An expositon of all St. Pauls epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude : wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened. / David Dickson ...

CHAP. I.

IN the first Chapter, after the direction of the Epistle, vers. 1. and 2. hee confirms the Faith of the Colossians, and his love towards them, four waies. First, By gi∣ving thanks for their sincere conversion, to vers. 9. Secondly, By praying for them, to vers. 12. Thirdly, By declaring thankfully the certainty of our redemption founded in the Grace of God, and the excellency of Christ, to vers. 23. Fourthly, By exhorting them to per∣severance, to the end of the Chapter.

Vers. 1. Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ, and Timo∣theus our Brother,

In the direction of the Epistle, First of all the persons saluting, Paul and Timothy, are described: Paul from the authority of his embassage, granted immediately from Christ, and from God the Father, through the mediation of Christ, by whose will hee executed his Apostleship: But Timothy (whom hee took to bee the witness of his Apostolical diligence for the confirming the Colossians) is described from his fellowship with Paul, as his Brother, not onely for profession of Faith, but also for the office of preaching the same Gospel.

Vers. 2. To the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ, which are at Coloss: Grace bee unto you, and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ:

Furthermore, the persons saluted are described, or the Members of the Colossian Church, and are called. (1) Brethren, Because they are begot again by the same Father, to the same hope of the inheritance. (2) Holy, Because they are consecrated to God, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost. (3) Faithful, Because they were in∣grafted into Christ by Faith. Lastly, By an Apostoli∣cal blessing, Grace and Peace are applied to the Colossi∣ans, Grace comprehends all the special effects of Gods favour, which by way of Sanctification tend to happiness. But Peace comprehends all the degrees of happiness, e∣ven to perfection in Heaven; God the Father and Jesus Christ is counted the Author and efficient cause of good things, as hee is the Son and Mediatour, hee is after the Father, in effecting according to order of working.

Vers. 3. Wee give thanks to God, and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, praying alwaies for you.

Vers. 4. Since wee heard of your Faith in Christ Ie∣sus, and of the love which you have to all the Saints;

The first way of his confirming the Faith of the Colos∣sians

is by giving thanks for their sincere conversion. Of this kind there are seven Arguments, all which do prove that the Colossians ought to bee strengthened in Faith.

Argum. 1. You gave mee much cause of thanksgiving and prayer to God, after I heard of your conversion to the Faith: Therefore even upon this account you ought to bee stedfast in the Faith.

And love] Argum. 2. The sincerity of your Faith in Christ appeared openly in your love towards all the Saints, the report whereof came to my hearing: There∣fore it is fit you should bee stablished in the Faith.

Vers. 5. For the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven, whereof yee heard before in the word of the Truth of the Gospel,

Argum. 3. I know of a truth that the happiness yee hope for is laid up in Heaven for you, and as it were con∣ferred upon you, I give thanks to God for that favour: Therefore, &c.

Yee heard] Argum. 4. Confirming the former; You have the unquestionable Word of God, the Word of Gospel-Truth, for the foundation of your Faith and Hope: Therefore ought you to bee stedfast in the Faith.

Vers. 6. Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day yee heard of it, and knew the Grace of God in truth.

Argum. 5. The Word of the Gospel, whereby yee are converted, is the same Gospel which was dispersed abroad to the rest of the world, and hath the same effi∣cacy to make you fruitful from the day wherein by Faith yee imbraced the Grace of God, which hee hath communicated to other Christian-Churches: There∣fore it is fitting you should bee established in the Faith.

Vers. 7. As yee also learned of Epaphras, our dear Fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful Mini∣ster of Christ:

Argum. 6. Your Pastor Epaphras, taught you no other things than wee Apostles every where teach, who therefore willingly acknowledge Epaphras our fellow-servant, and a faithful Minister of Christ: Therefore, &c.

Vers. 8. Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Argum. 7. You have given a special token of your sincere Faith, viz. the demonstration of your Christian love towards mee, whereof I have the testimony of Epa∣phras your Minister; which, as all the former, affords mee Arguments of thanksgiving unto God, and of the confirmation of your Faith towards God.

