HOMILY XII. 8. COL. iv. 12, 13. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always striving for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. IN the commencement of this Epistle also, he commended this man for his love; for even to praise is a sign of love; Col. 1, thus in the beginning he said, Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. To pray for one is also a sign of love, and causeth love again. He commends him moreover in order to open a door to his teaching, for reverendness in the teacher is the disciples' advantage; and so again is his saying, one of you, in order that they might pride themselves upon him, as producing such men. And he saith, always striving for you in prayers. He said not simply 1 ay praying,' but striving', trembling and fearing. For I bear Couros. him witness, he saith, that he hath a zeal for you. A trustworthy witness. That he hath, he saith, a great zeal for you, that is, that he loveth you exceedingly; and burneth with passionate affection for you. And them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. He commendeth him to those also. But whence were they to know this? It is likely indeed that they had heard; however, they would learn it when the Epistle was read. For he saith, Cause that it be read also in a One Ms. and so he adds, who is one of you.' Ed. Par. conj. r for rò, ' again (he commends him) by saying.' Particular objects of several salutations. 319 XII. the church of the Laodiceans. That ye may stand perfect, HOM. he saith. At once he both accuseth them, and without offensiveness gives them advice and counsel. For it is possible both to be perfect, and withal not to stand, as if one were to know all, and still be wavering; it is possible also not to be perfect, and yet to stand, as if one were to know a part, and stand [not"] firmly. But this man prayeth for both That ye may stand perfect, he saith. See how again he has reminded them of what he said about the Angels, and about life. And complete, he saith, in all the will of God. It is not enough, simply to do His will. He that is filled', suffereth not any other will to be within him, 1 --anfor if so, he is not wholly filled. For I bear him witness, ρωμένος he saith, that he hath great zeal. Both zeal, and great; both are intensitive. As he saith himself, when writing to the Corinthians, For I am jealous over you with a godly 2 Cor. jealousy. Ver. 14. Luke, the beloved physician, greeteth you. This is the Evangelist. It is not to lower this man that he placeth him after, but to raise the other, viz. Epaphras. It is probable that there were others called by this name. And Demas. After saying, Luke, the physician, greeteth you, he added, the beloved. And no small praise is this, but even great exceedingly, to be beloved of Paul Ver. 15. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the Church which is in his house. 11, 2. See how he cements, and knits them together with one another, not by salutation only, but also by interchanging his Epistles. Then again he pays a compliment' by address-2 xagiłoing him individually. And this he doth not without a reason, but in order to lead the others also to emulate his zeal. For it is not a small thing not to be numbered with the rest. Mark further how he shews the man to be great, seeing his house was a church. Ver. 14. And when this Epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans. I suppose there are some of the things therein written, which b Hales seems right in expunging this word; otherwise the sense is ' though not.' c Ms. in Brit. M. wirλngwrai, for angogna, fully assured.' di. e. Luke. Perhaps, and Demas, should come after the next clause. 320 Praise of Epaphras. Topics of encouragement. COLOS. it was needful that those also should hear. And they would 4,17.18. have the greater advantage of recognising their own errors in the charges brought against others. 1ixu οτέρους (2) 23. And that ye likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea. Some say that this is not Paul's to them, but theirs to Paul, for he said not that to the Laodiceans, but that written from Laodicea. Ver. 17. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. Wherefore doth he not write to him? Perhaps he needed it not, but only a bare reminding, so as to be more diligent. Ver. 18. The salutation by the hand of me, Paul. This is a proof of their sincerity and affection; that they both looked at his handwriting, and that with emotion. Remember my bonds. Wonderful! How great the consolation! For this is enough to cheer them on to all things, and make them bear themselves more nobly in their trials; but he made them not only the braver, but also the more nearly interested. Grace be with you. Amen. It is great praise, and greater than all the rest, his saying of Epaphras, who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ. And he calleth him a minister for them, like as he termeth himself also a minister of the Church, as when he saith, Whereof I Paul am made a minister. To the same dignity he adib. 1, 7. vances this man; and above he calleth him a fellow-servant, and here, a servant. Who is of you, he saith, as if speaking to a mother, and saying,' who is of thy womb.' But this praise might have gendered envy; therefore he commendeth him not from these things only, but also from what had regard to themselves; and so he does away with envy, both in the former place, and here. Always, he saith, striving for you, not now only, whilst with us, to make a display; nor yet only whilst with you, to make a display before you. By saying, striving, he hath shewed his great earnestness. Then, that he might not seem to be flattering them, he added, that he hath a great zeal for you, and for them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. And the words, that ye may stand perfect, are not words of flattery, but of a reverend Master. Both complete, he saith, and perfect. The one he granted them, the other he said was lacking. And he said not, that ye be not shaken,' but, that ye may stand. Message to Archippus binding on the conveyers. 