Colossians 3

The apostle according to his custom having hitherto propounded the ground of the doctrine cometh in the two following chapters unto exhortations unto piety ,and first of all he exhorts in general that they should seek that which is in heaven 3 whereof they have now indeed some beginnings but expect the full possession at the manifestation of Christ 5 afterwards sets before their eyes the way which leadeth thereunto namely the mortifying of the old man which his members or vices which he rehearseth 10 and the putting of new man which is created after Gods image with his spiritual virtues 16 adjoins certain means conducing thereunto such as are the rich indwelling of Gods word among the singing of psalms and the like 17 exhorts them that they direct all things to the glory of God 18 cometh afterwards to special duties namely of wives and husbands towards one another 20 of children towards their parents and of fathers towards their children 22 and finally of servants towards their masters.

1. If therefore ye are raised with Christ [this conclusion hath reference to the 12 and 13 verse of the former chapter where Paul had testified that by baptism we are buried and raised with Christ to prove that we have no need neither of the ceremonies of the law nor the doctrine of philosophy nor humane institutions from whence he now draws these exhortations see the annotate on the foresaid two verses] seek which are above [that is eternal salvation and happiness whereof Christ hath taken the possession in heaven together with the spiritual gifts necessary to salvation which Christ at the right hand of his father imparts to his church Acts 2:33 Ephesians 4:8 is declared]where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God:

2. Thank you[that is consider and pursue as this word is elsewhere also taken Romans 8:5]the things which are above not which are on earth [that is earthly and perish things Philippians 3:19 or humane and earthly institutions which perish with the using whereof he had also spoken before.]

3. For ye are dead[namely to sin and to the world see Romans 6:2]and your life [that is your spiritual and incorruptible life for although the faithful have some beginnings thereof nevertheless appeareth not to the world and they themselves expect the fullness thereof in Christ and with Christ from heaven and with a hope that deceiveth not Romans 824,25]with Christ is hid in God [that is even as Christ at the right hand of the father in his possession of his glory although this be hidden from the eyes of the world so also life that belongs to us in Christ and with Christ is kept there to be revealed in us in due time before the eyes of the whole world 1Peter 1.4,5c.]

4. Now when Christ shall be manifested [namely by his coming to judgment to make us conformable to himself in glory see Philippians 3:21 1John3.2] who is our life that is the fountain and cause of our spiritual and eternal life Hebrews 2:10] then shall ye all so be manifested with him in glory.

5. mortify therefore [namely more and more for he said before that they were already dead verse 3 namely in respect of the reigning power of sin although the remainders thereof must by degrees more and more be abolished Romans 6.12c members [that is the evil motion which are still in your members or which are as members of this body of sin as he spake before chapter 2.12 for as a man by the members of this body executes his operations even so also this corruption in man by its various desires cast forth its lusts except the same be resisted and mortified by us through the spirit of God see Romans 8:13,14] which upon earth [so the apostle calls the evil desires because they always move men to earthly things namely to lust of the flesh lust of the eyes and vain glorious of life 1John2.16 from which we shall be wholly filed in heaven Revelations 21.27 namely whoredom uncleanness [thereby are understood the other forts of uncleanness as adultery and such like defilements of the flesh]shameful disposition [the Greek word pathos signifieth such motion whereby one suffers uncleanness even that which is against nature as Paul treats more largely thereof Romans 1:26&c] evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry [the reason why covetousness is called idolatry see in the annotation on Ephesians 5:5.]

6. For which the wrath of God [that is Gods just vengeance and punishment see Romans 1:18] cometh upon the children of disobedience as Ephesians 2:2 and 5.6 for although indeed God also grievously chastifieth the faithful when they come to fall into any such sins yet nevertheless this is not done to destroy them but to bring them to repentance as may be seen in David and others see Psalms 6:2 and 103.8 &c Hebrews12.5.]

7. In which ye walked in former times [namely before your conversion to Christ there were there before them no works of preparation which some perversely to be in man before their conversation whereby God should be moved to call them unto Christ by the gospel see 1 Corinthians 6:11 Ephesians 2:2 and 4.17 Titus 3:3 c] when ye lived in the same.

8. But now put ye also off all this namely anger [how this must be understood see the annotate on Ephesians 4:26] wrath malice [hereby is understood the ill will which anyone retains against another when anger and wrath seems to be fairly over whereby he seeks opportunity to revenge himself upon another as Cain did against Abel Genesis 4:5 see also Ephesians 4:31] slandering filthy speaking out of your mouth.

9. Lye not one against another seeing ye have put off the old man with his works [see hereof as also of that which the apostle saith in the following verse concerning the new man the annotate on Ephesians 4:22, 24.]

