The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 214

C'n>d which the apostle pre11ohes (eh. i. 5, 25; pears ,in a different form 11nd position in 1 Thess. i. 6; Ga1. 'l"i. 6; 2 Tim. iv. 2; Epbesmne. Standing at the close of the Acts :s:Yi. 6); nnd "a door" is \\"anted, in writer's exhortations, and followed up by l1is present difficulties, through which that the direction of the next verso, it is more ,rord may freely pass, such as he speaks of pointed and emphO:tio here. Buying up ee.oh in 1 Cor. Hi. 9; 2 Cor. ii. 12 (oomp. Acts (literally, the) opportunity(Eph. v.16; 1 Oor. xi..-. 27; Rc'I". iii. S). It is fanciful to give vii. 29; Gal. vi. 10; John xi. 9, 10; Luke " door" here the sense of "mouth." 'fhe xiii. 32; Eccles. iii. 1-8). In Eph. v. 16 "opening of my month," in Eph. vi. 19, the reason is added, " because tho days are expresses the subjcc!i'l"e freedom (corre- evil." In Dan. ii. 8 (LXX) the verb sponding to ·• as I ought to speak," ver. 4); t!a-yopd.(o, (" to buy out" or "up," a word of " the door for the word," the objective the market) he.a preoisely this sense and liberty u.csired by St. Paul in his imprison- connection, and the idiom occurs in cle.ssice.l ment. To speak the mystery of Christ, writers. The verb is middle in voice: because of which also I am bound ( eh. i. 23- "buying up for yourselves," "for your own 29; Eph. 'l"i. 19; iii. 1-13; iv. 1; Phil i. 12- advantage." In Ge.I. iii. 13 the compound 14 ; Phil em. 9 ; 2 Tim. ii. 8-10 ; Acts XL verb is somewhat differently used. Tha 22-2-1). Were his prison dooronce opened, opportunity is the fit time for each step o[ the apostle would be able freely to preach the a well-conducted walk, the precise juncture gospel to the Gen tiles-for this "the mystery of circumstances which must be seized at of Christ" chiefly signifies (eh. i. 25-29; once or it is gone. This wary promptitude Eph. iii. 1-S; 1 Tim. ii. 3--7.) (On is always needful in dealing with men of "mystery," see note, eh. i. 26.) It is this very the world, both to .avoid harm from them mission 'l'l"hich makes him long for freedom, and in seeking to do them good. The latter that keeps him a prisoner (eh. i. 23; Eph. thought, it may be, connects this verse e.nd iii. 13). He is in the strange position of an the next. "ambassador in cliains" (Eph. vi. 19; ·ver. 6.-(Let) your speeoh (literally, word) Philem. 9, 10: comp. 2 Tim. ii. 9). This (be) always with graoe, seasoned with salt "I am bound" (singular) shows that the (Eph. iv. 29, 31; v. 3, 4; Titus ii. 8; Matt. " for us " of the former clause designedly xii. 34-37; Luke iv. 22; Ps. xiv. 2). includes others with himself. " Word" (>.d-yos) bas its common acceptation, Ver. 4.-That I may make it manifest, as as in eh. iii. 17 ; ii. 23 ; Titus ii. 8 ; 2 Tim. I cnght to speak (Eph. vi. 20 ; 2 Cor. ii. 17; ii.17; Jas.iii.2, "Withgrace"(lvxtlp,n) ii-. 1-6; v. 11, 20-vi. 10; Rom. xii. 6; gives the pervading element of Christian 2 Tim. ii. 24-26 ; iii. 10 ; Acts xx. 18-21, speech ; as " in wisdom," of Christian be- 27, 33-35). This clause qualifies the last; haviour (ver. 5). "Grace," here without the " open door" is to be asked for the the article, is not, as in eh. iii. 16, where apostle, that he may make effective use of the article should probably be read, "the it. The mystery has been 'ITl,(lde 'ITl,(lnifest by (Di vine) grace," but e. property of speech God in the mission of Christ ( eh. i. 27 ; itself, "gracefulness "-the kindly, wiuning ii. 15, note; 2 Cor. v. 19, etc.); but that pleasantness which m11kes the talk of a good manifestation has to be made known to the and thoughtful man attr11ctive: comp. Pa. Gen tile world (Eph. iii. 9 ; 2 Cor. ii. 14 ; xiv. 2 (xliv. 3, LXX); Eccles. x. 12 (LXX); Rom. L 14). To this end be had received Sir. xxi. 16. "Se.It" is the "wholesome a specie.I manifestation of "the mystery of point and pertinency" (Ellicott) seasoning Christ" (2 Cor. iv. 6; v. 19; Gal. 1.15, 16; conversation, while grace meetens it. The Acts ix. 15, 16; xxii. 14, 15, 21; xxvi. 16- clause which follows indicates that "salt" 18). How the apostle conceives that be denotes here, as commonly in Greek (in- " ought to speak" appears from the I?arallel stance the phrase, "Attio salt"), an intel- passages (see especially 2 Cor. v.; v1.; and lectual rather than a moral quality of speeoh. Acts xx.). In Eph. iv. 29 the connection is ditlerent, Ver. 5.-We.lk in wisdom towards those and the application more general (comp. without (Eph. v. 15-17; 1 These. iv.12; Matt. v. 13; Mark ix. 49, 50). That you '"· 15; 1 Cor. x. 32; 2Cor. iv. 2; Titus ii.8; may know how you ourrht to answer ee.oh one 1 Pet. ii. 12, 15; iii. 16; l\Ie.tt. x. lG). (Ou (ver. 4; 1 Pet. iii. 15; Phil. i. 27, 28; "wisdom," see eh. i. 9, note ; i. 28; ii. 3 ; 2 These. ii. 17). The Oolossi11ns were to iii 16; this was a chief need of the Coloasian pray for the apostle th11t he might '' spe11k Church.) "Those without," as opposed to the mystery of Christ . . . as he ought to Christians-" those withiu the pale;'' a speak ; " and he bids them seek for them- Jewish mode of expression (Lightfoot): selves the same gift of 7ra#71,r(a, liberty of ~omp. 1 Thess. iv. 12; 1 Cor. v. 12, 13; speech and readiness to" every good word." l Tim. iii. 7. From a different point of view, ]for their faith wns assailed by persuasive they are designated" the rest'' in Eph. ii. 3; sophistry (eh. ii. 4, 8, 23) and by brow-bee.ting 1 Thess. iv. rn; v. G. This injunctiou up- 1 dogmatism (eh. ii. lti, 18, 20, 21). They were, 011, IV, 11-8.) THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 211