mh_parser/vol_split/51 - Colossians/0 - Introduction.xml

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<div2 id="Col.i" n="i" next="Col.ii" prev="Col" progress="63.29%" title="Introduction">
<div class="Center" id="Col.i-p0.1"><h2 id="Col.i-p0.2">Colossians</h2>
<p id="Col.i-p1">Completed by <span class="smallcaps" id="Col.i-p1.1">William Harris</span>.</p>
</div>
<hr/>
<pb id="Col.i-Page_748" n="748"/>
<div class="Center" id="Col.i-p1.3">
<p id="Col.i-p2"><b>AN</b></p>
<h3 id="Col.i-p2.1">EXPOSITION,</h3>
<h4 id="Col.i-p2.2">W I T H    P R A C T I C A L    O B S E
R V A T I O N S,</h4>
<h5 id="Col.i-p2.3">OF THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO</h5>
<h2 id="Col.i-p2.4">T H E    C O L O S S I A N
S.</h2>
<hr style="width:2in"/>
</div>
<p class="indent" id="Col.i-p3"><span class="smallcaps" id="Col.i-p3.1">Colosse</span> was
a considerable city of Phrygia, and probably not far from Laodicea
and Hierapolis; we find these mentioned together, <scripRef id="Col.i-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Col.4.13" parsed="|Col|4|13|0|0" passage="Col 4:13">iv. 13</scripRef>. It is now buried in ruins,
and the memory of it chiefly preserved in this epistle. The design
of the epistle is to warn them of the danger of the Jewish zealots,
who pressed the necessity of observing the ceremonial law; and to
fortify them against the mixture of the Gentile philosophy with
their Christian principles. He professes a great satisfaction in
their stedfastness and constancy, and encourages them to
perseverance. It was written about the same time with the epistles
to the Ephesians and Philippians, A.D. 62, and in the same place,
while he was now a prisoner at Rome. He was not idle in his
confinement, and the word of God was not bound.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Col.i-p4">This epistle, like that to the Romans, was
written to those he had never seen, nor had any personal
acquaintance with. The church planted at Colosse was not by Paul's
ministry, but by the ministry of Epaphras or Epaphroditus, an
evangelist, one whom he delegated to preach the gospel among the
Gentiles; and yet, I. There was a flourishing church at Colosse,
and one which was eminent and famous among the churches. One would
have thought none would have come to be flourishing churches but
those which Paul himself had planted; but here was a flourishing
church planted by Epaphras. God is sometimes pleased to make use of
the ministry of those who are of less note, and lower gifts, for
doing great service to his church. God uses what hands he pleases,
and is not tied to those of note, that the <i>excellence of the
power may appear to be of God and not of men,</i> <scripRef id="Col.i-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.4.7" parsed="|2Cor|4|7|0|0" passage="2Co 4:7">2 Cor. iv. 7</scripRef>. II. Though Paul had not
the planting of this church, yet he did not therefore neglect it;
nor, in writing his epistles, does he make any difference between
that and other churches. The Colossians, who were converted by the
ministry of Epaphras, were as dear to him, and he was as much
concerned for their welfare, as the Philippians, or any others who
were converted by his ministry. Thus he put an honour upon an
inferior minister, and teaches us not to be selfish, nor think all
that honour lost which goes beside ourselves. We learn, in his
example, not to think it a disparagement to us to water what others
have planted, or build upon the foundation which others have laid:
as he himself, as a <i>wise master-builder, laid the foundation,
and another built thereon,</i> <scripRef id="Col.i-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.3.10" parsed="|1Cor|3|10|0|0" passage="1Co 3:10">1 Cor.
iii. 10</scripRef>.</p>
</div2>