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And let the peace of God; he doth not say the peace of the world, but the peace of God, or, as some copies, the peace of Christ; be sure, without the mediation of Christ we can have no peace with God; he alone hath made peace, Col_1:20, with Col_2:14; he is our peace, making it with God and amongst ourselves, to whom he hath preached it, Act_10:36 Eph_2:14-17, and whom he hath brought into the bond of it, Eph_4:3; the Lord of peace himself, who always gives it where it is enjoyed, Joh_14:27 2Th_3:16. It is then the peace of God through Christ; see Phi_4:7,9; by faith in whom we have peace in our own hearts with God, Isa_32:17 Rom_5:1, and Rom_14:17, and with one another, Joh_17:21 Rom_15:6,7,13. That the members of Christ may live in this peace, 2Co_13:11, the apostle here enjoins, as we render the word, let it rule in your hearts: the Greek word (both simple here, and compound, Col_2:18) is no where else to be found in the New Testament but in this Epistle, and it may signify either to arbitrate, or to mediate: our translation and the generality of interpreters take it in the former notion, for to arbitrate, or to rule, govern, sway, or moderate by way of arbitration, as he who sat judge, or umpire, to adjudge the reward in the agonistics. So the import of the apostle’s injunction is, let it regulate, govern, superintend, or give law to the rest of the affections of the new man; let it be mistress and governess of all your motions, to keep them in due respect, and withhold them from attempting any thing disorderly, and to oversway disinclinations to the Divine pleasure or the good order of Christian community. The Arabic version is, let it be as the centre. Yet one learned man, conceiving the apostle doth here, as before, Col_2:18, glance upon the false apostles, (who would insinuate the mediation or intercession of angels), thinks because the word signifies also to mediate, intercede, or interpose, the apostle’s meaning may be, let the peace of God be to you instead of all conceited angelical mediators or intercessors, which would derogate from him that made peace, Col_1:20, nailing what hindered to his cross, Col_2:14; let that preponderate with you in your hearts to overbalance any thing that can be suggested to the contrary.
To the which also ye are called in one body; considering the Divine vocation, or the call of God, Rom_12:18 1Co_7:15, and the condition or unity of the body into which ye are called under Christ your Head, 1Co_10:16,12:12,13,25,26 Eph 4:4. He adds,
and be ye thankful; be ye gracious, or amiable, of an obliging temper (as some render the word, passively); or rather, as we take it, actively, be ye thankful, i.e. to God and Christ, and Christians; be mindful of the benefits ye have received, giving thanks to God always for all things, Eph_5:20, and behaving yourselves as becomes the gospel.