Colossians 1:3 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

We give thanks, &c. See on Romans 1:8; to God and the Father Or, even the Father of our Lord, &c.; or, as the original expression is still more literally rendered, To the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: praying always for you Making express mention of you in all our addresses to the throne of grace; since we heard Ακουσαντες, having heard; of your faith, &c. See on Ephesians 1:15; for the hope which is laid up for you Namely, the hope of eternal life. The apostle's meaning seems to be, that he gave thanks for this their hope, the fourth verse coming in as a parenthesis; whereof Of which blessedness in heaven; ye heard before I wrote to you, in the word of the truth of the gospel The true gospel preached to you; which Through the singular goodness of God to the Gentiles, whom he seemed so long to have neglected; is come to you At Colosse; as it is in all the world In all parts of the Roman empire. So the phrase often signifies; and bringeth forth fruit Is instrumental in turning men from idolatry, and all vicious practices, and of producing in them faith and holiness. At the time this epistle was written, probably A.D. 64, the gospel had been preached and received in most of the countries within the Roman empire, and had produced a great change in the manners of those who received it. The apostle made this observation to confirm the Colossians in the faith of the gospel, which, by its rapid progress, and happy influence in reforming mankind, was plainly declared to be from God. As also in you Among whom it hath produced a great reformation; since the day ye heard it, and knew, or acknowledged, the grace of God in truth Truly experienced its efficacy in your hearts. As ye learned of Epaphras From the epistle to Philemon, (Colossians 1:23,) which was sent at the same time with this to the Colossians, it appears that Epaphras was in prison at Rome when the apostle wrote. But it is probable he did not choose to mention that circumstance in a letter directed to the whole church of the Colossians, lest it might have grieved them too much. Our dear fellow-servant Of Paul and Timotheus; who is for you a faithful minister of Christ Appointed by him to labour among you and to watch over you: the apostle bore this honourable testimony to Epaphras, that the Colossians might not suffer themselves to be drawn away from the doctrine which they had received from him; who declared your love in the Spirit That is, the love wrought in you by the Spirit of God.