An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 4 · Verse 15
Verse 15.
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his house.
Hitherto of Salutations signified, now the Salutations required follow, and these are particular, verse 15.16.17. generall, v. 18.
The particulars concerne either Laodiceans, v. 15.16. or the Colossean preacher verse 17. who is not onelyonly saluted, but exhorted, or rebuked by intimation.
In the salutation of the Laodiceans obserue two things: first, the persons who are to be saluted v. 15. 2ly a speciall direction for the open reading of two epistles, v. 16.
The persons are the brethren in generall, and Nymphas in speciall, and the houshold of Nymphas.
Salute the brethren which are at Laodicea]
1 Christian curtesie ought to hauehave in it a holy remembrance of absent friends.
2 It is not vanitie or weaknesse, but may stand with singular gifts and graces of minde to bee industrious and large hearted in the many remembrances of all sorts of Christians.
3 It is profitable that men of great gifts and place should preserue their memory with others, though it be but in these lighter complements of salutation, for many times it may inflame much affection to godlinesse, in such to whom they send their salutations.
4 God hath his choice amongst men, for here hee takes notice of the brethren in Laodicea onelyonly. God doth not driue in whole townes of men into the field of his grace at once, for as it was then in turning men from gentilisme, so it is now in turning men from profanenesse, the Gospell doth not worke vponupon all promiscuously.
And Nymphas] This Nymphas was not a woman, as Ambrose and Dionisius, and Catharinus, and the glosse would hauehave it: for it is foreign in the end of the verse, his house, not hir house.
This Nymphas it seemes was some eminent Christian, whom Paul would specially honour before the congregation, and so it shewes that a speciall respect should be had of such as did excell in gifts amongst such as professe the sinceritie of the gospell.
And the Church that is in his …oms….]
By the Church hee meanes those in the houshold that feare God, whether they were women or children, or seruants.
Now here first I consider of these persons, and then of the title the Apostle giues them in calling them a Church.
In that the Apostle thus with honour remembers the houshold of Nymphas, it shewes his singular vprightnesse, in that he can respect grace in whomsoeuer hee finde it, hee loues a good seruant as well as a good Master, and can commend good order in an houshold as well as in a congregation. This should teach vsus not to hauehave the grace of Christ in respect of persons, and hereby also we may try our louelove to Gods children, by examining our selues, whether we can louelove such as can neither profit or pleasure vsus, nor grace vsus in the world. And this may be a great incouragement to the yoong and meaner sort, in that they may perceiue from hence, that if they get true grace, they shall be respected both of God and good men.
Now in that the Apostle calls this houshold a Church,A religious Familie, is a little Church. The vses of it. we may note, that a religious and well ordred familie is as it were a little Church. Here, in one familie is prescribed what all families should be, this familie is called a church, because his people were godly, and the word of God was read there, and prayers made to God, and Psalmes sung, and the yonger sort were catechized and instructed.
Now doe we learne from hence, that our houses are Churches? then these things will follow.
1 That Gods worship and pietie must be set vp in them,4 Orders in the Family. how can they be churches of God, if God be not serued in them?
2 All must be done there in order, and quietnesse, and silence, for so it is or should be in the Church.
3 Euill persons that are incorrigible must not dwell there, but must be cast out, Psal. 101.
4 The Husband or Master of the familie must dwell there as a man of knowledge, and wiues, children and seruants must obey as the Church doth Christ.
Againe, are our families Churches? why then religious families are in a happy case, for then God himselfe will dwell there. So as a stranger comming to such places, may say as Iacob did of Bethel, surely God is in this place.
Lastly, should our families be Churches? Oh then woe vntounto the world of profane housholds, should a Church be without sacrifice? and can their families escape Gods wrath, seeing there is neither prayer nor pietie in them, but in stead of Gods seruice, there is cursing, and swearing, and lying, and chiding, and filching, and whoring, and rayling, and fighting, and what not? The most families are very cages of vncleane spirits: where not God or good men, but very deuills dwell, they are very styes of vncleanesse and vnholinesse.
Thus of the 15 verse.