COLONY (k1'6-n5'), (Gr. I:oX(Lpfa). • This distinction is applied to Philippi in Mace donia (Acts xvi :12), Augustus C:rsar had de ported to Macedonia most of the Italian communi ties which had espoused the cause of Antony; by which means the towns of Philippi, Dyrrachium, etc., acquired the rank of Roman colonies ( Dio Cass. p. 455). They possessed the jus Italicum (Italian right), consisting, if complete. in a free municipal constitution, such as was customary in Italy, in exemption from personal and land taxes. and in the commerce of the soil, or the right of selling the land.
COLORS (1.(CiPErs), (Gen. xxxvii:3).
The art of coloring cloth seems to have attained to great perfection among the Jews, though it did not originate with them, but with their idolatrous neighbors, the Phernicians and Egyptians. the for mer supplying the dyes, the latter the mode of applying them. Four artificial colors arc spoken of in the Bible.
1. Purple, which was derived from a shell-fish native to the Mediterranean Sea. The coloring matter was found in a small vessel in the fish, and the rest of the fish was useless. Purple was the royal and noble color, indicative of wealth and station (Judg viii :26; Esth. viii :15; Luke xvi: 19 ; Rev. xvii54).
2. Blue, produced from a similar source, used in the same way, and for the same purposes (Ex xxv Esth. i :6).
3. Scarlet and crimson appear to express the same color. "The dye was produced from an in sect somewhat resembling the cochineal, which is found in considerable quantities in Armenia and other Eastern countries"-Smith. The three col ors above mentioned, together with white, were employed in the tabernacle curtains and in the vestments of the priests.
4. l'ermilion was used in fresco-painting (Ezek. xxiii:141. for coloring the idols themselves, and for decorating the walls and beams of houses (Jcr.
The natural colors noticed in the Bible are white, black, red, yellow, and green, yet only three colors are sharply defined, white, black, and red. To show the vagueness of the use of the others, the tint green (translated "yellow" in the A. V.) is applied in the Ilebrew to gold (Ps. lxviii.13) and to the leprous spot (Lev. xiii-49). (Schaff, Pib. Diet.) (Sec PURPLE, BLUE, CRIMSON, SCARLET.)
FiguratiVe. (1) White is often used to repre sent what is pure and glorious. (0 God having hair white as wool, and white garments, and riding on v. white cloud, denotes his eternity, wisdom, and the equity of his providential conduct. (Dan. vii:9. Is. Rev. xiv:14. (2) Christ is white: he is pure in his Godhead, holy, highly exalted. and abounding in love; and he is ruddy, and red in his apparel; lie appeared in our nature, and suffered in it ; and in the execution of his wrath. conquers and destroys his enemies (Cant. v :io; Is. 2). (3) His hair white as wool, de notes his eternity, and wisdom ( Rev. i :14). (4.' The whiteness of his throne imports the holiness. equity, and glory of his procedure in the last judg ment (Rev. xx t). (5) The white horses of Christ and his people, are the pure truths of the gospel, by means of which theyobtain spiritual vic tories (Rev. vi :2; XIX :14). (6) Saints are made white, when freed from guilt and sin (Ps. li:7) ; their white raiment is the righteousness of Christ appropriated by faith, and their sanctification; the state of heavenly glory, in which they arepeaceable, noble, and triumphant kings and priests unto God (Rev. 5; iv:.); xv:6) and (vii:14). (7) The Nazarites were whiter than milk, when they kept their vows, and looked fresh and comely (l.mo, iv:7). (8) The fields were white to harvest, or ripe, when multitudes scented fond of hearing the gospel, by the power of which men are cut off from their natural state, gathered to Jesus, and bound up in the bundle of life with him (John iv: 35'.
(2) Black. (i) Blackness, applied to gates, skin, face, raiment, imports great distress, bitter rid and mourning (Jer. xiv:2 and viii:21; oel ii:6; (2) When applied to the lair ((f one's head, it signifies beauty, fresh ness, and soundness (Lev. xiii:37; Cant. V:111. (3) With respect to remaining corruptions and af flictions, and often to tb• views of unbelievers the church and people of GA are black; but in re spect of Christ's ordinances, and implanted grace. they arc comely (Cant. i :5. 6). (4) To mark dread, fear, and perplexity,the Jews and Assyrians are called black ( Joel ii :6; Nah. :1o). (5) hell is called the blackness of darkness.