11. And Jesus, who is called Jus tus. The name Jesus was probably that which he bore among the Jews. Justus is a Roman name, and was probably that by which he was known among the Romans. It was not uncommon thus to assume another name when one went among a foreign people. Comp. Notes, Acts xiii. 9. ^ Who are of the circumcision. Jews, or Jewish Christians. Nothing more is known of Justus. ^ These only are my fellow-workers
12 Epapliras, who is one of you, a seivttnt of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring ^ fervently • for you in prayers, that ye may stand * perfect and ^ complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis.
unto the kingdom of God. The word ' only' here, probably refers to the fact that they only of all the Jews who were at Rome assisted Paul in his work. Epaphras and Luke were also with him at Rome, and doubtless aided him. IT Which have been a comfort unto me. The more so because they were Jews. The other Jews in Rome stood aloof, and doubtless endeavoured to augment the trials of the apostle. Comp. Acts xxviii. 23—29.
12. Epaphras. Notes, ch. i. 7. % Always labouring fervently for you in prayers. Marg., ^ or striving.' Gr., agonizing. The word denotes the intense desire which he had for their salvation; his fervent, earnest pleading for their welfere. ^ That ye may stand perfect and complete. Marg., as in Gr., filed. The desire was, that they might maintain their christian principles unadulterated by the mixture of philosophy and error, and completely perform the will of God in every respect This is the expression of a pious wish in regard to them, without any affirmation that any had been absolutely perfect, or that they would be perfect in this world. It is, however, a command of God that we should be perfect (see Matt. v. 48), and it is the highest wish of benevolence in reference to any one that he may be complete in moral character, and may do all the will of God. Comp. Notes on 2 Cor. xiii. 9.
13. For I bear him record. Paul had had abundant opportunity to know what were his feelings in regard to these churches. If A great zeal for you. A great desire to promote your welfare. % And them that are in Laodicea. Laodicea was the capital of Phrygia, and not far from Colosse. There was a church there. See the Introduction, and Notes on ver. 16. % And them in Hierapolis. This was also a city in Phrygia, and not far from Laodicea and Colosse. It was situated under a hill to the north, and had on the south a large plain about five miles over. On the south of that plain, and opposite to Hierapolis, was Laodicea, with the river Lycus running between them, nearer to Laodicea than to Hierapolis. This place is now called by the Turks Pambuck- Kulasi, or the Cotton-Tower, on account of the white cliffs which lie round about it. It is now utterly forsaken and desolate, but the ruins are so magnificent as to show that it was once one of the most splendid cities in the East. It was celebrated for the hot springs in its vicinity, and on account of the numerous temples erected there, it received the name of Hierapolis, or the holy city. The principal deity worshipped there was ApoUa See Travels by T. Smith, B. D., 1678. Comp. Notes on ver. 16. From the allusion to it here, it would seem that there were Christians there in the time of Paul, though there is no mention of a church there. It is nowhere else mentioned in the New Testament.
14. Luke, the beloved physician. This was undoubtedly the author of the gospel which bears his name, and of the Acts of the Apostles. He is mentioned as the travelling com-
15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the " church which is in his house.
16 And when * this epistle is
panion of Paul in Acts xvii. 10, and appears to have accompanied him afterwards until his imprisonment at Rome. See 2 Tim. iv. 11. From ver. 11 of this chapter,- it is evident that he was not by birth a Jew, but was probably a proselyte. He is supposed to have been a native of Cyrene, and to have died in Achaia, soon after the martyrdom of Paul, at the advanced age of eighty-four. See Rob. Cal. Art Luke. He is here mentioned as a physician, and in his Gospel, and in the Acts, there are incidental evidences that he was acquainted with the science of medicine, and that he observed the events which he has recorded with the eye ofone who practised the healing art. It is easy to imagine that the presence of a physician might have been of important service to the apostle Paul in his travels, and that his acquaintance with the art of healing may have aided not a little in the furtherance of the gospel. The miraculous power of healing, possessed by the Saviour and his apostles, contributed much to the success of their preaching; for the power of alleviating pain of body — of restoring to health by miracles, would not only be an evidence of the divine origin of their mission — a credential that they were sent from God, but would dispose those who had received such important benefits to listen attentively to the message of salvation. One of the best qualifications in missionaries in modern times, in order to gain access to the heathen, is an acquaintance with the healing art. T[ And Demas. Demas is mentioned in two other places, Philem. 24, and read among yon, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye hkewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
2 Tim. iv. 10. He is here spoken of with commendation as one in whom the apostle had confidence. Afterwards, when troubles thickened, he was not found proof to the trials which threatened him in Rome, and forsook the apostle and went to Thessalonica. He did this under the influence of the * love of this present world,' or of life, evidently unwillmg to lay down his life in the cause for which Paul suffered. See Notes on 2 Tim. iv. 10. His departure, and that of tlie others on whom Paul relied in Rome, was one of the severest trials which he was called there to endure. See Notes on 2 Tim. iv. 16.
15., Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea. Notes, ch. ii. 1. ^ And Nymphas. This person is nowhere else mentioned, and nothing more is known of him. *|f And the church which is in his house. Notes, Rom. xvi. 5.
16. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans. Laodicea was near to Colosse, and the church there was evidently exposed to the same dangers from philosophy and false teachers as that at Colosse. The counsels in this epistle, therefore, would be equally applicable to both. In 1 Thess. v. 27, the apostle also charges those to whom that epistle was addressed to see that it be " read unto all the holy brethren." It is evident that the apostles designed that the letters which they addressed to the churches should be read also by others, and should become the permanent source of instruction to the friends of Christ.
17 And say to Archippus, " Take * heed to the ministry which
Laodicea, here referred to, was the seat of one of the * Seven churches' of Asia (Rev. iii. 14); was a city of Phrygia, and was its capital. It was situated on the river Lycus (hence called xooStxiio iid ^.vx9 — haodicea on the Lycus), and stood at the southwestern angle of Phrygia. Its early name appears to have been Diospolis, changed subsequently to Rhoas. The name Laodicea was given to it by Antiochus Theos, in honour of his wife Laodice. Under the Romans it became a very flourishing commercial city. It was often damaged by earthquakes, but was restored by the Roman emperors. It is supposed to have been destroyed during the inroad of Timur Leng, A. D., 14.02. The ruins are called by the Turks Eski Hissar. These ruins, and the ruins of Hierapolis, were visited by Mr. Riggs, an American missionary, in 1842, who thus speaks of them: " These spots, so interesting to the Christian, are now utterly desolate. The threatening expressed in Rev. iii. 10, has been fulfilled, and Laodicea is but a name. In the midst of one of the finest plains of Asia Minor, it is entirely without inhabitant. Sardis, in like manner, whose church had a name to live, but was dead, is now an utter desolation. Its soil is turned up by the plough, or overgrown by rank weeds; while in Philadelphia, since the day when our Saviour commended those who had there 'kept the word of his patience,' there has never ceased to be a nominally christian church. The ruins of Laodicea and Hierapolis are very extensive. The stadium of the former city, and the gymnasia and theatres of both, are the most complete which I have anywhere seen. Hierapolis is remarkable also for the so-called fro- 28*
thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
zen cascades, a natural curiosity, in its kind probably not surpassed for beauty and extent in the world. It consists of a deposit of carbonate of lime, white as the driven snow, assuming, when closely examined, various forms, and covering nearly the whole southern and western declivities of the elevation on which the city was built. It is visible for many miles, and has procured for the place the name by which alone Hierapolis is known among the Turks, of the Cotton Castle." The cut on the following page will illustrate the ruins of Laodicea. IT And that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea, In regard to this epistle, see Introduction, \ 6.
17. And say to Archippus. Archippus is mentioned also in Philem. 2. He is not elsewhere referred to in the New Testament, and nothing further is known of him. Tf Take heed to the ministry, &c. The Greek here is, t^ SiaxwCtw — meaning the office of ministering in divine things; but it is not certain precisely what ofiice he held there. It seems probable, from the langiiage which the apostle applies to him — ' the ministry'— (comp. Acts i. 17. 25; vi. 4; XX. 24; xxi. 19. Rom. xi. 13. 1 Cor. xii. 5. 2 Cor. iii. 7, 8, 9; iv. 1; V. 18; vi. 3. Eph. iv. 12), that he was not a deacon, properly so called, but that he was a preacher 6f the word. In Philem. 2, he is mentioned by Paul as his • fellow-soldier,' and it is evident that the apostle meant to speak of him with honour. There is no evidence, as has been supposed by some, that he intended to imply, by what he said, that he had been remiss in the performance of his duties, but the apostle doubtless meant to encourage him, and to excite him to increase4 ardour and zeal in the
18 The salutation • by the hand of me Paul. Remember * my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
work of the Lord. Comp. Notes Acts XX. 28. It is always proper to caution even the most faithful and self-denying^ servants of the Lord to ' take heed,' or see to it, that they perform their duties with fidelity. The office of the ministry is such, and the temptations to unfaithfulness are so great, that we need constant watchfulness. IT That thou fulfil it. That there be nothing wanting, or lacking, in any of the departments of labour which you are called to perform. /
18. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Probably the rest of the epistle was written by an amanueaeis. As was his custom, Paul
Written from Rome to the Colossians, by Tychicus and Onesimus.
affixed his own hand to it in the form of a salutation. Comp. Notes, 1 Cor. xvi. 21. 2 Thess. iii. 17. ^Remember my bonds. Also evidently written by his own hand, to make the injunction more impressive. Comp. Notes, Heb. xiii. 3. The meaning is, that they should not forget him in his confinement. They should remember that he was suffering on their account (Notes, ch. i. 24), and that he was entitled to every expression of sympathy and love. ^ Grace be with you. Notes, Rom. xvi. 20.
The subscription to this epistle ia undoubtedly con-ect See the Introduction.