Colossenses 1
Kenneth Wuest · Citado em PreceptAustin
Colossenses 1:1
Wuest - "From these philosophical speculations, two opposing codes of ethics emerged, a rigid asceticism and an unrestrained license. The problem confronting the Gnostic was as follows: Since matter is evil, how can one avoid its baneful influence and thus keep his higher nature unsullied? The answer, according to one group, was a rigid asceticism. All contact with matter should be reduced to a minimum. Thus, the material part of man would be subdued and mortified. One should live on a spare diet and abstain from marriage. The edible flesh of animals was forbidden. The anointing of the body with olive oil, so necessary in hot climates, was prohibited. But with others, such a negative course of procedure produced but slight and inadequate results. These argued that matter is everywhere. One cannot escape contact with it. Therefore, one should cultivate an entire indifference to the world of sense. One should not give matter any thought one way or the other, but just follow one’s own impulses. (this sounds all too modern doesn't it?)...This group argued that the ascetic principle gives a certain importance to matter, and thus he fails to assert his own independence to it. The true rule of life is to treat matter as foreign or alien to one, and as something towards which one has no duties or obligations, and which one can use or leave unused as one likes. This philosophy led to unbridled license...Paul warns every man and teaches every man in every wisdom, that he may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. The word “perfect” was the term applied by the Gnostics to members of the exclusive group which possessed the superior wisdom. The Gnostics made much of wisdom (sophia), intelligence (sunesis), and knowledge (epignosis). Paul takes up the language of the Gnostics and translates it to the higher spheres of Christian thought. Against the false wisdom of the Gnostics, the apostle sets the true wisdom of the gospel. The initiatory rites of these Gnostics in which certain were inducted into their order, were secret mysteries. Paul sets over against these the fact that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in that comprehensive mystery, the knowledge of God in Christ. Paul had also to combat the Gnostic teaching of successive emanations from deity, the angelic mediators who were responsible for the act of creation, and for the headship of the spiritual creation, which took the place of the Lord Jesus as Creator of the universe and Head of the Church. The apostle meets these false doctrines by showing that “all things were created by Him,” and “He is Head of the body, the Church.” As to the teaching of the Gnostic to the effect that the divine essence is distributed among the angelic emanations from deity, Paul declares that the pleroma, or plenitude of the divine essence is permanently at home in the Lord Jesus. For the totality of the divine essence, the Gnostics had this word pleroma, “fulness” or “plenitude.” Paul says that Jesus Christ is not only the chief manifestation of the divine nature. He exhausts the God-head. In Him resides the totality of the divine powers and attributes. From the necessities imposed upon Paul by the character of the Gnostic heresy, it is easy to see that as Bishop Lightfoot says: “The doctrine of the Person of Christ is here stated with greater precision and fulness than in any other of St. Paul’s epistles.” Other Resources on Gnosticism Gnostics - Charles Buck Theological Dictionary Gnosticism - CARM Theological Dictionary Gnosticism - Holman Bible Dictionary Gnosticism - Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Gnosticism - Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament Gnostics - Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary Gnosticism - 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Gnosticism - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Gnosticism - Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature Gnosticism - The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia
Colossenses 1:1
Wuest: Paul, an ambassador of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother Young's Literal: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timotheus the brother PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST: Paulos apostolos Christou Iesou: Paul an apostle - Ro 1:1 1Co 1:1 2Co 1:1 Eph 1:1 Colossians 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Colossians 1:1-2 Introduction to Colossians - John MacArthur PAUL: THE SAVIOR'S SENT ONE THOUGHT - As you read this short letter, remember that Paul wrote one of the greatest descriptions of Jesus Christ ever penned from a dark, damp, dirty prison cell! Prison was a powerful pulpit for this Spirit filled man. What prison are you in today? God's Spirit can accomplish God's will through you just as He did through his instrument, Paul. Do you believe this true? Are you willing? May He turn all our prisons into pulpits for proclamation of the good (great) news of Jesus Christ until all the world has heard! Amen (Why was Paul in prison? | GotQuestions.org) Romans tells us how to enter into fellowship with Christ. Ephesians and Colossians tell us how to abide therein! First we come out of bondage, then we are brought into the banqueting house! Ephesians and Colossians represent the highest, fullest, richest presentation of Christianity! "It has been said that if you want to understand the true nature of Jesus Christ, you should study the first chapter of John’s Gospel, the 19th chapter of Revelation, and the Book of Colossians. If you have those three under your belt, you will have a solid understand of who Jesus is and what He desires to do in our world today." (Salvato) As you read and study Colossians keep Paul's pattern of presentation in mind - Colossians 1-2 are doctrinal and corrective whereas Colossians 3-4 are practical and reassuring. The first 2 chapters present Christ as our Lord, Chapter 3 presents Christ as our Life and Chapter 4 presents Christ as our Love. The first two chapters present Christ's person and work and the last two His peace and presence. While it might be tempting to rush through the first 2 chapters to get to the practical exhortations beginning in Colossians 3, this would be a great mistake, because sound doctrine is the basis and framework for sincere practice. Right living is a supernatural fruit of right thinking! You simply cannot practice the exhortations and commands in the last half if you do not have a sure foundation in the first half. And you cannot practice the commands by depending on the energy of self, but only by depending on the enablement of the Spirit! This is not "let go, let God," but "let God and let's go" (so to speak). His provision and our responsibility working in synergy and harmony! First orthodoxy, then orthopraxy! As Chuck Swindoll says "Your view of Jesus Christ will impact every area of your life. Many today want only practical instruction and helps for living, eschewing “esoteric” topics such as doctrine and theology because they seem to be out of touch with their day-to-day reality. Paul’s view was different. He saw that the Christological problems in the Colossian church had practical importance as well. Believers have died with Christ; therefore, we need to die to our sins. We have also been raised with Christ; therefore, we must live well in Him and put on qualities that are motivated by Christian love. And because He is Lord over all, the life of the Christian is a life of submission to Jesus. Are you following after Jesus as you should? Our faith in Jesus Christ should transform the relationships we have in every area of our lives—in our homes, our churches, and our world. (Colossians Overview) Warren
Colossenses 1:2
Wuest - "The believer in the Lord Jesus is set apart for God by the Holy Spirit, out of the First Adam with the latter’s sin and condemnation, into the Last Adam (Christ) with the latter’s righteousness and life. Thus, the worshipper of the God of the Bible partakes of the character of the God for Whom he is set apart. This is positional sanctification, an act of God performed at the moment a sinner puts his faith in the Lord Jesus (1Co 1:2). The work of the Holy Spirit in the yielded saint, in which He sets the believer apart for God in his experience, by eliminating sin from his life and producing His fruit, a process which goes on constantly throughout the believer’s life, is called progressive sanctification (1Th 5:23-note). When our Lord sanctifies Himself, He sets Himself apart for God as the Sacrifice for sin (Jn 17:19, Heb 10:7-note)....There is positional sanctification, the (one time) act of God the Holy Spirit setting believing sinners apart in Christ Jesus. This is an act (occurring the moment we believed in the Gospel of Jesus) resulting in a position. There is progressive sanctification, the work of the Holy Spirit producing (over time) in the lives of believers, a set apart life consistent with their new position. This (progressive sanctification) is a process, resulting finally in conformity to the image of Christ in glorification." (Greek Word Studies) Wuest - "The word "saint" is the translation of a Greek word meaning "to set apart," in its verb, and "set apart ones," in its noun form. The pagan Greeks set apart buildings as temples, consecrating them for non-secular, and therefore, religious purposes. These became the objects of veneration and reverence. Thus, saints are believing sinners set apart from sin to holiness, set apart from Satan to God, thus being consecrated for Gods’ sacred fellowship and service. The word "saint" as a designation of a Christian, brings at once to our attention the duty of every believer, that of living a separated life. The words, "saint, sanctify, holy," are all translations of this same Greek root. They all speak of the absolute separation from evil and dedication to God, that must always be true of the Christian believer." (Ibid) Vine - The holy person is not holy because some change has been wrought in him or her, but because such a one has been set apart for God. The designation is common to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:1- note, etc.), and not merely to persons of exceptional godliness, whether living or dead. Sainthood, or sanctification, is not an attainment, but a state into which God calls those who believe on Christ, and in which they begin their course as believers. Sanctification is firstly a relationship with God; it is used also of the separation of a believer from evil things and ways, and must be pursued earnestly and undeviatingly (Heb 12:14-note)." J C
