Colossians 1:7-8

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 1:7

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 1:7

As ye also learned of Epaphras - who is for you - Who this Epaphras was we cannot tell; only it is likely that he was a Colossian, and became, by the call and grace of Christ, a deacon of this Church, faithfully labouring with the apostle, to promote its best interests. Some think that he is the same with Epaphroditus, Epaphras being a contraction of that name, as Demas is of Demetrius; and it is remarkable that one of the Slavonic versions has Epaphroditus in this place. That he was a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:8

Your love in the Spirit - So we preached, and so ye believed. The heavenly flame in the heart of this minister communicated itself to those who heard him; it was like priest like people. They enjoyed a spiritual, energetic ministry, and they were a spiritual people; they had a loving spirit, and love through the Spirit of God which dwelt in them. And of this love of theirs in the Spirit, and particularly towards the apostle, Epaphras gave full proof, not only by describing to the apostle the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:8

Verse 8 Love in the Spirit I take to mean, spiritual love, according to the view of Chrysostom, with whom, however, I do not agree in the interpretation of the preceding words. Now, spiritual love is of such a nature as has no view to the world, but is consecrated to the service of piety, (286) and has, as it were, an internal root, while carnal friendships depend on external causes. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 1:1-8

The hope laid up in heaven. This Epistle, written from Rome to meet and overmaster the "Colossian heresy," begins with a salutation somewhat similar to those at the beginning of other Epistles. There is the assertion of Paul's apostleship as direct from Christ; there is the statement of the brotherhood of Timothy, and the desire that grace and peace may be the constant portion of the saints and faithful brethren at Colossal. But, having thus started, Paul immediately passes to an account... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 1:1-14

SECTION I. INTRODUCTION . The Epistle commences, in St. Paul's manner, with a salutation ( Colossians 1:1 , Colossians 1:2 ), followed by thanksgiving ( Colossians 1:3-8 ) and prayer ( Colossians 1:9-14 ). Only in 2 Thessalonians, however, outside of the Epistles of this group, do we find a formal opening prayer. The salutation agrees closely with that of Ephesians. read more

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