Saint Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon

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“Colossæ disappears wholly from the pages of history. Its comparative insignificance is still attested by its ruins, which are few and meagre², while the vast remains of temples, baths, theatres, aqueducts, gymnasia, and sepulchres, strewing the extensive sites of its more fortunate neighbours, still bear witness to their ancient prosperity and magnificence. It is not even mentioned by Ptolemy, though his enumeration of towns includes several inconsiderable places³. Without doubt Colossæ was the least important church to which any epistle of St Paul is addressed.” (Page 16)

“From the latter point of view it is a simple matter of fact that the afflictions of every saint and martyr do supplement the afflictions of Christ. The Church is built up by repeated acts of self-denial in successive individuals and successive generations. They continue the work which Christ began. They bear their part in the sufferings of Christ (2 Cor. 1:7 κοινωνοὶ τῶν παθημάτων, Phil. 3:10 κοινωνίαν τῶν παθημάτων); but St Paul would have been the last to say that they bear their part in the atoning sacrifice of Christ.” (Page 164)

“The Point of the Apostle’s boast is that Christ the sinless Master should have left something for Paul the unworthy servant to suffer.” (Page 163)

“Unlike δύναμις or ἰσχύς, the word κράτος in the New Testament is applied solely to God.” (Page 138)

“but εἰκών implies an archetype of which it is a copy,” (Page 143)