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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - Colossians 1:9 - 1:9
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
we also - on our part.
heard it - (Col 1:4).
pray - Here he states what in particular he prays for; as in Col 1:3 he stated generally the fact of his praying for them.
to desire - “to make request.”
might be filled - rather, “may be filled”; a verb, often found in this Epistle (Col 4:12, Col 4:17).
knowledge - Greek, “full and accurate knowledge.” Akin to the Greek for “knew” (see on Col 1:6).
of his will - as to how ye ought to walk (Eph 5:17); as well as chiefly that “mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself; that in the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ” (Eph 1:9, Eph 1:10); God’s “will,” whereby He eternally purposed to reconcile to Himself, and save men by Christ, not by angels, as the false teachers in some degree taught (Col 2:18) [Estius]. There seems to have been a want of knowledge among the Colossians; notwithstanding their general excellencies; hence he so often dwells on this subject (Col 1:28; Col 2:2, Col 2:3; Col 3:10, Col 3:13; Col 4:5, Col 4:6). On the contrary he less extols wisdom to the Corinthians, who were puffed up with the conceit of knowledge.
wisdom - often mentioned in this Epistle, as opposed to the (false) “philosophy” and “show of wisdom” (Col 2:8, Col 2:23; compare Eph 1:8).
understanding - sagacity to discern what on each occasion is suited to the place and the time; its seat is “the understanding” or intellect; wisdom is more general and has its seat in the whole compass of the faculties of the soul [Bengel]. “Wouldst thou know that the matters in the word of Christ are real things? Then never read them for mere knowledge sake” [Quoted by Gaussen.] Knowledge is desirable only when seasoned by “spiritual understanding.”