Colossians 1:23

1:15-23 Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were created for him; being made by his power, they were made according to his pleasure, and for his praise and glory. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of his power that they are upheld. Christ as Mediator is the Head of the body, the church; all grace and strength are from him; and the church is his body. All fulness dwells in him; a fulness of merit and righteousness, of strength and grace for us. God showed his justice in requiring full satisfaction. This mode of redeeming mankind by the death of Christ was most suitable. Here is presented to our view the method of being reconciled. And that, notwithstanding the hatred of sin on God's part, it pleased God to reconcile fallen man to himself.

If convinced that we were enemies in our minds by wicked works, and that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice and death of Christ in our nature, we shall not attempt to explain away, nor yet think fully to comprehend these mysteries; but we shall see the glory of this plan of redemption, and rejoice in the hope set before us. If this be so, that God's love is so great to us, what shall we do now for God? Be frequent in prayer, and abound in holy duties; and live no more to yourselves, but to Christ. Christ died for us. But wherefore? That we should still live in sin? No; but that we should die to sin, and live henceforth not to ourselves, but to Him.

{11} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to {q} every creature which is under heaven; {12} whereof I Paul am made a minister; (11) The second treatise of this part of the epistle, in which he exhorts the Colossians not to allow themselves by any means to be moved from this doctrine, showing and declaring that there is nowhere else any other true Gospel. (q) To all men: by which we learn that the Gospel was not confined to Judea alone. (12) He gains authority for this doctrine by his apostleship, and takes a most sure proof of it, that is, his afflictions, which he suffers for Christ's name, to instruct the Churches with these examples of patience.

Colossians 1:23 . Εἴ γε , if indeed ) This word depends on the finite verb, He hath reconciled , Colossians 1:21 , rather than on the infinitive παραστῆσαι [ Colossians 1:22 ]; and this παραστῆσαι , being the ultimate [final] object, is itself the most delightful fruit of reconciliation; whence it is not the truth of the reconciliation which has been accomplished, that is suspended [is made to depend] on the perseverance of the Colossians, but the most delightful fruit for the time to come, which is not to be obtained, unless the Colossians shall have persevered; comp. εἴ γε , Ephesians 4:21 ; ἐάνπερ , Hebrews 3:6 .— τῇ πίστει ) in faith , viz. in confidence; to which hope is usually joined.— τεθεμελιωμένοι ) secured to the foundation [ grounded ]: ἑδραῖοι , stable [ settled ], firm within.

The former is metaphorical, the latter less figurative; the one implies greater respect to the foundation , by which believers are supported; but ἑδραῖοι , stable ( settled ), suggests the idea of internal strength, which believers themselves possess; just as a building ought to lean (rest) uprightly and solidly on the foundation first of all, but afterwards to cohere securely, and firmly to stand together, even by its own mass [compact solidity of structure].— καὶ ἑδραῖοι καὶ , and stable and ) 1 Corinthians 15:58 , note; Ephesians 3:18 .— τοῦ εὐαγγελίου , of the Gospel ) by which reconciliation is declared.— πάσῃ , to every ) Colossians 1:20 ; Mark 16:15 , note.— διάκονος , minister ) Colossians 1:25 ; Ephesians 3:7 .

Continue in the faith (ἐπιμένετε τῇ πίστει) The verb means to stay at or with (ἐπί). So Philippians 1:24, to abide by the flesh. See on Romans 6:1. The faith is not the gospel system (see on Acts 6:7), but the Colossians' faith in Christ. Your faith would be better. Grounded and settled (τεθελεωμένοι καὶ ἑδραῖοι) For grounded, see on settle, 1 Peter 5:10; compare Luke 6:48, Luke 6:49; Ephesians 3:17. Settled, from ἕδρα a seat. Rev., steadfast. See 1 Corinthians 7:37; 1 Corinthians 15:58, the only other passages where it occurs. Compare ἑδραίωμα ground, 1 Timothy 3:15. Bengel says: "The former is metaphorical, the latter more literal. The one implies greater respect to the foundation by which believers are supported; but settled suggests inward strength which believers themselves possess." Moved away (μετακινούμενοι) The present participle signifying continual shifting. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:58. To every creature (ἐν πάσῃ κτίσει) Rev, correctly, in all creation. See on 2 Corinthians 5:17, and compare Colossians 1:15.

(23) If. —The word, as in Ephesians 3:2 ; Ephesians 4:21 (where see Notes), conveys a supposition hardly hypothetical—“If, as I presume;” “If, as I trust.” St. Paul cannot refrain from needful warning, but he refuses to anticipate failure. Grounded.—Built on the foundation. Comp. Ephesians 2:20, “built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone.” Settled.—The result of being so grounded. The word is used in the same sense, but without metaphorical association, in 1Corinthians 15:58, “stedfast, unmoveable,” as here “settled and not being moved.” The hope.—See Note on Colossians 1:5. Here, as there, great emphasis is laid on “hope.” But here there may possibly be reference to some ideas (like those spoken of in 2Timothy 2:18) that “the resurrection was past already,” and that the hope of a true resurrection and a real heaven was either a delusion or a metaphor. Every creature which is under heaven.—Comp. our Lord’s command, “Preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). In idea and capacity the gospel is literally universal; although in actual reality such universality can only be claimed by a natural hyperbole. [3.The Mission of St. Paul. As APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, a minister of the newly revealed mystery of their salvation, testifying to all alike by suffering and by preaching, in order “to present all perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:24-29).]

