Colossians 2

Colossians 2:1

WHat great] whether it be in the Jews persecutions, because of the calling of the Gentiles, or in the machinations and contradictions of false doctors and disturbers of the Churches, or in his cares and anxieties for the Colossians salvation Laodicea] a City neer to Colosse. My face] namely, my bodily presence. The meaning is not, That he did not suffer the like troubles for others also with whom he had been. But the meaning is, That though he had not seen them, yet he suffered persecution for that which was taught in their Church conformable to his doctrine, and took exceeding great care for their good and salvation.

Colossians 2:2

That their] this is the end, either of the conflicts which he underwent, or of the relation thereof which he made unto them Comforted] seeing my self as it were in the front in all their difficulties, either to encourage them by mine example, or avoiding dangers by my foresight Being knit] keeping themselves in charity, in the communion of Saints, and by this means making themselves capable of being more and more inriched and confirmed in faith, with knowledge and certain perswasion of the Spirit Of the mystery] namely, of the Gospel, a doctrine of it selfe hidden and incomprehensible to the flesh, the subject whereof is God revealed in his Son, in grace, truth, and eternall power, Ephes. 3. 4.

Colossians 2:3

In whom] in the true knowledge of whose person, office, and benefit, is contained all the divine and saying wisdom, whereof he is the onely dispenser by his word and Spirit.

Colossians 2:4

This I say] I do thus exalt Christ, and the knowledge of him, to the end that quieting your selves perfectly in him, you may stand stedfast in his faith; not suffering your selves to be led away by humane doctrines and false means of salvation, see Philippians 3:8.

Colossians 2:5

For though] he gives a reason of his care for them, because that in charity he partakes of their welfare and prosperity, and also of their evils and dangers.

Colossians 2:6

Received] namely, learned and imbraced his doctrine by faith Walk ye] persevere and go forward in faith, and in all the duties of a Christian life.

Colossians 2:8

Spoil you] the Italian, make a prey of you; a terme taken from sheep that are stollen away by theeves, see John 10:1; John 10:8; John 10:10 Through philosophie] using subtilties and entrapping arguments to ensnare you in Pharisaicall superstition, which hath not other foundation but the traditions of men, Matth. 15. 2 Gal 1:14. or in Mosaicall superstition, which yet holdeth with the ancient Ceremonies of the Law, that were the first elements and rudiments of the knowledge of Christ, and are now annihilated by the brightnesse of the Gospell, and by the abundance and power of the Spirit thereof Not after] the Italian, not according; namely, not according to the purity of his Gospel, whereof the false apostles retained the name, but disanull the power of it, see Gal. 2. 21. and 5. 2, 4.

Colossians 2:9

For in 〈…〉m] cleave you fast unto Christ, for in him are all divine and everlasting goods Fulnesse] the whole masse and gathering together of it, whereof the parcels and streams do issue out upon the Church, John 1:16 Colossians 1:19 Of the Godhead] it should seem the Apostle would expresse a certain terme which was ordinary amongst the Hebrews, which signifies habitation or residence of the God-head, by which they meant Gods residence or presence in the Sanctuary in grace and power, the truth and realitie whereof is in Christ.

Colossians 2:10

Ye are] by vertue of your spirituall union with him, you participate according to your measure of all his gifts and graces Of all] of all angels, Romans 8:28. which seems to be added, because the seduders taught that they should through humility worship angels, vers. 18. Now the Apostle saith, that it is impious to joyn with Christ, as companions in his glory, those whose soveraign Lord he is, and a thing undecent for beleevers to humble themselves to servants, being united to the Lord.

Colossians 2:11

In whom] by the same reason of the union with Christ, he also rejects the Jewish Ceremonies, as saying, Ye have in Christ the effect and reality of that whereof circumcision was but a signe; namely, the true regeneration in Spirit, and therefore it is an absurd thing to turn after figures, when you possesse the thing it self The body] namely, the whole masse of sin, which hath as it were its parts and members in severall wicked operations, see Romans 6:6 Colossians 3:5 By the circumcision] namely, by vertue of the gift of regeneration, which is the spirituall circumcision, whereof Christ is the onely worker.

Colossians 2:12

Buried] to shew that circumcision could be used no more for a Sacrament to be applied to that gift as it was before; he saith that Baptisme hath bin substituted in stead of that and for that use With him] see upon Romans 6:3-4 Through the faith] by which Christ, who is risen again by the power of God for our justification, is made ours, and works in us the spirituall resurrection from sins to the likenesse of his resurrection.