321 XII. Their being saluted, however, by many, is refreshing to them, Hoм. seeing that not only their friends from among themselves, but others also, remember them. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord. His chief aim is to subject them to him' entirely. For they could no more have complaint against 'i.e.Archippus. him for rebuking them, when they themselves had taken it all upon them; for it is not reasonable to talk to the disciples about the master. But to stop their mouths, he writes thus to them; Say to Archippus, he saith, Take heed. This word is every where used to alarm; as when he saith, Take heed of Phil. 3, dogs. Take heed lest any man spoil you. Take heed lest Col. 2, by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock 8. And he always so expresses himself 9. Take heed, he saith, to the ministry to them that are weak. 2. 1 Cor. 8, 17. when he would terrify. which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. He doth not even allow him the power of choosing, as he saith himself, For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; 1 Cor. 9, but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me. That thou fulfil it, continually using diligence. Which thou hast received in the Lord. Again, the word in means by, the Lord. He gave it thee, not we. He subjects them also to him, by shewing that they had been 2i.e.Arcommitted to his hands by God. This too is of grace, the chippus. 41. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. He hath released their terror. For although their master be in bonds, yet grace releaseth him. granting him to be put in bonds. The Apostles returned from the presence of the council, Acts 5, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name. For both to suffer shame, and to be put in bonds, is indeed to be counted worthy. For, if he that hath one whom he loveth, deemeth it gain to suffer aught for his sake, much rather then is it so to suffer for Christ. Repine MORAL. we not then at our tribulations for Christ's sake, but remember we also Paul's bonds, and be this our exhortation. For instance; dost thou exhort any to give to the poor for Christ's sake? Remind them of Paul's bonds, and bemoan thy misery and theirs, seeing that he indeed gave up even his body to bonds for His sake, but thou wilt not give a portion Y 1 al. in covet ings. 2 al. bonds. 322 Bonds of St. Paul a lesson for all states. COLOS. even of thy food. Art thou lifted up because of thy good deeds? 4, 20. Remember Paul's bonds; and that thou hast suffered nought of that kind, and thou wilt be lifted up no more. Covetest thou what is thy neighbour's? Remember Paul's bonds, and thou wilt see how unreasonable it is, that whilst he was in perils, thou shouldest be in delights'. Again, is thine heart set upon self-indulgence? Picture to thy mind Paul's prison- 1 house; thou art his disciple, thou art his fellow-soldier. How is it reasonable, that thy fellow-soldier should be in bonds, and thou in luxury? Art thou in affliction? Deemest thou thou art forsaken? Hear Paul's words 2; and thou wilt see, that to be in affliction is no proof of being forsaken. Wouldest thou wear silken robes? Remember Paul's bonds; and these things will appear to thee more worthless than filth-bespattered rags. Wouldest thou array thee with golden trinkets? Picture to thy mind Paul's bonds, and these things will seem to thee no better than a withered bulrush. Wouldest thou tire thine hair, and be beautiful to see? Think of Paul's squalidness within that prison-house, and thou wilt burn for that beauty, and deem this the extreme of ugliness, and wilt groan bitterly through longing for those bonds. Wouldest thou daub thee with pastes and pigments, Acts 20, and such like things? Think of his tears: a three-years space, night and day, he ceased not to weep. With this adorning deck thy cheek; these tears do make it bright. I say not, that thou weep for others, (I wish indeed it could be even so, but this is too high for thee,) but for thine own sins. I advise thee this to do. Hast thou ordered thy slave to be put in bonds, angry, and exasperated? Remember Paul's bonds, and thou wilt straightway stay thine anger; remember that we are of the bound, not the binders, of the bruised in heart, not the bruisers. Hast thou lost selfcontrol', and shouted loud in laughter? Think of his lamentations, and thou wilt groan; such tears will shew thee brighter far. Seest thou any rioting and dancing? Remember his tears. What fountain has gushed forth so great streams as those Acts 20, eyes did tears? Remember my tears, he saith, as here bonds. And with reason he spoke thus to them, when he sent for them from Ephesus to Miletus. For he was then speaking to teachers. He demands of those therefore, that they should 31. 4 dax θης. 31. |