Colossenses 1:2
Wuest commenting on the phrase in Christ observes that "Here again we have separation, for that which surrounds the believer, namely, Christ in whom he is ensphered, separates him from all else." (Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans) William
Colossenses 1:2
Wuest adds that "when things are disjointed, there is lack of harmony and well being (no peace). When they are joined together (the essence of peace), there is both. Hamlet cried, “The times are out of joint. O, cursed spite that I was ever born to set them right.” Peace is defined by Cremer as follows: “a state of untroubled, undisturbed wellbeing.” It is used in contrast to strife, and to denote the absence or end of strife. Our Lord “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20-note) in that He by His death, satisfied the just demands of the law which we broke, thus making it possible for a righteous and holy God to bestow mercy upon a believing sinner and do so without violating His justice. Our Lord thus bound together again the believing sinner and God, thus making peace. There is therefore a state of untroubled, undisturbed wellbeing for the sinner who places his faith in the Saviour. The law of God has nothing against him, and he can look up into the Father’s face unafraid and unashamed. This is justifying peace. But Paul, in writing to the Ephesian saints, was writing to those who were enjoying this kind of peace already. Therefore, the peace he is speaking about is sanctifying peace, that state of untroubled, undisturbed tranquility and wellbeing produced in the heart of the yielded saint by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). We have this peace to the extent that we are yielded to the Spirit and are intelligently conscious of and dependent upon His ministry for us. Illustration of the meaning of "PEACE" - Jim Walton was translating the NT for the Muinane people of La Sabana in the jungles of Colombia. But he was having trouble with the word peace. During this time, Fernando, the village chief, was promised a 20-minute plane ride to a location that would have taken him 3 days to travel by walking. The plane was delayed in arriving at La Sabana, so Fernando departed on foot. When the plane finally came, a runner took off to bring Fernando back. But by the time he had returned, the plane had left. Fernando was livid because of the mix-up. He went to Jim and launched into an angry tirade. Fortunately, Walton had taped the chief's diatribe. When he later translated it, he discovered that the chief kept repeating the phrase, "I don't have one heart." Jim asked other villagers what having "one heart" meant, and he found that it was like saying, "There is nothing between you and the other person." That, Walton realized, was just what he needed to translate the word peace. To have peace with God means that there is nothing--no sin, no guilt, no condemnation--that separates us. And that peace with God is possible only through Christ (Ro 5:1-note). Do you have "one heart" with God? THREE POINTS ON THE "ROCK"- AMONG the safety rules mountain climbers must remember as they scale rocky cliffs is this: Keep three points on the rock (Ed: Meditate on your "Rock" Christ Jesus - Ps 31:2, Ps 62:7, Ps 71:3, Ps 89:26, Ps 94:22, Ps 95:1-see also Christ Our Rock). In other words, before you move a foot, make sure the other foot and both hands are firmly positioned on solid rock (Ed: When you walk spiritually speaking, make sure you feet are firmly planted on the Solid Rock! Play On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand hat's a good safety tip for our spiritual lives as well. To keep from falling, we need to keep a grip on three rock-solid truths: grace, mercy, and peace, the words the apostle Paul often used to begin or conclude his letters. The first message I heard Dr. M. R. DeHaan preach was part of a series of lessons called "Three Sisters of Salvation," which were about these three words. I made up my mind then that I would make these three qualities part of my life. We are given our salvation as a gift of God's grace. His wrath is withheld from us because of His abundant mercy. And His peace enables us to stand in quiet confidence when the howling gales of adversity swirl around us. They will give us security during our spiritual mountain climbing experience. We can appropriate these gifts through prayer and obedience. In the storms of temptation we will not fall if we always keep three points on the Rock. —D C Egner PEACE OF GOD The peace of God is that eternal calm which lies far too deep in the praying, trusting soul to be reached by any