Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Colossians 1:4
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love [which ye] [have] to all the saints.
4. since we heard ] More simply, having heard. He refers to the information given by Epaphras (Col 1:7), probably quite recently. On the question whether he had ever visited Colosss, see on Col 2:1 below, Introd., pp. 20, 21, and Appendix A. This verse gives no decisive evidence in the matter.
faith in Christ Jesus ] Cp. Eph 1:15 for a closely parallel passage. “The preposition [‘in’] here denotes the sphere in which their faith moves, rather than the object to which it is directed” (Lightfoot). But it is not easy to draw a clear distinction between “sphere” and “object” in this case. And surely Mar 1:15 (Greek) (cp. Rom 3:25; Joh 3:15; and, in the LXX., Psalms 77:(Heb. and Eng. 78.) 22) proves the possibility of reference here to the Object of faith, on and in whom it reposes, as an anchor in the ground. On the other hand 2Ti 1:13 (quoted by Lightfoot) shews the possibility of explaining, “faith maintained by union with Christ.” But this more recondite meaning scarcely fits this context, where the parallelism of clauses seems to suggest the saints’ regard towards Christ first and then one another.
and of the love saints ] “This is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another” (1Jn 3:23). Divine faith, in true and full exercise, issues by its nature in a life and work of love towards men, regarded as either actual (as here) or potential brethren of Him who is faith’s goal and rest.
all the saints ] Doubtless not at Coloss only, but everywhere. It was one of the earliest glories of the Gospel, illustrated everywhere in the N.T., to bind together in love a world-wide family. Cp. Col 3:11 below. The words which ye have are probably in the true text.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus – To wit, by Epaphras, who had informed Paul of the steadfastness of their faith and love; Col 1:7-8. This does not prove that Paul had never been at Colossae, or that he did not establish the church there, for he uses a similar expression respecting the church at Ephesus Eph 1:15, of which he was undoubtedly the founder. The meaning is, that he had heard of their faith at that time, or of their perseverance in faith and love.
Which ye have to all the saints – In what way they had manifested this is not known. It would seem that Paul had been informed that this was a character of their piety, that they had remarkable love for all who bore the Christian name. Nothing could be more acceptable information respecting them to one who himself so ardently loved the church; and nothing could have furnished better evidence that they were influenced by the true spirit of religion; compare 1Jo 3:14.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Since we heard of your faith] This is very similar to Eph 1:15. And it is certain that the apostle seems to have considered the Church at Ephesus, and that at Colassa to have been nearly in the same state, as the two epistles are very similar in their doctrine and phraseology.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He instanceth in principal graces, as the matter of his thanksgiving, beginning with faith, described and differenced from the special object of it, Christ Jesus, implying not a bare knowledge or assent, but a trust in him alone for salvation; so Rom 1:8. Understanding this saving grace with the consequent was wrought in them, as he heard it was in the Ephesians, and Philemon, it, was a cogent motive to engage them in solemn thankfulness to God: see on Eph 1:15, compared with Phm 1:5. He joins love, or charity, to all the saints, with faith to our Saviour, because they are in effect inseparable, there being no real embracing of Christ without loving of him, and all his members for his sake, Gal 5:6; 2Ti 1:13; not as if believers were not to show love or charity to others, who are of the same nature, and so bear the image of God, for this Christ requires of them, Mat 5:44,45; but by how much the nearer any are brought to God by sanctification, by so much the more a special love is to be showed to them, as fellow citizens, of the household of God, and the hosehold of faith, Rom 15:26, with Gal 6:10; Eph 2:19.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. Since we heardliterally,”Having heard.” The language implies that he had only heardof, and not seen, them (Col2:1). Compare Ro 1:8, wherelike language is used of a Church which he had not at the timevisited.
