The Epistles to the Colossians And to the Ephesians

me as in the twin epistle to the Col. (1 : 1), where see comment. The name of Timothy, which is associated with that of Paul in Colossians, is omitted here. As this is a general epistle, a final comprehensive statement of the meaning and aim of the Christian revelation from the point of view of the ideal and the absolute, Paul doubtless wanted it to have as little as possible of the personal or the incidental. To the saints. The epistle was not written for the general public, for just anybody and everybody, but for a certain class of people, a small select circle, the members of which had a common secret, a common experience; who had been enlightened with a new light, initiated into a new life and order; who had been called out, set apart; citizens of a commonwealth not of this world, but of heaven. At Ephesus. These words were not written by St. Paul and were not in the original copy. They were afterwards introduced into this place by a process which is described in the Introduction. See also comment on Col. 4 : 16. This letter was for the Gentile Christians of a certain region. And the faithful in Christ Jesus. Leaving out the words at Ephesus, these words are to be taken in close connection with the word saints, and they give a more specific description, a closer identification, of those called saints. For the word saints means those set apart for God, and might be applied to the Jews. Compare 2 : 19. So he says, "To the saints, those who are also fai... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.