Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
he shews, as it were, indirectly the punishment, that, beholding it in the reprobate, we may be
deterred from sinning.
7. In which ye walked. Erasmus mistakingly refers this to men, rendering it, “inter quos,”
(“among whom,”) for there can be no doubt that Paul had in view the vices, in which he, says that
the Colossians had walked, during the time that they lived in them. For living and walking differ
from each other, as power does from action. Living holds the first place: walking comes afterwards,
as in Galatians 5:25,
If ye live in the SPIRIT, WALK also in the Spirit.
By these words he intimates, that it were an unseemly thing that they should addict themselves
any more to the vices, to which they had died through Christ. See the sixth chapter of the Epistle
to the Romans. It is an argument from a withdrawment of the cause to a withdrawment of the effect.
8. But now — that is, after having ceased to live in the flesh. For the power and nature of
mortification are such, that all corrupt affections are extinguished in us, lest sin should afterwards
produce in us its wonted fruits. What I have rendered indignationem, (indignation,) is in the Greek
θυμός — a term, which denotes a more impetuous passionateness than ὀργὴ, (anger.) Here, however,
he enumerates, as may easily be perceived, forms of vice that were different from those previously
mentioned.
Colossians 3:9-13
9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have 9. Ne mentiamini alii diversus alios,
put off the old man with his deeds;
postquam exuistis veterem hominem cum
actionibus suis:
10. And have put on the new man, which is 10. Et induistis novum, qui renovatur in
renewed in knowledge after the image of him agnitionem, secundum imaginem eius, qui creavit
that created him:
eum:
11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, 11. Ubi non est Graecus nec Judaeus,
circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, circumcisio nec praeputium, barbarus, Scytha,
Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in servus, liber: sed omnia et in omnibus Christus.
all.
12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy 12. Induite igitur, tanquam electi Dei sancti
and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, et dilecti, viscera miserationum, comitatem,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; humilitatem, mansuetudinem, tolerantiam,
13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving 13. Sufferentes vos mutuo, et condonantes si
one another, if any man have a quarrel against quis adversus alium litem habeat: quemadmodum
any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Christus condonavit vobis, ita et vos.
9. Lie not. When he forbids lying, he condemns every sort of cunning, and all base artifices of
deception. For I do not understand the term as referring merely to calumnies, but I view it as
contrasted in a general way with sincerity. Hence it might be allowable to render it more briefly,
and I am not sure but that it might also be a better rendering, thus: Lie not one to another. He follows
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John Calvin