*H Therefore if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.
Ver. 1. Here begins the second or the moral part of this epistle. — If you be risen, &c. The remaining part of this epistle has no great difficulties, but excellent instructions, as that to the Ephesians. Wi.
*H Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is the service of idols.
Ver. 5. Your members, . . . fornication, uncleanness, &c. He considers man's body as made up of sins and sinful inclinations. Wi. — It is not to bring back Judaism we practise abstinences and fasts, nor with the same motive as the Jews, but to accomplish the precepts of mortifying the irregular desires of the flesh among which gluttony must find a place. In a mortified body sensuality is more easily subdued. A.
* Footnote * Ephesians 5 : 3
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:*H For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief.
Ver. 6. The children of unbelief are either those who perished in Noe's flood, for S. Peter in his epistle give them this title, or they are the inhabitants of Chanaan, whom Josue exterminated; for these also are called children of unbelief, in the epistle to the Hebrews, and their crimes were the same as those mentioned here. Calmet.
*H But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth.
Ver. 8. Blasphemy. [1] It may here signify either the sin of blasphemy against God, or speaking ill of our neighbour by detraction, calumnies, affronts, &c. See S. Chrys. Wi. — Now that you live in God, with Jesus Christ, quit not only the above shameful crimes, but also these sins, which, although they excite less horror, will separate you no less from the Author of all sanctity.
* Footnote * Romans 6 : 4
For we are buried together with him by baptism into death: that, as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life.* Footnote * Ephesians 4 : 22
To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.* Footnote * Hebrews 12 : 1
And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:* Footnote * 1_Peter 2 : 1
Wherefore laying away all malice and all guile and dissimulations and envies and all detractions,* Footnote * 1_Peter 4 : 2
That now he may live the rest of his time in the flesh, not after the desires of men but according to the will of God.*H And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.
Ver. 10. According to the image of him who created him. We are created to the image of God, inasmuch as our souls are spiritual and immortal, but here we are put in mind to imitate God by sanctity and justice, as God is holy and the fountain of justice. Wi. — The image or resemblance of our Creator was effaced by sin, but is retraced by Jesus Christ, who forms in us this new man. V.
* Footnote * Genesis 1 : 26
And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth.*H Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all and in all.
Ver. 11. Where, or in which state, when we put on the new man by sanctity and grace, God makes no distinction betwixt Jew and Gentile, &c. Wi. — In the Church of Christ God makes no exception of persons; all are called to the marriage feast, whether Jews (formerly the most favoured people of God) or Greeks, (who were reckoned the most polite, or learned) or Barbarians, or Scythians: (who are esteemed the most cruel and ferocious of men) still these are called; Christ died for all. Calmet. — In S. Paul's epistles, by the Greeks are usually designated the Gentiles. V.
*H But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.
Ver. 14. Above all these things have charity, the love of God, and of your neighbour, which is the bond of perfection, the end of all virtues, which unites the hearts of all to God. Wi.
*H And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.
Ver. 15. The peace of Christ rejoice: [2] reign, conquer, bear away the prize. Wi.
*H Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly: in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.
Ver. 16. Employ yourselves in studying and reading the Scriptures; meditate on what our Saviour has done and suffered for you. It is a calumny of our enemies, that we forbid the reading of the Testament. But the Church, fearing lest the faithful should read to their own destruction what was ordained for their salvation, wisely ordains that they should have recourse to their pastors, and receive from them those versions which she approves as most conformable to the Latin Vulgate, which has received the sanction of the holy Catholic Church, and at the same time forbids them those which might corrupt their faith. In this she acts the part of a good and provident mother, conducting her children to the rich and salutary pastures of peace and plenty, and carefully guarding then from others where tempting but noxious weeds luxuriantly grow up, watered with the baneful streams of polluted and poisoned sources.
* Footnote * Ephesians 5 : 19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord:*H All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Ver. 17. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let all be done for his honour and glory. See 1 Cor. x. 31. Wi.