William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Colossians 1:3

Our apostle, to give the Colossians. full assurance of the firmness of his love unto them, acquaints them, that himself and Timothy, from the time they heard of their conversion, did never to give solemn thanks to God for it, and particularly, for their faith in Christ, and for the love which they bare to all saints, to all their brethren, and fellow members in Christ.

Where note, 1. The person whom St. Paul offers up his prayers and praises, his supplications and thanksgivings to, and that is God; intimating, that religion's invocation and adoration belong only to God; not to any creature, who can neither know, nor is able to supply our wants.

This God whom St. Paul prayed to, is called the Father of our Lord Jesus; so he is, with respect both to his divine and human nature; in respect to his Deity, he is of the same essence with the Father, begotten of him from all eternity; and in respect of his humanity, he is his Father, being, as man, conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Note, 2. The mercies and blessings which St. Paul offers up his thanksgivings to God for, and this on the behalf of the Colossians; in general they are spiritual blessings:

In particular, 1. For their faith in Christ Jesus; Christ alone is the proper object of our affiance and trust; and by faith we repose the entire trust and confidence of our souls upon the sufficiency of his merits.

2. For their love to all the saints.

Where observe, That faith and love ar inseparable companions: There is. necessary connection between them: Faith without love, is no living grace; love without faith, is no saving grace.

Observe also, The proper object of. Christian's love, it is the saints as saints, that is, for their sanctity and personal infirmities be what they will: We have heard of your love to all the saints: Love is that brotherly affection which every true Christian chiefly bears to all his fellow members in Christ, for grace's sake: now the love of grace in another, being so good an evidence of the life of grace in ourselves.

Hence, it was taht St. Paul, hearing of the Colossians' love to all the children of God, ceases not to give thanks unto God for it, as the fruit and evidence of their conversion.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Colossians 1:3

Old Testament

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