Colossians 1:8
Verse
Context
Sermons
Aldy Fam Fanous
Michael Koulianos
A.B. Simpson
Andrew Murray
Samuel ChadwickSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Your love in the Spirit - So we preached, and so ye believed. The heavenly flame in the heart of this minister communicated itself to those who heard him; it was like priest like people. They enjoyed a spiritual, energetic ministry, and they were a spiritual people; they had a loving spirit, and love through the Spirit of God which dwelt in them. And of this love of theirs in the Spirit, and particularly towards the apostle, Epaphras gave full proof, not only by describing to the apostle the affection they felt for him, but in presenting to him those supplies which their love to him caused them to furnish.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
your love-- (Col 1:4); "to all the saints." in the Spirit--the sphere or element IN which alone true love is found; as distinguished from the state of those "in the flesh" (Rom 8:9). Yet even they needed to be stirred up to greater love (Col 3:12-14). Love is the first and chief fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. Not only their love to God, and Christ, and to all the saints, which is before mentioned, but their love to the apostle; though they had only heard of him, and of his great capacity for, and faithfulness and usefulness in preaching of the Gospel, which had greatly endeared him to them. This, he says, was in the Spirit; it was spiritual love, to distinguish it from a carnal and worldly one; they loved him for the spiritual grace that was in him, the spiritual gifts bestowed on him, the spiritual service he was engaged in, and the spiritual usefulness he was of: or they loved him in, and with their spirits, with all their hearts, sincerely, and without dissimulation; and though they had never seen him in the flesh, yet being, as it were, present with him in spirit, their affections were knit unto him: or this their love was "in the Holy Spirit", as the Ethiopic version reads it; it was a fruit of the Spirit of God, which he had implanted in their hearts in regeneration, as is also love to God, and likewise to Christ. Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. Not only their love to God, and Christ, and to all the saints, which is before mentioned, but their love to the apostle; though they had only heard of him, and of his great capacity for, and faithfulness and usefulness in preaching of the Gospel, which had greatly endeared him to them. This, he says, was in the Spirit; it was spiritual love, to distinguish it from a carnal and worldly one; they loved him for the spiritual grace that was in him, the spiritual gifts bestowed on him, the spiritual service he was engaged in, and the spiritual usefulness he was of: or they loved him in, and with their spirits, with all their hearts, sincerely, and without dissimulation; and though they had never seen him in the flesh, yet being, as it were, present with him in spirit, their affections were knit unto him: or this their love was "in the Holy Spirit", as the Ethiopic version reads it; it was a fruit of the Spirit of God, which he had implanted in their hearts in regeneration, as is also love to God, and likewise to Christ. Colossians 1:9 col 1:9 col 1:9 col 1:9For this cause we also,.... Not merely for their love to the apostle, and the rest that were with him; which sense is too much contracted, and carries some appearance of meanness and selfishness; but because of their faith in Christ, their love to all the saints, and the good hope they had of eternal happiness; and because they had heard the Gospel, and truly knew it, and sincerely professed it: therefore, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire; which shows that the apostles prayed without ceasing; not that they were every moment praying, without intermission, but that they were frequent and constant every day at the throne of grace; and as often as they were there, they were mindful of these Colossians, even ever since they heard of their reception of the Gospel, of their profession of it, and of the fruit it brought forth in them; and in their petitions "prayed" and "desired", earnestly and importunately entreated God on their behalf: that ye might he filled with the knowledge of his will; the will "of God", as the Syriac version reads it, by which is meant, not the secret will of God, according to the counsel of which he does all things in nature, providence, and grace, but his revealed will; and that either as it is signified in the law, which declares the good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God, relating to what he would have done, or avoided by his creatures; or rather, as it is exhibited in the Gospel, which contains the will of God respecting the salvation of his chosen ones; as that it is his will that Christ should obtain eternal redemption for them, to do which he voluntarily substituted himself in their room, came into this world, and has accomplished it; and that all those that are redeemed by Christ should be regenerated by the Spirit; and that whoever sees the Son, and believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life; as also, that all those whom he has chosen in Christ, and given to him, and he has redeemed by his blood, and who are sanctified by his Spirit, none of them should be lost, but that they should be all saved with an everlasting salvation. Now the apostle does, not pray that they might have a "knowledge" of this will of God, for some knowledge of it they had already; they had heard of the hope laid up in heaven, in the truth of the word of the Gospel; they had not only had the external, revelation, and had heard the Gospel outwardly preached, but they had known truly the grace of God; and therefore what he asks for is, that they might be "filled" with the knowledge of it; which supposes that they had knowledge, but it was not full and complete; it was imperfect, as is the knowledge of the best of saints in this life; and that they might have a larger measure of it, and such a fulness of it as they were capable of in the present state, and not such an one as the saints will have in heaven, when they shall know even as they are known. He adds, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; his meaning is, that they might be led into all the wisdom of God, which is so largely displayed in the revelation of his will concerning the salvation of his people, which is made in the Gospel; which is the manifold wisdom of God, wherein he has abounded in all wisdom and prudence; and contains such a scheme of things, so wisely contrived and formed, that angels desire to look into it; and that they might have a "spiritual understanding" of the mysteries of grace, without which they cannot be discerned to spiritual advantage, nor indeed without the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of them: and the Ethiopic version renders it, by "the prudence of the Holy Ghost": who searches the deep things of God, and reveals them to the saints, and improves and increases their spiritual and experimental knowledge of them, which is what is here intended.