love . . . to alltheabsent, as well as those present [BENGEL].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,…. This expresses the matter of their thankfulness, or what it was they gave thanks to God for, their faith in Christ; by which is not only meant their hearty assent to the whole doctrine of faith, concerning the person, offices, and grace of Christ, their soundness and steadfastness in it, and their sincere and constant profession of it; but the grace of faith in them, the operation of the Spirit of God in their souls, which had not Moses, nor any mere man, but Christ for its object; by which they looked unto him as a Saviour, went unto him as such, ventured on him, committed themselves unto him, leaned and relied upon him; that grace which comes from him, has him for its author and finisher, and returns unto him, and lives on him. This Paul and Timothy had heard of by their minister Epaphras; and it shows that they made no secret of it, did not keep it to themselves, but declared, confessed, and published it to others, as is the duty of all believers to do; and thanks being given for it to God, makes it a clear point that it was not of themselves, but was the gift of God, otherwise there would have been no need of thankfulness for it; as also, that it is a very eminent grace, and of great use and service to such who are possessed of it.
And of love [which ye have] to all the saints; this is another thing for which thanks are given to God. The object of this grace are “saints”; all men indeed are to be loved, and even our very enemies; and good is to be done to all, but especially to holy and good men, to the household of faith; and these are “all” to be loved and respected; nor is any respect or difference of persons to be made on account of country, or natural relation, as Jews or Gentiles, or of outward state and condition, as rich or poor, bond or free, or of greater or lesser gifts and grace, weak or strong believers, or of different sentiments in the lesser matters of religion. It denotes both the grace of love itself, which is a fruit of the Spirit implanted in regeneration, and is an evidence of the new birth, and always is where true faith in Christ is, for faith works by it; and also the effects of it, which lies not in bare words, in expressions of spiritual affection and friendship, but in deeds, by serving one another in love, by relieving in necessity, sympathizing in distress, praying with and for one another, and the like; all which these saints were famous for.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Having heard of (). Literary plural unless Timothy is included. Aorist active participle of of antecedent action to . Epaphras (verse 8) had told Paul.
Your faith in Jesus Christ ( ). See Eph 1:15 for similar phrase. No article is needed before as it is a closely knit phrase and bears the same sense as the objective genitive in Ga 2:16 ( , by faith in Christ Jesus).
Which ye have ( ). Probably genuine (Aleph A C D), though B omits it and others have the article (). There is a real distinction here between (sphere or basis) and (direction towards), though they are often identical in idea.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus” (akousantes ten pistin humon en Christo lesou) “Having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus by Epaphras (Col 1:7), Faith of saints, when mingled with good works, always influences others, and is heard abroad, Mat 5:15-16; 1Th 1:8-9. This was the ground of Paul’s thanks to God.
2) “And of the love which ye have to all the saints” (kai ten agapen hen echete eis pantas tous hagious) ” And the love which ye have or hold toward all the saints; They obeyed the words of their Lord, Joh 13:34-35; In this they confirmed the faith of others and glorified God 1Jn 2:5-6; 1Jn 3:14; 1Jn 4:7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
4 . Having heard of your faith. This was a means of stirring up his love towards them, and his concern for their welfare, when he heard it that they were distinguished by faith and love. And, unquestionably, gifts of God that are so excellent ought to have such an effect upon us as to stir us up to love them wherever they appear. He uses the expression, faith in Christ, that we may always bear in mind that Christ is the proper object of faith.
He employs the expression, love towards the saints, not with the view of excluding others, but because, in proportion as any one is joined to us in God, we ought to embrace him the more closely with special affection. True love, therefore, will extend to mankind universally, because they all are our flesh, and created in the image of God, (Gen 9:6😉 but in respect of degrees, it will begin with those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:10.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
4. Since we heard Faith, love, and hope are three graces inseparably connected. Faith instrumentally saves the soul, makes it the home of love, and prepares it for the final glorification in heaven. This becomes at once an object of hope to the believer, in accordance with the prayer of our Lord: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” Joh 17:24. Children of the same Father, believers in the same Saviour, and travellers together to the same heaven, cannot well fail of a deep, broad Christian love. This heavenly home is prepared, set apart, laid up, and so made secure for all believers, to be given them in its fulness of bliss at our Lord’s appearing.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel.’
