of the continuance of their regard, and to offer him a supply of money. This Epistle was written in consequence of that act of kindness; and it is remarkable for its strong expressions of affection. As the Apostle tells the Philippians that he hoped to see them shortly (b), and there are plain intimations (c) in the Epistle of his having been some time at Rome, it is probable that it was written in the year 62, towards the end of his confinement.

II. ST. PAUL, after a salutation in his own name, and in that of Timothy, declares his thankfulness to God for having made the Philippians partakers of the blessings of the Gospel, and prays for their farther improvement in knowledge and righteousness; he informs them that his confinement had contributed to the furtherance of the Gospel, and declares his readiness to die in its cause, or live for its promotion; he exhorts them with great warmth and earnestness, to live as it becometh the Gospel of Christ, being in nothing terrified by their adversaries (d); to live in harmony with each other, and to practise the virtue of humility after the example of Christ; he encourages them to work out their salvation, and

(b) C. 2. v. 24. (c) C. 1. v. 12.

c. 2. v. 26.

(d) C. 1.

and expresses his intention of sending Timothy to them soon, and some hope of visiting them himself; in the mean time he tells them that he had sent back Epaphroditus their messenger, who had been detained at Rome by a dangerous illness (e); he cautions them against false teachers, with particular reference to Judaizers, and gives some account of himself and of his zeal for the Gospel, which he advises the Philippians to imitate (ƒ). In the last chapter he adds farther exhortations, expresses his satisfaction and thankfulness for their repeated liberality, and concludes with salutations, and his usual benediction.

"It is a strong proof," says Chrysostom, "of the virtuous conduct of the Philippians, that they did not afford the Apostle a single subject of complaint; for in the whole Epistle which he wrote to them, there is nothing but exhortation and encouragement, without the mixture of any censure whatever (g)."

(e) C. 2. (ƒ) C.3. (g) Preface to this Epistle.

PART II.

CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH..

OF THE EPISTLE TO THE
COLOSSIANS.

I. The Occasion of this Epistle being written, and its Date.-II. Whether St. Paul, when he wrote it, had been at Colosse.-III. By whom the Church at Colosse was founded.—IV. The Substance of this Epistle.

I. THE Christians of Colosse, a city of Phrygia, in Asia Minor, having heard of St. Paul's imprisonment at Rome, sent Epaphras thither to inform him of the state of their affairs, and to enquire after his welfare. In return for that mark of attention, St. Paul, while he was still in confinement, and probably in the year 62, wrote this Epistle to the Colossians, and sent it to them by Tychicus and Onesimus. Epaphras was cast into prison after his arrival at Rome; and it is generally supposed that he had provoked the displeasure of the Roman government by his zeal in preaching the Gospel.

II. WE

II. We learn from the Acts of the Apostles, that St. Paul was in Phrygia, both in his second and third apostolical journies, in the years 51 and 53; but it is thought by many persons, that this Epistle contains internal marks of his never having been at Colosse when he wrote it. This opinion rests principally upon the following passage: "For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh (a)." I must own, that these words are not in my judgment conclusive; if they prove any thing upon this question, they prove that St. Paul had never been either at Laodicea or Colosse; but surely it is very improbable that he should have travelled twice into Phrygia for the purpose of preaching the Gospel, and not have gone either to Laodicea or Colosse, which were the two principal cities of that country; especially as in the second journey into those parts it is said, "that he went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples;" and moreover, we know that it was the Apostle's practice to preach at the most considerable places of every district into which he went. However, I confess there is no direct proof either

(a) Col. c. 2. v. 1.

415 either in this Epistle, or in the Acts, that St. Paul ever was at Colosse; and therefore after all it is a point which must be left in some degree doubtful.

III. NOR can we ascertain by whom the church at Colosse was founded: for it is possible that St. Paul might have gone thither, after some other apostle or teacher had founded a church there. Some have concluded from the two following passages in this Epistle, that the Colossians were first converted by Epaphras: "As ye also learned of Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ (b)."—" Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (c)." These passages do not appear to prove that Epaphras originally converted the Colossians to the Gospel, although they shew that he had been an active minister among them; and indeed the expression," Epaphras, who is one of you," places Epaphras and the other Colossians upon the same footing, and is scarcely consistent with the idea, that Epaphras was the person through whom the inhabitants of Colosse had embraced Christianity. Upon the whole, I am

(b) C. 1. v. 7.

(c) C. 4. v. 12.