Colossians 1

Colossians 1:2

WHich are at Colosse] Colosse is a Citie situated in Phrygia, not farre from Hierapolis and Laodicea, on the side they bend towards Lycia and Pamphilia.

and peace from God] See Romans 1:7.

Colossians 1:4

to all the Saints] See 2 Corinthians 1:1.

Colossians 1:5

For the hope] Hope is here taken by a Metonymia, for the thing hoped for; to wit, those glorious things which our hope assureth us are laid up for us in heaven, Romans 8:24.

Colossians 1:8

your love in the Spirit] Your spirituall love, or your love which cometh from the Spirit.

Colossians 1:9

in all wisdome] See Ephesians 1:8.

Colossians 1:10

walk worthy of the Lord] See Ephesians 4:1.

unto all pleasing] Or, to please him in all things.

Colossians 1:11

his glorious power] Gr. the power of his glory.

with joyfulnesse] Our patience must not be unwilling, and as it were, drawn from us by force, but proceed from a joyfull minde, Acts 5:41. Romans 5:3. James 1:2.

Colossians 1:12

unto the Father] We cannot otherwaies consider of God to our salvation, but as he is Christs Father in whom we are adopted: beside, the efficient cause of our salvation is the only mercy of God the Father, who maketh us meet to be partakers of eternall life by the word and Spirit.

to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light] Gr. for, or to a part of the lot of saints in light.

in light] I the kingdome of his grace and glory, which is called light, in regard of the true knowledge of God that shineth therein; and because of the eternall glory and brightnesse in heaven which followeth upon the same, James 1:17.

Colossians 1:13

his dear Sonne] Gr. the Sonne of his love.

Colossians 1:14

we have redemption] See Romans 3:24.

Colossians 1:15

Who is the image] See Hebrews 1:3. Christ is here said to be the image of God, as well in respect of his eternall birth from the Father, beign the expresse and eternall image of his person, Hebrews 1:3. as also in respect that being made man, God the Father did in him, and by him, as a lively image set forth before our eyes his glorious attributes of wisdome, goodnesse, righteousnesse, and almightinesse, &c. John 14:1. and John 14:9. 1 tim. 3. 16.

of the invisible God] The Father is called the invisible god, not onely because his essence or being is invisible, 1 Timothy 6:16. but for that he never revealed himself before the eyes of men, as the Sonne hath done in his humane nature, 1 Joh. 18.

the first-born of every creature] Or, of all the creation. Some, as Isidorus Pelusiota, reade not, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, with the accent in penultim, and accordingly render the word, not the first born, but the first bringer forth of all creatures. Others conceive that Christ is called the first-born, in respect of his eternall birth from the Father before all creatures, John 1:2-3. A third sort interpret the word, first-born of every creature, the heire of all, and make thsi Text parallel to the first of Hebrews the second.

Colossians 1:16

For by him were all things created that are in heaven] See John 1:3.

thrones, or dominions, &c.] This name together with those that follow, signifie the Angelicall creatures with their severall degrees, and dignities as well among themselves, as in regard of the inferiour world, and the government thereof. See Romans 8:38. Ephesians 6:12. In particular, by thrones, many probably conceive the Cherubins to be meant, over whom it is said, that God is sitting as upon a throne, by a figure taken from the Cherubins that were over the Arke, whereupon appeared the glory of God, 1 Samuel 4:4. 1 Chronicles 28:18. Psalms 80:1. Ezekiel 10:1.

Colossians 1:17

And he is before all things, &c.] See 1 Corinthians 8:6. John 1. 3.

Colossians 1:18

head of the body] That is, of the Church, his spirituall body, receiving from him spirituall life, and being governed by him as the head, Ephesians 1:22. & 4. 15, 16.

the first-born from the dead] See 1 Corinthians 15:20. Revelation 1:5. The first-born among those that are to rise from the dead to eternall glory, whereby, as by the word beginning, is intimated, not only that he is the first in order, and the cause of the resurrection of the rest; but besides this also, that he shall himself according to his humane nature in glory farre surpasse them all, as the first-born in the Old Testament had a preheminency above the rest, 1 Corinthians 15:20.

in all things] Or, among all. As in the creation, and naturall estate of the world: so also in the redemption and spirituall estate of the Church. Or, among all, viz. the children of God, Romans 8:29.

Colossians 1:19

all fulnesse dwell] All perfection of grace; wisdome, power, goodnesse, and mercie: See Ephesians 4:10.

Colossians 1:20

having made peace] Or, making peace.

bloud of his crosse] By his bloudy oblation made upon the crosse, Hebrews 10:10.

reconcile all things] By sinne heaven and earth were set at variance, and the creatures in them: but by Christ there is unitie set not only betwixt God and man, but also betwixt men and the Angels that are in heaven, as also the creatures that are upon the earth.

Colossians 1:21

in your mind by wicked works] Or, by your mind in wicked works.

now hath he reconciled] See 2 Corinthians 5:18.

Colossians 1:22

the body of his flesh] The flesh is added, either to distinguish his naturall body from his mysticall body, of which he spake, verse. 18. or, to teach us, that his humane body was not a phantasticall, but a true substantiall body.

Colossians 1:23

grounded] Gr. founded.

settled] Or, stable.

every creature which is under heaven] Mark 16:15.

Colossians 1:25

to fulfill the word of God] Or, fully to preach the word of God, rom. 15. 19.

Colossians 1:26

the mysterie, &c.] See Romans 16:25. 1 Corinthians 2:7. Ephes. 3 9.

Colossians 1:27

in you] Or, amongst you.

Colossians 1:28

in all wisdome] Or, with. Perfect and sound wisdome, which is perfection it self, and shall in the end make them perfect, that follow it. See vers. 9.

Colossians 1:29

mightily.] Gr. in power.