Paul has heard that they have a sound faith based on faith in Christ Jesus, they have love for all God’s people and they have hope for the eternal future. This triad of faith, love and hope appears elsewhere (Rom 5:1-2; 1Co 13:3; Gal 5:5-6; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 5:8; Heb 10:22-24; 1Pe 1:22-23). Faith refers to their past response now consolidated in their present behaviour and attitude (see Col 1:23). They are grounded in the faith and continue to express it in and through their lives. Love demonstrates their continuation in the faith, and the work of the Spirit within (Eph 3:16-19). Hope expresses the end result of their faith, a certainty which enables them to endure, the expectancy of their final transformation and exaltation (1Th 1:3; 1Co 15:52-54; 1Th 4:14-18).
‘Your faith in Christ Jesus.’ He certainly has in mind ‘the faith’ in which they are grounded, their basis of sound doctrine, which is the basis of their certain hope for the future (Col 1:23). But also included is their day by day faith in Christ revealed in their lives. For Christ is central in ‘the faith’ as he is about to declare.
‘The love which you have towards all the saints.’ This was constantly looked for in the early church and was seen as one sign of a genuine Christian. Where love is lacking, genuineness is lacking. It was the command of Jesus that His people should love one another (Joh 13:35; Joh 15:12; Joh 15:17) and it is the first aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22; see Col 1:7 and compare Rom 12:10; Rom 13:8 and often). The love referred to is Christian love (see 1 Corinthians 13). It is not sexual nor based on the loveableness of the person loved, but on the spiritual attitude of the one who loves and desires the best for ‘all the saints’, all God’s people, even when they are not very saintly.
‘Because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens.’ They know that Christ is in them, ‘the hope of glory’ (Col 1:27). Thus they look forward to a glorious hope. The New Testament is full of this hope, the hope for what will happen at the second coming of Christ, when the Lord is revealed from Heaven, raises dead believers and transforms His own and takes them to be with Himself (1Th 4:14-17; 1Co 15:52-54). Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth, places where there is only righteousness (2Pe 3:13).
‘Because of the hope.’ Their faith and love are kept constant by this hope. Those who lose sight of the hope soon begin to languish.
‘The word of the truth of the Gospel.’ The preaching of the truth of the Good News of their participation in the death and resurrection of Christ also includes the Christian’s glorious hope. ‘Word’ regularly means the preached word, compare 1Co 1:18. Notice the emphasis on ‘the truth’, a constant theme of Jesus (consider especially John 14-16) and a constant theme of Paul’s. It was not just belief, it was the word of truth. Eph 1:13 speaks similarly of ‘the word of truth, the Good News of your salvation’.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Col 1:4. Since we heard of your faith, &c. See on Eph 1:15 and Php 1:3-5.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
“Handfuls of Purpose”
For All Gleaners
“Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints.” (Col 1:4 .)
Here is a faith that Paul had simply heard of. He does not venture to say that he had seen that faith, or had been personally indebted for its exercise; he had simply heard of it as a report from far countries. Notice the union of the faith and love; the faith is in Christ Jesus, and the love is towards all the saints. If the former may be regarded as speculative, the latter must be regarded as practical, and therefore balancing it. Faith in Christ must always be proved by love to the saints. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.”
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
Ver. 4. And of the love, &c. ] Faith in Christ Jesus maketh love to all the saints. Therefore they go commonly coupled in Paul’s Epistles. And therefore when the disciples heard how often they must forgive an offending brother, “Lord, increase our faith,” say they,Luk 17:5Luk 17:5 . See Trapp on “ Luk 17:5 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Col 1:4 . Paul now introduces the grounds of his thankfulness, the good report he has heard as to the faith and love of the Colossians. He refers to it again (Col 1:9 ). . may be equivalent to , but probably indicates “the sphere in which their faith moves rather than the object to which it is directed” (Lightf.). This faith rests upon Christ. . is wrongly taken by Ewald to mean “fidelity”. , i.e. , all Christians throughout the world, whose unity in the universal Church was a thought much in Paul’s mind at this time.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Since we = Having.
faith. App-160.
