Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Footnotes

1. Colossians 1:1 By the free bountifulness of God.
2. Colossians 1:2 Colosse is situated in Phrygia, not far from Hierapolis and Laodicea, on that side that they bend toward Lycia and Pamphylia.
3. Colossians 1:3 He commendeth the doctrine that was delivered them by Epaphras, and their readiness in receiving it.
4. Colossians 1:3 We cannot otherwise consider of God to our salvation, but as he is Christ’s Father, in whom we are adopted.
5. Colossians 1:5 For the glory that is hoped for.
6. Colossians 1:8 He declareth his good will towards them, telling them that they must not still remain at one stay but go on further both in the knowledge of the Gospel, and also in the true use of it.
7. Colossians 1:8 Your spiritual love, or your love which cometh from the Spirit.
8. Colossians 1:9 God’s will.
9. Colossians 1:11 The gift of continuance is not of us, but it proceedeth from the virtue of God, which he doth freely give us.
10. Colossians 1:11 It must not be unwilling, and as it were drawn out of us by force, but proceed from a merry and joyful mind.
11. Colossians 1:12 Having ended the preface, he goeth to the matter itself, that is to say, to an excellent description (although it be but short) of whole Christianity, which is fitly divided into three treatises: for first of all he expoundeth the true doctrine, according to the order of the causes, beginning from this verse to the 24. And from thence he beginneth to apply the same to the Colossians with divers exhortations to verse 6 of the second Chapter. And last of all in the third place even to the third Chapter, he refuteth the corruption of true doctrine.
12. Colossians 1:12 The efficient cause of our salvation is the only mercy of God the Father, who maketh us meet to be partakers of eternal life, delivering us from the darkness wherein we were born, and bringing us to the light of the knowledge of the glory of his Son.
13. Colossians 1:12 In that glorious and heavenly kingdom.
14. Colossians 1:14 The matter itself of our salvation, is Christ the Son of God, who hath obtained remission of sins for us by the offering up of himself.
15. Colossians 1:15 A lively description of the person of Christ, whereby we understand that in him only, God showeth himself to be seen: who was begotten of the Father before anything was made, that is, from everlasting, by whom also all things that are made, were made without any exception, by whom also they do consist, and whose glory they serve.
16. Colossians 1:15 Begotten before anything was made: and therefore the everlasting Son of the everlasting Father.
17. Colossians 1:16 He setteth forth the Angels with glorious names, that by the comparison of most excellent spirits we may understand how far passing the excellence of Christ, in whom only we have to content ourselves, and let go all Angels.
18. Colossians 1:18 Having gloriously declared the excellent dignity of the person of Christ, he describeth his office and function, to wit, that he is that same to the Church, that the head is to the body, that is to say, the prince and governor of it, and the very beginning of true life, as who rising first from death, he is the Author of eternal life, so that he is above all, in whom only there is most plentiful abundance of all good things, which is poured out upon the Church.
19. Colossians 1:18 Who so rose again that he shall die no more, and who raiseth others from death to life by his power.
20. Colossians 1:19 Most plentiful abundance of all things pertaining to God.
21. Colossians 1:20 Now he teacheth how Christ executed that office which his Father joined him, to wit, by suffering the death of the cross (which was joined with the curse of God) according to his decree, that by this sacrifice he might reconcile his Father all men as well them which believed in him to come, and were already under this hope gathered into heaven, as them which should upon the earth believe in him afterwards. And thus is justification described of the Apostle, which is one and the chiefest part of the benefit of Christ.
22. Colossians 1:20 The whole Church.
23. Colossians 1:21 Sanctification is another work of God in us by Christ, in that that he restored us (which hated God extremely, and were wholly and willingly given to sin) to his gracious favor, in such sort, that he therewithall purifieth us with his holy Spirit, and consecrateth us to righteousness.
24. Colossians 1:21 The Son.
25. Colossians 1:22 In that fleshly body, to give us to understand that his body was not a fantastical body, but a true body.
26. Colossians 1:23 This second treatise of this part of the Epistle, wherein he exhorteth the Colossians not to suffer themselves by any means to be moved from this doctrine, showing and declaring that there is nowhere any other true Gospel.
27. Colossians 1:23 To all men: whereby we learn that the Gospel was not shut up within the corners of Judea alone.
28. Colossians 1:23 He purchased authority to this doctrine by his Apostleship, and taketh a most sure proof thereof, of his afflictions which he suffereth for Christ’s Name to instruct the Churches with these examples of patience.
29. Colossians 1:24 For your profit and commodity.
30. Colossians 1:24 The afflictions of the Church are said to be Christ’s afflictions, by reason of that fellowship and knitting together, that the body and the head have the one with the other, not that there is any more need to have the Church redeemed, but that Christ showeth his power in the daily weakness of his, and that for the comfort of the whole body.
