The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 72

or they o.re wHnoss against ue. H ie not enough to be called" faithful;" "it is req11ircd in stowards that a man befowndfaitliful" (Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24). IV. PAuL'B AFFECTIONATE anEETING To THEM, "Grace" is the initial good and· "pence" the final good, Grace is "the well-spring of all mercies, peace the crown of nil blessings." The old Hebrew salutation, "peace," expands under the Iio-ht and love of Christ to "grace o.nd peace" in many of Paul's Epistles, and to "gra.c~ mercy, and peace" in some of the later ones (1 Tim. i. 2; 2 'fim. i. 2; TituR i. 4). These bless- ings come from God our Father the Fountain (Ps. xxxvi. 9 ; Jas. i. 17); they aro treasured up in Christ the Reservoir, ever full of" living water" (ver. 19; John iv. 10, 14), and conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit as a channel; one yet manifold(" the seven Spirits," Hev. i. 4), because distributing to the necessities of each individual believer. We can wish fur one another no better blessings than God's grace and God's peace; for "in his favour is life;" "the peace of God passeth all understanding."-E. S. P. Vera. 3-8.-77ie thanlcsgiving. Good news from Colossre had been brought to Paul at Ilome by Epaphras. This devoted servant of Christ (eh. iv. 12) had probably been the first evangelist sent by Paul to Colossre, and the founder of the Church there (ver. 7, Revised Version). He brought also news which caused the apostle much anxiety (eh. ii. 1, 2, 8, etc.). But before he utters cautions he pours forth tbanks!siving3, We are thus reminded of two things. 1. Paul's largeness of heart. Love "rejoiceth in the truth" and" envieth not" those who have either more spiritual gifts or more temporal blessings (Rom. xii. 15). 'l'he fruit of Epaphras' ministry was a source of joy to him. He felt grateful for the gifts in money from the Philippians brought by Epaphroditus (Phil. iv. 17, 18), but more for "the love in the Spirit" of the Colossians reported by Epapbras. 2. Paul's sympathy with the mind of his Master. Christ also dictated Epistles. Wherever there is anything to commend in the Churches of Asia, the Lord mentions this before he utters a word of censure. The apostle, writing earlier, but taught by the same Spirit of Christ, pursues a similar course in nearly all his Epistles (Rom. i. 8; 1 Cor. i. 4; Eph. i. 16; Phil. i. 3; 1 Thess. i. 2; 2 Thess. i. 3). "The meeknens o.nd gentleness of Christ" enable him to praise and congratulate even the disorderly Church at Corinth. The apostle blends thanksgivings with his prayers, especially on account of that triad of graces, faith, love, hope, which elsewhere he rejoices in (1 Cor. xiii. 13; 1 'l'hess. i. 3). Their faith worked by love and was sustained by hope. Their permanent fruitfulness proved the reality of their spiritual life. We must, however, observe that the term "hope" is used here in a sense some- what different to that in the other passages quoted above. It is the object of hope (as in Gal. v. 5; Titus ii. 13; Heh. vi. 18), implying subjective hope. '!'hat "hope set before us" "we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast, and enter- ing into that which is within the veil." Following the suggestions of this figure, we may notice some of the links of the chain of spiritual blessings by which the souls of converts are connected with that anchor, and on account of which ministers may give thanks on behalf of Christians who in these respects resemble the Colossians. I. '\VE HAVE HEARD "TRI!: WORD OF THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL." No gospel, no hope (Eph. ii. 12). We did not come to the gospel; it " is come unto" us. The Physician. sought the patient, the Saviour the sinner (Isa. I.xv. 1; Luke xix. 10). The gospel in its triumphant progress throughout all the world reached Great Britain, an Dltima 77iule, brought by unknown missionaries who" for his Name's sake went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles." We ourselves have heard "the joyful sound," the genuine gospel, "the grace of God in truth" (Gal. ii. 6; 1 Pet. v. 12), the gospel of Christ which alone is "the power of God unto salvation." IL WE HAVE TRUSTED OURSELVES i·o CHRIST. "Your faith in Christ Jesus." We have not only heard, but we know, "the grace of God in truth." We know it because we have had a Divine Teacher. "In cmlo cathedram ho.bet qui corda docet" (Augus- tine). Our faith is the gift of God; it rests not" in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God." Thus we" know whom we have believed," etc. (2 Tim. i. 12; 1 John v. 13, 19, 20). Belief conducts to knowledge (John vi. 69). III. WE ARE BRINGING FORTH FBOIT. '\Vherever the gospel comes, i.e. comes home to men's consciences and hearts, it must be a fructifying power. "Even as it is also in o.11 the world bearing fruit," etc. Ours is not a faith whioh "ill dead in itself because it COLOSSIANS, F G6 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. ten. 1. t•-20.