Christ Jesus. App-98.
love. App-136.
to. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Col 1:4. , all) present and absent.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Col 1:4
Col 1:4
having heard of your faith-This gratitude grew out of the good report he had heard about them from Epaphras. (Col 1:8). Whatever may be the force of the words, clearly here they harmonize with many indications that the Colossian church, though well known to Paul, was not known by personal knowledge.
in Christ Jesus,-Their faith in Christ denotes that it moved in the sphere of Jesus Christ. (2Ti 1:13). It was more than fidelity; it was Christ-centered faith.
and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,-Faith in Christ Jesus and love toward all the saints are inseparably connected-one produces the other. The leading truth of Christ Jesus as the Son of God was his love to man, especially to those redeemed and purchased by his blood. No one can have a living faith in Christ without it sharing itself in love for man, especially those of the household of faith. [Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah brings fellowship with one another and disregards all bounds of race or nations, class or sex. Their love for one another grew out of their faith and love for Christ We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. (1Jn 3:14). By this same test the Colossians had given the proof of their faith.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
we: Col 1:9, 2Co 7:7, Eph 1:15, 1Th 3:6, 3Jo 1:3, 3Jo 1:4
faith: Gal 5:6, 1Th 1:3, 1Th 4:9, 1Th 4:10, 2Th 1:3, Phm 1:5, 1Pe 1:21-23, 1Jo 3:14, 1Jo 3:23, 1Jo 4:16
the love: Heb 6:10
Reciprocal: Son 4:2 – teeth Joh 13:34 – That ye love Rom 6:17 – But Rom 10:17 – faith Rom 12:10 – kindly Gal 1:24 – General Eph 1:13 – after that ye heard Eph 3:2 – ye Eph 3:18 – with Eph 6:18 – supplication Phi 1:3 – upon Phi 1:27 – I may Col 1:8 – General 1Ti 6:2 – because they are 2Ti 1:13 – in faith Jam 2:1 – the faith 1Jo 5:6 – blood 3Jo 1:2 – even
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
(Col 1:4.) , . The words are introduced into the text on the concurrent authority of A, C, D, E1, F, G, the Vulgate, and other versions, with many of the Fathers. The apostle now expresses the reason why he gave thanks, the participle having a causal sense, Khner, 667; Stuart, 169. Similar phraseology occurs in Eph 1:15. The article is omitted before the proper names . . Winer, 19, 2. In Ephesians, the apostle adds , and prefixes the article to the official epithet; but here the simple name . . from common usage, occurs without it. Gal 3:26. A different form of construction, inserting the article before the preposition- . .-occurs 1Ti 3:13, and similarly 2Ti 1:13. That faith reposed in Christ Jesus-fixed and immoveable-for it felt satisfied in Him as a Divine Saviour. [Eph 1:1.] Paul’s heart had been gladdened by the news of their consistency and spiritual advancement, and in the fulness of his joy he offered thanks to God. It is not necessary, with Locke and Pierce, to take in the sense of fidelity, sticking to the grace of God. And their love was universal in its sweep, not toward all men, but toward all the saints. [, Eph 1:1.] In itself, this love is really only a form, or manifestation of love to the Divine object of their faith, for it is affection to Christ’s image in the saints. As, though a mirror is broken, each fragment will still throw out the same reflection in miniature, and that perfectly, so the saints, as a body and individually, exhibit the same blessed and divine image of Christ enshrined with them, and are therefore the objects of Christian love. Who is not acquainted with the language of Tertullian?&- -;Sed ejusmodi vel maxime dilectionis operatio notam nobis inurit penes quosdam, vide, inquiunt, ut invicem se diligant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Greek Text of Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and Phillipians
Col 1:4. We heard of your faith. According to chapter 2:1, Paul had not seen these brethren (see “general remarks”), but had received a report of them through others. It is significant that their faith in Christ Jesus is coupled with their love for all the saints. This agrees with 1Jn 3:14 1Jn 4:7-8; it is morally impossible to love God and not love His children.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Col 1:4. Having heard. After hearing, rather than, since we heard, or, because we heard.
