Colossians 1:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ To convince the Colossians that all the things contained in this epistle were dictated by the Spirit of God, and therefore were at once infallibly true, and deeply important, the apostle begins with assuring them both that he was an apostle of Jesus Christ, and that he was made such by the will of God the Father, an honour which none of the false teachers could claim. And Timothy our brother “Timothy's early piety, his excellent endowments, his approved faithfulness, and his affectionate labours in the gospel with the apostle, well known to most, if not to all, the Gentile churches, rendering him highly worthy of their regard, Paul allowed him to join in writing several of the letters which he addressed to these churches: not, however, to add any thing to his own authority, but rather to add to Timothy's influence; for which purpose also he calls him here his brother, rather than his son.” Macknight. To the saints and faithful brethren The word saints expresses their union with God, and brethren, their union with their fellow-Christians.