Colossians 2:5

For He means that he knows the need of such warning, though he is so far away. He is close to them "in spirit."

in the spirit Is this the human spirit or the Divine? 1 Corinthians 5:4 (with 3) appears to decide for the former. It is scarcely enough to say (as Lightfoot) that this is "the common antithesis of flesh and spirit, or body and spirit;" for in many important passages (e.g. Galatians 5:16-18) the antithesis to "the flesh" is precisely the Divine Spirit dwelling in the man. And here the meaning might well be (cp. 2 Corinthians 12:2-3) that in some way supernatural the Holy Spirit gave him, in spite of bodily absence, a mysterious presence of intuitive consciousness. But the tone of the context is in favour of a simpler meaning; and "flesh," here used evidently in its most literal sense, points the same way. And so the words "my spirit" (1 Corinthians 5:4) present a true parallel and explanation; though even there a certain mystery seems to be indicated. He is presentin the sense of spiritual love and influence. Jerome compares Elisha and Gehazi (2 Kings 5:26).

joying and beholding The "joy" of what he hears of them leads him more vividly to "behold" them, as if in actual view. Observe his loving wish to dwell even here on their brighter side.

order … stedfastness Both words are military; Lightfoot renders them orderly array and solid front respectively. "The enforced companionship of St Paul with the soldiers of the Prætorian Guard at this time (Philippians 1:13) might have suggested this image. At all events in the contemporary Epistle (Ephesians 6:14 sq.) we have an elaborate metaphor from the armour of a soldier" (Lightfoot).

" Stedfastness(solidity) of your faith" :cp. Acts 16:5 (lit., "grew solid in(or by) their faith"); 1 Peter 5:9 (lit., "whom resist, solid in(or by) your faith"). The "solidity" in all these places implies at once the compact spiritual steadiness of the community and (the true and necessary condition to such steadiness) the simplicity and thoroughness of the individual as a believer.