Your faith in Christ Jesus. He is the sphere and object of the faith; comp. Eph 1:15.
The love which ye have to all the saints. The Italics of the E. V. are unnecessary, since the better supported reading gives which ye have, thus emphasizing the tact that they possess it.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
ARGUMENT 1
FAITH AND LOVE
4. Hearing of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the Divine love which you have toward all the saints. Here, again, we see the magnificent globe of human salvation, exhibiting the two distinct hemispheres; i.e., the human and the Divine. We do the believing, and God does the saving. Salvation must be subjective before it can be objective. We must first receive heaven in us, before we are in a fix to go to heaven. This Divine love, the heavenly agapee, constitutes the very atmosphere of heaven. We can not possibly love in the Bible sense, till we have it in our hearts. It is exotic in humanity, and indigenous in God alone. When the sinner meets the condition by an utter and eternal abandonment of sin, and casts himself, in a moment of desperation, on the mercy of God in Christ by simple faith alone, he freely forgives him for Christs sake, imputing to him the righteousness of Christ. At that moment the Holy Ghost, the commissioned executive of the new creation, pours out (Rom 5:5) into his heart this Divine love, which is the nature of God (1Jn 4:18), thus imparting the Christ-life and nature to the dead soul, resurrecting it into the new life of God and heaven. The popular Churches on this problem are wrapped in an awful delusion, preaching human love as a substitute for the Divine, there being no salvation in it, as illustrated in case of the rich man in hell, who there had it in behalf of his brethren in the superlative degree. Faith is your own act, co-operated by the Holy Ghost, who is always on hand and ready to give you all the help you need to believe Gods Word, and as a sinner to trust him implicitly for a free pardon, and as a Christian to trust him triumphantly for entire sanctification, and as a wholly sanctified servant of the Lord to trust him incessantly to keep you by his power, fill you with his Spirit, and give you momentary and perpetual victory over every foe. All the other graces are resolvable into these two; i.e., faith and love, which focalize at the constituents of the two spiritual hemispheres, and represent the entire plan of salvation. Hence, your faith is positively the measuring line of your experience. When the sinner believes Gods convicting truth, he always gets convicted. When he believes converting truth, he always gets converted. When the Christian believes Gods copious illuminating truth, everywhere revealing inbred sin surviving in the heart of the regenerate, he invariably gets convicted of it. When he walks in the light of that conviction, and believes Gods wonderful truth, revealing entire sanctification in the cleansing blood, he sweeps into Beulah land with a shout.
5-7. From the day in which you heard, and have truly and perfectly known the grace of God. We know the grace of God in regeneration, but truly, perfectly know that grace in sanctification. We reach experimental certainty.
8. Who also revealed to us your Divine love in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only Dispenser of the Divine love, native only in the heart of God, and poured out into our hearts by the Holy Ghost. (Rom 5:5.) Hence, Holy Ghost religion only is characterized by love. All others are carnal and selfish.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
“Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love [which ye have] to all the saints,”
Paul had heard of their faith and love which had caused him to pray for them. Most likely from Epaphrus – he was out telling of his people and their needs.
Love is the agape love. Note their love was for ALL the saints, now if that isn’t a problem for many of us I don’t know what it is – ALL even those nasty ones you can’t stand!
Love is the phrase that everyone likes to use, we are to be more loving, we are to be loving to others, we are to love one another and get along etc. Love comes from the Spirit, not from within us. As we walk with Him his love will be shed forth through us. We don’t have to struggle and strain to get that love out of the bowels of our being – walk with the Lord and allow Him to have His way through you.
It isn’t the gushy mess that some suggest – it is seeing value in others and treating them as valuable.
Years ago a young woman wrecked her car in front of the store where I was working. She pulled the car into our parking lot, opened the door and proceeded to gusher. She fell completely apart. She told me of the many problems she had already and now this. I am not a loving person as such, but at that moment I had the encouragement and words that she really needed. She was calmed quite quickly. Now, that was not because of my suave way with women, it was the Spirit of God working through me.
I once heard this description of love in action. Recognize the persons worth before God, desire to benefit that person and take action.