external disturbances. (A. T. Pierson) The Peace of God “is not a pretense of peace but a divine reality that the world can neither create nor destroy.” “If we lose inward peace, we lose more than a fortune can buy.” (C H Spurgeon) Other Illustrations of the Peace of God... (1) In 1555, Nicholas Ridley was martyred by burning at the stake because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley’s execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas declined the offer and replied that he meant to go to bed and sleep as quietly as ever he did in his life. Because he knew the PEACE OF GOD, he could rest in the strength of the everlasting arms of his Lord to meet his need. So can we! (2) Horatio Spafford had just been ruined financially by the great Chicago Fire of October, 1871. Shortly thereafter, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit suddenly overwhelmed him with what can only be described as an inrush of SUPERNATURAL PEACE (the peace of God). With tears streaming down his face, he picked up a pen to record his feelings & from his heart filled with the peace of God flowed the timeless words that speak of that peace God provides even though our world is falling apart. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul. (Play Hymn) (3) The Compass on a Steamboat - The compass on board an iron steamboat is placed aloft (at great height in the air), so that it may not be influenced by the metal of the ship. Though the compass is surrounded by that which would put it out of place, the needle faithfully adheres to the pole, because it is set above misleading influence. So it is with the child of God when the Lord has given him/her peace: he/she is lifted beyond the supremacy of his sorrowful surroundings, and his heart is delivered from its sad surroundings. (Spurgeon) (6) During World War II in London there was a blitz bombing at night. The people stayed each night in underground protection. But one Christian lady just stayed at home and slept through all the bombing. When asked about it, she said, “Well, my God neither slumbers nor sleeps, and there’s no need for both of us to stay awake! (8) PEACE WITH GOD is “JUDICIAL” which means that for the believer the “war with God” is over forever. PEACE OF GOD is “EXPERIENTIAL” for it describes the believer’s day by day experience of peace which can be forfeited. This truth was tragically illustrated by the story of the post-WWII Japanese soldier who failed to experience peace, because he had not received news of the end of the war & as a result had hidden in the jungle, more than 20 years after peace had been declared between the United States and Japan. (9) There is what is called "the cushion of the sea." Down beneath the surface that is agitated with storms, and driven about with winds, there is a part of the sea that is never stirred. When we dredge the bottom and bring up the remains of animal and vegetable life, we find that they give evidence of not having been disturbed in the least for hundreds and thousands of years. The peace of God is that eternal calm which, like the cushion of the sea, lies far too deep down to be reached by any external trouble and disturbance, and he who enters into the peace of God, and has the peace of God enter into him, becomes partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm. (James Hastings, Editor - The Christian Doctrine of Peace) (10) There is a story about a submarine that was being tested and as part of its test, it had to remain submerged beneath the surface for a long time. While the submarine was submerged, a powerful storm passed through the area, causing a great deal of damage. When the submarine returned to the harbor, the head of the team that was evaluating the submarine asked the captain, “How did that terrible storm affect you?” The captain looked at the man in surprise and exclaimed, “Storm? We didn’t even know there was one!” The reason for the captain’s surprise was that his submarine had been so far beneath the ocean’s surface that it reached this area known to sailors as “the cushion of the sea.” Although a storm’s high winds may whip the surface into huge waves, the waters in the “cushion” are not even stirred. So while vessels up above were being subjected to turmoil and damage, the submarine down below was not affected. It remained "at peace" so to speak safely set on the “cushion.” This illustration pictures the supernatural peace of God which guards the believer's heart, in response to thankful prayer (Php 4:6-note).
Colossenses 1:3
Wuest: I am giving thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning you, constantly offering petitions Young's Literal: We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you, WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: Eucharistoumen (1PPAI) to theopatri tou kuriou hemon Iesou Christou: Give thanks - Ro 1:8,9 1Co 1:4 Eph 1:15 Php 1:3-5 4:6 1Th 1:2 Colossians 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries We give thanks - Paul and other brethren are praying (? a prayer meeting or separately), a good pattern to imitate (1Cor 11:1).
