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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Colossians 1:10

To walk worthily of the Lord

(περιπατησα αξιως του Κυριου). This aorist active infinitive may express purpose or result. Certainly this result is the aim of the right knowledge of God. "The end of all knowledge is conduct" (Lightfoot). See 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 4:1 for a like use of αξιως (adverb) with the genitive.In the knowledge of God

(τη επιγνωσε του θεου). Instrumental case, "by means of the full knowledge of God." This is the way for fruit-bearing and growth to come. Note both participles (καρποφορουντες κα αυξανομενο) together as in verse Colossians 1:6.Unto all pleasing

(εις πασαν αρεσκιαν). In order to please God in all things (1 Thessalonians 4:1). Αρεσκια is late word from αρεσκευω, to be complaisant (Polybius, Plutarch) and usually in bad sense (obsequiousness). Only here in N.T., but in good sense. It occurs in the good sense in the papyri and inscriptions.

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See also Colossians 1:10 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 10. _THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD_] Suitably to your Christian profession, exemplifying its holy doctrines by a holy and useful life. Ephesians 4:1; and on _"_Philippians 1:27_"_. _UN...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD - That you may live as becomes the followers of the Lord. How this was to be done he states in this and the following verses. UNTO ALL PLEASING - So as to please...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE PERSON OF CHRIST, His GLORY AND His WORK CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction (Colossians 1:1)_ 2. The prayer (Colossians 1:9) 3. The person and glory of Christ, Head o...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    A PARAGRAPH OF PRAYER. Paul reciprocates their prayers for him. He constantly offers petition on their behalf since first he heard of them. He desires for them (_a)_ fulness of knowledge to discern th...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    CHRISTIAN GREETINGS (Colossians 1:1) _ 1:1 This is a letter from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and from Timothy, the brother, to the dedicated people of God and faithful brothe...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    That, in fact, is why, from the day we heard about it, we do not cease to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with an ever-growing knowledge of his will, in all spiritual wisdom and understand...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THAT YE MIGHT. To. WORTHY. worthily. PLEASING. Greek. _areskeia._ Only here. BEING FRUITFUL. fruit BEARING (v Colossians 1:6). IN. App-104. The texts read "by " (dative)....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _walk_ A very frequent word in St Paul; most frequent in Eph., where see Colossians 4:1 for a close parallel. See 1 Thessalonians 2:12 for one still closer verbally. The word denotes life in its actio...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΗ͂ΣΑΙ. Probably epexegetic, see Acts 15:10; Luke 1:54; 1 Samuel 12:23; Pss. Sol. 2:28. It may be due to the influence of Hebrew, in which both the construct (e.g....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    9–14. _Prayer for the Colossians, with reason for gratitude on their part to God, viz. their emancipation in Christ_. This forms a transition to a fuller account of the relation of the Son to the Fath...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΉΣΑΙ _aor. act. inf. от_ ΠΕΡΊ.ΠΑΤΈΩ (G4043) ходить, вести образ жизни (Dunn). _Inf._ выражает намеченные или потенциальные результаты (IBG, 141; BD, 197f; _см._ Lewis Johnson, Jr., "Spiritual K...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2167 PRAYER FOR GROWTH IN GRACE Colossians 1:9. We do not cease to pray for you that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye mig...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY, &C.— The Apostle seems here most pathetically to propose the great subject and design of this Epistle; which was chiefly intended to excite them to a temper and behaviour wo...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    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, 1...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 'So as to walk,' etc. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 "Paul, a commissioner of Christ Jesus," introduces us to a glorified Christ in heaven and invokes the authority vested in Paul as His legate. Contrast the character assumed by Paul in Philippians. 4...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    1:10 knowledge (f-23) _ Epignosis_ , i.e. 'full knowledge,' as chs. 2.2; 3.10; Matthew 11:27 ; Ephesians 1:17 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SUPREMACY AND ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST 1-8. Salutation to the Colossian Christians, and thanksgiving for the news of their spiritual state. PARAPHRASE. '(1, 2) Paul and Timothy salute the saints...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    RM 'by the knowledge.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST HAS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED THE COLOSSIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ A word list is at the end. It explains words with a *star by them. INTRODUCTION THE WRITER Paul wrote this letter. He was in...