The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 129

Vers. I-7.-Introduction to the polemical part of the Epistle. I. PERSONAL CON• rnnN. 1. Paul:s st1·iving. "For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, aud for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh." There is an advantage in the Revised translation, in carrying forward the word "strive" from the preceding verse. Having declared his striving in general, the apostle now shows ("for") how his striving was specially directed. (1) His striving was remarlc- al;/e as directed toward those who lv1d not seen his face in the flesh. Among these are 1,lainly included the Colossians. With them are associated their neighbours the Lao- ,.Lceans. The Hierapolitans (to whom there is reCerence at the close of the Epistle) are nol mentioned. But it is added generally, "as many as have not seen my face in the flesh." Spiritually present he had been (as he tells us in the fifth verse), and he must have had indirect modes of intercourse with them, yet they wanted the impression of his presence in the flesh-they wanted the impression of his personal ministry among them. It can be made out that in none of his journeys before this time did his route naturally lie by the valley of the Lycus. It is difficult to have an interest in those, whose faces we have not seen. There is something in the expression of tho countenance, as al,o in the touch of the hand, the sound of the voice. We like these, not as substitutes for the spirit, but rather as helps to our getting at and fixing our impressions of the spirit. Paul, in the quickness of his sympathy, got over this difficulty. He had associations in many cases with countenance, with hand, with voice. But he reserved a portion of his sympathy for those, like the Colossians, with whom he had no such associations. His concern was simply founded on the fact that they had been rescued from heathenism, that they were exposed to perils, and on the information which he received from time to time regarding their condition. (2) Eis difficulty in the circumstances in giving them any right imp1·ession of the greatness of his strivin9.. "How greatly I strive." There was no ordinary conflict in his mind. '!'here was the vehemence belonging to an intensely earnest nature. But how could he convey- the impression of what his striving was (the moral fulcrum on which he depended for moving them) to persons in the position of the Colossians? If they had had nn impres• sion of his personal ministry, then he might have revived that wherewith to oppose the heretical teachers; but he had never been at Colossm. If he had been ablo then to go to the rescue, he might have given them an impression of his intensity in tho way in wliich (like a good athlete) he !!rappled with those teachers. But he was in nn imprisoned condition in Rome; and his conflict would be none the less because he was imprisoned and far away from them. Was he, then, like a bird beating its wearied breast against the wires of its cage? No; there was outlet for the struggle within. He could relin·e himself at the thruuc of grace, and there, by his earnest pleading, move OJI, II, 1-23,] 'l'Hffi EPISTLE TO 'l'IIE COLOSSIANS. 123