Colossenses 1:3
Wuest adds that the prefixed preposition pros "gives it the idea of definiteness and directness in prayer, with the consciousness on the part of the one praying that he is talking face to face with God...(thusproseuchomai) speaks also of the consciousness on the part of the one who prays, of the fact of God’s presence and His listening ear. ((Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans ) Detzler proseuchomai is to bring something, and in prayer this pertains to bringing up prayer requests. In early Greek culture an offering was brought with a prayer that it be accepted. Later the idea was changed slightly, so that the thing brought to God was a prayer. In later Greek, prayers appealed to God for His presence. (Detzler, Wayne E: New Testament Words in Today's Language. Victor. 1986) Richards notes that "In classical Greek proseuchomai was the technical term for calling on a deity. The NT transforms the classical stiffness into the warmth of genuine conversation. Such entreaty in the NT is addressed to God or Jesus and typically is both personal and specific. ((Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency) Always (3842) (pantote from pás = all + tóte = then) means at all times. Paul used this word to encourage the Thessalonians that he, Silvanus and Timothy "give thanks to God alwayss (pantote) for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers. (1Th 1:2-note) Writing to the saints at Philippi Paul says he is "always (pantote) offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all. (Php 1:4-note) In the closing of this letter Paul reminds the saints at Colossae that "Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always (pantote) laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. (Col 4:12-note) Paul writes to Philemon that "I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers (Philemon 1:4) Alexander Whyte writes "I am as certain as I am standing here, that the secret of much mischief to our own souls, and to the souls of others, lies in the way that we stint, and starve, and scamp our prayers, by hurrying over them. (Col 4:12-note) Prayer worth calling prayer: prayer that God will call true prayer and will treat as true prayer, takes far more time, by the clock, than one man in a thousand thinks. After all that the Holy Ghost has done to make true prayer independent of times, and of places, and of all kinds of instruments and assistances,--as long as we remain in this unspiritual and undevotional world, we shall not succeed, to be called success, in prayer, without time, and times, and places, and other assistances in prayer. Take good care that you are not spiritual overmuch in the matter of prayer. Take good care lest you take your salvation far too softly, and far too cheaply. If you find your life of prayer to be always so short, and so easy, and so spiritual, as to be without cost and strain and sweat to you, you may depend upon it, you are not yet begun to pray. As sure as you sit there, and I stand here, it is just in this matter of time in prayer that so many of us are making shipwreck of our own souls, and of the souls of others. (Starving Prayer - Alexander Whyte) MY COMPLIMENTS - We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, . . . since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints. —Colossians 1:3, 4 When I receive a compliment, it gives me a warm, inner glow. At times I have felt guilty for enjoying a commendation. After all, isn't that a form of pride? But I have concluded that it is not wrong to feel good when we receive a sincere compliment because of something we have done. By finding pleasure in being commended, we allow others to exercise their gift of encouragement. Their words can lift our spirits. We also show that pride hasn't gained the upper hand in our lives when we praise others. A proud person is so preoccupied with himself that he doesn't notice what others do and has no desire to compliment them. Paul freely commended his friends in Colossae because he knew it would encourage them. And we should do likewise. Give people a pat on the back when they deserve it. Compliment the child who does something well. Commend the single mother who regularly brings her children to church. Encourage the man who keeps helping others even though he receives little appreciation from them. Keep trying to please God and the people around you. No need to feel guilty about feeling good when someone compliments you. —Herbert Vander Lugt For Further Thought How do I respond when someone commends me? Why is it sometimes hard to accept a compliment? Do I freely praise others for their accomplishments? Praise loudly, blame softly International Friendship - We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. —Colossians 1:3 In 1947, Nadia from Bulgaria and Millicent from the United States became pen pals. For years they swapped photos, school experiences, and dreams. Then their letters stopped when government policy banned personal contact with the West. After many years of political upheaval and change, Millicent, on a whim, sent a letter to the last address she had for Nadia. To their delight, the letter got through. Before long, they discovered that both had married doctors and both collected seashells. Forty-eight years after their first letter, the two friends finally met at Miami International Airport, where Millicent exclaimed, “Nadia! I would know you anywhere!’’ The letters of the apostle Paul overflow with affection and gratitude for his friends. In his letter to the Colossians, he wrote: “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” (Col 1:3). His letters also encouraged their walk with Christ (v.10). Any friendship can be a gift from God. But nothing runs deeper than the relationships of those who share a bond in Christ. In fact, Jesus commanded His disciples: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). In Him, friendships are treasures that will last forever. -- By Mart De Haan Of all the many blessings That our gracious Father sends, I thank Him most of all today For loyal-hearted friends. —Halse A true friend is a gift from God. PRAYING LIKE PAUL - It's dark. It's cold. You've been thrown into prison, and you don't know when you'll get out or when you'll eat your next meal. You bow your head to pray. What will you pray for? Safety? Deliverance? A decent meal? If you are the apostle Paul, you pray for something far different. You talk to God about a group of people you have never seen. Colossians 1 gives us a brief record of Paul's prison prayer for the people at the church in Colosse. His words help us see how important intercessory prayer should be--even when we have our own troubles. In Paul's case, he prayed for what he thought this young church needed. He asked God to give them several things, including spiritual understanding (Col 1:9-note), fruitful lives (Col 1:10-note), and strength, patience, and joy (Col 1:11-note). Paul gave thanks and prayed for his fellow believers "always" (Col 1:3). Not just when he felt good. Not just when he was warm and well-fed. Always. How often is our prayer-life interrupted by circumstances that we turn into excuses? Our friends, our family members--even people we don't know--need our intercession. No matter what our difficulty, let's pray for others. --J D Branon We give to others what they need; We show no greater care Than when we give them to the Lord, Surrounding them with prayer. --D J De Haan The best way to influence people for God is to intercede with God for people.
