Commentary Upon Colossians 1 and 2, Chapter 1 · Verse 24
VERSE 24. Now I rejoyce in my ſufferings for you, and fulfill the reſt of the afflictions of Chriſt in my fleſh, for his bodies ſake, which is the Church.
THe ſumme of this verſe is this: that the Apoſtle having anſwered that which might be objected concerning his ſufferings, commends his Miniſtery to the Coloſsians: the parts are two.
1 An anſwer to that which might be objected touching his ſufferings. verſe 24.
2 A commendation of his miniſtery. ver. 25.
Minding to commend his Miniſtery to them, to make way to that he had to teach, he firſt prevents that which might be objected againſt the ſame. Object. It might be ſaid, it ſeemeth ſtrange to us, that thou being ſervant to ſo great a Lord as thou haſt deſcribed him to be, ſhouldſt find ſo hard entertainement in the world, being almoſt in continuall afflictions.
This is ſo farre from derogating any thing from me or my Miniſtery, Anſw. that contrarywiſe I have good cauſe to joy and doe rejoyce therein; for thereby I make ſupply of the ſufferings of Chriſt, and that for the good of the Church in generall and of you particularly. Wherein firſt obſerve:Obſ. That it is no new thing for the miniſters of Chriſt to be afflicted for the Goſpells ſake. The Apoſtle was ſeldome in any other condition; the like was the ſtate of other Apostles and of the Prophets that were before them, and of all other ſanctified Miniſters. The Diſciple is not above his Maſter, and all that will live godly in Chriſt muſt ſuffer perſecution; then much more they that teach men ſo to doe: yea this is ſo ordinary to faithfull Miniſters, and ſo uſuall a companion to their faithfulneſſe, that a man may worthily doubt of that Miniſters faithfulneſſe, that findeth not this entertainement in this world.
They are therefore men either of weake underſtanding, Vſe or of a very perverſe heart, who aſſoone as they ſee a Miniſter under perſecution and trouble, forthwith cenſure him as a buſie and factious man: ſo with the ſame breath they give ſentence againſt the holy Apoſtles and Prophets, yea and againſt our SAVIOUR CHRIST Himſelfe.
It is their peeviſhneſſe, want of judgement, and diſcretion, Object. &c. that is the cauſe of their trouble.
There may be ſome ſuch fault in ſome, Anſw. yea in ſome meaſure in all: but why then eſcaped not Saint Paul and other the Apoſtles and Prophets, yea and CHRIST Himſelfe? were they peeviſh? It is therefore ſome other thing that is chiefely the cauſe of Miniſters moleſtations, even the inveterate hatred of the old Serpent and his brood.
It is for inſtruction, letting ſuch to ſee they have no cauſe to be grieved or aſhamed at their ſufferings for the Goſpell, but to rejoyce rather. Iam. 1.2. My brethren, count it exceeding great joy, when ye fall into divers temptations. And Acts 5.41. Rejoycing that ye are counted worthy to ſuffer rebuke for CHRIST. Indeed men ought not to be without ſenſe of their afflictions. How then ſhall they profit by them? Indeed as they are Gods chaſtiſements, they ought to be grieved at them, and humbled under them. But the joy conceaved at the cauſe of them, and the honour God vouchſafeth to us in them, ought to ſwallow up, or at leaſt overcome that ſorrow. Many are the reaſons why we ſhould rejoyce in this kind of affliction.
But let us conſider the reaſons alleadged by the Apoſtle in this place.
The firſt is, becauſe therein he made a ſupply of Chriſts afflictions. Object. It ſeemeth then (may ſome ſay) that the ſufferings of Chriſt are not ſufficient, but had neede to bee ſupplyed and patched up by our good workes, doings or ſufferings.
CHRIST and His members make but one Chriſt. Anſw. 1 Cor. 12.12. and therefore that which they ſuffer He ſuffereth. Acts 9.4. Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou Me? And He will ſuffer in His members, that He may be alſo glorified in them. 2 Tim. 1.11. Rom. 8.17. It is therefore a very comfortable thing, to ſuffer for the truths ſake: And they that fly it by unlawfull meanes, being called to it, eſchew their owne comfort, and in ſeeking to ſave their life, ſhall looſe it.
2 His ſecond reaſon, is, becauſe it is for the good of the Church in generall, and of them in particular.
Then the martyrdome of the martyrs in ſuffering, Object. merits for them.
The afflictions of the godly, Anſw. and ſpecially of the Miniſters, for the truth, tends greatly to the good of the Church, to the confirmation, comfort, and good example of it: but as for merits, it neither needeth any but the merits of CHRIST, neither if it did, could they availe.
But the Papiſts that would wring theſe things from hence, are evidently diſcovered to be blaſphemers of God and of CHRIST His Sonne. The Apoſtle oppoſeth this everywhere. 2 Tim. 2.10. Therefore I ſuffer all things for the elects ſake, that they might alſo obtaine the ſalvation which is in IESUS CHRIST with eternall glory: 2 Cor. 1.6. whether we be afflicted, it is for your conſolation and ſalvation. And Phi. 1.12, 13. He wills them to underſtand, that his ſufferings turned to the furtherance of the Goſpell: his bonds for Chriſts cauſe were famous in Court and Country; whereof there was this excellent fruit, that many of the brethren were imboldened; and not as men would thinke diſcouraged, and did more boldly ſpeake the Word. Here therefore we are taught:Obſerv. that the Church looſeth nothing, but gaineth much, by the ſufferings of the godly, ſpecially the miniſters.
Which ſhould incourage and comfort us greatly in our ſufferings, Vſe 1 ſeeing both we our ſelves and many others reape ſuch fruite thereof.
And here behold the admirable wiſedome and goodneſſe of God, defeating the plots, and turning upſide downe the pretences of the Divell and his curſed inſtruments in their perſecutions of the Miniſters, turning that to the ſingular good, comfort and confirmation of the Church, which they intend and directed to their ruine and overthrow.
Here further obſerve:Obſ. That the Church is called the body of Chriſt; we are as neerely knit to Chriſt as the body is to the head, ſo Eph. 1.23.
To comfort us who are ſo neerely knit unto Him, Vſe 1 bone of His bones, and fleſh of His fleſh. How can we periſh if He be our head? or what affliction can ſeparate us from Him? Rom. 8.
And ought not this to make us ready to ſuffer for the Churches ſake, Vſe 2 ſeeing it is the body of Ieſus Chriſt? And if wee ought to doe good and to rejoyce in doing good to the Church, though it be by ſufferings; how much more ought we ſo to doe, when we may doe it without ſuffering for it?