An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 4 · Verse 17 – postscript
Verse 17
And I say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast receiued in the Lord that thou fulfill it.
These words concerne the Colossean preacher, who is not onelyonly saluted but exhorted.
This Archippus as it seemes was their Pastor, ioyned with Epaphras, who was now at Rome with Paul, Painfull Preachers, many times, grow idle.it is likely hee was growne negligent in teaching, and carelesse and idle.
Many times it comes to passe that men that sometimes were painefull in their Ministry, doe afterwards grow slacke and negligent.
1 Sometimes from very discouragements from their people, either because they profit not, or because they weary their teachers, with indignities and wrongs; thus the very Prophets hauehave been sometimes so tyred, that they could hauehave been almost willing neuer to speake more in the name of the Lord.
2 Sometimes this comes from the corruption of their owne natures, they grow soone weary of Gods worke, or else hauing taken more worke to do then they are sufficient for, they grow to neglect all, or else they are drawne away with the louelove of the world, or else forbeare of purpose to preach often, lest they should be thought to be too precise, or else to winne applause, they set out at first with such a strife to seeme eloquent, and learned, that they quickly spend their store, and then rather then they will be obserued to want, they will giuegive ouer preaching.
3 Sometimes God himselfe for the wickednesse of their liues casts a barrennesse vponupon their hearts, and blasteth their gifts.
In this exhortation foure things may be noted.
1 Who he is that is exhorted, say to Archippus.
2 The matter charged vponupon him, see to thy Ministry.
3 The reason by which it is vrged, thou hast receiued it of the Lord.
4 An explication of the matter charged by the extent of it, to fulfill.
Say to Archippus.] Here I obserue 7 things.
1 The Sinner must be told of his sinne, Leuit. 19.17.
2 Such as offend publikely must be told of it publikely.
3 Ministers as well as others may be rebuked, though some Clergie men are so sore and so proud, that they may not be touched: and many times it is a iust iudgment of God, that no man should rebuke them, that their sores might not be medicined, but like vnsauorie s…lt, they should be cast out of God. No mans learning or greatnesse of place can so protect them, but that they may be told of their faults: it is too commonly knowne they can sinne aswell as others, why then should they not be rebuked as well as others. Doth Archippus need to be told? the Lord be mercifull to the land and Church; There be many Archippasses in the Church of England, had need to be wakened with a loud trumpet of rebuke, and to be told of their faults, euen of their ignorance, silence, sloth, pride, couetousnesse, simonie, dissolutenesse, ambition, contempt of their brethren, and soule murther of many kinds.
4 The people may put their teachers in minde of their faults: as they ought to incourage them in well doing, so may they admonish them for what is euill, Therefore Ministers should striue so to liue, and so to teach, as their people should not hauehave cause to finde fault.
5 Ministers must bee told of their faults by their people, with great reuerence and heedfulnesse, and wisdome, according to that direction, Rebuke not an Elder, but exhort him as a Father; here they must say to Archippus not directly reprooue him.
6 They must say it to him, not say it of him, Ministers ought not to be traduced behind their backs.
7 He doth not threaten him if he doe not, which implies, hee hoped their exhortation would speed: certainly tis a great praise to profit by admonition.
Take heed to thy Ministry] This take heed hath in it three things.
1 Consideration, a weying and meditation of the greatnesse of the function, of the dignitie of it, and the dutie also, with the accounts he must make to God and his high calling and the great price of soules, &c.
2 It notes diuers of the worthy qualities of a Minister, as care, attendance, watchfulnesse, aptnesse to teach, and diuide the word aright, discretion, to giuegive eueryevery one his portion, diligence, gentlenesse, in not marring the doctrine with passion, patience to indure the worke and labour of his ministry, &c.
3 It notes caution, and so Ministers must take heed both of what is within them, and what is without them, they must take heed of their owne diuinations, they must take heed of sloth and idlenesse, they must take heed of the obiections of their owne flesh, and the tentations of the Diuell, without them they must take heed of the new errors, that will daily rise, they must take heed of the sinnes of the people, with all the methods of Sathan in deuising, committing, or defending of sinne, they must take heede of mens fancies: and for persons they must take heed of hypocrites, and open aduersaries, domesticall vipers, and forraine foes, false brethren and profest Idolaters.
The Vse may be for great reproofe of our sleeping watchmen, and blinde guides, that take no heed to their ministeries; Oh the woes that will fall vponupon them, who can recount the miseries that the bloud of soules, will bring vponupon them.
