The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 219

messenger (Eph. vi. 21 ; eh. iv. 7). (2) hand, in his 'Introduction to Ephesians,' The relation between the two is more in- pronounces strongly against " the circular timate thnn exists between any other ot St. hypothesis." Paul's writings; they are twins, the birth Ver. 17.-And say to ArchippUB, Te.ko of the same crisis in the condition of the heed to the ministry which thon receivedst Church and in the apostle's own mincl. in (the) Lord, that thou fulfil it (Acts xx. Each serves as a commentary 011 the other. 28; 1 'l'im. i. 18, 19; iv. 6, 11-16; vi. 13, And there are several important topics, 14, 20, 21; 2 'I'im. ii. 15; iv. 5). From the lightly tpuched upon in this letter, on which connection of this verse with the two prece,!- th~ writer dilates at length in the other ing, it seems likely that "the ministry " ot' (comp. eh. i. 9 band Eph·. i. 17, 18; eh. i. Arcbippns related to the Laorlice~n Church. 23 b-25 and Eph. iii. 1-13; eh. i. 18 a, 24 b, Hence he is not addressed directly. If he ii. 19 and Eph. iv. 4-16, v. 23-32; eh. was, as we gather from Philem. 1, 2, the i. 21, 27, ii. 11-13, iii. 11 and Eph. ii.; son of Philemon, whose house formed a eh. i. 18 (" Firstbom out of the dee.cl"), ii. centre for the Colossian Church (Philem. 2), 12 b and Eph. i. -19-23; oh. iii. 12 (" God's the warning would be suitably conveyecl elect") and Eph. i. 3-14; eh. iii. 18, 19 through this channel. In the letter to and Eph. v. 22-33). On t.he other hand, Philemon, the apostle calls him his" fellow- the ma.in e,rgumeµ.ts of the Colossia.n letter soldier" (comp. eh. iv. 10; Phil. i. 29, 30). are, as it seems, _assumed and presupposed in Both from this fact, and from the emphasis the Ephesian (comp. Eph. i. 10, 20 b-23, of the words before us, it would appear that ii. 20 b, iii. 8 b-11, 19 b, iv. 13 b with eh. i. his office was an important one, probably 15-20, ii. 0, 10; Eph. iv. 14 with eh. ii. that of chief pastor. This warning addressecl 4, 8, 16-23). (3) The words Iv 'E,t,117'1' in so early to the minister of the Laodicea.n Eph. i. 1 are of doubtful authenticity; and Church is premonitory of the lapsed condi- there is much in the internal character of tion in which it is afterwards found (Rev. that Epistle to favour the hypothesis, pro- iii. 14-22); see Li~htfoot, pp. 42, 43. (For posed by Archbishop Usher, that it was " ministry" (5,aKovia), comp. eh. i. 7, 23; 1 a circular letter, destined for a number of Cor. iv. 1, etc. For "receiveil,'' comp. note,ch. Churches in Asia Minor, of which Ephesus ii. 6.) "In tho Lord ; "for every office in tl:ie may have been the first and Laodicea. the Church is grounded in him as Head o.nd last (compare the order of Rev. ii., iii.). In Lord (eh. i. 18; ii. 6; iii. 17, 2-!; iv. 7; that case a copy of the Ephesian Epistle Eph. i. 22; iv. 5; 1 Cor. viii. 6; xii. 5, etc.), would be left at Laodicea by Tychicus on his and must be administered according- to his way to Colossm. (See Introduction, § 6; com- direction and ns subject to his juclgment pare that to Ephesians.) (4) lHarcion, in the (see 1 Cor. iii. 5; iv. 1-5; 2 Cor. x. 17, IS; middle of the second century (see Tertullian, xiii. 10; Gal. i. 1; 1 Tim. i. 12; 2 Tim. iv. • Against Maroion,' v. 11, 17), entitled the 1, 2). "Fulfil" (comp. eh. i. 26; 2 Tim. iv. 5: Epistle to the Ephesians, " To the Ll\odi- Aots xii. 25). This nclmonition resembles ceans." It does not appear that his here- those addressed to Timotby in the Pastoral tical views oould have been furthered by Epistles. this change. Probably his statement con- Ver. 18.-The salutation with mine own tains a fragment of ancient tradition, iden- hand-of Paul (2 Thess. iii. 17, 18; 1 Cor. tifying the Epistle in question with that xvi. 21-24; Gal. vi. 11-18). So tho referred to by St. Paul in this passage. (5) o.postle appends his authenticating- signature The expression, "the letter from Laodicea," to the letter, written, as usual, by his aomnu- would scarcely be used of a letter addressed ensis, himself inscribing these last worrls simply to the Laodiceans and belonging (see parallel passages). The Epistle to properly to them; but would be quite appro- Philemon he appears to have penned him- priate to a more general Epistle transmitted self throughout (Philem. 19). Remember from one plo.co to another. There is extant my bonds (eh. i. 24; Philem. 9, 13: Eph. in Latin a spurious epistle •Ad Laodicenses.' iii. 1, 13; iv. 1; vi. 20; 2 Tim. ii. 9). 'fllis which is traced back to the fourth century, pathetic postscript is thoroughly chnracter- and was widely accepted in the Middle istic (comp. Gal. vi. 17). Graoe be with you; Ages; but it is "11 mere cento of Pauline literally, the grace (comp. eh. iii. 16). 'l'be phrases, strung together without any definite apostle's final benediction in all his EpisUes; connection or any clear object" (Lightfoot). here in its briefest form, as in 1 and 2 (On this curious forgery, and on the wholCl Timothy. In the Ephesi,m benediction subject of "the Epistle from La.odicea," 11 grace''. is also used nbsolutoly. 2 Cor. xiii. see Lightfoot'a ma8lerly discussion, pp. 274 14 gives the formula in its full litur&"ical -300; also p. 37.) Meyer, on the other amplitucle.  216 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [OH, IV, 1-18.