Institute for Colossians Studies

Florus of Lyon (d. c. 860), deacon of the church of Lyon, assembled an Expositio on the Pauline epistles built entirely from the works of Augustine. What follows is therefore not a commentary of Florus’s own composition but a catena — passages he selected from Augustine and arranged against the text of Colossians, so that the exegesis is Augustine’s and the editorial judgment is Florus’s.

SOURCE: Florus of Lyon. “In Epistolam ad Colossenses.” In Expositio in Epistolas Beati Pauli ex Operibus S. Augustini. Patrologia Latina 119, edited by J.-P. Migne, cols. 389–393. Paris: Garnier Frères, 1880. Internet Archive.

TRANSLATION: Florus of Lyon. Exposition on the Epistle to the Colossians from the Works of Saint Augustine. Translated by Phil Thompson. Greenville, SC: Institute for Colossians Studies, 2026.

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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NINTH CENTURY

OF NICHOLAS I

ROMAN PONTIFF

EPISTLES AND DECREES

ACCURATELY REPRODUCED FROM MANSI’S MOST EXCELLENT EDITION OF THE COUNCILS AND ARRANGED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

PRECEDED BY THE

COMPLETE WORKS

OF BLESSED SERVATUS LUPUS, ABBOT OF FERRIÈRES; FLORUS, DEACON OF LYON; RODULFUS OF BOURGES; WALTER OF ORLÉANS; AND ROTHAD II OF SOISSONS.

EDITED BY J.-P. MIGNE,

EDITOR OF THE UNIVERSAL LIBRARY OF THE CLERGY, OR COMPLETE COURSES IN EACH BRANCH OF ECCLESIASTICAL SCIENCE.

SINGLE VOLUME.

PARIS. AT THE PRESSES OF GARNIER BROTHERS, EDITORS AND SUCCESSORS TO J.-P. MIGNE, ON THE STREET CALLED AVENUE DU MAINE, 189, FORMERLY CHAUSSÉE DU MAINE, 127.

1880

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ON THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS.

ARGUMENT.

The Colossians, like the Laodiceans, are Asians, and they too had been anticipated by false apostles. The Apostle himself did not visit them either; rather, he corrects them as well by means of an epistle. For they had heard the word from Archippus, who accepted a ministry toward them. Therefore the Apostle, already in chains, writes to them from Ephesus by the deacon Tychicus and the acolyte Onesimus.

CHAPTER 1

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,” etc., up to “who has made us worthy to share in the lot of the saints in light.” (Col 1:1–12) That tunic of the Lord woven from the top down, etc., up to “it is a lot for you.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 30, vol. 4, part 1, col. 246ff.)

“Who rescued us,” etc., up to “of the Son of his love.” (Col 1:13) Whoever you are reading this, and the grace of God, etc., up to “deliver us from evil.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 105, vol. 4, part 2, col. 1416ff.)

“However, he does not say, my kingdom is not here, but it is not from here,” etc., up to “not from here.” (Id., Tractates on the Gospel of John, vol. 4, part 2, col. 1939ff.)

If the love by which the Father loves his Son, etc., up to “is begotten.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 15, vol. 8, col. 1082ff.)

If the love by which the Father loves his Son, etc., up to “is begotten.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 20, vol. 8, col. 1082ff.)

If we truly want to defend free will, etc., up to “into the adoption of sons.” (Id., Letter to Vitalis, vol. 2, col. 281ff.)

“In whom we have,” etc., up to “the image of the invisible God.” (Col 1:14–15) It is not difficult to see the devil defeated, etc., up to “not a spirit.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 13, vol. 8, col. 1028ff.)

To a certain extent a human being will be an imitator of God like an image, etc., up to “the image of the king.” (Id., Sermon on the Ten Strings, vol. 5, part 1, col. 82.)

In the first three precepts of the Decalogue, which relate to God, etc., up to “but with him.” (Id., Letter to Januarius, Book 2, vol. 2, col. 213.)

“The firstborn of all creation,” etc., up to “all things hold together in him.” (Col 1:15–17) According to the form of God it was said, “Before all the hills he begot me,” etc., up to “head” of the body of the Church. (Id., On the Trinity, Book 2, vol. 8, col. 857.)

