← Back to the beginning of Colossians 3
Ver. 6. On the children of disobedience] Unpersuadable, uncounsellable persons, that regard not good courses or discourses.
Ver. 7. When ye lived in them] Man’s life is a walk, and each action a step either to heaven or hell.
Ver. 8. Filthy communication] The devil’s drivel. [See Trapp on “Eph 5:4”]
Ver. 9. Lie not one to another] No, not in jest, lest ye go to hell in earnest. [See Trapp on “Eph 4:25”] Ye have put off the old man] As the serpent doth his slough, the eagle his bill, the lizard his skin in spring and autumn. (Arist. Hist. Animal. viii.)
Ver. 10. After the image] If moral virtue could be beheld with mortal eyes, saith the philosopher, it would stir up wonderful loves of itself. How much more would the image of God in the hearts of his people! [See Trapp on “Eph 4:24”] Of him that created him] Adam and Eve were not then created simple and stupid, and without the use of reason; else they would not have been so deceived; as the Rabbis, and, after them, the Socinians have dreamed.
Ver. 11. Christ is all, and in all] Not only in t he hearts of men, but in all things else, εν πασι, in the neuter gender. This second Adam hath filled all things again; neither is there anything else required to justification and salvation.
Ver. 12. As the elect of God, holy and beloved] Therefore holy, because elect, and therefore beloved, because holy; as God’s name is holy, and therefore reverend, Psalms 111:9. God chose his for his love, and now loves them for his choice. Bowels of mercies] Draw out thy soul as well as thy sheaf to the hungry, Isaiah 58:10. Steep thy thoughts in the mercies of God, saith one, and they will dye thine, as the dye vat doth the cloth. Humbleness of mind] Even to be content to “be trampled upon,” as the word signifieth; or to be laid low as earth, as Paul, Philippians 4:12; to have a low mind in a high conversation, as Athanasius (υφηλου βιας ταπεινον φρονημα). Humility is the veil of a Christian, that maketh the bride look most lovely. ταπεινος, quasi πατεινος, vel εδαφεινος.
Ver. 13. If a man have a quarrel] Occasions will be given, and offences will happen. Now it is the glory of a man to pass over a transgression, Proverbs 19:11; see 1 Samuel 10:27; and to forgive where there is just cause of complaint. If no quarrel, no thank.
Ver. 14. Above all these] “Put on love,” as the upper garment, the “parti-coloured coat,” whereby all God’s children are known (as Joseph, and Tamar, David’s daughter, were), the cognizance of every true Christian, John 13:35. [See Trapp on “Joh 13:35”] The bond of perfectness] Or the couple, th e juncture, the tie, συνδεσμος. As the curtains of the tabernacle were joined by loops, so are all true Christians by love.
Ver. 15. And let the peace of God rule] βραβευετω, it certaminis moderator: let it rule after the manner of a moderator or an umpire. Let it oversee and overrule in all your personal discords. Or (as others sense it) let it carry away the prize, or distribute the garlands. And be ye thankful] sc. To those that are courteous and beneficial to you. 2 Ingratum dixeris, omnia dixeris. Lycurgus would make no law against unthankfulness, because he could not think there could be any such evil committed. If there be any sin in the world against the Holy Ghost, said Queen Elizabeth in a letter to Henry IV of France, it is ingratitude. This saith one, is a monster in nature, a solecism in good manners, a paradox in divinity, a parching wind to dam up the fountain of divine and human favours. (Camden.) Ventus urens et exsiccans. Arbor honoretur cuius nos umbra tuetur.
Ver. 16. Dwell in you richly] ενοικειτω πλουσιως, indwell in you, as an ingrafted word, incorporated into your souls; so concocted and digested by you, as that you turn it in succum et sanguinem, into a part of yourselves. This is your riches; and thus David reckons of his wealth Psalms 119:32. Teaching and admonishing one another] It is rightly observed by a late reverend writer, that although we know that which we ask of others as well as they do, yet good speeches will draw us to know it better, by giving occasion to speak more of it, wherewith the Spirit works more effectually, and imprints it deeper, so that it shall be a more rooted knowledge than before. For that doth good that is graciously known; and that is graciously known that the Spirit, seals upon our souls. In psalms and hymns] Papists forbid people to sing psalms, and permit only choristers to sing, lest the music should be marred. (Binnius.) But the apostle biddeth every saint to sing. And Nicephorus writeth that the Christians of his time, even as they travelled and journeyed, were wont to sing psalms. Tatianus also saith, That every age and order among the Christians were Christian philosophers, yea, that the very virgins and maids, as they sat at their work in wool, were wont to speak of God’s word. [Hist. Eccl. iii. 37] With grace in your heart] This is the best tune to any Psalm. Dr Sibbs on Cant. v.
