Colossians 1:3-8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 1:3-8

Here he proceeds to the body of the epistle, and begins with thanksgiving to God for what he had heard concerning them, though he had no personal acquaintance with them, and knew their state and character only by the reports of others. I. He gave thanks to God for them, that they had embraced the gospel of Christ, and given proofs of their fidelity to him. Observe, In his prayers for them he gave thanks for them. Thanksgiving ought to be a part of every prayer; and whatever is the matter of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 1:2-8

1:2-8 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you in our prayers; for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love you have to all God's dedicated people, because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven. Of that hope you have already heard in the true word of the gospel, which has come to you, just as in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as it did among you too, from that day on... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 1:2-8

Colossians 1:6-8 are a kind of summary of what the gospel is and does. Paul has much to say of the hope, to which the Colossians have already listened and which they have already accepted. (i) The gospel is good news of God. Its message is of a God who is a Friend and Lover of the souls of men. First and foremost, the gospel sets us in a right relationship with God. (ii) The gospel is truth. All previous religions could be entitled "guesses about God." The Christian gospel gives a man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:3

We give thanks to God ,.... Meaning himself and Timothy. This is the beginning of the epistle, which is introduced with a thanksgiving to God; to whom praise and thankfulness are always due as a Creator and preserver, as the author of all good things, as the Father of mercies, temporal and spiritual, and as the covenant God and Father of his people through Christ: wherefore it follows, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ; the sense of which either is, that God the Father, who is the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:4

Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus ,.... This expresses the matter of their thankfulness, or what it was they gave thanks to God for, their faith in Christ; by which is not only meant their hearty assent to the whole doctrine of faith, concerning the person, offices, and grace of Christ, their soundness and steadfastness in it, and their sincere and constant profession of it; but the grace of faith in them, the operation of the Spirit of God in their souls, which had not Moses, nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:5

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven ,.... These words may be considered either in connection with the foregoing, and express the reason or motive which encouraged these saints to believe in Christ, and to go on believing in him, and hold fast the profession of their faith in him, and to love the saints, and show it upon all occasions, and in every case; because of the rich treasure of glory and happiness in reserve for them in heaven, which they were hoping and waiting for; this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:6

Which is come unto you ,.... That is, the Gospel, which came to them from God, from heaven, from Christ, out of Jerusalem, from whence the word of the Lord was to come, by the ministers of the Gospel, who being sent, came to Colosse, and there preached it; and so the Syriac version renders the words הי דאתכרזת , "which is preached unto you". And a wonderful instance of the free grace of God this was; they did not seek, inquire for, and go after the Gospel, but it came to them; and so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:7

As ye also learned of Epaphras ,.... To know the grace of God, believe the truth of the Gospel, and to own and profess it sincerely, Our dear fellow servant ; a "servant" of Christ he was, and a "fellow" servant of the apostles, jointly engaged with them in preaching the Gospel; which character, as it greatly commends Epaphras, and shows him to be a very considerable preacher of the word, so it expresses the great humility and condescension of the apostle, in putting him upon a level... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:8

Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. Not only their love to God, and Christ, and to all the saints, which is before mentioned, but their love to the apostle; though they had only heard of him, and of his great capacity for, and faithfulness and usefulness in preaching of the Gospel, which had greatly endeared him to them. This, he says, was in the Spirit; it was spiritual love, to distinguish it from a carnal and worldly one; they loved him for the spiritual grace that was in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:3

We give thanks to God - Who is the author of all good; and from whom the grace, which has produced your conversion, has sprung by his mission of Christ Jesus. See the note on Ephesians 1:15 , Ephesians 1:16 ; (note). read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 1:3-8

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 1:2-8

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 1:2-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:3

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