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ANNOTATIONS UPON THE Epistle of PAUL the Apostle, to the COLOSSIANS. (Book Colossians)
CHAP. I.
THis Epistle was written by St. Paul when he was prisoner at Rome. The occasion of the writing of it was a report brought unto him concerning the estate of the Church at Colosse,* 1.1 that after they of the Church had been converted by Epaphras to the faith of Christ, and instructed in the truth of Religion, according to the doctrine of the Apostles, they were in danger to be seduced by false Teachers, raised up by Satan, who sought to impose and thrust upon them the observation of circumcision, and certaine rites of the ceremoniall Law, abolished by Christ, and to entangle them with many philo∣sophicall speculations; and to bring in the worship of Angels, and many other sorts of will worship devised by themselves. The Apostle hearing of this eminent danger like to fall upon them, was induced to write this Epistle unto them, as a re∣medy against these evils. The summe and substance of this Epistle is, that the Co∣lossians ought to continue constant in the doctrine of the faith delivered unto them by Epaphras; and to avoyd the corruption of flattering novelties and deceivers. The materiall parts of it besides the Proem and conclusion, are two. The first is concer∣ning Christian doctrine, in the two first Chapters; the second concerning Christian life and conversation in the two Chapters following.
Vers. 9. That you might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdome and spirituall understanding] The words are better translated by Tremelius and Calvin; wisdome and prudence. To see truths and the reason of them, this is wisdome;* 1.2 to be cunning in practise, that is prudence. Ephes. 1.8. in wisdome and prudence. The oppo∣site to wisdome is folly, the opposite to prudence is blockishnesse in a mans whole course.
Vers. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord] Walking is an ordinary metaphor in the Scripture for the conversation of Christians, commonly used for the outward conversation, here for outward and inward too; because worthy and well pleasing is added.
Worthy] is taken in a legall and strict sense;* 1.3 so the Angels can do nothing which deserves Gods acceptance and regard. 2. In an Evangelicall and comparative sense, 2 Thess. 1.11.
Of the Lord] The word God alone ordinarily signifies the Father, the word Lord alone usually Christ; behave your selves answerably to his wisdome, authority, holi∣nesse, example.
Unto all pleasing] Not in one thing onely, but that whatever we doe may be ac∣ceptable