Colossenses 1:4
Wuest: having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the divine, self-sacrificial love which you constantly have for all the saints Young's Literal: having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that is to all the saints SINCE WE HEARD OF YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS: akousantes (AAPMPN) ten pistin humon en Christo Iesou: we : Col 1:9 2 Co 7:7 Eph 1:15 1 Th 3:6 3Jn 1:3,4 faith: Ga 5:6 1 Th 1:3 4:9,10 2 Th 1:3 Philemon 1:5 1Pe 1:21-23 1 Jn 3:14,23 1 Jn 4:16 Colossians 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PAUL'S REASON FOR GIVING THANKS Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus - This simple statement begs the question "Is my (your) faith "audible" to those around us?" Faith is dynamic not static. It affects our life and others hear about it. And God is glorified (Mt 5:16). Eadie - The apostle now expresses the reason why he gave thanks (Col 1:3), the participle (more literally the text reads "having heard") having a causal sense. Similar phraseology occurs in Ephesians 1:15. Paul's heart had been gladdened by the news of their consistency and spiritual advancement, and in the fulness of his joy he offered thanks to God (Col 1:3). Peake agrees - Paul now introduces the grounds of his thankfulness, the good report he has heard as to the faith and love of the Colossians. He refers to it again (Colossians 1:9). (Colossians 1 - The Expositor's Greek Testament) How did he hear? Where was Paul? What did he hear? Who brought Paul the news? How did Paul respond?
Colossenses 1:4
Wuest - The particular love which the Colossian saints had for all the saints was that agape love which is produced in the heart of the yielded saint by the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22, Ro 5:5), a love which impels one to sacrifice one’s self for the object or person loved. (Ibid) There are two sides to the Christian life, both of which are crucial: faith and love. Genuine belief in the truth and experiential love for other believers characterizes every true believer. We are saved by faith; we are saved to love. True saving faith is more than a conviction of the mind. It transforms the heart to love. You have - Notice this possession of love for all saints is their lifestyle (have = present tense). How this convicts so many of us (myself included) whose love is more like a stoplight, sometimes on green (like the Colossians), sometimes on "yellow" (a bit cautiously given or given "with strings" attached) or other times "red" (completely brought to a standstill so to speak!). For (eis) pictures their love as an active, in motion toward others, dynamic process. Wuest adds that "The preposition “to” is not pros “to, towards,” but eis , “into,” showing that the Colossian’s love reached into the very hearts of the other saints. (Ibid) All the saints - Christianity is not exclusive but inclusive because we are all now made one in Christ. The foot of the Cross is the great "leveler" in time and eternity.
Colossenses 1:5
Wuest - Paul speaks of this hope “which is laid up for you in heaven.” “Laid up” is the perfect participle of apokeimai, made up of keimai, “to lie,” as in the sentence, “The book lies on the table,” speaking of its position, and apo “off, away from.” Thus, the compound verb means “to be laid away, to be reserved, put to one side,” metaphorically, “to be reserved for one, awaiting him,” used with the dative of the person involved. The perfect participle gives, “the hope which has been laid away in times past with the present result that it is reserved for and awaiting you.” Lightfoot translates, “which is stored up.” Vincent quotes Bishop Wilson, “Deposited, reserved, put by in store out of reach of all enemies and sorrows.” This hope is laid up in heaven, all of which means that the saints will enjoy it in the future life. There are treasures in heaven earned by the saints while on earth (Matt. 6:20), our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), and we have an inheritance reserved for us in heaven (1Pet. 1:4).