Colossians 1:9 - Exposition

For this cause we also ( Ephesians 1:15-17 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 ). Timothy and I, in return for your love to us ( Colossians 1:8 ) and in response to this good news about you ( Colossians 1:4-6 ). From the day that we heard (it); an echo of "from the day that ye heard it" ( Colossians 1:6 ). Do not cease praying for you, and making request. The former is a general expression ( Colossians 1:3 ), the latter points to some special matter of petition to follow. This second verb St. Paul only uses elsewhere of prayer to God in Ephesians 3:13 , Ephesians 3:20 (see Trench's 'Synonyms' on αἱτέω , αἵτημα ). That ye may be filled with (or, made complete in ) the knowledge of his will ( Colossians 2:10 ; Colossians 4:12 ; Ephesians 3:18 , Ephesians 3:19 ; Romans 12:2 ; Hebrews 13:21 ). On "knowledge" ( ἐπίγνωσις ), see note. to Ephesians 3:6 , and Lightfoot's note here. "With the knowledge" represents the Greek accusative of specification (as in Philippians 1:11 , where see Ellicott); and the verb πληρωθῆτε (comp. note on plēroma, Ephesians 3:19 ), as in Colossians 2:10 and Colossians 1:25 , denotes "fulfilled" or "made complete," rather than "made full"—"made complete as to the full knowledge," etc. "His will" ("God's will," Colossians 1:1 ; Colossians 4:12 ) need not be limited to the original purpose of salvation ( Ephesians 1:9 ), or to his moral requirements respecting Christian believers ( Colossians 1:10 ; so Meyer), but includes "the whole counsel of God" ( Acts 20:27 ) made known to us in Christ ( Colossians 1:26 , Colossians 1:27 ). In all spiritual wisdom and understanding ( Colossians 2:2 ; Ephesians 5:17 ; Philippians 1:9 ; 1 Corinthians 14:20 ). Wisdom, in its highest sense, is the sum of personal excellence as belonging to the mind; it implies a vital knowledge of Divine truth, forming the sentiments and determining the will as it possesses the reason, Hence the word occurs in a great variety of connections:

"Wisdom and knowledge" ( Colossians 2:3 ), "and prudence" ( Ephesians 1:8 ), etc. For this Church the apostle asks specially the gift of understanding or comprehension, (comp. Colossians 2:2 ; only in Ephesians 3:4 and 2 Timothy 2:7 besides, in St. Paul; 1 Corinthians 1:19 from LXX ), the power of putting things together ( σύν - εσις ), of discerning the relations of different truths, the logical bearing and consequences of one's principles. For the errors invading Colossae were of a Gnostic type, mystic at once and rationalistic; against which a clear and well-informed understanding was the best protection (comp. notes on "truth," in Colossians 1:5 , Colossians 1:6 ; also Colossians 2:4 , Colossians 2:8 , Colossians 2:18 , Colossians 2:23 ; Ephesians 4:13 , Ephesians 4:14 ). This "wisdom and understanding" are "spiritual," as inspired by the Divine Spirit (comp. the use of "spirit," "spiritual," in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 ; Galatians 6:1 and Galatians 5:16 , Galatians 5:25 ; Ephesians 1:17 ; Ephesians 3:16-19 ), and opposed to all "wisdom of the flesh," the unrenewed nature of man ( Colossians 2:18 ; 1 Corinthians 2:4-6 , 1 Corinthians 2:13-15 ; James 3:15 ).