Colossians 1:9,10

9. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10. to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Translation and Paraphrase

9. On account of this (love which you have) we also, since the day when we (first) heard (about it), do not cease praying and making request (to God) in behalf of you, that you may be filled with the precise knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10. (And that you may have the motivation and strength) to walk (and live) worthily of the Lord, (making it your goal to attain) unto ever (thing) pleasing (to God), bearing fruit and increasing in the precise knowledge of God.

Notes

1.

1:9-13 contains Paul's prayer of request for the Colossians. His prayer contains two requests: (1) that they be filled with the knowledge of God's will; (2) that they walk (that is, live) worthily of the Lord.

These are comprehensive requests. They sum up everything that is of real importance in the Christian life. What more could we ask than that we know God's will and that we do it? Physical needs will be cared for if we know and do God's will.

2.

Paul not only had a constant gratitude (Colossians 1:3), but also a continuing prayer (Colossians 1:9)· Compare Ephesians 1:15-19.

3.

Let us join Paul in prayer that we all may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. We all have a long way to go to attain this. There are vast portions of the Bible with which most of us have almost no acquaintance. Furthermore it is probably pure presumption to say that we really know the parts with which we are acquainted.

Until we sense how very little we know, we really know nothing at all. 1 Corinthians 8:2.

We should stop trying to make God listen to us, and begin listening to God.

4.

Paul's prayer that they might know God's will was perhaps a dig at the Gnostics, who thought that they knew all. See Introductory Study on Gnosticism.

5.

We ate to be filled with precise knowledge of God's will. The Greek word for knowledge here is epignosis, a somewhat stronger word than gnosis, basic knowledge. Compare 2 Timothy 3:7.

6.

The implications of the phrase in all wisdom and spiritual understanding are very broad. These words recall to our minds the introduction to Proverbs, which says that that book was written so that we might know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding. (Proverbs 1:12.) Thus it seems to us that Paul was praying that the Colossians might know all of the practical godliness portrayed in Proverbs and other parts of God's word.

7.

Paul wanted the Colossians to walk (live) worthily of the Lord. They were to translate the knowledge of God into human situations. How sad it is to see a man who is a master of theology and a failure in living.

The concept of a worthy walk, a worthy way of life, is very common in Paul's writings. Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:12.

8.

To walk worthily. unto all pleasing means simply unto every pleasing thing. To arrive at the point where pleasing God is more important to us than pleasing ourselves should be our goal.

9.

There are four participles or participial phrases in Colossians 1:10-12 that describe what Paul meant when he said that we were to walk worthily of the Lord:

(1)

being fruitful; Colossians 1:10.

(2)

Increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:10.

(3)

Strengthened with all might; Colossians 1:11.

(4)

Giving thanks; Colossians 1:12.

10.

Bring fruitful in every good work is a primary goal for every Christian's life. A plant or tree lives for the purpose of blooming and beaing fruit and reproducing itself; likewise fruit-bearing should be the purpose of our existence as Christians. The fruit of a Christian's life includes such things as holy living, a good influence, relief of human misery, and soul won to Christ. See Romans 1:13; John 4:36; John 15:4-5; John 15:16; Philippians 1:22; Colossians 1:6; 2 Peter 1:8.

11.

Paul's phrase in Colossians 1:10 about increasing in the knowledge of God seems at first glance to be a repetition of the prayer in Colossians 1:9 that we be filled with the knowledge of God, and in truth it is a repetition. (Both verses use the word epignosis, meaning precise knowledge.) In Colossians 1:10 increasing in knowledge is mentioned as a part of our worthy walk, and not as something distinct from it. Christian knowledge and Christian living are in one way distinct items (as in Colossians 1:9), and yet in another way they are inseparable (as in Colossians 1:10).

Study and Review

21.

To what cause does Paul refer in Colossians 1:9?

22.

What did Paul not cease to do after hearing about the Colossians?

23.

What two things did Paul pray for and request concerning the Colossians? (Colossians 1:9-10)

24.

What sort of knowledge did Paul want the Colossians to have?

25.

What does to walk in Colossians 1:10 mean?

26.

What are the four participles (or participial phrases) in Colossians 1:10-12 which describe the worthy walk?

27.

In what are we to bear fruit? (Colossians 1:10)

28.

In what are we to increase?