Colossians 1:8
Thanksgiving and Prayer
7You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,8and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Skyland Conference 1979-07 Testimony and Message
By Aldy Fam Fanous1.1K44:39TestimonyPSA 84:5JHN 12:1COL 1:8COL 2:141TH 4:31TH 5:18In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of patience and waiting on the Lord in a fast-paced world. He shares his experience of coming from a slower-paced culture to the USA, where everything moves quickly. He highlights the need to take time with the Word of God and to wait patiently for the Lord. The speaker also discusses the order and creation of God, referencing Genesis 1 and the importance of light in the first day of creation.
He First Loves Us
By Michael Koulianos2941:22God's LoveChristian LifeWorship and ObediencePSA 18:1ISA 53:5MAT 22:37JHN 15:13ROM 5:81CO 13:4GAL 5:22EPH 4:3COL 1:81JN 4:19Michael Koulianos emphasizes the profound truth that God first loves us, which is the foundation for our love and worship in return. He encourages the congregation to recognize the importance of God's presence, warning against the dangers of choosing lesser loves that distract from a genuine relationship with Him. Koulianos highlights that true love for God manifests through obedience and devotion, which can only be sustained by continually receiving His love. He urges the church to protect the glory of God by prioritizing His presence over worldly measures of success. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deeper understanding of God's love, which transforms our hearts and leads to authentic worship.
(Power From on High) 17. the Spirit of Love
By A.B. Simpson0Divine LoveUnity in the SpiritMAT 5:44JHN 13:34ROM 5:51CO 13:4GAL 5:22EPH 4:2COL 1:81PE 4:81JN 3:181JN 4:7A.B. Simpson emphasizes the profound nature of 'love in the Spirit' as reported by Epaphras regarding the Colossian Church, which was characterized by divine love that transcends mere human affection. This love, rooted in the Holy Spirit, fosters unity, selflessness, and a deep connection among believers, contrasting sharply with natural love that is often selfish and conditional. Simpson illustrates that divine love is patient, enduring, and unconditional, reflecting God's own love for humanity, especially in times of suffering and wrong. He calls for believers to embody this love, which is a manifestation of Christ within them, and to see every challenge as an opportunity to grow in love. Ultimately, he urges the church to embrace the Holy Spirit's guidance in cultivating this divine love that fulfills the law and embodies holiness.
The Spirit of Love
By Andrew Murray0The Love of the SpiritDiscipleshipJHN 13:34ROM 15:30GAL 5:22COL 1:8Andrew Murray emphasizes that the Spirit of God is fundamentally the Divine Love that dwells within believers, asserting that true love is the primary evidence of the Spirit's presence in our lives. He explains that love is not merely one of the graces of the Spirit but the essence of God Himself, and that believers must yield to the Spirit to overcome selfishness and embody Christlike love. Murray highlights the importance of denying self to allow the Spirit's love to flow through us, which is essential for genuine discipleship. He calls for a deeper understanding of the Spirit's role in our lives, urging Christians to recognize and cultivate the love that has been poured into their hearts through the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, he prays for believers to be filled with this love, which is the true mark of a follower of Christ.