Which thou hast receiued in the Lord] A Minister is said to receiue his ministrie in the Lord in diuers respects. First Because it is Gods free grace, that he is chosen to be a Minister Rom. 5.1. Secondly because, he is inwardly called and qualified by God. Thirdly because, he receiued his outward authoritie, though from men, yet by the direction and warrant of Gods word. Fourthly because, he receiues it for the Lord, that is to Gods glory, and the furtherance of his kingdome, ouer the misticall body of Christ.
The Vse is threefold, First the people should therefore learne to seeke their ministers, of God. Secondly Ministers should hence learne, neither to bee proud nor idle, not proud for they receiued their ministerie of God, it was his gift not their deserts, not idle for they are to doe Gods worke. Thirdly Ministers may hence gather, their owne safety notwithstanding the oppositions of the world, that God that called them will perfect them.
To fulfill it] Ministers are said to fulfill their ministeries two waies. 1 By constancie, holding out in it to the end, to fulfill it is to go on, and not looke backe, when they are at plow. 2 By faithfull performance of it with a due respect of all the charge they hauehave receiued of God, thus to fulfill it is to shew the people all the counsell of God, it is to rebuke all sorts of sinnes and sinners, it is faithfully to do eueryevery kinde of worke, that belongs to their ministerie whether publike or priuate.
Vers. 18
The salutation by the hand of me Paul, remember my bondes, grace be with you Amen.
There are 3 things in this Verse, a signe, a request, a vowe or wish.
The salutation by the hand of me Paul] To write with his owne hand hee calls the token in eueryevery Epistle 2. Thess. 3.17. Here two things may be noted.
1 The great care that anciently hath beene to prouide that none but the true writings of the Apostles should be receiued of the Church, it should cause vsus, so much the more gladly to receiue and read these Apostolicall writings.
2 It implies that euen in the times of the Apostles, Sathan raised vp wicked men who endeauoured to counterfeit bookes and writings, and to father them vponupon the Apostles themselues, or other eminent and worthy men, this continued successiuely as a most diuellish practice in diuers ages after.
Remember my bondes] The obseruations are. 1 Gods children hauehave beene in bondes.
2 It is profitable to remember the troubles and afflictions of Gods children, and to meditate of them, for 1 it may serue to confirme vsus when wee finde like hatred from the world. 2 It is an alarum to preparation and the harnessing of our selues against the fight of affliction when one part of the host of God is smitten, should not the rest prepare for the fight. 3 It will soften our hearts to mercy both spirituall and corporall. And 4 It may learne vsus wisedome and circumspection.
How many waies men remember the bonds of others.Quest. How should they shew it that they did remember his bondes?
Answ. 1 By praying for him to God. 2 By shewing like patience vnderunder their Crosses. 3 By constant profession of the doctrine he suffred for. 4 By a care of holy life, that they might striue to be such, as he need not be ashamed to suffer for them. 5 By supplying their wants.
3 As any hauehave been more gratious, so they hauehave beene more streitened, and opprest by the wicked.
4 The actions of great men are not alwaies iust, a worthy Apostle may be vnworthily imprisoned.
5 The people should be much affected with the troubles of their teachers, and therefore they are farre wide, that insteed thereof trouble their teachers.
Grace be with you] By grace he meanes, both the louelove of God and the gifts of Christ, as he began so he ends with vowes and wishes of grace, which shewes. 1 That in God we hauehave wonderfull reason continually to exalt the praise of his free grace and louelove.
2 That in man there is no greater happinesse then to be possest of the louelove of God, and true grace, it is the richest portion, and fairest inheritance on earth.
When he saith (be with you) It is as if he said three thinges. 1 Be sure you hauehave it, be not deceiued, nor satisfied till ye be infallibly certaine ye hauehave attained true grace, and Gods louelove. 2 Be sure you loose it not, neuer be without, it matters not though ye loose some credit or wealth or friends &c. so you keepe grace still with you. 3 Be sure you vse it and increase it, imploy it vponupon all occasions, be continually in the exercise of it.
Thus of the whole Epistle.
There followeth a postscript or vnderwriting in these words. Written from Rome and sent by Tichicus and Onesimus.
There is difference about the reading, some coppies hauehave not Tichicus and Onesimus in some Lattin coppies read, Missa ab Epheso. But the greeke coppies generally agree that it was from Rome.
But it is no great matter for the certainty of the reading, for the Reader must be admonished, that the postscripts are not part of the Canonicall Scripture: But were added by the Scribes that wrote out the Epistles. If any desire to be more particularly informed herein, he may peruse a learned Tractate of this argument published by Mr Rodulph Cudworth, vponupon the subscription of the Epistle to the GALATHIANS.
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FINIS.
End of the text · Nicholas Byfield, An Exposition Upon Colossians (1615)