Colossians 2:1

I would that ye knew. Or, “I wish you to know.” Compare 1 Corinthians 11:3. Compare the expression, “I would not have you to be ignorant” (1 Thessalonians 4:13; cf. Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 10:1).

Conflict. Gr. agon, “contest,” “struggle,” “trial,” here a mental struggle, “solicitude,” “anxiety.” For the related verb agonizo see on Ephesians 6:12. Paul’s anxiety, the tears he shed, the agonizing contest against the power of the adversary that he waged — all this, Paul desired the Colossians to know. Little did the believers of Colossae realize the hours Paul had earnestly spent interceding for them.

Laodicea. This town was situated about 10 mi. from the city of Colossae. The state of this church was evidently similar to that of the believers of Colossae. Therefore Paul included them in his devotions.

Not seen. From the language here employed many commentators have drawn the conclusion that Paul was not the founder of the Colossian church, further, that he never visited the church. They believe that the record of the movements of Paul in Acts leaves it very indefinite as to whether Paul ever visited any part of the Lycus Valley, in which Colossae was situated. They do not believe that references to Phrygia necessarily imply a visit to the Lycus Valley, for Phrygia covers a large and vaguely outlined region. The territory is thought to lie considerably to the north and east of the Lycus Valley. On his First Missionary Journey Paul probably came no nearer than 150 mi. (c. 240 km.) from Colossae. On his second and third missionary tours the apostle need not even have approached the region of Colossae. Leaving Galatia to the far north and east, he could have traveled to Ephesus by the Roman road through Sardis. This would have kept him well to the north of the Lycus Valley. Furthermore, on these trips he confined himself to revisiting the churches he had already established, and there is no hint whatever that Colossae was one of them at that early date. Thus the book of Acts leaves the matter of Paul’s visit to Colossae most improbable.

Others contend that Colossians 2:1 does not necessarily imply that Paul had never visited Colossae. They maintain that it is highly unlikely that in his two visits to Phrygia (see Acts 16:6; 18:23) Paul could have missed Colossae entirely. They also maintain that since in his epistle to the Colossians he holds such an intimate connection with many members of the church, he had most likely been there. They interpret Colossians 2:1 thus: “I have much anxiety, not only for you, but even for those who have never seen me.” By this interpretation the Colossians are placed in one group, in contrast with another group whom Paul has not seen face to face.

Further considerations throw light on this question. In his letter to the Colossians the apostle himself speaks as if he had never visited their city. He describes himself as hearing of their faith in Christ and their love for the saints (Colossians 1:4). He recalls the time when he had been encouraged by the recital of their Christian profession and zeal for the principles of the gospel (v. 9; cf. v. 6). Many times during the epistle, Paul had ample opportunity to make reference to his personal contacts with the Colossian believers, but he never does so. He records that they had been taught the principles of the gospel by another, and he also refers to his own preaching. But not once does he couple the two ideas, although the two statements are side by side (cf. Colossians 1:5-8, 21-23, 25, 28, 29; 2:5, 6). Had Paul visited Colossae and worked in that city, one would expect a reference in the epistle to some incident connected with the visit. But Colossians contains not a single such allusion. Although the argument of silence cannot be regarded as conclusive, most commentators agree that it is very unlikely that Paul was the founder of the church at Colossae. Though, perhaps, less certainty exists concerning the possibility of a visit there, this too appears unlikely.