Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin
CHAPTER 3
When he bids us be thankful, I do not take this as referring so much to the remembrance of favors, as to sweetness of manners. Hence, with the view of removing ambiguity, I prefer to render it, ``Be amiable.'' At the same time I acknowledge that, if gratitude takes possession of our minds, 619 we shall without fail be inclined to cherish mutual affection among ourselves.
16. Let the word of Christ dwell. He would have the doctrine of the gospel be familiarly known by them. Hence we may infer by what spirit those are actuated in the present day, who cruelly 620 interdict the Christian people from making use of it, and furiously vociferate, that no pestilence is more to be dreaded, than that the reading of the Scriptures should be thrown open to the common people. For, unquestionably, Paul here addresses men and women of all ranks; nor would he simply have them take a slight taste merely of the word of Christ, but exhorts that it should dwell in them; that is, that it should have a settled abode, and that largely, that they may make it their aim to advance and increase more and more every day. As, however, the desire of learning is extravagant on the part of many, while they pervert the word of the Lord for their own ambition, or for vain curiosity, or in some way corrupt it, he on this account adds, in all wisdom --- that, being instructed by it, we may be wise as we ought to be.
Farther, he gives a short definition of this wisdom --- that the Colossians teach one another Teaching is taken here to mean profitable instruction, which tends to edification, as in Romans 12:7 --- He that teacheth, on teaching; also in Timothy --- ``All Scripture is profitable for teaching.'' (2 Timothy 3:16.) This is the true use of Christ's word. As, however, doctrine is sometimes in itself cold, and, as one says, 621 when it is simply shewn what is right, virtue is praised 622 and left to starve, 623 he adds at the same time admonition, which is, as it were, a confirmation of doctrine and incitement to it. Nor does he mean that the word of Christ ought to be of benefit merely to individuals, that they may teach themselves, but he requires mutual teaching and admonition.
Psalms, hymns. He does not restrict the word of Christ to these particular departments, but rather intimates that all our communications should be adapted to edification, that even those which tend to hilarity may have no empty savor. ``Leave to unbelievers that foolish delight which they take from ludicrous and frivolous jests and witticisms; 624 and let your communications, not merely those that are grave, but those also that are joyful and exhilarating, contain something profitable. In place of their obscene, or at least barely modest and
619"Si nous auons les cœurs et les sens abbreuuez de ceste affection de n'estre point ingrats;" — "If we have our hearts and minds thoroughly imbued with this disposition of being not unthankful."
620"Si estroitement et auec si grande cruaute;" — "So strictly and with such great cruelty." 621"Comme a dit anciennement vn poëte Latin; — "As a Latin poet has anciently said." 622"Probitas laudatur et alget;" — "Virtue is praised and starves," — that is, is slighted. See Juv. 1:74. — Ed.
623"Il se trouue assez de gens qui louënt vertu, mais cependant elle se morfond: c'est a dire, il n'y en a gueres qui se mettent a l'ensuyure;" — "There are persons enough who praise virtue, but in the mean time it starves; that is to say, there are scarcely any of them that set themselves to pursue it."
624"Plaisanteries pleines de vanite et niaiserie;" — "Pleasantries full of vanity and silliness."