prepares the way for wo.rnings. He shows them how deep is his interest and sympathy. He says all he can in their favour, as our Lord does to the Churches in Asia. 'l'he recogniLion of what is good in others is one of the best means of helping them to see nnd to strive against error. All right-minded Christians at Colossre would he encouraged by the declaration that so eminent an apostle as Paul could rejoice in them while he saw them holding their present faith. (For other illustrations of commendation, see Phil. i. 3-5; ii. 22; 2 Thess. i. 3, 4; 3 John 3, etc.) Men can more easily Le encouraged in the truth than scolded into it. 'l'he terms "order" and "steadfast- ness" may both have been used as military figures, suggested by the apostle's familiarity with military matters in the Prretorian camp at Rome (cf. Eph. vi. 13, etc.). He saw their "orderly array a.nd solid front." 'l'hey were still loyal to the truth and steadfast in the faith. Their ranks were not yet thinned by deserters, in spite of all the seductive appeals of the emissaries of error a.round them. But cautions were not needless in the midst of congratulations. When an epidemic is in the country pre- cautions a.re needed, though it may not yet have entered our house or even our town. A fearless, cheerful mind may in itself be one precaution, just as the encouragement in our faith which we receive from the sympathetic words of experienced Christians may be one safeguard against the epidemic of unbelief. But with these congratulations on their steadfastness, St. Paul thinks it neerlrul to blenc1.- II. CAUTIONS RESPECTING THEm DANGERS. (Ver. 4.) Note: 1. Paul does not make Ughl of erroneous teacliing. He warns against "enticing words,"" persuasiveness of speech." 'l'he tendency of many now is to n~ake light of doctdnn.l, definite teaching altogether, using the Greek term for" doctrine" (dogma) as a term of reproach-" course as childish as it is dangerous. Paul knew that doctrine had a mouldii;g power on the characters of those who carue under its influence (Rom. vi. 17). He was not indifferent even to the form of sound words (2 Tim. i. 13). The variety of meaning in good honest words may nevertheless make them instruments of error, not to say deception. (Illustrate from such words as" inspiration,"" atonement," etc.) Solemn cautions are suggested to teachers and disputants by Prov. xviii. 21; Matt. xii. 36, 37. 2. Paul nowhere charges these.false teachers with immorality or any gr&ss sin. Else- where he does bring such charges against other heretics (1 Tim. vi. 5; Titus i. 10-16). Here the strongest is in ver. 18. This is instructive for two reasons. (1) 'l'he errors at Colossre were as yet in the bud, and hnd not brought forth the hitter fruit that was naturai to them. Dr. Lightfoot has shown that it is probable that the more perilous heresy of Cerintbus wa.s the outgrowth of these errors at Colossre (Comm., pp. 106-113). The gradual corruption of the trnth respecting the ministry as a teaching and pastoral office, apparently harmless enough at first, led on to full-blown sacerdo- talism, Romanisrn, Vaticanism. (2) We are reminded of the special danger of error:1 when held aud taught by holy men. A Tetzel and a Tom Paino are harmless com- pared with advocates of substantially the same doctrines whose lives are blameles,. \Ve must seek to combine charity to men with unflinching opposition to tlwir erroneoua teaching when it touches the "faith in Christ." "Obsta principiis ''(Jude 3). 3. Paul counsels them to hold fast to the gospel of Christ. (Vcrs. 6, 7.) 'l'ill you can find some- thing better, "hold that fast which thou hast," etc. (Rev. iii. 11). They had receive,! n. definite gospel from Epaphras; Paul certifies it as his own. They bad rccei vc,l "Jesus" (a living example, a dying Saviour) ns "the Christ" (God's own Son, the anointed Priest and King of men) their "Lord" (Ilom. xiv. 9). The reception of this gospel had brought "great joy in that city," and they could still " abound in thanks- giving" (ver. 7; Rom. v. 11). 'fhey had begun well; now, says St. Paul, go on well; "Walk in him." Abide in Christ and proceed by Christ, for as be is "the Truth" wherein we are to a.bide, he is also "the Way" wherein we are to walk. But he takes for granted that holding the truth of Christ is essential to walking in the ways of Christ. Notice the connection of Phil. iii. 8-11 and 12-14. 'l'his is still further seen by the other figures which he employs. 'l'he first is that of a tree. Notice the tenses employed in the participial clauses. We are once for all to be firmly rooted in Christ. As "God's husbandry," "planted in the house of the Lord," the roots of our lire are "hidden with Christ in God." To him we must cling; around him every fibre of the soul must twine. Thus "rooted nml grounded in love" because in Christ himsdf, we shall be safe against the gales of false doctrine (Eph. iv. 14), which would uproot Ollr 138 THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE COLOSSIANS. [on. 11. 1-23.
souls ... The second ~gurc is tl~at o~ a ~onsc, "God's building," a moro frequent fiaure (Epb. ~'.- 20; ~ Pet•• !1· 6). l:d1~~ahon 1s a gradual. ,vork, and in pro port.ion to it sliall we be established m our faith. In the West Indies we have seen trees that seemed to combine the two figures of this ver_se. I_n_ the ~agnificent silk-cotton trees (Eriode11- drum) we see enormous trunks sometnnes nsmg eigb t.y or a hundred feet before they send forth any of their huge branches. 'fhe widespreading roots secure the safety of the rnst superstructure from the wildest hurricane. But around the base of the trunk there ri~e above the roots massive buttresses whereby the tree is" built up" to still greater ~.tability. 'Ihus "rooted and built up". in Christ, the Christi~n may defy storms, may wax stronger and stronger," may bnng forth "much fruit" "abounding therein in thanksgi1·ing."-E. S. P. '