The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 55

the form of "tho Wor<l." Considering tho conditions of language and our el\rthly nC'cessitics, this form is perfect. "The Law of the Lord is porfoct." It is an abiding form. ThC're may be movements of thought away from" the Law and the testimony," but here always is the truth in the form in which God wishes us to have it, H only we can bring our minds up to it. The whole Word of tn1th is precious• but there is that which is to be regarded as singul~rly precious (being singled out hero), viz. tho gospel, or the good message, God's special mes.~ge (of a glad nature), to sinners in need of SP.lration. It was this gospel that the Colossi::.ns at a former period had heard. By this the burden of their sin had been remov,;-i, and the hope of immortality enkindled within them. IY. How THE GOSPEL (THROUGH V.iITCH THE HOP!< WAS COMMUNICATED) WAS PBE- SE?-."'l'ED. 1. There was a general gospel, movement. "Which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit 1md increasing." The parting command of the Master was, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation [every creature]." And the command had been carried out (as time allowed) in its ,,ideness. The gospel-trumpet had been heard, not merely in Palestine, but had sounded out to all lands. And everywhere an efficacy had attended the preaching of the gospel. False forms of religion a.re limited by certain climatic conditions, by certain tempera- ments. Wba.t would do in Phrygia might not do in Rome. But the gospel (unmodi- fied) had been proved to be world-wide in its adaptation, adapted for Jew and Gentile, for Eastern and Western a.like. A.s the apostle represents it here, in all the world the gospel-tree had been bearing fruit and increasing. In a healthy fruit tree there is a double effort going on. There is an effort after f111it-producing, which is crowned when in autumn there a.re seen the ripe apples or rich clusters of grapes. But at the same time, there is a.n effort after the producing of more wood, which has a view to future fruit-producing. And so with regard to the gospel in the Church; if it is vital, then there will be produced the fruits of righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit (a rich cluster) 'A·hich is described in Galatians. And not only so, but there will at the same time be produced an increased sphere of fruit-producing. And the two processes can go on without their interfering with each other. The gospel in the Church may ba producing its rich clusters, and at the same time enlarging the sphere where such clusters may grow. 2. The movement in Oolossz partook of the characteristics of the general move- ment. " As it doth in you also." The gospel was as a tree ( on a small scale) in Colossre. And there, as in all the world, it was bearing fruit and increasin11:, Three fruits have already been mentioned, these the three Christian graces-faith, hope, and charity. And we may gather from the second word that the numbers of Christian converts were increasing at Colossre. And also Christians may have gone forth from Colossre to spread the gospel in other places. 3. This u·as to be accounted for by two cfrcumstances. (l) The gospel had been rightly presented to them. "Since the. day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth." The movement is traced back to its very commencement. He (the writer, Timothy assenting) calls to mind the very day when the gospel was first preached to them. It was a red-letter day in the histo1y of Colossm (though viewed differently by some there), more famous than the da~ whe? Xerx:es halted there on his march a"ainst Greece1 or the day when Cyrus with l11s Greeks passtd through it on his march against his brother at Babylon .. It was really C~rist cnterin" the town., to take possession of those for whom he had died. And no spurious gospel had been preached to them. '!'here were spurious gospels, which cons!sted in cold moralities and riuorous prohibitions. Dut the gospel (the true gospel) which had been preached to the~ was the grar,e of God. It told of salvation wrought out, not in answer to ruan's call, but to satisfy tlie yearnings of Divine love. It was salvation offered, not to hwnan merit, but freely, on the ground of the infinite merits of the :Saviour. And this gospel (as evidence that it bad been rightly presented) they knew, from their own consciousness of salvation, to be the truth of God. (2) The gospel had ian rightly 1,resented to tl,em by Epaphras. " Even as ye learned of Epapbras." Hia cl,arnder more generaUy. "Our beloved follow-servant." He wa.s a servant of Christ (rea<ly to go anywhere at tLe Master's bidding). '!'hat was his f:(eneral fitness for ser- vic(:. 'l'L.al was what Paul and Timothy were as well as he. For he is called !h_cir "fellc,w-servant." Ar..d he was a fcllow-&errnnt whom they had learned to regard with fo,c ,·.-~rJL(:.;t aff,_cti 1Jn, His character with ~pecial i-eference to the Cl;urch at Colosue. OJI, I, 1-29,] THE EPIS'l'LE '1'0 nm COLOSSIANS. 49