Colossians 1:9 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

BSB

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

KJV

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;

ASV

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,

BBE

For this reason, we, from the day when we had word of it, keep on in prayer for you, that you may be full of the knowledge of his purpose, with all wisdom and experience of the Spirit,

Original Greek

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Διὰ Dia Because of G1223 τοῦτο touto this G3778 καὶ kai also G2532 ἡμεῖς hēmeis we ourselves G3165 ἀφ aph᾽ from G575 ἧς hēs the G3739 ἡμέρας hēmeras day G2250 ἠκούσαμεν ēkousamen we heard G191 οὐ ou not G3756 παυόμεθα pauometha cease G3973 ὑπὲρ huper for G5228 ὑμῶν humōn you G4771 προσευχόμενοι proseuchomenoi praying G4336 καὶ kai and G2532 αἰτούμενοι aitoumenoi asking G154 ἵνα ina that G2443 πληρωθῆτε plērōthēte you may be filled with G4137 τὴν tēn the G3588 ἐπίγνωσιν epignōsin knowledge G1922 τοῦ tou of the G3588 θελήματος thelēmatos will G2307 αὐτοῦ autou of Him G846 ἐν en in G1722 πάσῃ pasē all G3956 σοφίᾳ sophia wisdom G4678 καὶ kai and G2532 συνέσει sunesei in understanding G4907 πνευματικῇ pneumatikēa spiritual G4152

The early church

"For this cause." What cause? Because we heard of your faith and love, because we have good hopes, we are hopeful to ask for future blessings also. For as in the games we cheer on those most who are near upon gaining the victory, just so doth Paul also most exhort those who have achieved the greater part. "Since the day we heard it," saith he, "we do not cease to pray for you." Not for one day do we pray for you, nor yet for two, nor three. Herein he both shows his love, and gives them a gentle hint that they had not yet arrived at the end. For the words, "that ye may be filled," are of this significancy. And observe, I pray, the prudence of this blessed one. He nowhere says that they are destitute of everything, but that they are deficient; everywhere the words, "that ye may be filled," show this.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Colossians

And Paul shows here, that since that time he has been praying, and has not yet prevailed, and yet has not desisted; for the words, "from the day we heard it," show this. But it implies condemnation to them, if, from that time, even assisted by prayers, they had not amended themselves. "And making request," he says, with much earnestness, for this the expression "ye knew" shows. But it is necessary still to know somewhat besides.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Colossians

And, "that ye may be filled," he saith; not, "that ye may receive," for they had received; but "that ye may be filled" with what as yet was lacking. Thus both the rebuke was given without offense, and the praise did not suffer them to sink down, and become supine, as if it had been complete. But what is, "that ye may be filled with the knowledge of His will"? That through the Son we should be brought unto Him, and no more through Angels. Now that ye must be brought unto Him, ye have learnt, but it remains for you to learn this, and why He sent the Son. "In all spiritual wisdom," he saith, "and understanding." For since the philosophers deceived them; I wish you, he saith, to be in spiritual wisdom, not after the wisdom of men. But if in order to know the will of God, there needs spiritual wisdom; to know His Essence what it is, there is need of continual prayers.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Colossians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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 strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power. The special use of this strength was for sufferings. There is work to be done, even when we are suffering. Amidst all their trials they gave thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, whose special grace fitted them to partake of the inheritance provided for the saints. To bring about this change, those were made willing subjects of Christ, who were slaves of Satan. All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared for heaven now. Those who have the inheritance of sons, have the education of sons, and the disposition of sons. By faith in Christ they enjoyed this redemption, as the purchase of his atoning blood, whereby forgiveness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings were bestowed. Surely then we shall deem it a favour to be delivered from Satan's kingdom and brought into that of Christ, knowing that all trials will soon end, and that every believer will be found among those who come out of great tribulation.

Read Matthew Henry on Colossians 1 →

Parallel passages

2

The same words or events elsewhere.

Ephesians 1:16–17 Colossians 1:3

Cross-references

34

Topics

Righteous Wisdom Intercession Prayerfulness