colossians 3:2 commentary

colossians 3:2 commentary2020/09/28

The ceremonies are dead to you through the death of Christ, and you to them, in order that, being raised up to heaven with Christ, you may think only of those things that are above. I wonder, then, if we can read Col. 3:4 as referring to the present and future before the parousia. But I must repeat that there is not a single apostle who so much as speaks of being justified by faith, except the apostle of the Gentiles. They have undoubtedly taught that which is consistent with it and even supposes it. Never will it be received, either by the world's religion, or by its philosophy. "Are you sure? And if we are dead to the earth, and have renounced it as our happiness, it is absurd for us to set our affections upon it, and seek it. In the presence of God the social distinctions of the world become irrelevant. Read full chapter Colossians 1 Colossians 3 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Such is His relationship to the church. They were created by Him, and for Him, equally with the Father. First the apostle brings in all things as a whole, the universal creaturehood, earthly and heavenly; thus giving us an adequate notion of the perfect triumph of God at the time when it seemed as if Satan had completely succeeded through man against the counsels of God. Thus the believer can look round full of joy upon his brethren; he can count up souls from every tribe, tongue, and station. This is not holding the Head. The slave was not even classified in ancient law as a human being; he was merely a living tool, with no rights of his own. A father's stroke that chastises the erring is a mercy. In the next place, we have the apostle's prayer: "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and growing by the knowledge of God." Not appreciating His glory and fulness, they did not see that the secret of true wisdom and blessing, is in going on to know more of Christ than is already possessed. He knows everything and feels everything. Mortify [or put to death] therefore your members which are upon the earth [that is the members of your body, those body desires put them to death]; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience ( Colossians 3:5-6 ): Now, as Paul is writing to the Ephesians, he tells them much the same things, that for these things the wrath of God is coming upon the earth. It pleased the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Do we look for such a happiness, and should we not set our affections upon that world, and live above this? Let us hearken, "But now, ye also put off all these." "Wherefore," says he, "if ye be dead with Christ "which is one grand part of his subject "if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living [or alive] in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?" As for the apostle he lays before them another point. No matter how clever and religious those laws may appear, they will not succeed in controlling the desires of the body (20-23).Because they have died to sin, Christians are not in bondage to things of the world as the Gnostics are. Have a mind all of whose thoughts are fixed on the things which are above, not upon the things on earth. Let us look at these things one by one. It doesn't mean that he's saying it doesn't matter how you live. We must not dote upon them, nor expect too much from them, that we may set our affections on heaven; for heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, and a supreme regard to both is inconsistent; and the prevalence of our affection to one will proportionably weaken and abate our affection to the other. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. Christ is a believer's life. In Greek society a respectable woman lived a life of entire seclusion. For this is the sign not so much of what would expiate as cleanse. "The description of Christ as seated at the right hand of God is another implied rejoinder to those who were seeking to diminish Christs role as mediator, inasmuch as the right hand of God is a metaphor for the place of supreme privilege and divine authority." The Colossians, like others, would have liked this well enough; it is just what they were about, and the very thing that the apostle is here correcting. None of the others has touched on it not one. The apostle in like manner in the next verse opposes the "things above" to . If it is the desire for power, it leads to sadistic tyranny. Besides, when men, thus slur over its true force, and would extract consolation where God intends warning, it is a proof not of firm but of weak faith. It is not to be found in tradition, still less in philosophy. In fact, this was their fault: they were not content with Christ and Him only. Paul could think more deeply than any man who ever tried to express the Christian faith; he could travel along uncharted pathways of thought; he could scale the heights of the human mind, where even the best equipped theologian finds it hard to follow him; but always at the end of his letters he turns to the practical consequences of it all. In Colossians 3:4 Paul gives to Christ one of the great titles of devotion. e Grace to you and peace from God our Father.. Thanksgiving and Prayer. Like a mine of unknown and inexhaustible wealth, the treasures of wisdom are all in Him hidden, but not in order to remain so; they only need to be explored for you to attain "unto the riches" in them ( Colossians 2:2 ); but until you, Colossians, press after attaining the full knowledge "hidden." The New Testament never hesitates to demand with a certain violence the complete elimination of everything which is against God. Not that there may not be danger even then; save that as long as the eye is on Christ there is