An Exposition Upon Colossians, Analysis 1
THE PLAINE Logicall Analasis of the first Chapter.
THis CHAPTER stands of three parts: a Proaeme, a Proposition of Doctrine, an Exhortation to constancy and perseuerance. The Proaeme is continued from vers. 1. to 12. the Proposition from vers. 12. to the 23. the Exhortation from ver. 23. to the end.
The Proaeme is intended to winne attention and affection; and stands of two parts, the Salutation and the Preface. The Salutation is contayned in the two first Verses, and the Preface in the third Verse, and those that follow to the twelfth.
In the Salutation three things are to be obserued: first, the Persons saluting; secondly, the Persons saluted; thirdly, the Salutation it selfe.
The Persons saluting are two;Verse 1.2. the Author of the Epistle, and an Euangelist, famous in the Churches, who is named as one that did approue the Doctrine of the Epistle, and commend it to the vse of the Churches. The Author is described: first, by his Name, Paul: secondly, by his Office, an Apostle; which is amplyfied by the principall efficient, IESVS CHRIST, and by the impulsiue cause, the Will of God. The Euangelist is described: first by his Name, Timotheus: secondly, by his adiunct Estate, a Brother. Thus of the Persons saluting.
The Persons saluted are discribed; first, by the place of their abode, and so they are the Citizens and Inhabitants of Colosse: secondly, by their spirituall estate, which is set out in foure things: 1. They are Saints: 2. They are faithfull: 3. They are Brethren: 4. They are in CHRIST.
The Salutation expresseth what hee accounteth to be the chiefe good on earth, and that is, Grace and Peace, which are amplified by the Causes or Fountaines of them, from God our Father, and from our Lord IESVS CHRIST. Thus of the Salutation.
In the Preface the Apostle demonstrateth his louelove to them by two things,Verse 3. which hee constantly did for them: hee prayed for them, and hee gaue thankes for them: and this hee both propounds generally, vers. 3. and expounds particularly in the Verses following.
In the generall propounding, three things are euidently exprest: first, what hee did for them, hee gaue thankes, hee prayed: secondly, to whom, euen to God the Father of our Lord Iesus: thirdly, how long, alwayes, that is, constantly from day to day.
Verse 4.5.Now, in the Verses that follow he expounds and opens this: first, his Thankesgiuing, vers. 4.5.6.7.8. secondly, his Prayer, vers. 9.10.11. In the Thankesgiuing hee shewes for what hee gaue thankes; which hee referres to two heads, 1. their Graces: 2. secondly, the Meanes by which those Graces were wrought and nourished.
The Graces are three, Faith, LoueLove, Hope, vers. 4.5. Their Faith is amplified by the Obiect, your Faith in Iesus Christ: and their LoueLove, by the extent of it, your LoueLove to all the Saints: and their Hope, by the place, which is laid vp for you in heauen.
Verse 5.6.The Meanes of Grace was eyther principall, vers. 5.6. or Instrumentall, vers. 7.8. The principall ordinary outward meanes was the Word; which is described and set out sixe wayes: 1. by the Ordinance in which it was most effectuall, viz. Hearing, whereof yee hauehave heard. 2. By the propertie that was most eminent in the working of it, viz. Truth, by the word of truth. 3. By the kinde of word, viz. the Gospell, which is the Gospell. 4. By the prouidence of God in bringing the meanes, which is come vntounto you. 5. By the subiect Persons vponupon whom it wrought, viz. you and all the world. 6. By the efficacy of it, it is fruitfull and increaseth; which is amplified by the repetition of the persons in whom, and the consideration both of the time, in those words, from the day that you heard, &c. and also, of the adiuuant cause, viz. the hearing and the true knowledge of the grace of God, from the day that you heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.
Thus of the principall Meanes.
Verse 7.8.The Ministery of the Word, the Instrumentall, or the Minister, followeth, vers. 7.8. and he is described, 1. by his name, Epaphras: 2. by the adiunct louelove of others to him, beloued: 3. by his Office, a Seruant: 4. by his willingnesse to ioyne with others, a fellow-seruant: 5. by his faithfulnesse in the execution of his Office, which is for you a faithfull Minister of Christ: and lastly, by his delight in his people, which hee shewes by the good report he chearefully giues of them, viz. who also declares vntounto vsus your louelove in the spirit. Thus of the Thankesgiuing.
Verse 9.10.11.Now in the opening or vnfolding of his practise in paying for them, first, hee affirmes that he did pray for them; and then, declares it by shewing what he prayed for. The Affirmation is in the beginning of the ninth Verse, and the Declaration in the rest of the words to the end of the eleauenth Verse.