The Spirit of Love
By Samuel Chadwick0JHN 16:7ROM 5:5ROM 15:30GAL 5:22COL 1:82TI 1:7JAS 4:51JN 4:13Samuel Chadwick preaches on the significance of love in religion, emphasizing that love completes the revelation of God and encapsulates the entire duty of man. The Spirit of God is identified as the 'Spirit of Love,' which is the foundational quality that gives value to all other attributes. Love, as a fruit of the Spirit, is considered the chief and most prominent result when the Spirit of Love resides in believers, manifesting as God's own love shed in their hearts through the Holy Ghost.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Your love in the Spirit - So we preached, and so ye believed. The heavenly flame in the heart of this minister communicated itself to those who heard him; it was like priest like people. They enjoyed a spiritual, energetic ministry, and they were a spiritual people; they had a loving spirit, and love through the Spirit of God which dwelt in them. And of this love of theirs in the Spirit, and particularly towards the apostle, Epaphras gave full proof, not only by describing to the apostle the affection they felt for him, but in presenting to him those supplies which their love to him caused them to furnish.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
your love-- (Col 1:4); "to all the saints." in the Spirit--the sphere or element IN which alone true love is found; as distinguished from the state of those "in the flesh" (Rom 8:9). Yet even they needed to be stirred up to greater love (Col 3:12-14). Love is the first and chief fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. Not only their love to God, and Christ, and to all the saints, which is before mentioned, but their love to the apostle; though they had only heard of him, and of his great capacity for, and faithfulness and usefulness in preaching of the Gospel, which had greatly endeared him to them. This, he says, was in the Spirit; it was spiritual love, to distinguish it from a carnal and worldly one; they loved him for the spiritual grace that was in him, the spiritual gifts bestowed on him, the spiritual service he was engaged in, and the spiritual usefulness he was of: or they loved him in, and with their spirits, with all their hearts, sincerely, and without dissimulation; and though they had never seen him in the flesh, yet being, as it were, present with him in spirit, their affections were knit unto him: or this their love was "in the Holy Spirit", as the Ethiopic version reads it; it was a fruit of the Spirit of God, which he had implanted in their hearts in regeneration, as is also love to God, and likewise to Christ. Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. Not only their love to God, and Christ, and to all the saints, which is before mentioned, but their love to the apostle; though they had only heard of him, and of his great capacity for, and faithfulness and usefulness in preaching of the Gospel, which had greatly endeared him to them. This, he says, was in the Spirit; it was spiritual love, to distinguish it from a carnal and worldly one; they loved him for the spiritual grace that was in him, the spiritual gifts bestowed on him, the spiritual service he was engaged in, and the spiritual usefulness he was of: or they loved him in, and with their spirits, with all their hearts, sincerely, and without dissimulation; and though they had never seen him in the flesh, yet being, as it were, present with him in spirit, their affections were knit unto him: or this their love was "in the Holy Spirit", as the Ethiopic version reads it; it was a fruit of the Spirit of God, which he had implanted in their hearts in regeneration, as is also love to God, and likewise to Christ. Colossians 1:9 col 1:9 col 1:9 col 1:9For this cause we also,.... Not merely for their love to the apostle, and the rest that were with him; which sense is too much contracted, and carries some appearance of meanness and selfishness; but because of their faith in Christ, their love to all the saints, and the good hope they had of eternal happiness; and because they had heard the Gospel, and truly knew it, and sincerely professed it: therefore, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire; which shows that the apostles prayed without ceasing; not that they were every moment praying, without intermission, but that they were frequent and constant every day at the throne of grace; and as often as they were there, they were mindful of these Colossians, even ever since they heard of their reception of the Gospel, of their profession of it, and of the fruit it brought forth in them; and in their petitions "prayed" and "desired", earnestly and importunately entreated God on their behalf: that ye might he filled with the knowledge of his will; the will "of God", as the Syriac version reads it, by which is meant, not the secret will of God, according to the counsel of which he does all things in nature, providence, and grace, but his revealed will; and that either as it is signified in the law, which declares the good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God, relating to what he would have done, or avoided by his creatures; or rather, as it is exhibited in the Gospel, which contains the will of God respecting the salvation of his chosen ones; as that it is his will that Christ should obtain eternal redemption for them, to do which he voluntarily substituted himself in their room, came into this world, and has accomplished it; and that all those that are redeemed by Christ should be regenerated by the Spirit; and that whoever sees the Son, and believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life; as also, that all those whom he has chosen in Christ, and given to him, and he has redeemed by his blood, and who are sanctified by his Spirit, none of them should be lost, but that they should be all saved with an everlasting salvation. Now the apostle does, not pray that they might have a "knowledge" of this will of God, for some knowledge of it they had already; they had heard of the hope laid up in heaven, in the truth of the word of the Gospel; they had not only had the external, revelation, and had heard the Gospel outwardly preached, but they had known truly the grace of God; and therefore what he asks for is, that they might be "filled" with the knowledge of it; which supposes that they had knowledge, but it was not full and complete; it was imperfect, as is the knowledge of the best of saints in this life; and that they might have a larger measure of it, and such a fulness of it as they were capable of in the present state, and not such an one as the saints will have in heaven, when they shall know even as they are known. He adds, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; his meaning is, that they might be led into all the wisdom of God, which is so largely displayed in the revelation of his will concerning the salvation of his people, which is made in the Gospel; which is the manifold wisdom of God, wherein he has abounded in all wisdom and prudence; and contains such a scheme of things, so wisely contrived and formed, that angels desire to look into it; and that they might have a "spiritual understanding" of the mysteries of grace, without which they cannot be discerned to spiritual advantage, nor indeed without the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of them: and the Ethiopic version renders it, by "the prudence of the Holy Ghost": who searches the deep things of God, and reveals them to the saints, and improves and increases their spiritual and experimental knowledge of them, which is what is here intended.