Ver. 17. Do all in the name] By the warrant of his word, and with an aim to his glory. For his sake and service; and to God’s acceptance, through Christ’s assistance.
Ver. 18. Wives, submit yourselves] Inferiors are ordered before superiors to teach them to do duty before they expect it. Love descendeth, duty ascendeth. Submit is a short word, but of large extent. It comprehendeth, 1. Reverence; “Let the wife see that she reverence her husband,” Ephesians 5:33, as Sarah did, and is chronicled for it, 1 Peter 3:6. But God hath a barren womb for mocking Michal. 2. Obedience to all his lawful commands and restraints, as the Shunammite, 2 Kings 4:22, and the Shulamite, who lives by Christ’s laws, and yields to his will, direction, and discretion. As it is fit] Ut decet, as it is comely; and women love comeliness, delight to be neat. Hereby shall appear comely, first, to God, 1 Peter 3:4. Next, to men in the gate, Proverbs 31:23,31. Thirdly, to their husbands and children, Proverbs 31:28. Fourthly, to all, even opposites, as being an ornament to sincerity and holiness, Titus 2:3. In the Lord] Though the husband’s will be crooked (so it be not wicked), the wife’s will is not straight in God’s sight, if not pliable to his. Sed liberum arbitrium, pro quo tantopere contenditur, viri amiserunt, uxores arripuerunt, saith an author.
Ver. 19. Husbands, love your wives] He saith not, Rule over them, subdue them if they will not submit, but love them, and so win them to your will; make their yoke as easy as may be, for they stand on even ground with you, as yokefellows, though they draw on the left side. “Yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant,” Malachi 2:14. He therefore that is free may frame his choice to his mind; but he that hath chosen must frame his heart to his choice. “ Uxorem vir amato, marito pareat uxor: Coniugis illa sui cor, caput ille suae.” And be not bitter against them] Nothing akin to Nabal, to those Chaldeans, a bitter and furious nation, or to that star, Revelation 8:11, called wormwood, that embittereth the third part of the waters. The heathen, when they sacrificed at their marriage feasts, used to cast the gall of the beasts sacrificed outside; to signify that married couples should be as doves without gall. (Plut. praec, coniug.) Vipera virus ob venerationem nuptiarum evomit, saith Basil. The viper, going to copulate, vomiteth up her venom; and wilt not thou, for the honour of marriage, lay aside thy bitterness and boisterous behaviour?
Ver. 20. In all things] Vultu saepe laeditur pietas. [See Trapp on “Eph 6:1”]
Ver. 21. Provoke not your children] [See Trapp on “Eph 6:4”] Lest they be discouraged] αθυμωσιν, dispirited, and through despondency grow desperate in their resolutions.
Ver. 22. Not with eye service] [See Trapp on “Eph 6:5”] [See Trapp on “Eph 6:6”] It is in the original, “Not with eye services,” in the plural, μη εν οφθαλμοδουλειαις; to show that do they never so much service, yet if not in sincerity, all is lost. Fearing God] That hath power to cast body and soul to hell. Fear him more than you do your masters, that have power over the flesh only.
Ver. 23. Do it heartily, as to the Lord] This is to make a virtue of necessity, while in serving men we serve the Lord Christ, going about our earthly businesses with heavenly minds, with not only a habitual, but an actual intention, as much as may be, of glorifying God in all.
Ver. 24. The reward of inheritance] And so be made of servants sons, whose it is to inherit. For ye serve the Lord Christ] While godliness runneth through your whole lives as the woof doth through the web, and you seek to approve yourselves to Christ in all your actions and employments.
Ver. 25. But he that doth wrong] Be it but by not doing right to poor servants, which in those days were bondslaves. Note here, saith an interpreter, the apostle’s candour; he was not of the humour of lawyers, that seldom speak much but for great men, or when they may have great gifts.