The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 180

is his legacy to the C~urc~ (John xiv. 27), It is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. v. 22). (3) He proclaims 1t-" that pub!Jsheth peace" (Isa. Iii. 7). 2. The sphere or element of its exercise. "To the which also ye were called in one body." As "God bath called us in yea~e" (1 Cor. vii. 15), we. are to realize our unity by it as members of the body. Umty 1s out of the quest10n without peace. Let us show the fruit of our calling by being lovers of peace. The kingdom of God is "righteousness and peace." 3. _Its enthro'f!ement .a~ umpire _in the hear~. "~et it be umpir~ in your hearts." (1) It IS t_o ~et 'l'l'.1th dec1S1ve force Ill the co~fl1ct of impulse~ or fcelmgs that may arise in a Chnstian hfe. (2) Yet we must retam truth along with peace (Hob. xii. 14; Mark ix. 50). The true wisdom is to be" first pure, then peaceable" (Ja.~. iii. 17). II. 'l'HANKSGIVINO. "And be ye thankful." It is our duty to be always thankful to God. It held a constant place in the apostle's thoughts. The word, in its substan- tive and verbal forms, occurs thirty-seven times in his Epistles. \Ve must be iu a constant mood of thanksgiving for his mercies, for his grace, for his comforts, and for his ordinances.-T. C. Ver. 16.-The use of the Word for spiritual edification. The apostle, in -view or th11 right exercise of the foregoing graces, counsels the Colossians to make the Word of Christ the subject of experimental study. "Let the Word of Christ cl well in you richly in all wisdom." 1. THE EFFIC.AOY OF CHRIST'S Wo1m. 1. The Scriptures are (Jhrisfs Word. They have Christ for their Author, for their Subject, for their Eud. This is the Word that is "sounded forth" everywhere (1 Thess. i. 8), that "runs " everywhere, to be glorified in its success. It is Christ, too, who gives power to this Word. 2. This Word ouglit to dwell in u,. Not come and go, but tarry as in a fixed abode, It ought to be an abiding power within us. "'l'he Word of God abideth in you" (1 J obn ii. 14). 3. The place of its indwelling is the heart; not the memory or the head, but the heart. "'l'hy Word have I hid in my heart" (Ps. cxix. 11). 4. The manner of its indwelling. "Richly in all wisdom." (1) Not" with a scanty foothold, but with a large and liberal occupancy." (2) It implies (a) receiving the Word with all meekness and humility (Jas. i. 21); (b) dividing it aright (2 'l'im. ii. 15); (c) trying all thiugs so as to keep that which is good (1 Thess. v. 21). II. 'l'HE USE OR END OF CIIRIST's WORD. "Teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." There iR a double function here assigucd to t.he Word: one making its iufluenco felt upon the mind-" teaching;" the other upon the heart--" sin:;(iog" with thanks- giviug. 1. 'The Wo,-d is useful for teaching and for warning. Tbese represent tho 11ositivc and the negative sides of instruction. (1) Teaching. (a) This implies that the Word is to be used by every Christian for the purposes of instruction (Es:od. xxiv. 12). When we have received the "ingrafted Word" into our hearts, we must spreatl it abroad. (b) It deepens our sense of the value of the Word to impart it to others, (c) It is a test of the sincerity of our attachment to make it known. (d) It is by the efforts of all Christians in this way that the Word will eventually reach the ends of the earth. (2) .Admonition. (a) It must be grounded on the Word (Titus i. 6). (b) It mnst bo douc in lo\'e and meekness (2 Thess. iii. 1; Gal. vi. 1). (c) With a reasonable secrecy (Matt. xviii. 15). (d) With compassion and tenderness (2 Cor. ii. 4). (e) With per- severance (Prov. xiii. 19). 2. The Word is useful for the purpose of sacred song. As those who make the songs of a nation can shapo its political and moral life, so tho hymn-writers have in_ a_ large dcg_ree ~hape~ the theology of the Chu~cb. (1) Sin~ing is a necessary part of D1v10e worship (I~ph. v1. 19; Jas. v. 13; Ps. lxv1. 1, 2). It 1s good for spiritual recreation (Jas. v. 13). "\Ve should sing in our houses as well as in our churches (Ps. ci. 1, 2; 1 Cor. xiv. 26). (2) The matter or singing-" psalms, hymns. spiritual songs." Theso are supposed to represent three varieties of the psalms of Scripture. 