An Exposition Upon Colossians, Summary of Colossians
THE ARGVMENT OF this Epistle to the COLOSSIANS.
THere are foure principall Parts of this Epistle: 1. the Proaeme: 2. Doctrine of Faith: 3. Precepts of life. 4. the Epilogue, or Conclusion. The Proaeme is exprest in th… first eleuen Verses of the first Chapter: The Doctrine of Faith is exprest in the rest of the Verses of the first Chapter, and the whole second Chapter: The Precepts of life are set downe in the third Chapter, and in the beginning of the fourth. And the Epilogue is in the rest of the verses of the fourth Chapter.
The Proaeme containes two things: First, the Salutation, vers. 1, 2. and secondly, a Preface, affectionately framed to winne attention and respect: wherein he assures them of his singular constancie in remembring them to God, both in Thanks-giuing for their worthy Graces and the meanes thereof, v. 3.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. and in earnest Prayer for their increase and comfortable perseuerance in knowledge and the eminencie of sinceritie in holy life, vers: 9.10, 11.
The Doctrine of Faith he expresseth two wayes: first, by Proposition: secondly, by Exhortation. In the Proposition of Doctrine, hee doth with singular force of words, and weight of matter set out both the worke of our Redemption, v. 12.13.14. and the person of our Redeemer: and that first in his relation to God, verse 15. then in relation of the World, verse 15.16.17. and thirdly, in relation to the Church, both the whole in generall, verse 18.19.20. and the Church of the Colossians in particular, vers. 21.22. And thus of the Proposition. Now his Exhortation followes, from the 23. of Chap. 1. to the end of Chap. 2. and therein hee both perswades and disswades: hee perswades by many strong and mouing Reasons, to an holy endeauour to continue and perseuere with all Christian firmnesse of resolution, both in the Faith and Hope, was already begotten in them by the Gospell: and this is contained in the seauen last Verses of the first Chapter, and the seauen first Verses of the second Chapter. Hee disswades them from receiuing the corrupt Doctrine of the false Apostles, whether it were drawne from Philosophicall Speculations, or from the Traditions of men, or from the Ceremoniall Law of Moses; and hee proceedes in this order: first, hee layes downe the matter of his Dehortation, Chap. 2. vers. 8. then secondly, hee confirmes it by diuers Reasons, from vers. 9. to 16. and lastly, he concludes, and that seuerally, as against Mosaicall Rites, vers. 16.17. against Philosophy, vers. 18.19. and against Traditions, vers. 20. and so to the end of that Chapter.
Thus of the second part.
Thirdly,3The Precepts of life. in giuing Precepts of life the Apostle holds this order: first, hee giues generall Rules, that concerne all as they are Christians: then, hee giues speciall Rules, as they are men of this or that estate of life. The generall Rules are contayned in the first seauenteene Verses of the third Chapter: and the speciall Rules from the eighteenth Verse of the third Chapter to the second Verse of the fourth. The generall Rules hee reduceth into three heads: viz. first, the Meditation of heauenly things, vers. 1.2.3.4. secondly, the mortification of vices and iniuries, vers. 5. to the 12. thirdly, the exercise of holy Graces, a number of which hee reckoneth, both in the kindes, meanes, and ends of them, from vers. 12. to 18. The particular Rules concerne principally houshould gouernment: for hee sets downe the dutie of Wiues, vers. 18. of Husbands, ver. 19. of Children, vers. 20. of Parents, v. 21. of Seruants, vers. 22.23.24.25. and of Maisters, Chap. 4. vers. 1.
The Epilogue, 4The Epilogue.or Conclusion, contaynes in it both matter of generall Exhortation, as also matters of Salutation. The generall Exhortation concernes Prayer, vers. 2.3.4. wise Conuersation, vers. 5. and godly Communication, vers. 6. Now after the Apostle hath disburdened himselfe of those generall cares, then hee taketh liberty to refresh himselfe and them, by remembring certaine that were deare both to him and them. And first, he makes enterance by a narration of his care to know their estate, and to informe them of his. To which purpose he sendeth and prayseth Tichicus and Onesimus, vers. 7.8.9. The Salutations then follow; and they are of two sorts: for some are signified to them, some are required in them. Of the first sort, he signifies the Salutations of sixe men, three of them Iewes, and three Gentiles, vers. 10.11.12.13.14. The Salutations required, concerne eyther the Laodiceans, vers. 15.16. or one of the Colossaean Preachers, who is not onelyonly saluted, but exhorted, vers. 17. And then followes the Apostles generall Salutations to all, in the last Verse.