The Catholic faith, which distinguishes between the Creator and the creature, etc., up to “all things to be reconciled in him.” (Id., Against Secundinus the Manichaean, vol. 8, col. 381ff.)

“And he is the head,” etc., up to “he himself holding first place.” (Col 1:18) It is one thing to only become wise through the wisdom of God, etc., up to “is most rightly said.” (Id., The Christian Combat, vol. 6, col. 301ff.)

The whole Christ is preached according to the Church, that is, head and body, etc., up to “the city of the great King.” (Id., Sermon on the Three Ways of Understanding Christ, vol. 5, part 2, col. 1499ff.)

Therefore it is no surprise if for the sake of an example, etc., up to “who was given to us.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 7, vol. 8, col. 938.)

“Because it pleased God that in him,” etc., up to “the creation which is under heaven.” (Col 1:19–23) Through that unique sacrifice, in which the mediator was offered, etc., up to “they see the face of the Father.” (Id., Enchiridion, vol. 6, col. 261.)

“Of which I became,” etc., up to “was given to me for you.” (Col 1:23–25) We must understand the person of the Church, etc., up to “the age will be finished.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 61, vol. 4, part 1, col. 730ff.)

See what the Apostle said, that in him Christ, etc., up to “in my flesh.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 86, vol. 4, part 2, col. 1104.)

He says, “To make up what is lacking in the afflictions”—not my own, but Christ’s, etc., up to “he would not be persecuting.” (Col 1:24) (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 44, vol. 4, part 1, col. 513.)

“To fulfill the word of God,” etc., up to “works in me in power.” (Col 1:25–29) First, wishing to show me, O Lord my God, how you resist the proud, etc., up to “they became fools.” (Id., Confessions, Book 7, vol. 1, col. 740ff.)

For your Word, the eternal truth of your higher creation, etc., up to “like a punishment.” (Id., Confessions, Book 7, vol. 1, col. 748.)

CHAPTER 2

“For I want you to know,” etc., up to “abounding in him in thanksgiving.” (Col 2:1–7) The cause of all human vices

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is pride, etc., up to “and is learned.” (Id., On the Spirit and the Letter, vol. 10, part 1, col. 237.)

Now all these things which the Word made flesh for us, etc., up to “might be called.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 13, vol. 8, col. 282ff.)

“See to it that no one,” etc., up to “not according to Christ.” (Col 2:8) What is Juno? etc., up to “warning that they should be avoided.” (Id., Sermon on the Kalends of January, vol. 5, part 1, col. 1024.)

An answer must be given to those people who disparage the books of our salvation, etc., up to “to have extracted the opinion.” (Id., The Literal Meaning of Genesis, vol. 3, part 1, col. 262.)

“Because in him dwells,” etc., up to “of principality and power.” (Col 2:9–10) God, who is everywhere present, and everywhere fully present, etc., up to “it is a wickedness to want to judge.” (Id., Letter to Dardanus on the Presence of God, vol. 2, col. 845ff.)

It is therefore enough to know that something corporeal, etc., up to “he used the word.” (Id., The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Book 12, vol. 3, part 2, col. 459.)

“The mountain on which it pleased God to dwell,” etc., up to “and you in me.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 67, vol. 4, part 1, col. 826ff.)

“In whom also you were circumcised,” etc., up to “raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:11–12) Unless that Sabbath itself is also among the prophecies, etc., up to “of the body of flesh.” (Id., Against Faustus the Manichaean, Book 12, vol. 8, col. 354.)

He certainly did not mean two things to be understood, etc., up to “which is called the mind.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 14, vol. 8, col. 1053.)

“In the circumcision of Christ,” and the rest. (Col 2:11) The resurrection of Christ, which occurred indeed on the third day of his passion, etc., up to “you savor things upon the earth.” (Id., Sermons on the Words of the Apostle, vol. 5, part 1, col. 916.)

“And when you were dead,” etc., up to “all trespasses.” (Col 2:13) He called it foreskin, etc., up to “we are to be stripped.” (Id., Letter to Bishop Paulinus, vol. 2, col. 641.)

“Wiping out what was against us,” etc., up to “nailing it to the cross.” (Col 2:14) Our body, therefore, is dead because of sin, etc., up to “of sins.” (Id., On the Forgiveness of Sins and Baptism of Infants, Book 2, vol. 10, part 1, col. 180.)

