ii. 12-14), and "manifest the savour of the knowledge of Christ in every place," and to co.rry it on to its full issue in the salvation and sanctifi- cation of all who hear it (ver, 28; Acts x.x. 27; 1 TheSil. ii. 11, 12 ; 2 Thess. ii.13-15). And so his aim is (2) to present every man perfect in Ghrist. (Ver. 28.) This is his endeavour and hope regarding every man to whom his ministry is addressed, unto which he toils hard and strives (ver. 29), His supreme reward "in the day of Christ," his "joy and crown of glorying" (1 Tbess. ii. 16 ; Phil. ii. 16), will be found in the saved souls, the perfected and ripened Christian characters, whom he will be able then to present as the fruit of" the grace of God that was with him" (1 Cor. xv. 10; Eph. iii. 2, 8; Rom. i. 13). 3, His work is (1) the preaching of Ohrist (ver. 29)-" Christ cruci- fied" (1 Cor. i. 23; ii. 2) and "risen again" (1 Cor. xv. 3, 4; Acts xvii. 18), "made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. i. 30); "Christ the Image of God" (ver. 15; 2 Cor. iv. 4), the" Firstborn of all creation" (ver, 15), "Head of the Church" (ver. 18), "Lord of both the dead and the living" (Rom. xiv. 0), "all and in all" (eh. iii.11). (2) The admonishing and teaching ef every man. (Ver. 28.) For "all have sinned" and need Christ (Rom. iii. 23-26), and. all have a claim on his salvation (1 Tim. iv. 10; ii. 3, 4; Rom. iii. 20, 30; i. lG; Heh. ii, 9; John iii, 16, etc.). He "admonishes every man," therefore, often "with tears (Acts xx. 31), of the nature and the penalties of sin, of the day of judgment and "the fear of the Lord" (2 Cor. v. 11), of the danger of falling from grace, of the special faults or errors he may discern in him (Gal. iii. 1-4, etc.; 1 Cor. i. 11, etc.). He teaches in all wisdom, supplying instruction apt for the simplest understanding :,nd for the weakest "babe in Christ," and also speaking "wisdom among the perfect" (1 Cor. ii. 6-iii. 2), seeking to meet every stage and state of the Christian lifo, and studying 26 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [on. 1. 1-29.