Colossians 1:1-29
Paul’s many parenthetical expressions often make for difficult reading. Here is what I distilled today by leaving out some of those expressions: …the gospel…in the whole world…is bearing fruit and increasing… (vv. 5b-6a) Paul is reporting on the spread of the Gospel “in the whole world”. He knows (without personal mention) that he himself has been largely responsible for that advance, but he is also seeing the Gospel move through other people – specifically in today’s reading Paul mentions Epaphras’ ministry to these Colossians. But also, we just read a few days ago of Paul’s reception in Rome, how many Christians came out to meet him – and he had never been there! So there is much truth in his statement – the whole (known) world…!
Looking at the verbs in verses 9b to 12a: …that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks… We learned early-on that verbs were action words. There’s a lot of action going on in individual lives in these few verses! How about us? It would be an interesting exercise to look at each of those verbs and see if that verb applies to our walk with the Lord.
See also: August 19 / Colossians 1:1-8; August 20 / Colossians 1:9-20; August 21 / Colossians 1:21-29
I was struck by vv. 9-12 as well, Fred. Great action verbs. The lead in is that these are the things Paul is praying for Christians in Colossae possibly those he did not know personally. These prayers can help me focus when I lift up persecuted Christians, distant Christians, and my fellow believers here too.
Christ in me, the hope of glory, v 27. IMHO, Christ is the mystery, hidden in the OT in prophesies, but now revealed to all. Christ is present in every believer through the Holy Spirit. Amazing! The hope, expectation of glory – we are redeemed, made new, and the whole earth will be made new! Now that’s glory!