COLOSSIANS. Nothing is known of the foundation
of the Church at Colosse, a chief city of
Phrygia; but the Christians there were in danger
of relapse, from a tendency to asceticism, Judaism,
and angel-worship. Paul sets before them the
majesty and all-sufficiency of Christ, as the source
of all spiritual blessings. Christian perfection is
attained by the practical realisation of this truth
influencing the daily life. The attention is fixed
upon the Person of Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice
completes the typical offerings of Judaism, crucifies
the old man with his affections and lusts,
while the Resurrection unfolds a new life in
Him, elevating the soul above earthly objects more
effectually than mere mortification of the flesh to
quench out the emotions of the heart, according
to a Stoic philosophy. The Epistle was probably
written about A.D. 62, during Paul's imprisonment
at Rome.
Summary.
I. Thanksgiving for their faith, hope,
and charity, with a prayer for their spiritual progress
(i. 1-15).
II. The supremacy and glorious
pre-existence of Christ through all eternity, and
His reconciliation of humanity to God the Father
by His own Resurrection and Ascension to the
right hand of power
(i. 16-29).
III. A stimulus
to advance in the knowledge of Christ by the
apostle's own example and eager desire for their
perfection, and by reference to the privileges of
membership with Christ; and a warning against
false teaching which endangered them
(ii.). IV.
Moral and spiritual effects of their participation
in Christ's resurrection, both generally and in
various social relations
(iii.iv.).
THESSALONIANS, I. and II. These Epistles
were addressed to a Church in Northern Greece,
where Paul on his second journey had suffered
persecution
(Acts xvii. 1–10).
Thessalonica (Saloniki),
anciently called Thermè, but re-named
after the sister of Alexander the Great by her
husband Cassander, who restored it, was the chief
metropolis of Macedonia (a region extending N. to
the Danube, E. to the Black Sea, W. to the Adriatic,
S. to Achaia). The most populous city of that
division of Europe, and its greatest port, it was to
the W. what Ephesus was to the E., and Corinth to
Southern Greece. Situated on the sea-margin of
a vast plain, watered by numerous rivers, halfway
between the Adriatic and Hellespont, at the
entrance of the pass into the Macedonian plains,
a busy commercial centre, with a constant tide of
traffic ebbing and flowing, abroad by sea, inland
by the two arms of Roman road, it was a fit centre
of evangelization, as "from thence the word of
the Lord sounded forth (as from a trumpet) not
only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place"
(1 Thess. i. 8).
Here was the chief colony
and chief synagogue of the Jews (and at this day
there are 80,000 Jews there). Here Paul and Silas
shewed their unhealed stripes inflicted at Philippi
(1 Thess. ii. 2),
and for three sabbaths preached
Jesus as the promised Messiah
(Acts xvii. 2, 3).
The Jews, failing in controversy, resorted to violence,
roused a mob of vagabonds from the docks,
assailed the lodgings of the apostle, and dragged
its owner (Jason) before the rulers.