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WALK WORTHY (_worthily_) OF THE LORD. Here St. Paul begins to dwell on the practical life, much in the same spirit in which, in Ephesians 4:1, he returns from the profound thought of Colossians 2:3 to...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (9-12) From thanksgiving St. Paul passes, as always, to pray for them. The prayer is for their full and perfect knowledge of God’s will; but this is emphatically connected with practical “walking” in...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 1 THE PRAYER Colossians 1:9 (R.V.) WE have here to deal with one of Paul's prayers for his brethren. In some respects these are the very topmost pinnacles of his letters. Nowhere else does h...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    PAUL'S UNCEASING PRAYER FOR THAT MORAL DISCERNMENT WHICH WILL ENABLE THEM TO PLEASE GOD IN ALL THEIR CONDUCT, THAT STRENGTH WHICH WILL GIVE THEM ENDURANCE IN FACE OF ALL PROVOCATION AND TRIAL, AND THA...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    περιπατῆσαι ἀξίως τοῦ Κυρίου (_Cf._ Ephesians 4:1). This lofty wisdom and insight is not an end in itself. It must issue in right practice. Doctrine and ethics are for Paul inseparable. Right conduct...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    OUR WONDROUS PRIVILEGES IN CHRIST Colossians 1:9 Here is a paragraph which may fitly form part of our daily intercession for ourselves and others. We all need a quicker insight into God's will, and t...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This letter is correlative to the Ephesians, and shows the glory of the Head of the Church as at her disposal. After expressing his thankfulness for the faith, love, and hope of the saints, Paul tells...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Paul's Prayer for the Church at Colossae From the time Paul heard of the love of the truth which the Colossian brethren possessed, Paul prayed without undue interval, or without ceasing, that they sh...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Worthy of God: Greek: axios tou kuriou. So St. Ambrose and the Greek doctors; or thus, worthily, pleasing God, and this not by faith only, but fruitful in every good work. (Ibid.) --- God, in [1] all...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (9) For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The most cursory reader discerns at once that the epistle to the Colossians is the counterpart of that to the Ephesians. They are in nowise the same, but may be viewed each as a supplement to the othe...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _ALL PLEASING_ ‘That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.’ Colossians 1:10 It is not quite easy to determine whether the ‘all pleasing’ means, ‘to please all persons,’ or to ‘please...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _A THREEFOLD APPEAL_ ‘That ye might walk worthy or the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.’ Colossians 1:10 St. Paul is speaking of th...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    10._That ye may walk worthy of God. _In the _first _place he teaches, what is the end of _spiritual understanding_, and for what purpose we ought to make proficiency in God’s school — that we may _wal...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Epistle to the Colossians looks at the Christian as risen with Christ, but not, as in that to the Ephesians, as sitting in heavenly places in Christ. A hope is laid up for him in heaven; he is to...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD,.... The Vulgate Latin version reads, "of God"; to which the Ethiopic version agrees; but rather the Lord Jesus Christ seems to be designed: and to "walk worthy...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Ver. 10. _That ye might walk worthy_] By walking before God, with G...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _For this cause_ The report of your faith and love; _we do not cease to pray for you_ We fail not to remember you in all our prayers. This was mentioned in general, Colossians 1:3, but now more partic...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    UNTO ALL PLEASING; in a manner constantly or every way pleasing to God....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The apostle's intercession for the Colossian Christians:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD UNTO ALL PLEASING, BEING FRUITFUL IN EVERY GOOD WORK AND INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD;...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SALUTATION (vs.1-2) Paul writes with apostolic authority and by the will of God, so that total subjection to what he writes is rightly called for on the part of believers. Yet he adds, "and Timot...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    Paul's Prayer for them - 1:9-14 9FOR THIS REASON WE ALSO, SINCE THE DAY WE HEARD IT, DO NOT CEASE TO PRAY FOR YOU, AND TO ASK THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL IN ALL WISDOM AND S...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    TO WALK WORTHILY OF THE LORD UNTO ALL PLEASING, BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK, AND INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD; 'TO WALK' -i.e. to live, conduct oneself. 