Vers. 9. For this cause wee also, since the day wee heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that yee might bee filled with the knowledge of his Will, in all wisdome and spiritual understanding.

The second way of confirming the Colossians Faith, and of the Apostles love towards them, is his earnest and constant prayer for them, excited upon the report of their Faith in Christ, and love towards the Saints; there are six branches of his prayer.

(1) I pray that yee may obtain a large measure of knowledge of the Divine Will revealed in the Word of the Gospel concerning Christ and his benefits.

In all Wisdome] (2) I pray that this knowledge may abound in you in wisdome and spiritual understanding, i. e. in an holy contemplation of the mysteries of Faith, and in a prudent application of knowledge received to practice in the exercise of every virtue.

Vers. 10. That yee might walk worthy of the Lord un∣to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

I pray (3) That you may walk, or lead your lives, worthy of the Lord, or as it becomes those that are con∣verted in the sight of God, that in all things you may please him.

Every] I pray (4) That you may bee fruitful, not in one, but in all kinds of good works.

May increase] I pray (5) That you may grow up in experience, and acknowledgement of the Divine Virtue through obedience of his Will, endeavouring more and more to know, love, and cleave to him more and more.

Vers. 11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffe∣ring, with joyfulness:

I pray (6) That such a measure of heavenly strength may bee vouchsafed to you, out of the rich treasury of his glorious power, that you may bee able to endure any burden of afflictions, or persecution, with a good cou∣rage, and that so long as it shall seem good to the plea∣sure of God, not onely without disturbance of mind, but with the greatest delight, and rejoycing: Therefore yee ought to bee established in the Faith, unless you think the prayers which the Holy Ghost stirs up in my heart for you are in vain.

Vers. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light.

The third way of confirming their Faith, is a thankful declaration of the certainty of our Redemption, founded in the Grace of God, and the excellency of Christs per∣son. The reasons of the thanksgiving are five.

Reas. 1. Because God the Father hath prepared us to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven: This benefit is more especially seen in the following Reasons. (1) The donor of the benefit, is God the Father, the Author and first Fountain of all good, bearing a Fatherly affection towards us. (2) When wee are said to bee made meet, &c. Our misery is presupposed, and that wee are unfit by nature, born wretched, and pollu∣ted by sin, and the sons of wrath. (3) Although wee were unmeet, yet the Grace of God hath made us meet by an efficacious vocation, and regeneration of us. (4) The felicity whereunto wee are called, is an endu∣ring inheritance, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which is given by lot, it is not obtained by any humane merit, but by free election, and once given, it is not taken away. (5) It is called the In∣heritance of Saints, because by that wee shall have socie∣ty with the Saints alone, whose communion makes the Inheritance more delightful to us. (6) This Inheritance consisteth in the most perfect light, viz. of Knowledge, Holiness, Joy, Glory, immortal and eternal life.

Vers. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdome of his dear Son,

The 2. Reas. Of his thanksgiving explaineth the for∣mer, because the Father hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the King∣dome of the Son of his love; This benefit is commended to us by these four things. (1) Because power is used to our perverse nature, and the power of Satan, by whom wee are kept bound, from whence God by force hath delivered us. (2) Because hee hath delivered us from the darkness of ignorance, sin and misery. (3) because hee hath not suffered us, being delivered, to wander and erre without a King and defender, without governance and society, but hath translated us into a better King∣dome, i. e. the Kingdome of Light, Knowledge, San∣ctity, and spiritual life, where wee may safely and secure∣ly inhabit, that wee fall not back, or bee brought again into darkness. (4) Because the Kingdome into which wee are translated, is the Kingdome of his Son, a King∣dome most pleasant to God, wherein the Son of God, the Son of his love, ruleth and reigneth, whom the Father intimately loves, and doth represent himself a Father in his love towards us, whose Kingdome and all things are most beloved by God, yea in whose Kingdome all sub∣jects are beloved Sons.

