Lesson 3: Colossians 1:9-12
New King James Translation
For 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 spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Personal Translation
For this reason, we also on our part (since the day we head it) have not stopped praying concerning you,
- and asking that you might be filled with the full knowledge of His will in connection with all spiritual wisdom and comprehension
- that you may walk worthy of the Lord unto all things favorable (to God)
- bearing fruit in connection with every good work and
- growing in the full knowledge of God
- strengthened in all ability according to the power of His glory
- toward all endurance and patience with joy
- giving thanks (with joy) to the Father
- who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in connection with the light
Verse Study
Verse 9
For this reason, we also on our part (since the day we head it) have not stopped praying concerning you, and asking that you might be filled with the full knowledge of His will in connection with all spiritual wisdom and comprehension
- For this reason includes everything in the preceding verses, vv. 3-8. The “it” that Paul and his companions had heard is likewise the Colossians’ faith, love, etc. (cf. v.4ff).
- Paul followed his own counsel to the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing” (cf. 2 Thessalonians 5:17). He and the others kept praying for the Colossians.
- Prayer…
- The first supplication in Paul’s ongoing prayer is for the Colossians’ knowledge of God’s will and their wisdom and comprehension (understanding) of all things spiritual. Later in this letter, Paul will contrast spiritual wisdom with worldly philosophy and supposed wisdom.
- Paul’s prayer is for a knowledge with wisdom and purpose (the purpose is brought forth in the next verse). Compare this with the "learning" described by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:7 (Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7).
Application Today
- In Ephesians 5:15-17 Paul gives a reason why spiritual understanding is so vital. In what ways does there seem to be a lack of spiritual understanding today?
- We certainly have as much need for a full knowledge of God’s will and spiritual wisdom and understanding as did the Colossians (and Ephesians). What should be our course of action to attain this?
Verses 10
- that you may walk worthy of the Lord unto all things favorable (to God)
- bearing fruit in connection with every good work and
- growing in the full knowledge of God
- The second part of Paul’s supplication for the Colossians is that “walk about,” i.e. conduct their lives, in a way that is worthy of the Lord with the result that all things coming out of their lives would be favorable to God. In verse 9 Paul had prayed for their roots (doctrine), now he prays for the fruit (sanctified lives).
WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD
1 Thessalonians 2:12, 4:1; Ephesians 4:1 (1 Corinthians 1:2); Philippians 1:27
worthy does not equal deserving
- The next four actions (bearing fruit, growing, being strengthened, giving thanks) are what Paul includes as part of walking worthy of the Lord.
- What makes a work good? (cf. Hebrews 11:6; 2 Corinthians 9:8)
Verses 11
- strengthened in all ability according to the power of His glory
- toward all endurance and patience with joy
- The strength we have to be able to bear good fruit is from God and God alone. See Philippians 2:13, 4:13
- Endurance = patience, longsuffering, steadfastness toward things (cf. James 5:11, Romans 5:3, 2 Corinthians 1:6)
- Patience = patience, longsuffering, steadfastness toward people (cf. 2 Samuel 16:10-13)
“with Joy”—grammatically can be associated with either this verse (strengthened toward endurance and patience with joy) or the next verse (giving thanks with joy)
Application Today
- How does strength relate to patience toward people and things/circumstances? In what areas and ways do we need to seek greater strength to exercise greater patience?
Verses 12
- giving thanks (with joy) to the Father
- who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in connection with the light
- God has qualified us for the inheritance by the merits of His Son. Oh, give thanks to the Lord! (cf. Acts 20:32, 2 Corinthians 3:5)
- We walk in the light when we walk worthy of the Lord through the redemption won for us by Jesus Christ (cf. 1 John 1:5-7).
—Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt
Next Sunday’s Bible Class will study Colossians 1:13-18. If you wish to spend some time in personal study prior to Sunday’s study, you may want to consider: Christ’s person, work, and kingdom.
