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…

¶ The Argument upon the epistle of. S. Paul to the Colossians by master Calvin.

¶ The Argument vpon the epistle of. S. Paule to the Colossians by maister Caluin.

There were three Cities one near to another in Phrygia, of which Paul maketh mention in this Epistle: Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae, which Orosius testifieth to have fallen down while Nero reigned, with an Earthquake. And so not long after this Epistle was written: three famous churches were destroyed with a lamentable and fearful chance. A notable spectacle forsooth of God his judgement: if we lacked not eyes. The Colossians indeed were first instructed in the gospel, not by Paul, but faithfully and purely by Epaphaus and other ministers. But by and by Satan according to his solemn and perpetual custom, crept in with his darnel and tares, that he might overthrow the right faith there. Some think that there were two kind of men which assayed to lead away the Colossians from the purity of the Gospel. For on the one side the Philosophers by disputing of the stars of destiny and such like trifles, on on the other side the Jews by urging and enforcing their ceremonies, cast abroad many mists to overthrow Christ, but they which think so are moved thereunto by an overlight conjecture or guess. because forsooth Paul maketh mention of thrones and ⟨image 5⟩powers and heavenly creatures. And whereas they add also the name of Elements, it is more then ridiculous. But because I am not purposed to confute the opinions of other, I will only speak mine own mind, and that which by sound reasons I may gather.

THere were three Cities one neare to another in Phrygia, of which Paul maketh mention in this Epistle: Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae, which Orosius testifyeth to haue fallē downe while Nero raigned, with an Earthquake. And so not long after this Epistle was written: three famous churches were destroyed with a lamentable and fearful chaunce. A notable spectacle forsooth of God his iudgement: if wee lacked not eyes. The Colossians indeede were first enstructed in the gospel, not by Paul, but faithfully and purely by Epaphaus and other ministers. But by and by Satan according to his solemne and perpetuall custome, crept in with his darnell and tares, that he mighte ouerthrow the right faith there. Some thinke that there were two kind of men which assaied to lead away the Colossians from the purity of the Gospel. For on the one syde the Philosophers by disputinge of the starres of destenye and such like tryfles, on on the other syde the Iewes by vrging and enforcing their ceremonies, cast abroad many mistes to ouerthrow Christ, but they which thinke so are moued therunto by an ouerlight coniecture orgesse. because forsoth Paule maketh mention of thrones and