The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 238

that his anxious labour extended to the three. (2) Luke. "Luke, the beloved physi- cian." What is the ideal of a physician? Ho is, in the first place, one who enters thoroughly into the duties of his profession. He is one who keeps abreast of medical knowledge, and may be able at some sacrifice to make contributions to it. He is one who has skill in the practice of his profession, and does not grudge labour, fatigue, even exposure to danger, in seeking to remove disease nnd alleviate pain. Such a physician has in his hands the means of powerfully attaching men to him, by services rendered tc them. He is also one who has Christian sympathies, who enters into the spirit and follows the example of him who, while ministering to men's bodies, ministered also to men's souls. He is one who embraces the opportunities which his profession presents of speaking words of warning and of comfort. He, who thus attaches men to him by a double bond, may well be called the beloved physician. The third Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles, bear evidence to the general culture of Luke. It bas been made out that the first of these bears evidence of special medical knowledge. It may be inferred that Luke rendered to Paul valuable professional assistance. He may have been, under God, the means of saving his life. From his being called, in the Epistle to Philemon, a " fellow-helper," it may be inferred that his help to the Christian cause was not confined to his professional services nor to his literary services, but that he directly took part in the proclamation of the gospeL (3) Demas. " And Demas salute you." From the honourable mention of him here, and from his being numbered among the fellow-helpers in the Epistle to Pbilemon, it is evident that at this time he stood in the confidence of the apostle. When we remember his subsequent desertion of the apostle(" Demas forsook me, having loved this present world"), it is remarkable how he is mentioned here without any epithet such as" beloved" or "faithful." III. SALUTATIONS FOB THE LAODICEANS TO DE COMMUNICATED BY THE COLOSSIANB. " Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church that is in their house." It is not to be wondered at that there should be a Church gathering con- nected with a private house. Where there was a place of general gathering for a Church at that time, it would be very unimportant. We can understand that, as a rule, there would be little gatherings from evening to evening, in private houses, of Christians in the i=ediate neighbourhood. These at times would grow into large gatherings. The apostle had never been at Laodicea, but he may have seen Nymphas. He had at .least heard of him, and he had pleasant associations with him and the little gathering in his house. And, among the brethren in Laodicea, he singles them out for his salutations, The medium of the apostle's salutations to_the Laodicean Church was to be the Colos- sian Church. They were as a Church to say, "We in Paul's name salute you." It was an act fitted to promote good fellowship between the two Churches. IV. READING. "And when this Epistle bath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that ye also read the Epistle from Laodicea." This letter was to be read at a general gathering of the Church in Colossre. 'l'here was another letter, which had been addressed at a previous period to the Church at Laodicea (salutations only are sent at this time). It was not the will of the Head of the Church that the letter should be preserved. The apocryphal letter to the Laodiceans is only a cento made out of Paul's writings. There would be what was peculiar in each of these letters, but, being addressed to neighbouring Churches, there would be much that was adapted to them both. And so he instructs that both should b" read in both places. V. l.NBTBUCTIONB FOR ABCHIPPUB BY THE CHURCH. " And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.' Weare not told ,vhat the ministry was, but the probability is that he ministe~ed in the gospel in the absence of Epaphras. It cannot with certainty be inferred that ~e. had _shown remissness in hiB duties. It is an injunction which may be laid on a m1n1s~e:r ID any circumstances. It is specially to be laid on a minister, in view of a m~re _cnt1cal con- dition of the Church to which he ministers. There are advantages and mc1tements, but there are also difficulties and temptations connected with a sacred position. The interests involved are very great, and it is fi~ting that we ~hould seek to ful~l ~?at service which we have received in the Lord, with a deep feelmg of our respons1b1hty to the Lord. In the fact of the inj1Wction being laid on Archippus by the Church, there is an implied rebuke of the hierarchical spirit. err. rv. 1-18.] THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 235