PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE COLOSSIANS

Passage: Colossians 1:1-14

Key verse: 3

NIV

1 Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) and Timothy(C) our brother,

2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ:

Grace(D) and peace to you from God our Father.[b](E)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always thank God,(F) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love(G) you have for all God’s people(H)— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope(I) stored up for you in heaven(J) and about which you have already heard in the true message(K) of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit(L) and growing throughout the whole world(M)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras,(N) our dear fellow servant,[c] who is a faithful minister(O) of Christ on our[d] behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.(P)

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you,(Q) we have not stopped praying for you.(R) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will(S) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e](T) 10 so that you may live a life worthy(U) of the Lord and please him(V) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,(W) 11 being strengthened with all power(X) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,(Y) 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father,(Z) who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance(AA) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.(AB) 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness(AC) and brought us into the kingdom(AD) of the Son he loves,(AE) 14 in whom we have redemption,(AF) the forgiveness of sins.(AG)

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 4:15.
  2. Colossians 1:2 Some manuscripts Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
  3. Colossians 1:7 Or slave
  4. Colossians 1:7 Some manuscripts your
  5. Colossians 1:9 Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding
  6. Colossians 1:12 Some manuscripts us
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Greeting

1 Paul, (A)an apostle of Christ Jesus (B)by the will of God, and Timothy (C)our brother,

2 To the (D)saints and faithful brothers[a] in Christ at Colossae:

(E)Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 (F)We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of (G)your faith in Christ Jesus and of (H)the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of (I)the hope (J)laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in (K)the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed (L)in the whole world it is (M)bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you (N)heard it and understood (O)the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from (P)Epaphras our beloved (Q)fellow servant.[b] He is (R)a faithful minister of Christ on your[c] behalf 8 and has made known to us your (S)love in the Spirit.

9 And so, (T)from the day we heard, (U)we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that (V)you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all (W)spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as (X)to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, (Y)fully pleasing to him: (Z)bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 (AA)being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for (AB)all endurance and patience (AC)with joy; 12 (AD)giving thanks[d] to the Father, who has qualified you[e] to share in (AE)the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He (AF)has delivered us from (AG)the domain of darkness and transferred us to (AH)the kingdom of (AI)his beloved Son, 14 (AJ)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 1:2 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
  2. Colossians 1:7 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word sundoulos, see Preface
  3. Colossians 1:7 Some manuscripts our
  4. Colossians 1:12 Or patience, with joy giving thanks
  5. Colossians 1:12 Some manuscripts us
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

INTRODUCTION TO COLOSSIANS

The book of Colossians was written as a letter from Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae. It was one of several letters that were written while Paul was in prison. Although Paul had never met the Colossians in person, he loved them and struggled for them in prayer. He gave thanks for the fruit the gospel was bearing in their lives. He prayed for them to have the full knowledge of God's will for their lives. Epaphras, the leader of the Colossian church, was with Paul at the time and no doubt shared his love and concerns for them. Paul's writing addresses several false teachings that were creeping into the church. These included concerns about the influence of Judaism, legalism, and Gnosticism.

In response, Paul reminds the church, in a powerful way, of the supremacy of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient in every way and there is no additional knowledge or understanding that can be added to the gospel. Jesus is the image of God and contains the fullness of God in his person. All of creation, in heaven and on earth, was created through him and for his glory. He is the one who holds the universe together by the mighty power of his word. The church was born through his death and resurrection. He is the firstborn of the church and the head of its body. Paul explains how the wonderful fullness of Christ manifests itself in the lives of the believers. It shapes our character, our fellowship with other believers, the relationships in our families, our prayer lives, and our conduct.

May God bless you to grow in the knowledge of Christ and to experience his fullness as you prayerfully meditate on this magnificent letter.

1. Thanksgiving (1-8)

Paul gave thanks to God for the fruit that the gospel was bearing in the Colossian church and around the world. Where did their wonderful faith in Christ and love for each other come from? It all began when Epaphras shared the gospel with them. They heard the good news of salvation and received God's grace. This led to an unshakable hope in the kingdom of God, and this new and joyous hope became the source of their abundant faith and love. It is really something to be thankful for, isn't it? Thank God for the wonderful fruit that is growing in the lives of all believers today.

2. A knowledge of God's will (9-14)

Paul prayed for the Colossians to have the wisdom and understanding that comes from the Spirit so that they may know God's will for their lives. The best life is the life that is lived in a way that is worthy of Christ and is pleasing to him. It is a life that bears fruit in good deeds, grows in the knowledge of God, endures and perseveres by God's strength, and is full of joy and thanksgiving. This is our prayer for each other and the life the redeemed in Christ are to seek with all their hearts.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the gospel of Jesus.

One Word: The gospel is bearing fruit!