Commentary Upon Colossians 1 and 2, Chapter 1 · Verse 25
VERSE 25. Whereof I am made a Miniſter, according to the diſpenſation of God, which is given to mee for you, to fulfill the Word of GOD.
HAving thus remooved that which might have beene objected, he commeth now to the commendation of his miniſtery, wherein he ſetteth forth:
1 The object and cauſes of it, verſe 25, 26, 27.
2 His diligence and faithfulneſſe in the execution of it, verſe 28, 29.
The object of his miniſterie is here noted to be the Church, whereof hee ſaith, of which Church I am become a Miniſter: In which words he reſumeth that he had ſaid in the end of the twenty third verſe: for the twenty fourth verſe is interpoſed to prevent an Objection.
The Miniſters of CHRIST,Obſerv. are the Miniſters of the Church, which Church is the body of CHRIST, this company of men, this ſelected and choyce company, as the Word tranſlated, the Church, foreigndoth ſignifie ſuch as labour in the worke of the Goſpell, and none but theſe; theſe are given of Christ for the repayring and building up of the Church.Eph. 4.11, 12.
Wherein appeareth the great dignity of the Church, Vſe 1 and the great account God maketh of it, who hath given His beſt guifts to men to doe them ſervice, for their ſalvation, the reſt of the world having no portion in theſe men nor in their guifts or labours.
It ſheweth the great account Miniſters ought to make of their people, Vſe 2 and the great care they ought to have of their edification, being of ſo great account with God, and committed to their charge.
How unkinde and unnaturall a thing it is for this Church or any member of it, Vſe 3 to moleſt and perſecute theſe miniſters given of God in His great love to doe them good, even to bee His bleſſed inſtruments to ſave their ſoules.
The cauſes of his miniſtery are two, The efficient.
The cauſes of his miniſtery are two, The end.
The efficient is, the diſpenſation of GOD given him: Obſerv.whereof the meaning is, that his Miniſtery was freely committed unto him by the moſt wiſe and holy government of GOD, wherewith He governeth His Church as His owne houſe, ſo much the Word (diſpenſation) ſignifies, and appointeth His Miniſters as overſeers and ſtewards thereof. GOD is the Lord, the Church is His houſe, the miniſters His ſtewards, the Word and Sacraments, the foode and rayment which they muſt from God miniſter to their brethren and fellow-ſervants.
This ſhould make the Miniſters wiſe and faithfull: Vſe 1 happy is that ſervant, Mat. 24.46.47.51.whom when his maſter ſhall come, ſhall finde ſo doing. 1 Cor. 4.2. It is required in ſtewards, that a man be found faithfull. But if that evill ſervant ſay in his heart, my maſter deferreth his comming, and ſhall beginne to eate and drinke and to ſmite his fellowes; the Lord of that ſervant will come in a day, that hee thinketh not, and will cut him in pieces, and give Him his portion among hypocrites.
And this ſhould make the people diligent and dutifull in receiving their ſpirituall foode and rayment, as from God, at the hand of thoſe that are appointed ſtewards and overſeers for them,Heb. 13.17 that they may doe it with joy and not with griefe; for that is uncomfortable indeede to the miniſter, and unprofitable to the people.
Of this diſpenſation he ſaith: That it was given to themwards, or for them. His miniſtery doubtleſſe was given for the uſe and behoofe of the whole Church: for his commiſſion (as of the reſt of the Apoſtles) was generall, Goe teach all Nations, Mat. 28.20 2 Cor. 11.28.&c. and he profeſſeth, the care of all the Churches lay upon him; howbeit having now to doe with the Coloſsians he applyeth it to them, affirming that it was given him for them, as if it had beene for them alone: teaching,Obſ. That the Miniſter ſhould have ſuch care of every part of his charge, as if his Miniſtery had beene committed to him for their behoofe and profit onelyonly: and that every one pertaining to a Miniſters charge, every family and every perſon, ſhould make ſuch uſe of their miniſter, as if he had received his ministery for them alone. And great reaſon there is of this latter, eſpecially ſeeing God hath ſo diſpoſed, that the ſpeech of the Miniſter reacheth to every one in the aſſembly, being within compaſſe of hearing, as ſufficiently and effectually, as if there were but one perſon ſtanding before him; ſo as every one may reape as much profit as if GOD and His Miniſter reſpected none but him.
The end of his Miniſtery was to fulfill the Word of God, that is, to accompliſh the promiſe of God made concerning the exhibiting of CHRIST, and the calling of the Gentiles; which God fulfilled by ſending the Apoſtles to preach CHRIST unto the Gentiles. Looke Rom. 1.1, 5. and Rom. 16.25, 26. In regard hereof the Apoſtles are ſaid to have entered upon the Prophets labours, Ioh 4 37, 38.and to have reaped that which they ſowed, becauſe they were ſent to performe and publiſh the performance of the things which God hath promiſed by the mouths of His Prophets. Hereby then we learne: That the Ministery, eſpecially of the Apoſtles (and conſequently of Paſtors and Teachers in a proportion) is appointed of God; not onelyonly to deliver and publiſh the promiſes of God, but by their miniſtery to performe and fulfill them.
Which ſerveth greatly to commend our Miniſtery above the Miniſtery of the Prophets. Vſe 1 Which maketh the people more inexcuſable, if they profit not by it: and ſecondly the Miniſters more guilty, if we ſtrive not to adorne ſo excellent a miniſtery.
It may ſerve to confirme mens faith in the promiſes not yet performed, which we preach and publiſh; Vſe 2 ſeeing we preach, and by preaching fulfill many of Gods promiſes made by the Prophets in their times. For who will not eaſily be induced to believe a ſecond promiſe, when his eyes doe ſee the former performed?