31. Colossians 1:25 He bringeth another proof of his Apostleship, to wit, that God is the author of it, by whom also he was appointed peculiarly Apostle of the Gentiles, to the end that by this means, that same might be fulfilled by him, which the Prophets foretold of the calling of the Gentiles.
32. Colossians 1:26 Whom he chose to sanctify unto himself in Christ: moreover he sayeth that the mystery of our redemption was hidden since the world began, except it were revealed unto a few, who also were taught it extraordinarily.
33. Colossians 1:27 This Paul bridleth the curiosity of men.
34. Colossians 1:28 He protesteth that he doth faithfully execute his Apostleship in every place, bringing men unto Christ only, through the Lord’s plentiful blessings of his labors.
35. Colossians 1:28 Perfect and sound wisdom, which is perfect in itself, and shall in the end make them perfect that follow it.
36. Colossians 2:1 The taking away of an objection, in that that he visited not the Colossians, nor the Laodiceans, he did it not of any negligence but is so much the more careful for them.
37. Colossians 2:1 Me present in body.
38. Colossians 2:2 He concludeth shortly the sum of the former doctrine, to wit, that the whole sum of true wisdom and most secret knowledge of God, consisteth in Christ only, and that this is the use of it touching men, that they being knit together in love, rest themselves happily in the knowledge of so great a goodness, until they come fully to enjoy it.
39. Colossians 2:2 Whom he never saw.
40. Colossians 2:2 Of that understanding, which bringeth forth certain and undoubted persuasion in our minds.
41. Colossians 2:3 There is no true wisdom without Christ.
42. Colossians 2:4 A passing over to the treatise following against the corruptions of Christianity.
43. Colossians 2:4 With a framed kind of talk made to persuade.
44. Colossians 2:5 The manner of your Ecclesiastical discipline.
45. Colossians 2:5 Doctrine.
46. Colossians 2:6 So then Christ hangeth not upon men’s traditions.
47. Colossians 2:8 He bringeth all corruptions to three kinds: The first is that, which resteth of vain and curious speculations, and yet beareth a show of a certain subtle wisdom.
48. Colossians 2:8 This is a word of war, and it is as much as to drive or carry away a spoil or booty.
49. Colossians 2:8 The second which is manifestly superstitious and vain, and standeth only upon custom and fained inspirations.
50. Colossians 2:8 The third kind was of them which joined the rudiments of the world, (that is to say, the ceremonies of the Law) with the Gospel.
51. Colossians 2:8 Principles and rulers, wherewith God ruled his Church, as it were under a schoolmaster.
52. Colossians 2:8 A general confutation of all corruptions is this, that that must needs be a false religion, which addeth anything to Christ.
53. Colossians 2:9 A reason: Because only Christ God and man, is most perfect, and passeth far above all things, so that whosoever hath him, may require nothing more.
54. Colossians 2:9 By these words, is showed a distinction of the natures.
55. Colossians 2:9 This word (Dwelleth) noteth out unto us the joining together of those natures, so that of God and Man, is one Christ.
56. Colossians 2:9 These words set down most perfect Godhead to be in Christ.
57. Colossians 2:9 The knitting together of God and man, is substantial and essential.
58. Colossians 2:11 Now he dealeth perfecty against the third kind, that is to say, against them which urged the Jewish religion: and first of all, he denieth that we have need of the Circumcision of the flesh, seeing that without it we are circumcised within, by the virtue of Christ.
59. Colossians 2:11 These many words are used to show what the old man is, whom Paul in other places calleth the body of sin.
60. Colossians 2:12 The taking away of an objection: we need not so much as the eternal sign which our fathers had, seeing that our baptism is a most effectual pledge and witness, of that inward restoring and renewing.
61. Colossians 2:12 See Rom. 6:4.
62. Colossians 2:12 So then all the force of the matter cometh not from the very deed done, that is to say, it is not the dipping of us into the water by a Minister that maketh us to be buried with Christ, as the Papists say, that even for the very act’s sake, we become verily Christians, but it cometh from the virtue of Christ, for the Apostle addeth the resurrection of Christ and faith.
63. Colossians 2:12 One end of Baptism is the death and burial of the old man, and that by the mighty power of God only, whose virtue we lay hold on by faith, in the death and resurrection of Christ.
64. Colossians 2:12 Through faith which cometh from God.
65. Colossians 2:13 Another end of Baptism is, that we which were dead in sin, might obtain free remission of sins and eternal life through faith in Christ who died for us.
66. Colossians 2:13 A new argument which lieth in these few words, and it is thus: Uncircumcision was no hindrance to you, why you being justified in Christ should not obtain life therefore you need not circumcision to the argument of salvation.