23. If—"Assuming that," &c.: not otherwise shall ye be so presented at His appearing (Col 1:22). grounded—Greek, "founded," "fixed on the foundation" (compare Note, see on [2407]Eph 3:17; Lu 6:48, 49). settled—"steadfast." "Grounded" respects the foundation on which believers rest; "settled," their own steadfastness (1Pe 5:10). 1Co 15:58 has the same Greek. not moved away—by the false teachers. the hope of the gospel—(Eph 1:18). which ye have heard … which was preached to every creature … whereof I … am … a minister—Three arguments against their being "moved away from the Gospel": (1) Their having heard it; (2) The universality of the preaching of it; (3) Paul's ministry in it. For "to (Greek, 'in') every creature," the oldest manuscripts read, "in all creation." Compare "in all the world," Col 1:6; "all things … in earth," Col 1:20 (Mr 16:15): thus he implies that the Gospel from which he urges them not to be moved, has this mark of truth, namely, the universality of its announcement, which accords with the command and prophecy of Christ Himself (Mt 24:14). By "was preached," he means not merely "is being preached," but has been actually, as an accomplished fact, preached. Pliny, not many years subsequently, in his famous letter to the Emperor Trajan [Epistles, Book X., Epistle 97], writes, "Many of every age, rank, and sex, are being brought to trial.

For the contagion of that superstition [Christianity] has spread over not only cities, but villages and the country." whereof I Paul am—rather as Greek, "was made a minister." Respect for me, the minister of this world-wide Gospel, should lead you not to be moved from it. Moreover (he implies), the Gospel which ye heard from Epaphras, your "minister" (Col 1:7), is the same of which "I was made a minister" (Col 1:25; Eph 3:7): if you be moved from it, ye will desert the teaching of the recognized ministers of the Gospel for unauthorized false teachers.

If ye continue in the faith - In the belief of the gospel, and in holy living. If this were done, they would be presented unblameable be fore God; if not, they would not be. The meaning is, that it will be impossible to be saved unless we continue to lead lives becoming the gospel. Grounded - On a firm foundation; see the notes at Ephesians 3:17, where the same word occurs. And settled - Greek, "firm;" as a building is that is founded on a rock; compare Matthew 7:25. And be not moved away from the hope of the gospel - By the arts of philosophy, and the allurements of sin. Which was preached to every creature which is under heaven - It cannot be supposed that it was literally true that every creature under heaven had actually heard the gospel. But this may mean: (1) That it was designed to be preached to every creature, or that the commission to make it known embraced everyone, and that, so far as the provisions of the gospel are concerned, it may be said that it was a system proclaimed to all mankind; see Mark 16:15.

If a vast army, or the inhabitants of a distant province, were in rebellion against a government, and a proclamation of pardon were issued, it would not be improper to say that it was made to every one of them, though, as a matter of fact, it might not be true that everyone in the remote parts of the army or province had actually heard of it. (2) the gospel in the time of Paul seems to have been so extensively preached, that it might be said that it was proclaimed to everybody. All known countries appear to have been visited; and so zealous and laborious had been the heralds of salvation, that it might be said that the message had been proclaimed to all the world; see Colossians 1:6; compare the notes at Matthew 24:14. Whereof I Paul am made a minister - See the notes at Ephesians 3:1-7. Paul here pursues the same train of thought which he does in the Epistle to the Ephesians, where, having shown the exalted nature of the Redeemer, and the design of the gospel, he adverts to his own labors and sufferings in making it known. The object seems to be to show that he regarded it as the highest honor to be thus intrusted with the message of mercy to mankind, and considered it as a privilege to suffer in that cause.

Colossians 1:23 . εἴ γε with the indicative expresses the Apostle’s confidence that the condition will be fulfilled.— ἐπιμένετε . This abiding in faith is the only, as it is the sure way, to this presentation of themselves κατ . αὐτ . This is directed against the false teachers’ assurance that the gospel they had heard needed to be supplemented if they wished to attain salvation. It needs no supplementing, and it is at the peril of salvation that they lose hold of it.— τεθεμελιωμένοι refers to the firm foundation, ἑδραῖοι to the stability of the building.— μὴ μετακινούμενοι . The perfect participle here gives way to the present, expressing a continuous process. It may be passive or middle, probably the former.— ἀπὸ τ . ἐλπίδος τοῦ εὐαγγελίου : to be taken with μετακιν . alone, not, assuming a zeugma, with the three co-ordinate expressions (Sod.), for it is not at all clear that the last of these keeps up the metaphor of a building. The hope of the Gospel is the hope given by or proclaimed in the Gospel.— οὗ ἠκούσατε . Paul again sets his seal on the form of the Gospel which they had received, and again insists on the universality of its proclamation, its catholicity as guaranteeing its truth (see on Colossians 1:5-7 ).— ἐν πασῇ κτίσει : “in presence of every creature”; π . κτ ., as in Colossians 1:15 , with the limitation τ . ὑ . τ . οὐρ .— οὗ ἐγενόμην ἐγὼ Παῦλος διάκονος : cf. Ephesians 3:7 .