The Church at Colosse
CHARLES ANTHON, LL. D.—Colossæ was a large and flourishing city of Phrygia Pacatiana, situated in an angle formed by the rivers Lycus and Mæander. Strabo speaks of the great profits accruing from its wool trade. One of the first Christian churches was established here, and one of St. Paul's epistles was addressed to it. In the tenth year of the reign of Nero, or about two years after the epistle of St. Paul was sent, this city was nearly destroyed by an earthquake. Under the Byzantine emperors, Colossæ, being in a ruinous state, made way for a more modern town named Chonæ, which was built at a short distance from it. Some remains of Colossæ and its more modern successor are to be seen near each other on the site called Khonas, or Kanassi, by the Turks. —Classical Dictionary.
DR. JOHN SAUL HOWSON.—Colossæ was situated close to the great road which led from Ephesus to the Euphrates. Hence our impulse would be to conclude that St. Paul passed this way, and founded or confirmed the Colossian Church on his third missionary journey.—Smith's Dict. of Bible, p. 481.
BISHOP CHARLES J. ELLICOTT, D. D.—With regard to the genuineness and authenticity of the Epistle to the Colossians, it is satisfactory to be able to say with distinctness that there are no grounds for doubt. The external testimonies from Justin Martyr, Theophilact, Irenaeus, Clemens Alexandrinus, Tertullian and Origen are explicit; and the internal arguments are unusually strong.— Smith's Dict. of Bible, p. 482.
Cal. 1:6.—The Gospel—which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, etc.
The Creator and Upholder of All
Col. 1:16, 1716For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16‑17).—All things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
LORD BROUGHAM.—See only in what contemplations the wisest of men end their most sublime inquiries! Mark where it is that a Newton finally reposes after piercing the thickest veil that envelopes nature—grasping and arresting in their course the most subtle of her elements and the swiftest— traversing the regions of boundless space—exploring worlds beyond the solar way—giving out the law which binds the universe in eternal order! He rests, as by an inevitable necessity, upon the contemplation of the great First Cause, and holds it his highest glory to have made the evidence of his existence and the dispensations of his power and of his wisdom better understood by men.— Discourse, Of Natural Theology, p. 194.
DR. JOHN YOUNG.—The reason, the ground of the existence of the universe, of every single atom at every moment, is not in itself, but wholly and only in the will and power of the Creator. It is nothing, has no meaning, no reality, no being, except in Him. Underneath it and in it, sustaining it, entirely causing it, are the Almighty will and the Almighty power. Let these be withdrawn for a moment, let them only not be, that is, let there be no present Divine volition, and no present exertion of Divine power, and that moment it is nothing, for the sole ground of its being is gone. “By Him all things consist."— Creator and Creation, p. 58.
Vain Philosophy
MOSHEIM.—By none of its adversaries or corrupters was Christianity, from almost its first rise, more seriously injured; by none was the church more grievously lacerated, and rendered less attractive to the people, than by those who were for making the religion of Christ accommodate itself to the principles of the Oriental Philosophy respecting the Deity, the origin of the world, the nature of matter, and the human soul. We speak of the Gnostics. We find St. Paul, in various parts of his epistles, alluding to these, and exhorting the followers of Christ to maintain the discipline of their blessed Master whole and uncontaminated by any of the fables or inventions of the philosophers of this sect. But an insane curiosity, and that itch for penetrating into abstruse or hidden things, caused many to turn their backs on the advice and admonition of the apostle and his associates, and to give heed to these false teachers.— Historical Commentaries, I., 228.
Angel Worship
HARTLEY.—The modern Greeks have a legend to this effect: "An overwhelming inundation threatened to destroy the Christian population of that city. They were fleeing before it in the utmost consternation, and imploring superior succor for their deliverance. At this critical moment the archangel Michael descended from heaven, opened the chasm in the earth to which they still point, and at this opening the waters of the inundation were swallowed up, and the multitude was saved." A church in honor of the archangel was built at the entrance of the chasm. This is mentioned by Nicetas. A council held at the neighboring town of Laodicea, in the fourth century, condemned this angel worship; and Theodoret speaks of it as existing in the same region.—See Life and Epistles of St. Paul, p. 390; and Hartley's Researches in Greece, p. 52.
The Affections Set on Things Above
SENECA.—Soar aloft; estranged even from those things which seem most necessary and dear to you. Meditate something more noble and sublime; that blessed day, for instance, when the mysteries of nature shall be revealed to you, this darkness be dispersed, and the light break in upon you on every side.—Epistle, 102.
IDEM.—We are to prepare ourselves for communion with the gods; and to have eternity always in view.—Ibid
Praise and Thanksgiving
EPICTETUS.—If we had any understanding, ought we not both in public and in private, constantly to sing hymns, and speak well of the Deity, and rehearse his benefits? Ought we not, whether we are digging, or plowing, or eating, to sing the hymn to God? Great is God, who has supplied us with these instruments to till the ground I Great is God, who has given us hands, a power of swallowing, a stomach; who has given us to grow insensibly, to breathe in sleep., —Epict., I., 16.
DR. ADAM CLARKE.—Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus—to the letter of this precept the Mahommedans adhere most strictly, for they never undertake a work, eat meat, or write a book, without prefacing all with " In the name of the most merciful and compassionate God." Not only books of devotion, but books on all arts and sciences; books of tales and romances; books of poetry, and those on the elements of reading, etc., begin thus.—Note, In loco.
See Eph. 6
Seasoned Speech
QUINTILIAN.—"The Set Of a discourse is that natural seasoning which prevents its being insipid; and which, upon deeper reflection, leaves, as it were, a relish upon the palate, enlivens the attention, and prevents the oration from creating a laugh. And as salt, though pretty liberally sprinkled upon meat, if not excessive, affords a pleasing relish: so, in speaking, this salt has somewhat so pleasing that it raises a desire of hearing more.—Quint., VI., 3.
Hierapolis
DR. JOHN SAUL HOWSON.—Hierapolis is mentioned only once in scripture, and that incidentally, namely in Col. 4., 13, where its church is associated with those of Colossæ and Laodicea. Such association is just what we should expect, for the three towns were all in the basin of the Mæander, and within a few miles of one another. The situation of Hierapolis is extremely beautiful and its ruins are considerable, the theater and gymnasium being the most conspicuous. Richter states that Hierapolis and Laodicea lie within view of each other on the opposite sides of the Lycus.— Smith's Dict. of Bible, p. 1063.