In the affirmation is three things: first, an Intimation of a reason, in those words, for this cause: secondly, a consideration of the time, since the day wee heard of it: thirdly, the matter affirmed, wee cease not to pray for you.
In the Declaration hee instanceth in one thing hee principally prayed about, and that was their Knowledge; which hee sets out, first, by the Obiect of it, the will of God: secondly, by the Parts of it, Wisedome and Vnderstanding: thirdly, by the End, viz. that they might walke worthy, &c. fourthly, by the cause, his glorious power: and fiftly, by the Effects, Patience, Long-suffering, and Ioyfulnesse.
In setting downe the Obiect, hee expresseth also the measure hee desired; hee would hauehave them filled with the knowledge of Gods will, and that hee addeth in the second part, when he saith, all Wisedome and vnderstanding. The end of all their knowledge hee expresseth more largely, vers. 10. which in generall is the eminence of holy life, which hee expresseth in three seuerall formes of speech, viz. 1. to walke worthy of the Lord: 2. to walke in all pleasing: and 3. to be fruitfull in all good workes: vntounto the fuller attainment of which hee notes the meanes to be, an increase in the knowledge of God.
Hitherto of the Proaeme.
The Proposition of Doctrine contayneth excellent matter concerning our Redemption:Verse 12.13.14 where he proceedes in this order: first, hee considers the worke of our Redemption; and secondly, then the person of our Redeemer. The worke of our Redemption, vers. 12.13.14. the person of our Redeemer, vers. 15. and those that follow to the 23. and all this hee expresseth in forme of Thankesgiuing.
The worke of our Redemption hee describes two wayes, after he hath touched the first efficient cause of it, viz. God the Father: for in the twelfth Verse hee seemes to shew, that in respect of Inchoation, it is a making of vsus fit; and in respect of Consummation, it is a causing of vsus to enioy an immortall happines in heauen, better then that Adam had in Paradise, or the Iewes in Canaan. And therein hee expresseth, first the manner of tenure or title, in the word Inheritance: secondly, the adiunct praise of the company, viz. the Saints: and thirdly, the perfection of it, it is in light.
Now, in the end of the thirteenth Verse hee seemes to shew that our Redemption stands of two parts: first, deliuerance from the power of darknesse: secondly, translating into the Kingdome of the Sonne of his louelove, one of the many excellent priuiledges of which estate, is noted in the foureteenth Verse, to be remission of sinnes, through the bloud of Christ. And thus of the worke of our Redemption.
The person of our Redeemer is described three wayes:Verse 15 16.17 first, in relation to GOD; secondly, in relation to the whole World; thirdly, in relation to the Church.
First, in relation to God, hee is described in the beginning of the fifteenth Verse; and so hee is said to be the Image of the inuisible God.
Secondly, in relation to the whole World, fiue things are to be said of CHRIST▪ first, hee is the first begotten of eueryevery Creature, in the end of the fifteenth Verse: secondly, he is the Creator of all things, vers. 16. Where note the distinctions of Creatures: 1. they are distinguished by their place; some, in Heauen; some, in Earth: 2. they are distinguished by their qualitie; some are visible, some inuisible: 3. the inuisible are againe distinguished, by eyther Titles or Offices, some are Thrones, some are Principalities, &c. thirdly, all things are for him, this is in the end of the sixteenth Verse: fourthly, hee is before all things, in the beginning of vers. 17. lastly, all things in him consist▪ vers. 17. the end of it. Thus the Redeemer is described in relation to the whole World.
Verse 18.19.20Thirdly, hee is described as hee stands in relation to the Church: and so eyther to the whole Church, vers. 18.19.20. or to the Church of the Colossians, vers. 21.22.
As hee stands in relation to the whole Church, hee is said to be the head of the Church, in the beginning of the eighteenth Verse, and this hee proues, by shewing that hee is a head in three respects.
First, in respect of the dignitie of order towards his Members, and so in the state of Grace he is their beginning, and in the state of glory hee is the first begotten of the dead; that both among the liuing and the dead hee might hauehave the preheminence.
Secondly, in respect of perfection in himselfe, in that all fulnesse dwels in him; which is amplified by the cause, viz. the good pleasure of the Father, who made him head of the Church, vers. 19.