none, because what is inconsistent with His name is refused. Commentary on Colossians 3:1-11 Karl Jacobson Your best life nowis hidden. In fact, Thayer gives their definitions as the same, "to direct ones mind to a thing, to seek, or strive for" (658). After this follow particular exhortations, on which we need not at present dwell. So "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts;" that is, the very peace which Christ Himself lived and moved in. Monty went straight up to him and with a quick, friendly smile turned him round. It has often been said that humility was a virtue created by Christianity. Mortify, therefore, those fleshly things. I love it. Besides, Christ is the first-born of all creation. The treatment of the idiot and the simple-minded was unfeeling. Thus the striving of the apostle was by no means only in the way of evangelizing. I'm dead to the flesh that I might be alive unto God in Christ, living after the Spirit. In this phrase, however, all that the apostle asserts is in relation to the invisible God. Leave me alone." Observe, (1.) Such is the only sure root of all blessing, and in this above all is real faith and spirituality shown. The first is outward and the second inward. That's not a wise thing to do. The Christian must kill self-centredness and regard as dead all private desires and ambitions. Jesus Christs present rule on His Fathers throne over the church is not the same as His rule on Davids throne over Davids kingdom, which will begin when He returns to earth. Thus they have a closer connection than any others in the New Testament. True, and known to some from the first, the Spirit would brook no hiding of it in order to meet the daring of men and the subtilty of the enemy, who were taking advantage of the lower glory of Christ, so as to deny all that was higher His deity and eternal Sonship. Verse Colossians 3:2. It becomes something which is entered into not merely for the convenience of the husband, but in order that both husband and wife may find a new joy and a new completeness in each other. Set your affections on things above,. For unless the affections are set on them, they will never be sought after in a proper manner. No right-minded man, as such, could take for granted that others would care to know about his affairs any more than be theirs, unless indeed in case of a relation, or a friend, or a public and extraordinary personage. Paul begins with a heart of pity. As she rebels, then he's got to show that he's macho. "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven." Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him ( Colossians 3:7-10 ): So we should be as John says, walking as Jesus walked. How is it to be done? He is the truth; He is the expression of what God is. In such a state dwelling on it would detract from Christ's glory; whereas when Christ alone is the object of believers, they can bear to know and to dwell upon, and to enter into, and understand, the various operations of the Spirit, which turns so much the more to the glory of Christ. Mark and Luke, although they were not apostles, were surely prophets. They might detract little or nothing as to his personal qualities; they might even affect to condescend and patronize. Not a prophet, not even the smallest shred of any prophecy, reveals such a truth. Don't presume upon the grace of God." It is of this Christ is the objective centre and Head. Proud, fallen nature is satisfied even by these efforts to put down the body; whereas God would have the body to have a certain honour in its own place, and that of the Christian is the temple of the Holy Ghost. 209.]. We may have proved how sadly everything of the sort has been perverted; but there is a sense, and a most weighty one too, in which we cannot too much strengthen the links of love between the saints of God, and that too where there is a real holy ministry for their good. You come to that space from time to time in the prophets. They were the chosen people; they were the dedicated nation, they were the beloved of God. Why should we heed conjecture? Therefore he might well press, "If ye continue. not on things on the earth; not mind earth and earthly things, temporal enjoyments, riches, and honours; and though food and raiment, and the necessaries of life, are to be sought after, and cared and provided for, yet not with anxiety and perplexity of mind, in an over thoughtful and distressing manner; nor should the heart be set on those outward things, or happiness placed in the possession of them. There was no such notion as only caring for the saints in his own particular place. The truth in Christ is not merely that God came down to man in love, but that man, the believer in Christ, is now dead and risen in Him. And it doesn't mean that Paul is giving these people a license to live after the flesh. We can readily understand that the Spirit did not bring out the fulness of the glory of Christ then, but as it was needed. To make laws to live by is the way of the worldly person, not the way of the Christian. Since men have a certain knowledge of Christ's death, they are striving to die. Also the reason seems obvious. Christ in them. Sometimes we say of a man, "Music is his life--Sport is his life--He lives for his work." The point Paul is making here is this. I can do what I want." Can we do it, asking for his help?" He died this is the point here and therefore I am dead too. Thus it is that He rises into a new condition, leaving behind that which had fallen under vanity or death through its sinning chief, the first Adam. 1. But God has even now a far greater purpose at heart. Macho, "I know what I'm doing. That's where I am now living in Christ, in God. Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. [Note: Robertson, 4:500.]