The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 156

Ver.10.-And having put on the new (man), nnd so far u.s these distinctions are set asicle. whioh is being renewed unto (full) know- The "new man" knows nothing of them ledge, after (the) image of him that oreated 'fhe enmily between Greek and Jew bein? him (Eph. iv. 23, 24; ii. 15; Ilom. vi. 4; removed, ti,e miilice and falsehood that grew vii.6; viii.1-4; xiii.12-H; 2Cor.v.17; uu t of it will disappear ( vera. 8, 9 : corn p Gal. vi. 15; eh. i. 9; ii. 2, 3; Gen. i. 26-28; Rom. xv. 7; Eph. iv. 2.5). In Gal. iii. 28 Matt. v. 48; Heh. xii. 10; 1 Pet. i. J 6; ''Jew" stauda first, and the clistinction of Uom. viii. 29). New (vlo,) is "young," "of sez is added. The distinctions here enume- recent date" (compare the "oucc," "but rated appear as looked at from the Greek now " of vers. 7, 8 ; also eh. i. 5-8; 1 Pet. side. Only hero in the New Testament ii. 1, 2), whose birth was well remembered, docs "Greek" precede "Jew" (comp. Rom. and which presented so vivid a contrast to i. 16; 1 Cor. xii. 13, etc.). "n,,rbar:an" the " old man with his deed;." " Being (Rom. i. 1-1) an<l "Scythian" (ouly !:ere in renewed" ( a.va.1ea.wo6µ•vov, deri vecl from the the New Testament) are together opposer] to adjective 1ett.w&,) sets forth the other side of "Greek," and imply wa,,t of culture rather this newuess, its novelty of quo.lity and the.n a.lien nationality, the Scythian being condition (compare "newness of life," Rom. the rudest of barbarians (see Lightfoot's full vi. ¾). And this participle is in the present note). Such terms of contempt would, iu tense (continuous), while the former is in Asio. Minor, be commonly e.pplied by Greeks the aorist (historical). So the notions are to the native population. The party who combined of a new birth taking place once affected philosophic culture ( eh. ii. 8, 23) for all, and e. new character in course of me.y, perhaps, have applied them to simple. formation. In Eph. iv. 23, 24 these ideas uneduce.ted Christians (see note on eh. i. are in the same order (see Trench's 'Syno- 28). (On "circumcision," see eh. ii. 11; anrl nyms'). "Full knowledge" was one purpose for the connection with ver. 9, comp. Gal. ,i. of this renewal, the purpose most necessary 15.) For "bond" and "free," ii division to be set before the Colossians. 'fhe nature then pervading society universe.Hy, comp. and objects of this lmowled,ge have been Galatian list. Onesimus and Philemon aro already specified ( eh. i. 6, 9, 27, 28; ii. 2, 3, doubtless in the apostle's mind. On this 9, 10: comp. Eph i. 18, 19; iii. 18, 19; Phil. relutionsbip he enlarges in the next section iii. 8-14; 1 Cor. i. 18-31; e.nd on l1rl-yvoum, (eh. iii. 22-iv. 1). The four pairs of opposeu see note, eh. i. 6). "After (the) image" is terms rcpresoiit distinctions (1) of race, (2) clearly an allusion to Gen. i. 26-28; so in of religious privilege, (3) of cultul'e, (4) of Eph. iv. 24 (" after God"). It is adverbio.l social rank. But Christ is e.11 things, e.nd in to'" renewed," not to "knowledge." Me.n's e.11 (eh. i. 15-20; ii. 9, 10; iii. 4, 17; Eph. renewe.l in Christ me.kes him what the i. 3, 10, 22, 23; ii. 13-22; iii. 8, ID; Phil. Creator at first designed him to be, ne.mely, i. 21; iii. 7-14; iv. 19; Gal. ii. 20; v. 2, l1is own image (compe.re note on" reconcile," 4; Rom. v. 10; viii. 32, 39). " Christ" eh. i. 20). Cluysostom e.nd others take stands at the end of the sentence, with "Christ" as " him the.t created," in view of e.ccumulated emphasis. Tho Church re- oh. i. 15, 16; but then it is ea.id that all ge.rds o.nd values eo.ch man in his relation things " were oree.ted in . . . through . . . to Christ, e.nd bids every other consideration for Christ," not absolutely that Christ bow to this. He is "all things "-our com- created them. But "the image of God e.fter mon centre, our standard of reference, and which" man was created and is now re- fount of honour, the sum of ull wo e.cknow- created, is seen in Christ (Rom. viii. 29; ledge and desire; e.ud he is "in all "-tlrn 2 Cor. iii. 18; iv. 4; John i. 18). common lifo and soul of his people, the Ver. 11.-Where there is (or, can be) no substance of all we experience and possess Greek e.nd Jew, oironmoision e.nd UJ1oir- as Christians. The scconcl "ull" is mascu- onmoision, be.rbe.rian, Boythie.n, bondman. line (so most commentators, from Chrysos- freeman (Gal. iii. 28; vi. 15; Eph. ii. 14- tom downwards), referring more speciully to 18; iv. 25; 1 Cor. xii. 13; Ilom. xv. 5-12; the classes just enumerated. Similarly, in Philem. 15, 16; John xvii. 20-23; Luke Eph. iv. 6: comp. eh. i. 27; Eph. iii. 17; xxii. 24-27; John xiii. 12-17). The.t (v, Gal. i. 15; ii. 20; iv. 19. (While he is meuns ••can be," "negativing, not merely "iu all," it is equnlly true that ull ure "iu tho fact, but the possibility," is doubtful in hiru:" comp. John xv. 4; xvii. 23, 26.) view of 1 Cor. vi. 5 (Revised Text). "In Just as in the spiritual sphere, und in tho Christ" these distinctions are non-existent. rele.tions between God e.nd mun, Chri~t is There is no place for them. These e.nd the shown to be all, so that '' principalities o.ml following words indicate the sphere, u.s powers" are compo.ratively insignificant (cl1. "unto knowledge" the end, anu. "e.fter the i. 16; ii. 9, 10, 15); so in the moral sphere, imago" the ideal or norm, of the progressive e.ncl in the relations between mo.n and m,w. renewal to be effected in the Colossian All human distinctions, liko all angeli•J believer. It can be carried on only where offices, must piiy homngo to his suprcmary,  1:;2 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [ea. UL 1-26.