Thirdly, in respect of efficacie or influence through the whole body: for from him flowes Peace and Reconciliation, vers. 20. concerning which Reconciliation there are eight things to be noted: 1. the mouing cause, which is to be supplyed out of the former Verse, as the Coniunction [and] importeth, viz. it pleased the Father: 2. the Instrument, by him, viz. CHRIST the head: 3. the Benefit it selfe, viz. to reconcile: 4. the subiect Persons in generall, all things: 5. the End, to himselfe: 6. the Effect, making peace: 7. the Meanes, through the bloud of his Crosse: 8. the Distribution of the Persons who, in those words, things in earth and things in heauen. Thus of his relation to the whole Church.
Verse 21.22.In the description of his relation to the Church of the Colossians, he vrgeth them with two things: first, their misery without CHRIST: 2. the remedy of their misery by CHRIST.
Their Misery stands in two things: first, they are Strangers: secondly, they are Ene…ies, and both are amplified: 1. by the subiect wherein, viz. not outwardly onelyonly, but in their mindes: 2. by the Cause, viz. wicked workes, vers. 22.
In setting downe their Remedie hee notes: 1. the Meanes: 2. the End of the meanes is the death of the body of Christs flesh: The end is, that hee might present them holy and vnblameable, and without fault in Gods sight, vers. 22.
Thus of his relation to the Church of the Colossians: and thus also of the second part of this Chapter, viz. the Proposition of Doctrine.
Verse 23.The Exhortation followes: where is to be considered; first, the Exhortation it selfe; and then the Reasons. The Exhortation is to perseuerance, both in Faith and Hope.
In the Exhortation to perseuerance in faith, there is worthy to be noted: first, the manner of propounding it, which is with an If: secondly, the duty required, Continue: thirdly, the manner of the dutie, grounded and stablished: fourthly the obiect, Grace, in Faith.
In the Exhortation to perseuerance in Hope, two things are to be obserued: first, he sets downe the euill to be auoyded, viz. vnsetlednesse or reuolting, in the words, Be not moued away: secondly, hee quickens them by remembring the cause and fountaine of their hope: viz. The hearing of the Gospell preached.
Thus of the Exhortation, the Reasons follow.
There are seauen Reasons to inforce this Exhortation to perseuerance. The first is taken from the Consent of Gods Elect, Which are through the world, who hauehave in the preaching of the Gospell receiued Faith and Hope, as their common portion.
The second Reason is taken from the testimony of PAVL himselfe: and that is two-fold; the first is the testimonie of his Ministerie; This is it hee preacheth, and therefore it should be it they should keepe fast: the second is the testimony of his Sufferings; hee hath endured much for the Doctrine of Faith and Hope; and therefore they should continue in it: and to stirre them the more concerning his sufferings, hee sheweth that hee suffered with great Ioy: which hee confirmeth by expressing the reasons of his ioy; first, because they were the afflictions of Christ; secondly, because hee had his part allotted him by the decree of God: and it was his ioy that hee had almost finished what was left for him to suffer; there was but a little remaining: thirdly, because they were but in his flesh: fourthly, because they were for them, and the good of the Church, Verse 24.
The third Reason is taken from the testimony of God, who inioyned vntounto PAVL and other Ministers this dispensation of the Doctrine of Faith and Hope, with a charge that they should see his Word fulfilled herein, Verse 25.
The fourth Reason is taken from the excellencie of the Gospell: which is set out; first, by the nature of it, it is a mysterie: secondly, by the antiquitie of it, it was▪ and was hid since the world beganne, from Ages and Generations: thirdly, by the time of the reuelation of it, now, in the new world: fourthly, by the persons to whom it is reuealed, viz. onelyonly the Saints, all which should moue to care and constancy in keeping of it. Verse 26.
The fift Reason is taken from the excellency of the Subiect of the Gospell, which is no lesse nor worse then Christ reuealed by the preaching of the Gospell. In this reuelation of Christ in the Gospell, consider, first, who reueales him, God: secondly, the cause of his reuelation, the will of God, hee would: thirdly, the manner, viz. in a rich and glorious mystery: fourthly, the persons to whom, viz. the miserable Gentiles: fiftly, the effects or fruits of it, which are, first, the inhabitation of Christ: secondly, the hope of glory, Verse 27.
Verse 28.The sixt Reason is taken from the end, which is the presenting of them perfect in Iesus Christ ▪ which is amplified by the meanes to bring to this end, which is preaching: and that is amplified, first, by the parts of it, which are teaching and admonishing: and secondly, by the manner, in all Wisedome, Verse 28.
Verse 29.The seauenth Reason is taken from the holy strife of the Apostle, to bring men to this: which is amplified by the great successe which the LORD had giuen. Verse vlt.