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Colossians 1:4-8

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

4. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love [which ye have] to all the saints, 5. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6. Which is come unto you, as [it is] in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as [it doth] also in you, since the day ye heard [of it], and knew the grace of God in truth: 7. As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8. Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Colossians 1:4-8 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Colossians 1:4

Theological / Devotional

We heard. News of conditions in the church at Colossae was brought by Epaphras (vs. 7, 8).

Faith. Faith in Christ is not simply confidence and trust in Him as a person; it is complete subordination to the will of God and unquestioning reliance in His program. It is man’s acceptance of God’s way.

In Christ Jesus. Paul pictures Christ as the sphere in which the Christian lives, in the same way as the air is the medium in which his body exists. The one who is “in Christ” is bounded and circumscribed by his Saviour’s principles and laws; he lives by them and in them. Jesus is the source and the protector of his life. Within this circle that embraces everything for which Jesus stands as the Christ of God, true faith operates (see Eph. 1:15; Him. 3:13; 2 Tim. 1:13 ; 3:15).

Love. Gr. agape (see on 1 Cor. 13:1). Actuated by the principle of love to God and love for the brethren, all Christians will blend together. This attitude results in affection for all saints. Genuine faith toward God can produce nothing less. Paul is overjoyed at the developing Christian experience of the Colossian believers.

By SdaBc