Vers. 14. In whom wee have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

The 3. Reason of his thanksgiving is the benefit of his liberty from the revenging Justice of God; this benefit more especially appears in these five things. (1) Wee are not onely kept by force in the power of darkness, that wee might bee delivered from thence, a greater strength was required, but also wee were captives to the Law and Righteousness, from whence without a price paid, wee cannot bee freed, and where that price is already paid, there is made already a lawful redemption. (2) Wee have this our redemption made by the consent of parties upon the best right. (3) Wee have the same redemption in the person of the Son, who is our Advocate, and hee who keepeth us and all ours. (4) Wee have that by the blood of the Son, who existing in the image of God, i. e. true God, hath taken upon him our nature, and in that made obedient unto the death of the Cross, hath paid the price of Redemption for us. (5) This Redemption is free in respect of us, who have paid nothing, and yet obtain the remission of sins, and consequently also free liberty from wrath and death which follow upon sin.

Vers. 15. Who is the Image of the invisible God, the first born of every Creature.

The 4. Reason of his thanksgiving, shewing the so∣lidity of the foundation of Redemption in the description of the excellency of Christ the Redeemer, of which de∣scription there are twelve Articles.

The Image] Artic. 1. Christ is the most perfect Image of the invisible God, not onely because hee is the sub∣stantial Character of the Fathers person, substantially representing the Father, that so the Father cannot bee beholden unless in the Son, and brightness of him, but al∣so because the incarnate Son hath represented to the world, in word and deed, in sanctity, power, and mercy, the Fathers Nature, Will, and Goodness.

The first born] Artic. 2. Christ is the first born of e∣very Creature, i. e. begotten from eternity before every Creature, and because of his eternal Generation of the Father, hee is the Lord of all Creatures by right, as the first born, in the Law, is Lord of his Brethren, and the Family.

Vers. 16. For ••y him were all things created that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and in∣visible, whether they bee thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

Artic. 3. Illustrating the former: Christ is the effi∣cient cause, or the Creator of all Creatures, For by him were all things created: hee amplifies this Article by a threefold distribution of the Creatures. (1) From the place wherein they are, in Heaven and in Earth. (2) From their nature, into visible and invisible. (3) From the division of Angels, both from their dig∣nity, office, and honourable names: From which the glory of Christ appeareth who hath created all.

From him] Artic. 4. Christ is the end of all; for whom, and for whose glory all things were created: For all things whatsoever, and of what sort soever were created, all these were created for the glory of Christ, God-man, hee is the beginning and end of all, to whose glory it is necessary all things whatsoever in their manner should be serviceable, as the means to the end.

Vers. 17. And hee is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Artic. 5. Christ is eternal, because hee in himself was before all Creatures, neither is hee any thing changed, by the Creatures, as to his subsistence.

By him] Artic. 6. Christ is not onely the Creatour, but is the preserver and conserver of all.

Vers. 18. And hee is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things hee might have the preheminence:

Artic. 7. Christ is the Head of the Church, i. e. of his body, from whence the vital spirits, sense, and spiri∣tual motion floweth through all the members, who both governeth and defendeth all of them.

The beginning] Artic. 8. Christ is the beginning, fountain, and spring of the Church, viz. that new A∣dam, the root and principle of the regeneration of the Saints, by whose virtue all Saints are begotten.

The first born] Artic. 9. Christ is the first born from the dead, and the first fruits of them that slept; because hee alone hath risen by his own strength, and is the cause of the resurrection of the dead to life everlasting.

That in] Artic. 10. Hee hath the preheminence in all, and ought to have amongst Angels and men, amongst the living and dead; And this is the end of the former degrees of the excellency of Christ.

Vers. 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell,

Artic. 11. Confirming the preheminence of Christ, and the dignity of his preheminence, because from the good Will of God, not onely the fulness of the gifts of the Spirit dwell in the Man Christ, but also the God-head it self, most fully comprehending all fulness.

Vers. 20. And (having made Peace through the blood of his cross) by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him, I say, whether they bee things in Earth, or things in Heaven.

