A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…

3 We give thanks.) He commendeth the faith and love of the Colossians, whereby he may the better confirm them cheerfully to go forward and to be constant. Beside that whereas he showeth that he hath such a persuasion of them, he winneth unto him their harts, whereby they may be the more ready & apt to receive his doctrine. Always must you mark, that in stead of gratulation or rejoicing, he useth giving thanks. whereby he teacheth, that in all rejoicing straight way the remembrance of Gods goodness ought to come in mind: because it is his good gift whatsoever it is, that happeneth unto us joyful and happy. Moreover by his example he doth admonish us, that we not only be thankful for those things which the Lord doth bestow upon ourselves, but for that also which he bestoweth upon others. But for what things doeth he give thanks to the Lord? for the faith and love of the Colossians. Therefore he confesseth that both of them are given of God: or else his thanksgiving were [but] feigned. And what have we but of his liberality? If so be that the very smallest things that we have, come from him, how much rather must we confess the same of these two gifts, in which the whole sum of our excellency is planted? To god and the Father, Thus expound it, To God which is the Father of Christ. For it is not lawful unto us to acknowledge any other God, but him that hath showed forth himself unto us in his Sonne. And this is the Ray which alone doth open the gate unto us if we will come unto the true God. For even therefore he is a father unto us, because he hath embraced us in his only begotten Son, and in him hath set forth his fatherly favour to be viewed of us. Always for you. Some do thus expound it, We give thanks unto God always for you, that is to say continually, And some thus, Praying for you always. It may also be thus expounded, As oft as we pray for you we do withal give thanks unto GOD. But this is the plainer and more simple meaning, We give thanks to ⟨p. 3⟩God, & withal we pray. Whereby he declareth, th•• the state of the faithful is never so perfect in this world, but that at all times somewhat is amiss or wanting. For even he who hath very well begun may every day revolt or fall a hundred times: and of necessity we must continually go forward, whilst as yet we be on our journey.

3 We giue thankes.) He commendeth the faith and loue of the Colossians, wherby he may ye better confirme thē cheerefully to go forward and to be constant. Beside that wheras he sheweth yt he hath such a perswasion of them, hee winneth vnto him their harts, whereby they may be the more ready & apt to receiue his doctrine. Alwayes must you marke, that in steede of gratulation or reioicing, he vseth giuing thankes. whereby he teacheth, that in all reioicing strayight way the remembrance of Gods goodnesse ought to come in mind: because it is his good gift whatsoeuer it is, that happeneth vnto vs ioyfull and happy. Moreouer by his example hee doth admonishe vs, that wee not onelye bee thankefull for those thinges which the Lorde doth bestowe vpon ourselues, but for that also which he bestoweth vpon others. But for what thinges doeth hee giue thankes to the Lorde? for the fayth and loue of the Colossians. Therefore he confesseth that both of them are giuen of God: or else his thankesgiuing were [but] fayned. And what haue we but of his liberalitie? If so be that the very smallest thinges that we haue, come from him, how muche rather must wee confesse the same of these two gifts, in which the whole summe of our excellencie is planted? To god and the Father, Thus expound it, To God which is the Father of Christ. For it is not lawful vnto vs to acknowledge anye other God, but him that hath shewed forth himselfe vnto vs in his Sonne. And this is the Raye which alone doth open the gate vnto vs if we will come vnto the true God. For euen therefore he is a father vnto vs, because he hath embraced vs in his only begotten Sonne, and in him hath set forth his fatherlye fauour to be viewed of vs. Alwayes for you. Some doe thus expound it, We giue thankes vnto God alwayes for you, that is to saye continually, And some thus, Praying for you alwayes. It may also be thus expounded, As ofte as wee praye for you wee doe withall giue thankes vnto GOD. But this is the playner and more simple meaning, Wee giue thankes to