You, he says, humiliated the proud one like a wounded man, etc., up to “where he is proud.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 88, vol. 4, part 2, col. 1126ff.)

“The holy victim by which the handwritten record was wiped out,” etc., up to “the lion and the dragon.” (Id., Confessions, Book 9, vol. 1, col. 778ff.)

“Stripping the principalities,” etc., up to “in himself.” (Col 2:15) From where did the devil receive the outward power to kill the Lord’s flesh, etc., up to “redeeming sinners.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 4, vol. 8, col. 899ff.)

For when he says that he stripped himself of the flesh, etc., up to “will be completed in the resurrection.” (Id., Against Faustus the Manichaean, vol. 6, col. 300ff.)

He made an example of principalities, that is, he gave an example, etc., up to “they force to serve.” (Id., Letter to Bishop Paulinus, from the book on The Christian Combat, vol. 6, col. 291ff.)

“Therefore let no one judge you,” etc., up to “but the body is Christ’s.” (Col 2:16–17) Our two fathers who were pleasing maintained the order, etc., up to “is read aloud for confirmation.” (Id., Against Faustus the Manichaean, vol. 8, col. 236ff.)

All things that were spoken to the ancient people of Israel, etc., up to “signified the pilgrim members.” (Id., Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 28, vol. 3, part 2, col. 1626.)

First, that error of the Jews must be refuted, by which they think, etc., up to “the fleshly celebration should now cease.” (Id., Against the Jews, vol. 8, col. 52ff.)

“Let no one deceive you,” etc., up to “in any honor to the satisfaction of the flesh.” (Col 2:18–23) In these words a certain facial expression must be employed in the pronunciation, etc., up to “Christ had arrived.” (Id., Letter to Bishop Paulinus, vol. 2, col. 640.)

“Walking in vain, puffed up,” etc., up to “for the growth of faith.” (Col 2:18–19) Not only the empty talkers, however, etc., up to “may be delivered from evil.” (Id., Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 98, vol. 3, part 2, col. 1884.)

“But if you have died,” etc., up to “in the world do you decree?” (Col 2:20) Whatever he suffered, in him we too suffered, etc., up to “of the head and of the body.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 62, vol. 4, part 1, col. 749.)

Where you find differently and differently, a certain death occurred there, etc., up to “we lived in order to die.” (Id., Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 23, vol. 3, part 2, col. 1588.)

CHAPTER 3

“Therefore, if you have been raised up together,” etc., up to “not the things that are on the earth.” (Col 3:1–2) We have certainly not yet risen as Christ did, etc., up to “For in hope we were saved.” (Id., Against Faustus the Manichaean, vol. 8, col. 251.)

The change which will have no corruption, etc., up to “is in us.” (Id., Sermon on the Resurrection of the Dead, vol. 5, part 2, col. 1627.)

If you want to be heaven: purge the earth from your heart, etc., up to “is in heaven.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 96, vol. 4, col. 1243.)

“With the sound of the horn trumpet?” etc., up to “we do not wage war according to the flesh.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 97, vol. 4, part 2, col. 1256.)

According to this faith and hope and love by which, etc., up to “is nothing but the Church.” (Id., Letter to Januarius, vol. 2, col. 205ff.)

“Set your minds on the things that are above,” etc., up to “we ought to strip off.” (Col 3:2–9) (Id., Eighty-Three Different Questions, Question 29, vol. 6, col. 18ff.)

If God formed both the human from the earth and the beasts from the earth, etc., up to “not the things that are on the earth.” (Id., The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Book 6, vol. 3, part 1, col. 348.)

“For you have died,” up to “with him in glory.” (Col 3:3–4) It is manifest, and easily recognized by anyone paying attention,

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etc., up to “we considered madness.” (St. Augustine, Letter to Januarius, vol. 2, col. 208.)

Because like grass they will quickly wither, etc., up to “you will appear with him in glory.” (Id., Expositions on the Psalms, Psalm 36, vol. 4, part 1, col. 357ff.)

Therefore all good faithful rich people, etc., up to “you will appear in glory.” (Id., Sermon on the Words in the Proverbs of Solomon, chapter 13, verse 7, vol. 5, part 1, col. 215.)

