The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 157

nnd snbmit to the reconciling unity of his iv. 11). A heart of pity, kindness, lowliness kingd,,ru (Eph. i. 10). of mind, meekness, long-suffering (Eph. iv. y,,r. 12.-Put on, therefore, as eleot of l, 2, 32-v. 2; Phil. ii. 1-4; Gal. v. 22; l God, holy, [and] beloved (vers. 9, 14; Eph. iv. Co1·. xiii. 4 ; Titus iii. 2; 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9; 24; i. 3-5; Ge.I. iii. 27; Rom. xiii. 14 ; l Matt. v. 5, 7; xi. 29; Luke vi. 35, 86). Thess. v. 8; i. 4; 2 Thess. ii. 13; Titus i. " The cr,r>,dyxva a.re properly the nobler I ; Rom. viii. 28~9; 1 Pet. i. 1, 2; 1 John viscera" rather the.n tlwi bowels. 'fhe use iii. 1). The terms " elect," " holy " (same as of this figure, found three times in Philemon, "saints," eh. i. 2; see note), "beloveu.," ap- is Hcbraistio (comp. Luke i. 78; 2 Cor. vi. ply alike nnu. separately to those addressed. 12; Philem. 7, 12, 20; Jas. v. 11; l John Dengel, llleyer, Alford, Ellicott prefer to iii. 17), though similar expressions occur in read "holy anu. beloved elect (ones);" but Greek poets. "Pity" (or," compassion") is '' holy " and " beloyed '' are used frequently an e.tlribute of God in Rom. xii. l ; 2 Cor. i. bv St. Paul as distinct substantive ex- 3: comp. Luke vi. 36 (" pitiful"). (On pressions, and indicate conditions ensu- "kindness," or" kindliness," see Ge.I. v. 22; ing on, mther tl,an determining, election. l Cor. xiii. i ; 2 Cor. vi. 6-in each ce.se Coiossian believers arc "elect" in virtue of following "long-suffering; " Rom. xi. 22, an antecedent choice of them to salvation where it is opposed to "severity" in God nn the part of God, as those who would ( comp. Rom. ii. 4) ; Eph. ii. 7 ; Titus iii. 4, helie,e on his Son (1 Thcss. i. 4; 2 Thess. where it is a.scribed to God in his dealing ii. 13; Eph. i. 4, 5; ii. 8; Rom. viii. 28~0; with men in Christ; also Me.tt. xi. 30.) It 1 Pet. i. 1, 2). Their whole Christian stand- is synonymous with" goodness" (Gal. v. 22; ing springs frolll and witnesses to God's Eph. v. 9; Matt. vii. 11 ; xii. 35, etc.); but eternal (Eph. i. 4) election nf them-an elec- "goodness" looks chiefly to benefit intended tion which, however, presumes faith on their or conferred, "kindness" to the spirit e.n<l part from beginning to end (eh. i. 22, 23; manner of bestowe.l (see Trench's 'Sy- Hom. ix. 30-33; xi. 5-10, 17-24). "Elect" nonyms 'j. The objects of " pity " a.re the anu. "called," with St. Panl, are coextensive suffering and misero.ble; of" kindness," the terms : comp. Rom. i 7 (.R. V.) with this needy and dependent. The "lowliness of passage, also 1 Cor. i. 26, 27. To address mind " of eh. ii. 18, 23 was something specious the Colossian Christians as e1.ect is to remind e.nd to be gue.rded age.inst; here it is the tliem of all that they owe to God's grace. central e.nd essential element of the true " Elect" as chosen by God, they are "holy " Christian temper (Acts xx. 19; Phil. ii. 3; as devoted to God. Dy the latter title they I Pet. v. 5; Luke xiv. 11; xviii. 14), its were first o.ddressed (eh. i. 2); holiness is self-regarding element (Rom. xii. 3). It is the essence of Christian character. That linked with "meekness," e.s in Eph. iv. 2 they should gain this character and appear and Matt. xi. 29. " Pity" and "kindness," in it at the last judgment was the purpose preceding "humility," rtle.te to the claims of Christ's atoning dee.th (eh. i. 21, 22), as it of others upon us ; "meekness " and " long- was the purpose of God's eternal election of sufferiog," to our bearing towards thom. believers ( Eph. i. 4 ; 2 These. ii. 13 ; I Pet. "Meekness," the opposite or rudeness and ii. 9). "And" is marked e.s doubtful by self-assertion (1 Cor. xiii. 5), is a delicate Lightfoot, Westcott and Hort; "it is im- consideration for the rights and feelings or 1,ossible not to feel how much the sentence others, especially necessary in administering gains in form by its omission" (Lightfoot). rebuke or discipline (Gal. vi. I ; 2 Tim. ii. ~Beloved" (rrya7T71µ.evo1) is the perfect par- 25; 1 Cor. iv. 21 ; Titus iii. 2), and con- ticiple passive; it describes the position of spicuous in Christ (Malt. xi. 29 ; xxi. 5 ; 2 those who, carrying out by their present Cor. x. 1). St. Peter marks it as a womanly holiness the purpose of their past election, virtue (1 Pet. iii. 4). "Long-suffering" is o.re the ol,jects of G0d's abi<ling Jove (1 These. called forth by tbe conduct or" the evil o.nd i. 4). 'l'his love dictateJ their election and unthankful" (see eh. i. 11, and note). St. set at work the means by which it should be Paul claims this quality for himself (2 Cor. secured (Eph. i. 3-14; ii. 4; Rom. viii. 28 vi. 6; 2 Tim. iii. 10). Throughout Scripture -30, 39; 1 John iii. 1; iv. 9, 10). As its it is ascribed to God (Exod. xxxiv. 6; Rom. ii. purposes are increasingly fulfilled in them, 4; ix. 22; l 'fim. i. 16; 2 Pet. iii. 9, 15, elo.), it rests on them with an abiding complacency Ver. 13.-Jlearing with one another, and and sati,;foction (Eph. v. 1; John xiv. 21- forgiving ea.eh other (literally, yourselves), if 23). Chri;;t is "the l,eloved Ono" (Eph. i. any one have a oomplaint against e.ny (Eph. G; Matt. iii. 17, etc.), and those wl10 nre iv. 1, 2, 32; v. 1; 1 TheHs. v. 14; l Cor. vi. " in l,im ,: in thd1· measure share the same 7, 8; 2 Cor. ii. 10; Matt. vi. 14, 15; xviii. title (John xvii. 23-2G). But their choice 21-35; Mark xi. 25; Luke xvii. 3, 4). (Ou Ly Go<l a11d devotion to Go,J, who is all love "bcariug with" or "forbearing," eee 1 Cor. tu them (Rom. viii. 39; I John iv. 16), must iv. 12; 2 Cor. xi. 19, 20; !Uatt. xvii. 17.) It ill turu beget a loviug heart in them (I John is B.S(•ribe<l to God, with "long-suffering," OH. Ill. 1-25.] THE EPISTLE TO 'fliE COLOSSIANS. 153