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…

12 Giving thanks to God & the Father who hath made us meet to the partaking of the inheritance of the Saints in light. 13 Which hath taken us away out of the power of darkness, and hath set us over into the kingdom of his ⟨p. 9⟩beloved Sonne. 14 In whom we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 Who is the Image of the invisible God, the first begotten of all creatures. 16 Because in him are created all things as well which are in heaven, as upon the earth: visible & invisible: whether (they be) thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. 17 All things are created by him, and into him: and he is before all things, and all things have their being in him.

12 Giuing thankes to God & the Father who hath made vs meete to the pertaking of the inheritance of the Saints in light. 13 Which hath taken vs away out of the power of darkenesse, and hath set vs ouer into the kingdome of his ⟨p. 9⟩beloued Sonne. 14 In whome we haue redemption by his blood, the forgiuenesse of sinnes. 15 Who is the Image of the inuisible God, the first begotten of all craatures. 16 Because in him are created all thinges as well whiche are in heauen, as vpon the earth: visible & inuisible: whether (they be) thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. 17 All things are created by him, and into him: and he is before all things, and all thinges haue their being in him.

12 Giving thanks.) He returneth again unto gratulation, that by this occasion he may reckon up the benefits wherewith they are endowed by Christ, and so he entereth into a full description of Christ. For this was an only remedy for the Colossians, against all the deceits of the false Apostles wherewith they assayed them fully to understand what Christ was. For whereof cometh it that we are carried about with so many kind of doctrines, but because we do not throughly know the power of Christ? For Christ alone causeth all other things suddenly to vanish. Therefore there is nothing that Satan so greatly toileth about, as to cast mists to darken Christ: because he knoweth that by this means the gate is opened to all lies. This than is the only way as well to retain as to restore pure doctrine, to set Christ before the eyes what a one he is with all his goods and goodness, that his power may be truly felt and perceived. I speak not here of the (bare) name. The Papists do commonly with us confess one Christ: how much odds is there the while between us and them? namely because they while they confess Christ to be the son of God, by setting his power over unto others, and by plucking it hither and thither, they almost leave him naked and empty. at the least they rob him of a great part of his glory: so that he is named the Son of GOD, but yet is not (in deed) such an one as the Father would have him to us ward. And if so be