22 Οἱ δουλοι, ὑπακουετε κατα παντα τοις κατα σαρκαι κυριοις, μη εν οφθαλμοδουλειαις, ὡς ανθρωπάρεσκοι, αλλ' εν απλότητι καρδιας, φοβούμενοι τον Θεον 23 Και παν ό, τι εαν ποιητες εκ ψυχης εργαζεσ θε, ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ και ουκ ανθρωποις· 24 Ειδότες, ότι απο Κυριου απολήψεσθε την ανταπόδοσιν της κληρονομιας· τῷ γαρ Κυριῳ Χριςῳ δουλευετε. 25 Ὁ δε αδικων κομιείται ὁ ηδικησε και ουκ εςι προσωποληψία. provide for the wife, such conveniences, as may be necessary to her happiness, agreeably to the husband's station. Ver. 22.1. Servants obey in all things. Though the word δελΘ, properly signifies a slave, our English translators, in all the places where the duties of slaves are inculcated, have justly translated it servant : Because anciently the Greeks and Romans had scarce any servants but slaves, and because the duties of the hired servant, during the time of his service, are the same with those of the slave. So that what the apostle said to the slave, was in effect said to the hired servant. Upon these principles, in translations of the scriptures designed for countries where slavery is abolished, and servants are free men, the word λ, may with truth be translated a servant-In this, and the parallel passage, Ephes. vi. 5. the apostle is very particular in his precepts to slaves and lords, because in all the countries where slavery was established, many of the slaves were exceedingly addicted to fraud, lying, and stealing, and many of the masters were tyrannical and cruel to their slaves. Perhaps, also, he was thus particular in his precepts to slaves, because the Jews held perpetual slavery to be unlawful, and because the Judaizing teachers propagated that doctrine in the church. But from the apostle's precepts it may be inferred, that if slaves are justly acquired, they may be lawfully retained; as the gospel does not make void any of the political rights of mankind. See 1 Tim. vi. 1. note 1. 22 Servants, 1 obey in all things YOUR masters according to the flesh, not with eye-services, as men pleasers, but with integrity of heart, 4s fearing God. (Eph. vi. 6.) 23 And whatever ye do, work it from the soul, as WORKING to the Lord, and not to men ONLY. 24 Knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who doth unjustly, shall receive for the injustice he hath done. 1 (xai, 267.) For there is no respect of persons. 22 Servants, obey in all things not sinful, your masters according to the flesh, whether they be heathens or Christians, serving them well, not only when their eye is on you, as men-pleasers do, but also in their absence, from the rectitude of your own disposition, as fearing God, whose eye is always on you. 23 And whatever service ye per. form, whether it be easy or burdensome, work it from the soul, cheerfully and faithfully, as working to the Lord Christ, whom ye cannot deceive, and not to men only. See Ephes. vi. 7. commentary. 24 Knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive, for your faithful services, the recompense of the inheritance of heaven, (chap. i. 12.) an inheritance infinitely better than those which your lords possess. For in being faithful to them, ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who doth unjustly, either as a servant, by neglecting his master's work, or as a master, by being harsh to his servant, in his requisitions and in his chastisements, shall receive punishment for every act of injustice and cruelty he hath committed. For at the judgment there is no - regard had to the station of persons. Ver. 25.-1. Shall receive for the injustice he bath done, &c. The greatness of the temptations to which rich men are exposed, by their opulence and high station, will be no excuse for their tyranny and oppression: As on the other hand, the temptations which the insolence and severity of a tyranni. cal master hath laid in the way of his slave, will be no excuse for his idleness and unfaithfulness. In this and the preceding verse, the apostle gave great consolation to slaves under the hardships of their lot. CHAPTER IV. View and Illustration of the Precepts contained in this Chapter. HIS account of relative duties, the apostle finishes in the beginning of this chapter, with a direction to the proprietors of slaves, to be not only just, in maintaining them properly, even after they have become incapable of working, but also generous; in bestowing rewards on such of them as distinguish themselves, by their ability and faithfulness, ver. 1.-Here the third chapter ought to have ended: Or rather at chap. iii. 17. To render his practical admonition the more complete, the apostle recommended to the Colossians, perseverance in prayer with due thanksgiving, as the best means of obtaining God's assistance to enable them to fulfil all the duties of life, ver. 2.— Next he entreated the Colossians to pray for him, that God would grant him an opportunity to preach the true doctrine of the gospel freely, for which he was in bonds, ver. 3.—and courage to preach it in that bold manner, which became him whom Christ had made his apostle to the Gentiles, ver. 4.