Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
reason on the ground of man’s abasement, 390 that we must, therefore, seek for mediators to help
us. But for this very reason has Christ humbled himself — that we might directly betake ourselves
to him, however miserable sinners we may be.
I am aware that the worship of angels is by many interpreted otherwise, as meaning such as has
been delivered to men by angels; for the Devil has always endeavored to set off his impostures
under this title. The Pope at this day boasts, that all the trifles with which he has adulterated the
pure worship of God are revelations. In like manner the Theurgians 391 of old alleged that all the
superstitions that they contrived were delivered over to them by angels, as if from hand to hand. 392
They, accordingly, think that Paul here condemns all fanciful kinds of worship that are falsely set
forth under the authority of angels. 393 But, in my opinion, he rather condemns the contrivance as
to the worshipping of angels. It is on this account that he has so carefully applied himself to this in
the very commencement of the Epistle, to bring angels under subjection, lest they should obscure
the splendor of Christ. 394 In fine, as he had in the first chapter prepared the way for abolishing the
ceremonies, so he had also for the removal of all other hinderances which draw us away from Christ
alone. 395 In this class is the worship of angels
Superstitious persons have from the beginning worshipped angels, 396 that through means of
them there might be free access to God. The Platonists infected the Christian Church also with this
error. For although Augustine sharply inveighs against them in his tenth book “On the City of God,”
and condemns at great length all their disputations as to the worship of angels, we see nevertheless
what has happened. Should any one compare the writings of Plato with Popish theology, he will
find that they have drawn wholly from Plato their prattling as to the worship of angels. The sum is
this, that we must honor angels, whom Plato calls demons, χάριν τὢς εὐφήμου διαπορείας (for the
sake of their auspicious intercession.) 397 He brings forward this sentiment in Epinomis, and he
confirms it in Cratylus, 398 and many other passages. In what respect do the Papists differ at all from
this? “But,” it will be said, “they do not deny that the Son of God is Mediator.” Neither did those
with whom Paul contends; but as they imagined that God must be approached by the assistance of
the angels, and that, consequently, some worship must be rendered to them, so they placed angels
in the seat of Christ, and honored them with Christ’s office. Let us know, then, that Paul here
condemns all kinds of worship of human contrivance, which are rendered either to angels or to the
dead, as though they were mediators, rendering assistance after Christ, or along with Christ. 399 For
390 “Car ayans proposé l’indignite de l’homme, et presché d’humilite, de là ils concluent;” — “For having set forth man’s
unworthiness, and having preached of humility, they conclude from this.”
391 The Theurgians were the followers of Ammonius Saccas, who prescribed an austere discipline with the view of “refining,”
as he pretended, “that faculty of the mind which receives the images of things, so as to render it capable of perceiving the demons,
and of performing many marvellous things by their assistance.” See Mosheim’s, Ecclesiastical History, vol. 1, p. 174. — Ed.
392 Per manus, (from one hand to another.) The reader will find the same proverbial expression made use of by Calvin on the
Corinthians, vol. 1, pp. 150, 373, and vol. 2, p. 9. — Ed.
393 “Lesquelles on fait receuoir au poure monde sous la fausse couuerture de l’authorite des anges;” — “Which they make the
world receive under the false pretext of the authority of angels.”
394 “La splendeur de la maieste de Christ;” — “The splendor of Christ’s majesty.”
395 “De seul vray but, qui est Christ;” — “From the only true aim, which is Christ.”
396 See Calvin’S Institutes, vol. 1, p. 200.
397 “A cause de l’heureuse intercession qu’ils font pour les hommes;” — “On account of the blessed intercession which they
make for men.”
398 See Calvin’S Institutes, vol. 1, p. 202.
399 “Comme s’ils estoyent mediateurs ou auec Christ, ou en second lieu apres Christ, pour suppleer ce qui defaut de son costé“
— “As if they were mediators either with Christ, or in the second place after Christ, to supply what is wanting on his part.”
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John Calvin