Artic. 12. Christ by the good will and purpose of God is a Mediatour, by whom God would have expiation for sin made (his life being laid down upon the Cross) and expiation being made by his death, hee would that reconciliation and a renewing of friendship betwixt God and them should bee made, that are the members of the Church: no less betwixt God and those members which are in the Earth, than betwixt God and those that are in Heaven: yea, hee would have reconciliation made in himself, or by the intuition of his glory amongst the heavenly Angels, and earthly men, amongst whom, by reason of sin there is a natural disagreeing. Lastly, Hee would have the Elect Angels to bee confirmed, whose various and changeable nature is already demon∣strated by the fall of wicked Angels, and that by a ga∣thering of them together to himself. For the Angels are added to Christ as a surplusage in the Covenant of Re∣demption, for the use of his body, that is, the Church, that they might bee ministring spirits for the use of the redeemed ones. All which as they did confirm the solidity and certainty of Redemption, so the Faith of the Colossians very much in Christ, and ought also to confirm ours.

Vers. 21. And you that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath hee reconciled,

22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight.

The 5. Reason of his thanksgiving is the grace of re∣conciliation made with the Colossians by name. Hee am∣plifies this benefit by nine Arguments. (1) Hee saith, that you were sometimes alienated from God, strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel, and the life of God. (2) Yee were not onely born strangers, but were made more and more strangers by the custome of sinning. (3) Neither this onely, but yee were enemies, and with an hostile mind did both disdain and speak against God. (4) That you were enemies, not only in your sensitive appetite, and your affections, but also in your mind, which should bee the most excellentest faculty, the Mistress and Captain of all the rest. (5) That yee have expressed the enmities conceived in your mind by wicked works. (6) That nevertheless Christ now hath recon∣ciled you. (7) That hee hath obtained reconciliation in taking upon him, in the body of his flesh, the humane nature, like to us in all things, sin onely excepted. (8) That by his death hee hath paid the price of your Redemption and Reconciliation. (9) That Christ hath determined with himself that at length you should remain holy in his sight, and the sight of God, without any spot of sin and misery, viz. to the day of his comming, all which did chiefly make for the upholding of their Faith.

Vers. 23. If yee continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and bee not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which yee have heard, and which was preach∣ed to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a Minister.

The fourth manner of confirming the Colossians faith follows, by an exhortation to perseverance in the faith of the Gospel, to which hee passeth, giving a caution for this end, that hee might suspend the benefit commonly applied to them, given, as it were, the Characteristical note of them, to whom the benefit of reconciliation belongs, viz. That they who have right to these benefits may remain in the faith of Christ, upon which the other degrees of perseverance depend. The Arguments of the Exhortation are chiefly three.

If] Argum. 1. It is contained in the condition of perseverance. Your constancy in the faith of Christ, and hope of the Gospel, is a sign, not onely of your reconci∣liation made through Christ, but also of your holiness and salvation to bee perfected by him: Therefore per∣severe yee. In the mean while three things are required to their perseverance. (1) That they bee grounded in the faith, that is, that they lay hold upon the foundati∣ons of faith solidly laid in the truth, goodness, and power of God. (2) That they bee settled, i. e. Now they are grounded in Christ, they may fixedly abide, may adhere to Christ, and bee joyned to this truth. (3) That they resist all temptations, with which they may by any manner bee moved from the hope of eternal life, or the good things promised in the Gospel: The force of this Argument is, you shall not possess the good things fore-spoken of, except you have persevered in the faith: Therefore persevere yee.

Preached] Argum. 2. Of his exhortation to perse∣verance: The Gospel which you have heard from Epa∣phras your Pastor, is the same with the Gospel preached by the other servants of God to every creature through the whole world, or all kindes of men, Jews and Gen∣tiles without difference: Therefore abide you founded and settled in the same faith.

Whereof] Argum. 3. I Paul my self am made a Mini∣ster to preach this Gospel to the Gentiles, with great ap∣probation from God, and his blessing poured upon all that are faithful amongst the Gentiles. Therefore per∣severe yee in that faith.

