Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
is to artificial modes of worship. For the Apostle here graphically describes 427 the state of the old
system of monkhood, which came into use a hundred years after his death, as though he had never
spoken a word. The zeal of men, therefore, for superstition is surpassingly mad, which could not
be restrained by so plain a declaration of God from breaking forth, as historical records testify.
Not in any honor. Honor means care, according to the usage of the Hebrew tongue. Honour
widows, (1 Timothy 5:3,) that is, take care of them. Now Paul finds fault with this, that they 428
teach to leave off care for the body. For as God forbids us to indulge the body unduly, so he
commands that these be given it as much as is necessary for it. Hence Paul, in Romans 13:14, does
not expressly condemn care for the flesh, but such as indulges lusts. Have no care, says he, for the
flesh, to the gratifying of its lusts. What, then, does Paul point out as faulty in those traditions of
which he treats? It is that they gave no honor to the body for the satisfying the flesh, that is, according
to the measure of necessity. For satisfying here means a mediocrity, which restricts itself to the
simple use of nature, and thus stands in opposition to pleasure and all superfluous delicacies; for
nature is content with little. Hence, to refuse what it requires for sustaining the necessity of life, is
not less at variance with piety, than it is inhuman.
Colossians 3:1-4
CHAPTER 3
1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those 1. Ergo si consurrexistis cum Christo, quae
things which are above, where Christ sitteth on sursum sunt quaerite, ubi Christus est in dextera
the right hand of God.
Dei sedens:
2. Set your affection on things above, not on 2. Quae sursum sunt cogitate, non quae super
things on the earth.
terram.
3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with 3. Mortui enim estis, et vita nostra abscondita
Christ in God.
est cum Christo in Deo.
4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, 4. Ubi autem Christus apparuerit, vita vestra,
then shall ye also appear with him in glory. tunc etiam vos cum ipso apparebitis in gloria.
To those fruitless exercises which the false apostles urged, 429 as though perfection consisted
in them, he opposes those true exercises in which it becomes Christians to employ themselves; and
this has no slight bearing upon the point in hand; for when we see what God would have us do, we
afterwards easily despise the inventions of men. When we perceive, too, that what God recommends
to us is much more lofty and excellent than what men inculcate, our alacrity of mind increases for
following God, so as to disregard men. Paul here exhorts the Colossians to meditation upon the
heavenly life. And what as to his opponents? They were desirous to retain their childish rudiments.
427 “Peind yci au vif;” — “Paints here to the life.”
428 “Les traditions;” — “The traditions.”
429 “Recommandoyent estroittement;” — “Urgently recommended.”
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John Calvin