'l.'here is evidence, however, that Christians t_he1;1-1selvcs ?ou~posel~ hymns f?r public worship (1 Cor. xiv. 26). (3) 'l.'he manner of smgrng-" srng111g with grace 1u your hearts to the Lord." (a) It was to bo with the accom_pa.niment of Divin~ grac~, that is with a holy joy (Ps. ix. 2), with a humble trust Ill the Lord's mercies (Ps. xiii. 5): with a lively recollection of his benefits (ys. x~vii. 7_). (~~ lt_was_ to ~() ~h() outcome of tho hcar~'s feeling as well as the expression ol the hfo. l h:s m1ph~s siugrng  li6 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [err. III. 1-26. -------------- with understanding (1 Cor. xiv. 14J. Therefore we are to prepare our hearts before we ~ing (Ps. lvii. 7). (c) It was to be addressed to the Lord, not to man.-'1'. C. Ver. 17.-The principle of a godly life. This is the practical lesson that flows from the theology of the Epistle. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the :Kame of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." I. THE WHOLE EXTENT OF CHRISTIAN LIFE IS CONSECRATED TO THE Lonn. Every- tl,ing falls under the two heads of words and deeds. 1. Words. (1) We must avoid words that would dishonour Christ-vain words (Eph. v. 6), bitter words (Job vi. 3), deceitful words (Ps. xxxvi. 3), idle words (Matt. xii. 36). James tells us the sins of the tongue (Jas. iii. 2). (2) We must use words of wisdom (Book of Proverbs), wordi, of truth and soberness (Acts xxiii. 25), words of righteousness (Job vi. 25), wholesome words (2 Tim. i. 13), words of eternal life (John vi. 68). 2. Deeds. These must be done (1) in faith, for "whatsoever is not of faith is sin;" (2) in prayer (Ps. ix. 1); (3) with warrant from God's Word (Isa. viii. 20); (4) with perseverance (Gal. vi. 9). 3. All, both wo;·ds and deeds, must be done in the Name of the Lord. They must have supreme reference to him (1 Cor. x. 31); they must be done under his warrant or authority, in the.strength of his grace, after his own glorious eumple, and with ultimate regard to his glory. 4. Christian obedience must all the while be mingled with thanlcs- _qiving to God the Father. We thank him (1) for the ability to do all our works in the Lord's Name; (2) for our liberty in Christ; (3) for our victory over sin; (4) for our manifold blessings in Christ. II. REA.SONS FOR THE CONSECRATION OF OUR WHOLE LIFE TO THE LORD. We ought to be more circumspect than others in our words and deeds: 1. Because "we live and die to the Lord." (Rom. xiv. 8.) We are "the Lord's." 2. Because we are entrusted with such blessings. " Because God bath bestowed upon them more blessings, and therefore as he gives more wages, requires more work." 3. Because we are more observed than others. Therefore we must "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise" (Eph. v. 15). 4. Because we have the prospect of an abundant reward according to our works. -T.C. Ver.18.-The duties of wives. The apostle next proceeds to enjoin family duties, not in the spirit of those errorists, who imagined that such duties were vulgar and inconsistent with the contemplative aspect of the Christian life. His first practical exhortation is to wives, and is summed up in the single duty-" submit yourselves." I. THE DUTY OF SUllMIBSION. "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands." This duty includes: 1. Honour. They must honour their husbands as their head (1 Cor. xi. ::I ; 1 Pet. iii. 6). 2. Trutl,fulness. (Prov. ii. 17.) 3. Obedience. (Eph. v. 23; 1 Cor. vii. 34.) 4. Co-operation with their husbands in all family affairs. 'l'hey must "guide the house with discretion" (Titus ii. 5). 5. 'l'hey must not assume authority over their husbands, either in ecclesiastical or in domestic affairs (1 Tim. ii. 11). 11. REASONS FOR THIS DOTY. ".AB it is fit in the Lord." In Oriental countries, woman was the slave rather than the companion of man, but iu the Greci1.ed com- munities of Asia Minor, woman held a higher position, and her new position under the gospel may have led her to carry her freedom to the point of licence. It was, therefore, necessary to define her position accurately. Her subjection to man is "fit in the Lord" on Eeveral grounds. 1. From man's priority of creation. (1 Tim. ii. 13.) 2. The woman was made for man, not the man for the woman. (1 Cor. ii. 9.) 3. The woman's priority in the original tramgression. (1 Tim. ii. 14.) 4. The man's headship over the woman. (1 Cor. xi. 3.) 6. Her weakness. She is "the weaker vessel" (1 Pet. iii. 7), and therefore stands in need of his greater strength and protection. 6. 7'he subjection to man is placed on the same basis as the subjection of the Ohwrch to Christ. (Epb. v. 22-24.) 7. But the apostle's language in the text implies a limitation upon her submission; for bhe is to be subject to him "in the Lord." Both husband and wife must have a due consideration for each other's position, because they are "heirs of the grace of life," and they must see that "their prayers are not hindered" (1 Pet. iii. 7).-'f. C.