-Then he counselled the Colossian brethren to beware of provoking the heathens, by any imprudent display of their zeal, but rather by conducting themselves wisely, to avoid persecution, if possible, ver. 5. And in particular, when conversing with unbelievers, to make their discourse mild and courteous; but at the same time to season it with the salt of wisdom and truth; that they OLD TRANSLATION. CHAP. IV. 1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. 2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; GREEK TEXT. 1 Οι κύριοι, το δικαιον και την ισότητα τοις δουλοις παρεχεσθε, ειδότες, ότι και ὑμεις έχετε Κυριον εν ουρανοις. 2 Τη προσευχη προσκαρ τερειτε, γρηγορούντες εν αυτη εν ευχαριςία Ver. 1.-1. Masters afford to your servants what is just and what is equal. As in the original, to diacov, is distinguished from, тny oтara, rendered by the Syriac translator, equitatem, I think the apostle's meaning in the first clause is, that masters should consider it as strict justice, to give their slaves fit maintenance through their whole life, for the service of their might be able to answer every person properly, who inquired into the grounds of their faith, ver. 6.—And after telling them, that he had sent Tychicus and Onesimus, to give them an account of his affairs, ver. 7, 8, 9.—he presented the salutations of the brethren by name, who were with him, ver. 10.-14.and desired them in his name to salute the brethren in Laodicia, ver. 15.-Moreover to convince the Colossians, that his doctrine and precepts were overy where the same with those contained in this letter, he ordered them, after they had perused it, to take care to have it read in the church of the Laodiceans; and to read in their own church, the epistle which was to come to them from Laodicea, supposed to be the epistle to the Ephe.. sians; a copy of which it seems was to be sent by the Ephesians to Laodicea, for the benefit of all the churches in that neighbourhood, ver. 16.-Next he desired them to encourage Archippus in the work of the ministry, ver. 17.-Then wrote the salutation with his own hand: And concluded the whole, with giving them his apostolical benediction, ver. 18. COMMENTARY. CHAP. IV. 1 Masters, afford to your bond-servants what food and clothing and medicine is just, and bestow adequate rewards on those who distinguish themselves by their fidelity; knowing that, although your bond-servants cannot sue you before earthly judges, ye also have a master in the heavens, who will call you to an account for your behaviour towards them. 2 To persons in all the different relations of life, my advice is, Be much employed in prayer to God, for assistance to enable you mutually to perform your duties to each other; watching proper opportunities for prayer, and joining therewith thanksgiving for the blessings ye have already received. whole life and in the second clause, That they should consider it as equity, to distinguish the most faithful among them, by particular rewards. 3 Withal, praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, season 3 Προσευχομένοι ἅμα και περι ἡμων, ἵνα ὁ Θεος ανοιξη ἡμιν θυραν του λόγου, λαλησαι το μυςήριον του Χριςου, δι' ὁ και δεδεμαι 4 ἵνα φανερωσω αυτο, ὡς δει με λαλησαι. 5 Εν σοφια περιπατείτε προς τους εξω, τον καιρον εξ. αγοραζόμενοι. 6 Ὁ λόγος ύμων παντοτε εν χαριτι, αλατι ηρτυμένος, ed with salt, that ye may ειδεναι πως δει ὑμας ἑνι ἑκαςῳ know how ye ought to answer every man. 7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister, and fellow-servant in the Lord : αποκρίνεσθαι. 7 Τα κατ' εμε παντα γνωρισει υμιν Τυχικος ὁ αγαπητος αδελφος, και πιςος διακονος, και συνδουλος εν Κυρίῳ Ver. 2.—1. Continue in prayer. This direction being given here, and Ephes. vi. 18. immediately after the apostle's exhortation to relative duties, it was intended to teach us, that they who live in one family should often join in social prayer for God's assistance, to enable them to perform their duties to each other. 2. With thanksgiving. This direction implies, that the recollection of the blessings which we have received from God, will support us under all the hardships of our lot, and animate us to do our duty. Ver. 3.-1. Pray at the same time also for us. See 1 Thess. v: 25. note. This passage affords instruction, both to ministers, and to their people: To ministers, not to despise an assistance, which even an inspired apostle thought useful to him: And to the people, to be careful to assist their ministers with an help, which in the end will greatly redound to their own benefit. 2. Would open to us a door of the word. We have the same phrase, Acts xiv. 27. And that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.-1 Cor. xvi. 9. For a great door and effectual is opened to me.-2 Cor. ii. 12. And a door was opened to me by the Lord. From these examples it appears, that a door is an opportunity of doing any thing; consequently that a door of the word, is an opportunity of preaching the word successfully. See 1 Cor. xvi. 9. note. |