. (i) It destroyed the barriers which came from birth and nationality. 1. It is the word used when Jesus said, "My yoke is easy." We remember the poignant statement of John Newton: "I know that my father loved me--but he did not seem to wish me to see it." He assigns three reasons for this, Colossians 3:3; Colossians 3:4. In it there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free man. "Let no man judge you" is the exhortation. And here we come back to where this passage started--that is precisely why the Christian sets his mind and heart on the things which are above and not on the things of this world. But this is not at all the divine way of dealing with the Christian. In fact there was not even the thought of striving to be dead before the death of Christ came; and when He died, the Spirit in due time revealed not alone that He died for us, but that we died in Him. It was not wonderful that he said in Colossians 1:1-29, "If ye continue in the faith rooted and grounded, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel." Set your affection - Margin, or mind. Greek think of - phroneite. The children of Israel made a tragic mistake thinking, "Well, we are God's chosen people, and we can live like the nations around us." But the apostle meant not so much to administer consolation to these Colossian saints as to caution them. 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. There was much more than this. The ancient writers defined chrestotes ( G5544) as the virtue of the man whose neighbours good is as dear to him as his own. In any home the tone of personal relationships must be dictated by the awareness that Jesus Christ is an unseen but ever-present guest. For Christianity is not a mere thing of doing this or not doing that; it is a growth, because it is of the Spirit in life and power. Chastity was the one completely new virtue which Christianity brought into the world. And this is the truth that is so offensive to flesh in every form. Now, again, my life is the reflection of what I am and what I believe. They were a people living in the world, and the whole system of Judaism supposed and dealt with a people in the world. Thus, even if there be not actually formal praise, the Lord looks for thankfulness of heart, as counting on love in everything. But still there is growth supposed. require us to pronounce on evil ways in order to look into this evil doctrine or that; but the apostle speaks now of the saints in their ordinary and normal manner. Nor is continuance in prayer all; but vigilant watch in the same, which does not let slip the just occasion for supplication; and as all things were to be done with thanksgiving, so prayer also, which would assuredly not forget the need of those in the forefront of the spiritual warfare and toil of love. We are hidden in it like in a vault, a treasure house, a place to keep valuables securely and safely, where they will not be stolen or in any way degraded. As we know, the church is built on the foundation, not of Paul, but of His holy apostles and prophets. Hence we find the glorious future display referred to here: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear;" for we have both "ye are dead," and "your life is hid with Christ in God." The apostle will not sanction such an amalgam, but refuses it; and we must remember that in these exhortations it was the Lord acting by the Spirit in His servant. She lived in the women's apartments and did not join her menfolk even for meals. Satan is allowed apparently to go on as if he had won the final victory; but God brings the truth of what He has done into the heart where Satan had most of all deceived before. The apostle exhorts us to set our hearts upon heaven and take them off from this world, ver 1-4. Simply because he wishes the child to do well, he is always on his top. How then could He that came and was seen in the midst of men four thousand years after Adam was made, how could He be in any sense first-born of all creation? They needed to be drawn away from every theme and object but Christ Himself. The Higher Aspirations of the Soul. Let His peace rule. For the Christian and the church must sing their own psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Don't provoke your children. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Not, of course, that He was the earliest on the earth like Adam. His was by no means a love inactive or limited. There is malice. Yes, Christ is in all, and Christ is all. There were evils to be corrected, dancers to be warned against; but if he thinks of that which the Father has in view for them, and of them in view of His glory, less he could not say, neither could he say more. If a man does not own Him to be Lord, he is nothing whatever; but one may bow to Him as Lord, and yet be painfully insensible to the higher glory of His person, and to the depths of His grace. Colossians 2:20). There is a kind of person who is the slave of his passions (palkos) and who is driven by the desire for the wrong things (epithumia, G1939) . But doing it as unto the Lord. Alas! Occasions of sin must be avoided: the lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world; and covetousness, which is idolatry; love of present good, and of outward enjoyments. In classical Greek there is no word for humility which has, not some tinge of servility; but Christian humility is not a cringing thing. When a man becomes a Christian, there ought to be a complete change in his personality. His master could thrash or brand or maim or even kill him at his caprice; he had not even the right of marriage. But the great basic Christian virtues are those which govern human relationships. 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