John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:5
For though I be absent in the flesh ,.... Or body, as the Ethiopic version reads it, and as it is expressed in 1 Corinthians 5:3 ; here the apostle anticipates an objection which might be made, how he could have such a conflict and concern for them, and express so much affection for them, and know so much of their affairs, in what condition and situation they were, and how liable to be deceived by false teachers, when he was absent from them, and had never been among them. That he had... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:4
And this I say ,.... That he had such a conflict for them, and had told them of his care and fear on their account, and had signified his great desire that they might arrive to a more large and certain knowledge of the mysteries of grace, and had asserted that all solid spiritual wisdom and knowledge were in Christ; all which he said, to show his affection for them; to observe unto them, that there was no need to seek for wisdom and knowledge elsewhere, since there was such a fulness of it... read more