Lange Commentary - Colossians 4:7 - 4:9

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Lange Commentary - Colossians 4:7 - 4:9


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

IV. THE CONCLUSION

Col_4:7-18.

1. Personal Intelligence

(Chap. 4. 7–9.)

7All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord; 8whom I have sent unto you for the same [this very] purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL

Col_4:7-8 are the same as Eph_6:21-22, except that here and fellow servant is added after “faithful minister,” having the same adjective and qualifying clause (in the Lord) as the latter. Thus Paul makes Tychicus prominent not, merely as brother, but also as colleague, not however, ascribing apostolic authority to him (Schenkel). [If the reading ãíῶ – ἡìῶí be adopted, there is a further variation from Ephesians. Since the Colossian Church was in danger, it would seem more important that Paul should know their state, than that they should know his circumstances, and hence more probable that Tychicus was sent for the former purpose. This is a strong exegetical reason for preferring the reading followed in the E. V.; that he might know your estate. (See Alford and Wordsworth.)—R.]

Col_4:9. With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother.—On Onesimus, See Lange’s Comm., Philemon [p. 4, et passim], Paul calls him “brother” on account of his faith, notes that he s faithful (can be relied upon), and is dear and valuable to him. To recommend him, he places him with Tychicus, who has only an official position in advance of him. Ðéóôüò , as in Col_4:7, must mean “faithful,” not “believing,” (Baehr), which is implied in “brother.”

Who is one of you.—He is thus described and recommended as a Colossian, a townsman of the readers. [He who had been a fraudulent runaway slave is restored as “one of themselves,” commended thus in an Epistle to be read publicly in Colosse and elsewhere (Col_4:16). “How much native truth, courage, and beauty is there in Christianity, which enabled the Apostle to speak thus of a runaway slave, to the inhabitants of that city from which he had fled! What other religion in the world could have done this?” (Wordsworth).—R.]

They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.—[ Ôὰ ὧäå , “things here.”—R.] In common and in agreement they will make known how it is here in general, as Tychicus will especially inform them of the personal circumstances, on account of which he was sent. This clause is thus readily reconcilable with the well attested reading. [According to the other reading, Tychicus was sent to learn officially concerning them, and to comfort them with his tidings, which Onesimus shared with him. Alford: “Is it likely with this re statement (of Col_4:7), that the same should be stated again in the middle of the sentence, which would be the case with the other reading ( ãíῶôå - ἡìῶí )?”—R.]

DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL

Comp. Eph_6:21-22. What was common in faith on the Lord, is much more than what was diverse in station and culture. Even the position of an Apostle was not so exalted, that a Christian was not Paul’s brother, and a servant of Christ his colleague.

HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL

Starke:—A Christian must not regard the former faults of his neighbor, occurring before his conversion, still less reproach him with them, rather praise and esteem the virtues, which God has granted him since.

[Burkitt:—Nothing endears persons so much to one another, as religion and the grace of God. These ties are stronger than those of nature. No such love as likeness occasions, especially likeness to God.—Happy it is, when the conversation of Christ’s ministers is such, both in public and private, that they need not be ashamed to have it known, or that the Church may understand it.—R.]

[Henry:

Col_4:7. It adds much to the beauty and strength of the gospel-ministry, when ministers are thus loving and condescending one to another, and by all just means support and advance one another’s reputation.

Col_4:9. The meanest circumstance of life, and greatest wickedness of former life, make no difference in the spiritual relation among sincere Christians: they partake of the same privileges, and are entitled to the same regards.—R.]

Footnotes:

Col_4:8.—The reading ãíῶôå - ἡìῶí , A. B. and others is better supported than ãíῶ - ὑìῶí . In à . ôå is erased by another hand and ç placed over ὑìῶí , though afterwards cancelled. [The reading which Braune rejects, (followed E. V.) is best supported by versions and adopted by the following editors: Tischendorf, De wette, Alford, Ellicott, Wordsworth. Griesbach, Scholz, Lachmann and Meyer adopt ãíῶôå - ἡìῶí . Alford thus accounts for the corrections in à . ãíῶ - ὑìῶí was the original reading; à . 1 inserted ôå ; à . 3 erased it, altering ὑìῶí to ἡìῶí , but correcting it afterwards.—R.]