For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
For. To be joined with the words preceding: 'the love which ye have (continue having) to all the salute because of х dia (G1223): on account of] the hope' (here, the thing hoped for), etc. Hope of eternal life will never be inactive, but will always produce "love." This passage is abused by Romanists, as if the hope of salvation depended upon works. It does not follow that our hope is founded on works of love because we are stimulated by hope to live well; since nothing is more effectual for this than the sense of God's free grace (Calvin). Our hope resting on grace, being confident of the heavenly inheritance with the saints (Acts 26:18), leads us instinctively to love them.
Laid up - a treasure laid up, set apart, out of danger of being lost (2 Timothy 4:8): faith, love, and hope (Colossians 1:4-5), the sum of Christianity (cf. Colossians 1:23).
In heaven - Greek, 'in the heavens.'
Whereof ye heard before - namely, when preached to you. In the word ... That "hope" formed part of "the word of the truth of (announced in) the Gospel" (cf. Ephesians 1:13); i:e., part of the Gospel truth preached unto you.