'WORTHILY OF THE LORD' -(Ephesians...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    9-14 The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give stren...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THAT YE MIGHT WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD: they prayed for the above mentioned gracious habits, that the Colossians might exercise them in a course of life as it becomes those who are effectually called b...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian On Exhortation to Chastity For it is our duty so to walk in the Lord's discipline as is "worthy,"[58]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Colossians 1:10 you G5209 walk G4043 (G5658) worthy G516 Lord G2962 G1519 fully G3956 pleasing G699 fruitful...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL'S PRAYER THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE UNDERSTANDING, AND STRENGTH (COLOSSIANS 1:9). Once Paul had learned of their response to Christ he and his fellow-workers had begun to pray for them constantly. Thei...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘To walk worthily of the Lord, pleasing in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.' Their continuing prayer was further that this would result in a walk th...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    I. DOCTRINAL PART: CHRIST THE HEAD OF ALL THINGS. This division of the Epistle resembles the doctrinal part of Ephesians (chaps, 1-3.); but here the Person of Christ is more prominent; there Christ as...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Colossians 1:10. TO WALK. The best authorities omit the subject (answering to ‘ye') of the Greek infinitive. Hence it is best to render by the English infinitive, especially as this verse does not dep...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2. _The Apostles Prayer for their Progress in the Knowledge of Christ as Head of all Things_. The Apostle's thanksgiving is naturally followed by the mention of his petition for the Colossians. The im...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Colossians 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Apostolic greeting and prayer. The superiority of Christ. His reconciling work. The mystery of His indwelling. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Timothy, Epaphras. CONCLUSION: He...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Colossians 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ._ This is noticed in 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2. He generally opens his addresses to the churches much in the same form of benediction, for...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE. They would praise God with their lives, by living as he wants them to do. FRUITFUL. Good works and knowledge honor God....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _To pray for you and desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge._ THE PRAYER I. The fountain or root of all Christian character. “That ye might be filled … understanding.” 1. The thing desir...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you._ THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIVINE WILL The petition asks-- I. For a bestowment of a knowledge of the divine will as attai...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:10 SO AS. The “wisdom and understanding” (v. Colossians 1:9) would then lead to changed lives, for it would enable these Christians...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:9 Prayer. Paul reports how he regularly prays for the Colossians. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Colossians 1:9. DO NOT CEASE TO PRAY FOR YOU, AND TO DESIRE.—R.V. “pray and make request.” The general notion comes first, then the particulars; so in Mark 11:24. In t...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION COLOSSIANS 1:1 SECTION I. INTRODUCTION. The Epistle commences, in St. Paul's manner, with a _salutation _(Colossians 1:1, Colossians 1:

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles tonight to Colossians, chapter one. The city of Colosse, was in the area known as Pergia, a part of Asia Minor. A couple of other churches are greeted by Paul in this epist...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Walk worthy [π ε ρ ι π α τ η σ α ι α ξ ι ω ς]. The phrase occurs Ephesians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:12. Rev. gives the correct adverbial rendering worthily. Unto all pleasing [ε ι ς π α σ α ν α ρ ε σ κ...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    VISIONS OF GOD'S PURPOSES IN CHRIST Colossians 1:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS As an introduction to our study in the Pauline Epistle to the Colossians, we thought it would be worth the while to observe Pau...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    That, knowing his whole will, ye may walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing — So as actually to please him in all things; daily increasing in the living, experimental knowledge of God, our Father,...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Here the apostle sets down the end of his prayer in the fore-mentioned manner for the Colossians, why he desired that their knowledge should so exceedingly increase; it was in order to practise, that...

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Old Testament