The National tribune., 1893-11-16
SUNDAY MEDITATION
A Study Of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for Nov.
26, 1893.


Subjects The Christian Home. Col. ;1s-2S.
lone reading these notes should frs. carefully
study the paragraph from the holy scriptures ss
indicated sboye.I
INTRODUCTION.
We have reason to cling to our Bibles. The
| Parliament Of Religions at Chicago failed TO
| show we have any occasion to change our Bible
| off for Zend-Aveste, a Koran, Tsi-Pitikes,
the Vedas, or what-pot.
Eugene Field once said 81 would not now
exchange for any amount Of money the ac-
quaintance with the Bible that was drummed
into me when boy"
Bacon wrote: "Thy creatures have been my
books, bat thy Scriptures much more"
Huxley declared: a. have always advocated
the reading of the Bible 1t is so certain to my
mind that the Bible contains within itself the
refutation OF nine-tenths Of the mixture of
sophistica metaphysics and old-world super
stitioD which has been piled around 1t by so
called Christians of later times.
Chauncey NJ. Depew. at the Nineteenth Gen.
tury Club in 1886, said " am practical man.
] believe in the Old Testament and the New
Testament precisely as they presented by
Christianity. | am not posted in the term-
nology Of Christian PHILOSOPHERS. j believe
them to be of little use TO reach the hearts and
to influence the action of simple men. There
is no liberty that lasts in the world and tbero
is no Government which has liberty in 1t that
lasts that does rot recognize the Christian Bible.
What is the object of all theologya 1t is to
reach the human heart, and to control the
actions Of men as they are"
Luther used to say: The reading OF the
Scriptures is the terror OF devils"
The devout astronomer. Mitchell, stated:
The most wonderful volume in existence Ia
beyond doubt, the Bible. It is wonderful
for its boldness in the use Of illustrations
metaphors, figures drawn from every depart
ment of human knowledge-from natural
history, from meteorology, from optics. from
astronomy. 1t il wonderful for the superior
conceptions of its writers, of the grandeur
and magnifcence of the physical universe"
Colosse.
Coosse was city of Phrygia. The MeandeF
River flows west. After leaving Phrygia 1t
formed the boundary line between Lydia and
Caria and empted into the Egean Sea. In
Phrygia there empties into the Meander from
the south the Lycus Rivor Not far from the
mouth was Laodicea. 10 the north on the Me-
ander was Metropolis. Between the two cities,
in the Lycus Valley, lay the city of Colosse.
From the name Of the River Meander we get
our verb which means to wind in and out. One
can see by reference TO the map how peculiarly
the Meander River flows. 1t could hardly be
more crooked. Coosse (also written Colsssae,
Colossae) was about 225 miles in straight line
south of CoBstantinopleA 1t was about 125 miles
east OF Ephesus. 1t lay in the direct line of CON-
mercs between Ephesus aud the great empori-
ums of the Euphrates Valley. Pliny tells rs
that in the time of st. Paul it was very thri7
ing city.
1t is thought the founder Of the Church at
Colosse was Epaphras. He resided there. Il:
~ st. Paul had never visited the place. e.:
~ He preached for three years at EPhesns,
l25 miles away, and many who heard him must
have been from Colosse.
We have the names of several residents Of
Colosse at that time--Epapbrss, Archippus
"a: III, Philemon and his slave Onesimus.
Compare 4: 9-l9 with Philemon, i, 81 1t
much to gain for cause a man of the
prominenee wealth, and influence of Philemon.
In connection with the statement in 2: IS it
is sinteresting TO learn church now exists there
known as St. Michael's.
The modern name Of Colosse Is Chonss or
Chonae. The Turks called it Khopas or Ka-
nassi.
The Epistle to the Colossians
Written at Rome. Spring of A. d. SO, by st.
Paul. 1t has four chapters. In our Bibles il is
the Seventh Epistle Of st. Paul, but chrono-
logically it is the Eighth; thus: j Th., Th.,
Cor. 2 Cor, Gal, ROM, Philemon, Col0ssi-
ans. st. Paui was prisoner, and Epsphras Of
Colosse made him q visit, telling him all about
the condition Of things. Just thea st. Paul
was about to send Tychicus with circular let
ter to certain cities. t4:7. 8, and Eph., s.: 81.
22) He takes advantage of the opportunity,
aud has TychicGs carry letter to the church
at Colosse. There was call for the letter. At
Colosse there was number OF false teachers
st. Paul wanted to prevent the Christians there
being drawn away from the simple doctrines Of
Christ by the vain philosophy of the day-"an
admixture of Christianity. Judaism, and ORR
entail philosophy which afferward became con-
solidated into GnosticIsm
u 7 A Ht,nft he Es,iot Ia 70
the Colossians was ST. Paul's caution, his
argument. his protests, so to speak, his work
ing-day toll, his direct pastoral labor"
NOTES ON COL. 3: 1925.
Preliminary.
Verses 12 to 10 enforce the duties Of charity,
kindness, tenderness, gentleness.
Verses I6 II magnify the office of psalms
and hymns of praise in the mutual edifcation
of Christians.
Verse 10 specifies the duties of wives.
Verse IS, duties of husbands
Verse 20, duties of children.
Verse 81 duties of fathers.
Verses 22-25. duties of servants.
One can with. profit compare with the third
chapter of Colossians the fifth and sixth chap
ters OF Ephesians.
We notice the very practical nature OF the
teachings of st. Paul. The ethical features Of
his Epistles would be very useful study.
Notes
/. From verses I2 to Is we learn the gu alities
needfu! for home life
a. Charity. Tho word love covers this We
SEQ it's Importance. 1t Is the bond of perfection.
the secret of the most perfect home. Read
/ Cor, chapter 13. Charity Is bond, uniting
force 1t binds together all the graces. and
tends to bring into unity all the members of
family, state. church. etc. tEph.. 4:39
b. Forbearance. (Eph., 4:2) One must not
be a fuse, ready to 60 off. Be patient with each
other Bear and forbesr."
c. Forgiveness. (St. Mt. 6: 12, 14.)
d. Humbeness. Egotism, great opinion of
self, readiness TO show wrath at each suspected
slight, unfit for mutual association, on most
copiisl terms. OF beings admittedly imperfect.
e. Kindness. (Eph., 4: 32.)