Colossians 2:13

The uncircumcision] namely, in your naturall corruption, signified by the uncircumcision which was cut off in the circumcision.

Colossians 2:14

Blotting out] the law was the hand-writing, the use of the Ceremonies was the ratification and confession of the debt, Christs blood is the satisfaction by which the hand-writing is cancelled, and all the seals and signes taken away Of Ordinances] that is to say, as it appeared by the Mosai¦call Ceremonies, which (out of Christ) testifie that a man is guilty and worthy of death, seeing that all the use of them had a relation to the purisying of uncleannesse and satisfaction for guilt, see Ephes. 2. 15 Nayling it] annihilating and taking away all the power of it, as if tht by him and in him the Law had been fastned and nailed to the crosse, Ephes. 2. 16.

Colossians 2:15

Spoiled] taken away from the devill the unjust prey of so many souls, dispossessed him of his tyranny, and confounded and scorned his boldnesse; termes taken from victorious and triumphant captains Powers] see upon Ephes. 6. 12 In it] the Italian, in him; namely, in Christ crucified. Others, in it, namely, in the crosse. Others, in himself.

Colossians 2:16

Let no man] seeing that by Christs death all that was figured by the Ceremonies is fulfilled, and that therefore the use of them is disannulled, let no man attempt to impose Laws upon your consciences concerning them, to condemn you if you do not observe them.

Colossians 2:17

A shadow] namely, signes and transitory figures The holy] namely, the substance and spirituall reality of all these mysteries opposite to ancient Ceremonies, as the body is to the shadow.

Colossians 2:18

Let no man] suffer no man to usurpe that power over your consciences as to command them, and declare them guilty in these things. Others, let no man get away the goale from you, or the reward due to him that overcommeth at wrestling or running; that is to say, Let him not hinder nor disturbe you in the course of your vocation, so that you may not obtain the reward of everlasting life, see Galatians 5:7 Philip. 3. 14 Humility] namely, a false and vain humility, used by false Doctors, under a pretence of calling upon Angels as Mediators between God and men, when as Christ is the onely Mediatour Intruding] rashly undertaking to establish new Doctrines and Laws concerning the service of God, beyond that which is revealed concerning it in his word, 1 Corinthians 4:6. Peradventure he hath a relation to their curious and bold assertions, which they had concerning the offices and degrees of Angels By his fleshly]namely, by his carnall and corrupt understanding.

Colossians 2:19

The head] namely of the Church, which is Christ alone: see the Exposition of all this upon Ephes. 4. 15, 16 Having nourishment] the Italian, being furnished; namely, with life, vigour, nourishment, and all other good things, without desiring any part thereof from Angels, or any other creatures Knit together] namely, gathered together and united in Spirit, which also seems specified to consute the false doctrine of seducers; namely, that Angels are means of a conjuction between God and men, and between men themselves Of God] namely, that true spirituall and divine increase whereof God is the Author, in his beleevers, in Christ, and by his Spirit, whereby they come neerest to God, see Ephes 3. 19.

Colossians 2:20

If ye be dead] namely, by vertue of your spirituall conjunction with Christ, participating of the benefits of his death to redemption; and the resemblance thereof in the mortifying of sinne: which are the two accomplishment of all ancient Ceremonies, the use whereof is also disannulled Rudiments] the Italian, Elements; see upon Gal. 4. 3. 9 Living in] as though you were yet in the Schoole of these earthly and bodily figures and Ceremonies, whereas under the Gospell you live as it were in heaven, in life, liberty, and power of the Spirit, see Philippians 3:20. So is the word World used, Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:9 Hebrews 9:1.

Colossians 2:22

Which all] namely, which Ordinances consist in outward and corruptible things, and of themselves can neither defile nor sanctifie: and the significant vertue which they had under the Law is now utterly disannulled, see Matthew 15:11; Matthew 15:17 Romans 14:17. 1 Corinthians 6:13 Hebrews 9:9 Of men] who of their own authority would re-establish the use of these things, which the Lord hath taken away by his Gospell. V. 23 Will-worship] namely, Gods service arbitrarily appointed, or with a good intent and will, but without any command or approbation from God In any bonour] namely, these observances of these false teachers, do not aime at the abstaining from fornication and luxurie, wherein consists the true honour and holinesse of the body, Romans 1:24; Romans 1:26. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Thess. 4. 4. but at the abstaining from meats, which are things indifferent, and can neither defile nor sanctifie, see Matthew 15:11. 1 Corinthians 6:13 To the satisfying]namely, in abstinences and distinctions of meats.