Chapter 1:
| Darby
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 Philippians 1 Thessalonians
Colossians 1
Verse 2. The saints-This word expresses their union with God. And
brethren - This, their union with their fellow-Christians.
Verse
3. We give thanks - There is a near resemblance between this
epistle, and those to the Ephesians and Philippians.
Verse
5. Ye heard before - I wrote to you. In the word of truth, of the
gospel - The true gospel preached to you.
Verse
6. It bringeth forth fruit in all the world - That is, in every place
where it is preached. Ye knew the grace of God in truth - Truly
experienced the gracious power of God.
Verse
7. The fellowservant - Of Paul and Timotheus.
Verse
8. Your love in the Spirit - Your love wrought in you by the
Spirit.
Verse
9. We pray for you - This was mentioned in general, Colossians i,
3, but now more particularly. That ye may be filled with the
knowledge of his will - Of his revealed will. In all wisdom - With
all the wisdom from above. And spiritual understanding - To
discern by that light whatever agrees with, or differs from, his
will.
Verse
10. That, knowing his whole will, ye may walk worthy of the
Lord, unto all pleasing - So as actually to please him in all things;
daily increasing in the living, experimental knowledge of God,
our Father, saviour, Sanctifier.
Verse
11. Strengthened unto all patience and longsuffering with
joyfulness - This is the highest point: not only to know, to do, to
suffer, the whole will of God; but to suffer it to the end, not barely
with patience, but with thankful joy.
Verse
12. Who, by justifying and sanctifying us, hath made us meet for
glory.
Verse
13. Power detains reluctant captives, a kingdom cherishes willing
subjects. His beloved Son - This is treated of in the fifteenth and
following verses.
Verse
14. In whom we have redemption - This is treated of from the
middle of Colossians i, 18. The voluntary passion of our Lord
appeased the Father's wrath, obtained pardon and acceptance for
us, and, consequently, dissolved the dominion and power which
Satan had over us through our sins. So that forgiveness is the
beginning of redemption, as the resurrection is the completion of
it.
Verse
15. Who is - By describing the glory of Christ, and his pre-
eminence over the highest angels, the apostle here lays a
foundation for the reproof of all worshippers of angels. The image
of the invisible God - Whom none can represent, but his only
begotten Son; in his divine nature the invisible image, in his
human the visible image, of the Father. The first begotten of every
creature - That is, begotten before every creature; subsisting
before all worlds, before all time, from all eternity.
Verse
16. For - This explains the latter part of the preceding verse.
Through implies something prior to the particles by and for; so
denoting the beginning, the progress, and the end. Him - This
word, frequently repeated, signifies his supreme majesty, and
excludes every creature. Were created all things that are in heaven
- And heaven itself. But the inhabitants are named, because more
noble than the house. Invisible - The several species of which are
subjoined. Thrones are superior to dominions; principalities, to
powers. Perhaps the two latter may express their office with
regard to other creatures: the two former may refer to God, who
maketh them his chariots, and, as it were, rideth upon their wings.
Verse
17. And he is before all things - It is not said, he was: he is from
everlasting to everlasting. And by him all things consist - The
original expression not only implies, that he sustains all things in
being, but more directly, All things were and are compacted in
him into one system. He is the cement, as well as support, of the
universe. And is he less than the supreme God?
Verse
18. And - From the whole he now descends to the most eminent
part, the church. He is the head of the church - Universal; the
supreme and only head both of influence and of government to the
whole body of believers. Who is - The repetition of the expression
{ Colossians i, 15} points out the entrance on a new paragraph.
The beginning - Absolutely, the Eternal. The first begotten from
the dead - From whose resurrection flows all the life, spiritual and
eternal, of all his brethren. That in all things - Whether of nature
or grace. He might have the pre-eminence - Who can sound this
depth?
Verse
19. For it pleased the Father that all fulness - All the fulness of
God. Should dwell in him - Constantly, as in a temple; and always
ready for our approach to him.
Verse
20. Through the blood of the cross - The blood shed thereon.
Whether things on earth - Here the enmity began: therefore this is
mentioned first. Or things in heaven - Those who are now in
paradise; the saints who died before Christ came.
Verse
21. And you that were alienated, and enemies - Actual alienation
of affection makes habitual enmity. In your mind - Both your
understanding and your affections. By wicked works - Which
continually feed and increase inward alienation from, and enmity
to, God. He hath now reconciled - From the moment ye believed.
Verse
22. By the body of his flesh - So distinguished from his body, the
church. The body here denotes his entire manhood. Through death
- Whereby he purchased the reconciliation which we receive by
faith. To present you - The very end of that reconciliation. Holy -
Toward God. Spotless - In yourselves. Unreprovable - As to your
neighbour.
Verse
23. If ye continue in the faith - Otherwise, ye will lose all the
blessings which ye have already begun to enjoy. And be not
removed from the hope of the gospel - The glorious hope of
perfect love. Which is preached - Is already begun to be preached
to every creature under heaven.
Verse
24. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up - That is,
whereby I fill up. That which is behind of the sufferings of Christ
- That which remains to be suffered by his members. These are
termed the sufferings of Christ,
1. Because the suffering of any member is the suffering of the
whole; and of the head especially, which supplies strength, spirits,
sense, and motion to all.
2. Because they are for his sake, for the testimony of his truth.
And these also are necessary for the church; not to reconcile it to
God, or satisfy for sin, (for that Christ did perfectly,) but for
example to others, perfecting of the saints, and increasing their
reward.
Verse
25. According to the dispensation of God which is given me - Or,
the stewardship with which I am intrusted.
Verse
26. The mystery - Namely, Christ both justifying and sanctifying
gentiles, as well as Jews. Which hath been comparatively hid
from former ages and past generations of men.
Verse
27. Christ dwelling and reigning in you, The hope of glory - The
ground of your hope.
Verse
28. We teach the ignorant, and admonish them that are already
taught.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 Philippians 1 Thessalonians
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