Vers. 24. Who now rejoyce in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behinde of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his bodies sake, which is the Church.

Hee insists in this Argument, and commendeth his Ministry to them, by fourteen Arguments, all which confirm his glorious Ministry.

Argum. 1. I Paul in the administration of this Go∣spel do bear afflictions with joy: Therefore my Mini∣stry is glorious.

Argum. 2. I bare those afflictions for the sake of you Colossians, or for your confirmation in the faith: There∣fore my Ministry is glorious amongst you.

Argum. 3. Seeing that after the personal sufferings of Christ for our redemption, the suffering of the Martyrs remain for a testimony of the truth of Christs doctrine, I Paul in some part do so fill up the appointed measure of those afflictions, that I am prepared to seal this my Mini∣stry, even with my death: Therefore this my Ministry is glorious.

Argum. 4. I suffer these afflictions for Christs honour, and his whole Churches edification, viz. That his mysti∣cal body may bee knit together in faith: Therefore my Ministry is glorious. All these make to the taking away the offence of the Cross incumbent upon the Apostle.

Vers. 25. Wherefore I am made a Minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to mee for you, to fulfil the word of God:

Argum. 5. I am appointed a Minister of the Ca∣tholick Church, and am made an Apostle of the Gentiles, both by special authority, and divine dispensa∣tion: Therefore is my Ministry glorious.

To fulfil] Arg. 6. I am constituted an Apostle, espe∣cially for this end, that fully manifesting the Gospel a∣mongst the Gentiles I might fulfil by my Ministry, not onely my Office, but also the Decree of God, and the Prophecies concerning the calling of the Gentiles, and the grace of Christ which was to come unto them: There∣fore this my Ministry is glorious.

Vers. 26. Even the Mystery that hath been bid from ages, and from generations, but now is made ma∣nifest to his Saints:

Argum. 7. This word of the Gospel administred a∣mongst you, and the preaching of it afterwards amongst the Gentiles, was in times past a mystery; But now is laid open to the faithful by us Apostles more plainly than ever since the beginning of the world: There∣fore, &c.

Vers. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Would] Argum. 8. The revelation of this mystery by my Ministry is made to the Saints, not from their merit, but from the good pleasure of God: Therefore, &c.

The riches] Argum. 9. Glorious and rich is the grace of this mystery now revealed, opening clearly all things which make for our compleat felicity: There∣fore, &c.

Christ] Argum. 10. The summe of this glorious and rich grace manifested by my Ministry, is Christ received by faith, and dwelling in you.

The hope] Argum. 11. Christ preached by mee, and dwelling in you by faith, is the hope of future glory, now manifested in the earnest and first fruits, viz. Because Christ is the author, pledge, and finisher of our faith: For the faithful seek no other glory than that they may enjoy Christ more and more in this life, and at length fully in the life to come.

Vers. 28. Whom wee preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdome, that wee may present every man perfect in Christ Iesus.

Argum. 12. The end of my Ministry and Christ preached, is this, that I might admonish and instruct men of all sorts in the Doctrine of the Gospel, which is the most perfect wisdome, that at length I may present be∣leevers perfect in all points of holiness and happiness in Christ, in the sight of God: Therefore this my Mini∣stry is glorious.

Vers. 29. Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in mee mightily.

Argum. 13. Hitherto by the grace of God I do earnestly prosecute my Ministry, striving against all ene∣mies and impediments that were laid against mee. From whence my Ministry is made glorious.

According to his working] Argum. 14. Lastly, through the grace and power of God working in mee, my Mini∣stry is made powerfull and effectuall to the appointed effect, i. e. to the salvation of the elect, and conviction of others: All which, as they are Arguments of the commendation of Pauls Ministry, so also they are so many Arguments of exhortation to the Colossians, That they would persevere in the faith of the Gospel preach∣ed by Paul. For it follows upon all: Therefore abide yee constant, and go forward in the faith of the Gospel, the Ministry whereof is so glorious.