10. And have put on the new man who renewed [namely from day to day as Paul adds 2 Corinthians 4:16 for although the faithful have already put off the old man and put on the new in respect of the reigning power of both nevertheless the must yet daily increase therein as the apostle here exhorts by the use of the means instituted by God for this purpose of which see the annotate on Ephesians 4:24[ unto knowledge [or unto acknowledgment for therefore are we enlightened in our understanding by the spirit of Christ that we might know God aright and acknowledge him for our God as he was known and acknowledged in the first creation]according to the image Genesis 1:26,27 whereunto we are now created again by the spirit of Christ 2 Corinthians 3:18.]

11. wherein [that is in which state of regeneration in the time of the new testament]there is not Greek and Jew [that is before God is not looked upon or regarded Greek and Jew and c as Galatians 3:28] circumcision and foreskin Barbarians and Scythians [this word the apostle adds because amongst the nations which the Greeks call Barbarians these were held the most rude and most cruel as even from this day the Tartarians are who are descended from them]servants and free but Christ is all and in all [that is Christ alone by faith makes a man whosoever he be accepted in the sight of God and a man in what state so ever he be finds in him alone all things necessary to salvation see Acts 4:12 1Corinthians 1.30.

12. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved [namely of god who therefore must love and obey God again] the inward moving of mercy [Gr the bowels of mercies An Hebrew phrase whereby is understood inward or hearty moving unto any thing see Ephesians 4:32 Philippians 1:8 and 2.1]kindness humility meekness ,long-suffering.

13. Bearing with each other and forgiving one another if one hath a complaint against another [that is any cause of complaint]even as Christ hath forgiven ye do ye so also.

14. And above all this put on love which is the band of perfection [that is whereby all the members of the church are fully united one to another and yield one to another all due service and brotherly affection or the band of perfection of all Christians virtues which re all contained in love Romans 13:8 Galatians 5:14 therefore according to the measure that love is in us other virtues are in us also.]

15. And the peace of God [namely not only which we have with god in our conscience by faith Romans 5:1 Philippians 4:7 but also which the faithful must have one amongst another which God commandeth and whereof he is the author Mark 9:50 Ephesians 4:3] reign in your hearts [that is have the mystery conduct and ordering to direct all things in quiet unto a good end the Greek word is taken from them who had the conduction combats or public spectacle whereof see more largely chapter 2.18]unto which ye are also called in one body [that is in one church which is the spiritual body of Christ all the members whereof must be bound one another in peace Ephesians 1:22,23] and be thankful[namely not unto your neighbor to keep peace with him but also towards God he will not seek to divide or disturb his church.]

16. Let the word of Christ [that is the doctrine of the gospel which is published unto us by the gospel which is published unto us by Christ and is contained not only in the New testament but also in the old 1 Peter 1.01,11] dwell richly n ye [that is be much employed therein for that wherewith one dwells he speaks and converseth much with all reverence to be edified thereby in wisdom and knowledge]teach and admonish one another with Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs [of the difference of these see the annotate on Ephesians 5:19]singing to the Lord with acceptation [or thankfulness for the Greek word signifies both see Ephesians 4:29 Colossians 4:6] in your heart [that is not only with the mouth but also with the heart.]

17. And whatsoever ye do with deeds or words do it in the name of Jesus Christ [that is according to his command and to his glory with invocation of the help of Christ for this phrase comprehends all this things see Psalms 31:4 Matthew 18:20] giving thanks to god and the father through him.

18. Ye wives be subject to your own husbands as it is seemly in the Lord [that is according to the Lords command who would lay this upon ye or so that nevertheless in this obedience ye do nothing contrary to the Lords command see Acts 5:29.]

19. Ye husbands love your wives and are not bitter against them.

20. And ye children be obedient to your parents in all things namely in the Lord as he expresseth Ephesians 6:1] for that is well pleasing to the Lord.

21. Ye fathers provoke not your children [namely by great and continual harshness see the annotate in Ephesians 6:4] lest they be discouraged.

22. Ye servants be obedient in all things as verse 20 [to your masters according to the flesh not with eye service see of this word and whole verse the annotate on Ephesians 6:5, 6, 7] men pleasers but with simplicity of heart fearing God [namely laid this service upon ye for a time and whom ye must obey and fear.]

23. And whatsoever ye do, do it from the heart as to the lord not to men [that is not principally for he that serveth must also serve man but principally the Lord to whom he must give account of all his actions Ephesians 6:7.]

24. Knowing that ye shall receive for the Lord the recompense of the inheritance [that is shall for a recompense of your faithful service receive the eternal inheritance of the children of God when ye shall be revealed in ye Romans 8:23 so then this recompense is not of merit but of grace seeing an inheritance falleth not under merit but belongs to children only by reason of their birth or adoption see Romans 8:15,16,17 for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25. But he that doth wrong [whether it be master or servant this the apostle adds to warn unfaithful servants and to comfort the faithful that God will one day take vengeance on the hardness of some masters to whom they must be subject here] he shall bear the wrong [that is the punishment of the wrong as 2 Corinthians 5:10]that he hath done and there is no exception of persons [or accepting see hereof the annotate on Matthew 22:16 and Acts 10:34]