The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 89

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER II. own Lardner nnd a fow recent critics, contended that tho apostlo distinguishes Vers. 1-7.-SECTION IV. TllE APOSTLE'S here between Cok•ssians ancl Lo.odioonne (or CONCERN FOR THE CoLOSSIAN CHURCH. So at least the former), and those tolw had not far the contents of the letter have been seen his face. But the disjunction is of o. general o.nd preparatory clmmctcr. gm.mmatica.lly harsh and improbable (see Now the writer begins to indicate the Ellicott). (On the general question, see specie.I purpose he has in view by declaring, Introduction,§ 2.) The apostle is the more in connection with his concern for the wel- anxious for this endangered Church, as the fare of the Gentile Churches at large (eh. i. gifts that his presence might have conveyed 2-1-29), the deep anxiety wMcJ, he at present (Rom. i. 11) were wanting to them. He feels respecting the Colos•ian and neighbour- says, "in tlesh," for" in spirit" he is closely ing Churches. united with them (ver, 5; oh. i. 8: comp. Ver. 1.-For I would have you know how 1 Cor. v. 3, 4). The object of hie strife on gnat a strife I have on heh.a.If of you and their behalf is- those in Ln.odicea (eh. iv. 12, 13; 2 Cor. Ver. 2.-That their hearts may be en- xi 28, 29; Rom. i 9-13; Phil. i. 8, 25-30; coumged (eh. iv. 8; Eph. vi. 22; 1 Thess. 1 Thcss. ii. 17, 18; Gal. iv. 20). The apostle ili.2; iv.18; 2 Thess.ii.17; 2 Oor.xiii.11). ho.s dwelt at such length o.nd so earnestly For the mischief o.t work at Colos~m was at upon his own position and responsibilities once unsettling (vers. 6, 7; eh. i. 23) and (eh. i. 2½-29), that the Colossia.ns may feel discouraging ( eh. i. 23; ii. 18; iii. 15) in its how real and strong is his interest in their effects. Ilapa,call.&, a favourite word of St. welfare, though personally strangers to him Paul's, means "to address," "exhort," then (sec next clause). His -solicitude for them more specially "to encourage," "comfort," is in keeping with the toil a.nd strife of his (2 Cor. i. 4), "to beseech" (Eph. iv. 1; v,,hole ministry. "I would bave you know;" 2 Cor. vi. 1), or "to instruct " (Titus i. 9). a familiar Pauline phrase (l Cor. xi. 3; Phil. The heart, in Biblical language, is not the i. 12; fiom. i 13, etc.). 'Hl\.[,cov (" how seat of feeling only, but stands for the whole great") has, perhaps, a slightly exclamatory inner man, as the "vital centre" of his per- force, as in J as. iii. 5 ( only other instance of sonality (see Beck's ' Biblical Psychology:' the word in the New 'l'estament), and in comp. Mark vii. 19, 21 ; 1 Pot. iii. 4; Rom. classical Grer,k. For "strife,'' see note on vii. 22 ; Eph. iii. 16, l 7). While they are ''striving" (eh. i 29): the energy and (literally, they having been) drawn together in abmptness of language characterizing this love, e.nd into all (the) riches of the full Eecond cL.aptcr bee.r witness to the inward assuranoe of the understanding, unto (or, wrestling which the Coloesian difficulty into) (full) knowledge of the mystery of God, occo.sioned in the apostle's mind. (On tLe (even) Christ (ver. 19; eh. i. 9; iii. 10, 14; close connection of Coloesm with Laodieea., iv. 12; Eph. i.17, 18; ill. 17-19; iv. 2, 3, comp. eh. iv. 13-17, notes; also Introduc- 15, 16; Phil i. 9; ii. 2; 1 Cor. i, 10; 2 Cor. tion, § l.) The danger which had come to xiii. 11). In the beet Greek copies" drawn 11 head in Colossm was doubtless threatening together" is nominative masculine, agreeing its neighbours. The words, and as many with " lhey," the logical subject implied in as have not seen my face in (the) tlosh "their hearts" (feminine). :f.uµ./3,/3,J.(1,1 has (ver. 5; eh. i. 8; Rom. i 11; Gal i. 22; the same sense in ver. 19 and Eph. iv. 16; Acts n. 25), raiBo the question whether in 1 Cor. ii. 1G it is quoted from the LXX :-::it. Paul had ever visited Colossm. The in o.nother sense; and it has a variety of 1::mgnuge of eh. i. 7 (see note) raises a strong meanings in the Acts. "Dro.wn together t' 1,rc:sumplion against his being tlle fouuder expresses the doul,le sense which accrues to of tliis Church, and the narrative of the the verb in combination with the two/re• Acts scarcely admits of any visit to this positions "in" and "into : " "unite in region in former missionary journeys. Thco- love," Christians are prepared to be "le<l clorct nrnongst the Greeks, followed by our into all the wealth of Divine knowledge." OH, 11, 1-23.] THE EPISTLE '£0 'l'HE COLOSSIANS. 83