A study of Colossians 1:9b-11
Paul makes his request and desire known in prayer. Interestingly, the word ask (aiteo) (1:9) is in the middle voice, denotes one asking for that to which one is entitled. Lenski observes, “The entitling referred to here is the fact that God commands us to ask; the middle voice implies that only on this supposition do we ask”[1] (Eph. 3:10, James 1:5-6, 4:21 John 5:14). Notice two elements regarding Paul and prayer. First, it was persistent (“have not ceased”]. Second, it was intercessory (“for you”). It was a precise request which was brief, explicit, and direct to the needs of the believers. He precisely prays for them to:
1. 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 that they might be “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.[2] There are two things a believer is to be filled with. First, this filling is to be with the Spirit (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 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 revealed through the Word of God.
“Understanding” is the Greek word sunesis; it 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. We have the means to comprehend and understand God’s will. 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 simple wisdom of the flesh and the world (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-2:8).
2. To Undertake the Will of God (1:10-11)
Once the will is known, it is to be undertaken. Knowledge must be translated to practice. Knowing the will of God in all spiritual wisdom and understanding enables one to undertake the will of God. Straight thinking leads to straight living. We are to know God’s will “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (1:10). The word walk is the Greek word “peripateo” meaning to walk about in the ordinary, the ordinary conduct of one’s self. It signifies the “whole round of the activities of the individual life.”[5] It is an infinitive of purpose.[6] Lightfoot reminds us that, “The end of all knowledge, the Apostle would say, is conduct.”[7] Paul often uses the word walk for conduct. We must walk:
· In Newness of Life – Rom. 6:4
· According to the Spirit - Rom. 8:4, Gal. 5:16
· In Holiness – Rom. 13:13
· By Manifestation of the truth – 2 Cor 4:2
· By Faith – 2 Cor. 5:7
· In Good works – Eph. 2:10
· In love – Eph. 5:2
· As Children of Light – Eph. 5:8
· Circumspectly – Eph. 5:15
Understanding God's will is the key to having our prayers answered. Here the Apostle John says that whatever we ask we receive:
ReplyDelete"Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment" (1 Jn.3:21-23).
When we continue in the same epistle we see that our requests are to be in line with God's will:
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 Jn.5:14-15).
In his commentary on this passage David Guzik writes, "God would have us ask according to His will. It is easy for us to only be concerned with our will before God, and to have a fatalistic view regarding His will ('He will accomplish His will with or without my prayers anyway, won’t He?'). But God wants us to see and discern His will through His word, and to pray His will into action. When John wrote this, John may have had Jesus’ own words in mind, which he recorded in John 15:7: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. When we abide in Jesus – living in Him, day by day – then our will becomes more and more aligned with His will, and we can ask what you desire, and more and more be asking according to His will. Then we see answered prayer."