67. Colossians 2:14 He speaketh now more generally against the whole service of the Law, and showeth by two reasons that it is abolished: First, to what purpose should he that hath obtained remission of all his sins in Christ require those helps of the Law? Secondly, because that if a man do rightly consider those rites, he shall find that they were so many testimonies of our guiltiness, whereby we manifestly witnessed as it were by our own handwriting that we deserved damnation. Therefore did Christ put out that handwriting by his coming and fastening it to the cross, triumphed over all our enemies, were they never so mighty. Therefore to what end and purpose should we now use those ceremonies, as though we were still guilty of sin, and subject to the tyranny of our enemies?
68. Colossians 2:14 Abolishing the rites and ceremonies.
69. Colossians 2:15 Satan and his angels.
70. Colossians 2:15 As a conqueror made by a show of those captives, and put them to shame.
71. Colossians 2:15 The cross was as a chariot of triumph. No conqueror could have triumphed so gloriously in his chariot, as Christ did upon the cross.
72. Colossians 2:16 The conclusion: wherein also he nameth certain kinds, as the difference of days and meats, and proveth by a new argument that we are not bond unto them: to wit, because those things were shadows of Christ to come but we possess him now exhibited unto us.
73. Colossians 2:17 The body as a thing of substance and pith, he setteth against shadows.
74. Colossians 2:18 He disputeth against the first kind of corruptions, and setteth down the worshipping of Angels for an example: which kind of false religion he confuteth, first this way: because that they which being in such a worship, attribute that unto themselves which is proper only to God, to wit, authority to bind men’s consciences with religion, although they seem to bring in these things by humbleness of mind.
75. Colossians 2:18 By a foolish humbleness of mind: for otherwise humbleness is a virtue. For these Angel worshippers blamed such of pride, as would go straight to God, and use no other under means besides Christ.
76. Colossians 2:18 Secondly, because they rashly thrust upon them for oracles, those things which they neither saw nor heard, but devised of themselves.
77. Colossians 2:18 Thirdly, because these things have no other ground, whereupon they are built, but only the opinion of men, which please themselves without all measure in their own duties.
78. Colossians 2:18 Without reason.
79. Colossians 2:19 The fourth argument, which is of great weight, because they spoil Christ of his dignity, who only is sufficient both to nourish, and also to increase his whole body.
80. Colossians 2:19 Christ.
81. Colossians 2:19 With the increasing which cometh from God.
82. Colossians 2:20 Now last of all he fighteth against the second kind of corruptions, that is to say, against mere superstitions, invented of men, which partly deceive the simplicity of some with their craftiness, and partly with very foolish superstitions, and to be laughed at: as when godliness, remission of sins, or any such like virtue is put in some certain kind of meat and such like things, which the inventors of such rites themselves understand not, because indeed it is not. And he useth an argument taken of comparison. If by the death of Christ who establisheth a new covenant with his blood, you be delivered from those external rites wherewith it pleased the Lord to prepare the world, as it were by certain rudiments to that full knowledge of true religion, why would ye be burdened with traditions, I wrote not what, as though ye were citizens of this world, that is to say, as though ye depended upon this life, and earthly things? Now this is the cause why before verse 8 he followed another order than he doth in the confutation: because he showeth thereby what degrees false religions came into the world, to wit, beginning first by curious speculations of the wise after which in process of time succeeded gross superstition, against which mischiefs the Lord set at length that service of the Law, which some abused in like sort: but in the confutation he began with the abolishing of the Law service, that he might show by comparison, that those false services ought much more to be taken away.
83. Colossians 2:20 As though your felicity stood in these earthly things, and the kingdom of God were not rather spiritual.
84. Colossians 2:21 An imitation in the person of these superstitious men, rightly expressing their nature and use of speech.
85. Colossians 2:22 Another argument: The spiritual and inward kingdom of God cannot consist in these outward things, and such as perish with the using.
86. Colossians 2:22 The third argument: Because God is not the author of these traditions, and therefore they do not bind the conscience.
87. Colossians 2:23 The taking away of an objection. These things have a goodly show, because men by this means, seem to worship God with a good mind and humble themselves, and neglect the body, which the most part of men curiously pamper up and cherish: but yet notwithstanding the things themselves are of no value, for so much as they pertain not to things that are spiritual and everlasting, but to the nourishment of the flesh.
88. Colossians 2:23 Which seem indeed to be some exquisite thing, and so wise devices as though they came from heaven.
89. Colossians 2:23 Hence sprang the works of supererogation, as the Papists term them, that is to say, needless works, as though men performed more than is commanded them, which was the beginning and the very ground whereon Monks’ merits were brought in.
90. Colossians 2:23 A lively description of Monkery.
91. Colossians 2:23 Seeing they stand in meat and drink, wherein the kingdom of God doth not stand.