Colossians 1:9

Since the day we heard it,— Our translators, by inserting it, shew that they thought this verse stood connected with Colossians 1:7 whereas those two verses are rather a parenthesis; and the present verse is to be joined with Colossians 1:6. This seems clear from what he says,—That ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will. The αυτου, his, relates here to God, mentioned in the end of the 6th verse, and consequently the sense is better supplied by these things;—that is, all the good things which he had before mentioned concerning them. By comparing the latter part of this verse with Ephesians 1:8 it appears, that in both places is meant a comprehensive view of the will of God; or, as he there calls it, the mystery of his will; namely, his great purpose of calling the Gentiles. Thespiritual understanding is an understanding of spiritual things, or such things as were revealed by the Spirit, of which the afore-said mystery was one. St. Paul shews himself very desirous that the Colossians should thoroughly understand and acknowledge this mystery. See Colossians 2:1.