Let us therefore be upright in heart. The time of glory, etc., up to “you will appear in glory.” (Id., Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 28, vol. 3, part 2, col. 1225.)

“Therefore put to death,” etc. (Col 3:5) Let us be put to death and rise again, etc., up to “slavery.” (Id., Sermon on the Resurrection of the Dead, vol. 5, part 2, col. 1627.)

“Fornication,” etc. (Col 3:5) Nor the greedy, etc., up to “he would doubt.” (Id., On Baptism, Against the Donatists, vol. 9, col. 89.)

“Stripping off,” etc. (Col 3:9) The old man, etc., up to “the image of God.” (Id., Against Faustus the Manichaean, vol. 8, col. 746.)

The blood, he says, etc., up to “of sins.” (Tractates on the First Epistle of John, vol. 3, part 2, col. 1982.)

Him who is being renewed, etc., up to “modesty, patience.” He sufficiently showed where a human being is created in the image of God, etc., up to “might be renewed in knowledge.” (Id., The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Book 3, vol. 3, part 1, col. 292.)

If therefore we are renewed in the spirit of our mind, etc., up to “we put on through faith.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 14, vol. 8, col. 1004ff.)

This renewal and reformation of the mind according to God, etc., up to “is not itself renewed.” (Id., On the Trinity, Book 14, vol. 8, col. 389ff.)

“Bearing with one another,” etc., up to “so also you.” (Col 3:13) By washing the feet of the disciples who were already good and clean, the Lord signified, etc., up to “may be loosed in heaven.” (Id., Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 38, vol. 3, part 2, col. 1794ff.)

“But above all things,” etc., up to “in all wisdom.” (Col 3:14–16) That tunic cast by lot signifies the unity of all parts, etc., up to “gathers all into one.” (Id., Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 18, vol. 3, part 2, col. 1949.)

“Teaching and admonishing,” etc., up to “to God and the Father through him.” (Col 3:16–17) For not everyone who sounds with his lips, etc., up to “of his Holy Spirit.” (Id., Letter on the Grace of the New Testament, vol. 2, col. 563.)

“Wives, be subject,” etc., up to “fearing God.” (Col 3:18–22) There is also a natural order, etc., up to “happiness.” (Id., Questions on the Heptateuch, Question 152, vol. 3, part 1, col. 590.)

How many in our communion truly, etc., up to “will not lose his reward.” (Id., Against Faustus the Manichaean, vol. 8, col. 255ff.)

This rule is proposed to you, etc., up to “that he might love.” (Id., Sermons on the Words of the Gospel, vol. 5, part 1, col. 118.)

Domestic peace is the ordered arrangement of those living together, etc., up to “of the beneficence of providing.” (Id., Prosper’s Sentences Drawn from Augustine, vol. 10, part 2, col. 1872ff.)

“Whatever you do,” etc., up to “partiality with God.” (Col 3:23–25) God approves it by innocence, etc., up to “partiality with God.” (Id., Prosper’s Sentences Drawn from Augustine, vol. 10, part 2, col. 1869-1877.)

The name and condition of slavery, etc., up to “the son is corrected.” (Id., ibid., col. 1873.)

CHAPTER 4

“Masters, what is just,” etc., up to “you have in heaven.” (Col 4:1) Even if our righteous fathers had slaves, etc., up to “to tolerate that they are slaves.” (Id., The City of God, Book 19, vol. 7, col. 644.)

Just as in the authorities of human society, etc., up to “so God in all things.” (Id., Prosper’s Sentences Drawn from Augustine, vol. 10, part 2, col. 1873.)

Those who say that the teaching of Christ is contrary, etc., up to “to be of the republic.” (Id., Letter to Marcellinus, vol. 2, col. 532.)

“Devote yourselves to prayer,” etc., up to “have been a comfort to me.” (Col 42–11) John says Even if anyone has sinned, etc., up to “he may intercede.” (Id., Tractates on the First Epistle of John, vol. 2, col. 532.)

“Epaphras greets you,” etc., up to “be with you. Amen.” (Col 4:12–18) If we say that this perseverance, so praiseworthy, etc., up to “that it may be persevered by us.” (Id., On Rebuke and Grace, vol. 10, part 1, col. 921ff.)