Studies in Colossians #6

Prayer Report of the Apostle (1:9-14)

A. Reason for the Prayer 1:9

Paul records his request and desire through prayer. This section is one sentence in the Greek. The phrase “for this reason” refers back to the information, being a connective conjunction.[1] While some simply take this to refer to the last phrase of verse 13—“your love in the Spirit”—it should cover all that is said of them in verses 3-8. There are three things that commend this view: (1) The phrase Dia touto  which can be translated because of this, on account of this, or for this reason, but refers back to all that is said in the previous paragraph (1:4-8).[2] (2) This is confirmed by phrase “since the day we heard [of it] (1:9).  The word heard refers back to the same word in verse 4, which explains that Paul had heard of their faith, love, and hope. All of this must be included as the reason for the prayer. (3) It is also confirmed by the echo of 1:4-6 in this section the prayer report of 1:9-14. Notice:

           

Colossians 1:3-8	ECHOED PHRASE OR WORD	Colossians 1:9-14
1:4,6	All	1:9-11
1:6	From the day we heard	1:9
1:3	Thank / Thanks	1:12
1:3	Always / not stopped	1:9
1:3	We pray for you / praying for you	1:9
1:6	Understood / knowledge	1:9, 10
1:6	Bearing fruit and growing	1:10

There can be little doubt that Paul is referring to their experience and echoing the language of thanksgiving. The prayer comes directly from the above thanksgiving. Paul now is turning from thanksgiving to prayer—“we have not ceased to pray for you” (1:9). This phrase marks three elements of Paul’s prayer life:

·         His prayer was persistent—“have not ceased”

·         His prayer life was intense—as seen by both the word pray and asks.

·         His prayer was intercessory—“for you.” It was for their benefit. It was a precise request which was brief, explicit, and directed to their spiritual needs.

He specifically prays for them to:

To Understand the Will of God (1:9b)

“That you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (1:9). His desire is expressed by the word “filled” (plerothete), meaning to fill up to completion. It is an aorist passive subjunctive, meaning the believer cannot fill himself. It is referred to as a “divine passive” indicating God is the agent of the filling. There are two things a believer is to be filled with:

·         First, this filling is to be with the Spirit (cf. Eph. 5:18). The fullness theme is one of the favorites of Paul. The word is used eight times in Colossians, and four times in Philippians.

·         Second, in this case, Paul wanted the believers to be filled with “the knowledge of his will.” The word “knowledge” appears twice in this prayer (1:9, 10). The Greek word is epignosis, meaning to know completely, a clear and precise knowledge, to fully perceive. It is knowledge directed towards an object, in this case it is God’s will, which comes from God’s Word. God’s will is knowable, and it can be understood. God has expressed His will, which originated in His mind, and recorded in His Word. God is an active God who orders the universe and shapes events according to His will. God has revealed His will in His word. It is necessary to know His will, but it is accomplished by reading the word of God.

This knowledge of God’s will is “in” the sphere of “spiritual wisdom and understanding.” The word for “wisdom” is sophia; it involves the whole range of excellence in the mental process, the intellect. Campbell notes that Paul uses this word with reference to a distinct body of truth for the Church, the Body of Christ.[3]  It is the truth for the church that was taught to them by the Word of God revealed to Paul for this dispensation (Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:6-10; Eph. 3:2-10). It was his prayer for believers to know the truth of the mystery that was revealed to and through him (cf. Eph. 1:17, Phil. 1:9). It is insight that is Spirit-given and revealed through the Word of God.

“Understanding” is the critical, apprehending, and discriminating faculty of the intellect. The will of God is revealed in the Word of God and manifested under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In this context it means mature spiritual thinking. We have the means to comprehend and understand God’s will by the word of God. The Gnostic made a pretension of wisdom and of understanding and claimed a special relationship to wisdom as almost a private possession.[4] It was only a show of wisdom (Col. 2:23). It did not edify; rather it puffed up one with pride. It was simply wisdom of the flesh and the world (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-2:8). We must have knowledge in all wisdom and understanding. “The divine will is in that Book, and when it, the Word of God, is illuminated by the Spirit of God we, His children, come to know His will concerning us.”[5]

To be continued...

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[1]  Wallace, BEYOND THE BASICS, 271.

[2]  Campbell, COLOSSIANS & PHILEMON, 27.

[3]  Campbell, COLOSSIANS, 30.

[4]  A.T. Robertson, PAUL AND THE INTELLECTUALS, 34.

[5]  W.H. Griffith Thomas, STUDIES IN COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON, [Grand Rapids MI, Baker, 1973], 33.