Colossians 1:9-14
Chapter 1
9
Prayer for the Colossians
Because of this, since we heard about you, we have not stopped praying to God for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and spiritual understanding he gives.10
May your lifestyle be worthy of the Lord and entirely pleasing to him. May you bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God.
11
May you become strong in everything through sharing in the glory of God, so that you may have great endurance and persevere with joy,
12
giving thanks to the Father, who has empowered us to receive our portion in the inheritance of the saints in light.
13
He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
14
In him, we are redeemed and forgiven.
Commentaries
Prayer for the Colossians.
Clear and consistent Christian practice is the main focus of Paul’s ongoing prayers for the believers in Colossae. He requests wisdom and spiritual insight (9), gifts of the Spirit that help the community personally know God and understand His will, “pleasing him in everything, bearing fruit in good works” (10). The task is challenging, so he continues to ask God to grant them the strength and perseverance needed to fight daily to expand God’s kingdom (11). Finally, he urges them to thank the Father who “brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son” (13), which is the kingdom of light (12), after rescuing them “from the power of darkness” (13), meaning from the life of sin they once lived (cf. Eph 1:7).