Bearing fruit in every good work

 

Bearing fruit in every good work

 

Colossians 1:1–3: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints in Colossae, the faithful brothers in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you."

The word *Theou* (God) appearing without an article here refers to Christ. *Dia* (διὰ) means "through." Thus, it signifies "through the will of Christ." This defines what an apostle is: one who is aligned with the will of Christ. Ultimately, Christ's will is the proclamation of the Gospel. "Saints" refers to those who are in Christ.

Paul had heard about the members of the Colossian church; as a church established by laypeople, it lacked a firmly established identity regarding the faith and faced frequent attacks from heretics. Consequently, Paul prays that they may attain a complete and mature faith.

Colossians 1:4–5: "For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel."

Faith, love, and hope are introduced here. The Colossian believers possessed faith, love, and hope. This refers to the word of truth of the Gospel. *Tēn pistin* (τὴν πίστιν) signifies "the faith"—specifically, the faith of Christ. Thus, it becomes a faith that exists within Christ. The faith of Jesus Christ is the faith that believes in His death on the cross and His resurrection, in accordance with the will of God the Father.

*Eis pantas tous hagious agapen* (εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἁγίους ἀγάπην) refers to a love that extends toward the saints. While many in the church conceive of love (*agape*) in terms of worldly acts of charity, devotion, and mercy, true love is that which gives life to the spirits of the saints.

The *agape* love demonstrated by Jesus in His death on the cross was intended to bring life to dead spirits. This is what distinguishes Christian love from the love found in other religions. Consequently, loving one's brothers (the saints) in Christianity means becoming one in Christ and enabling one another to fulfill the will of Christ.

*Hymin tēn apokeimenēn tēn elpida* (ὑμῖν τὴν ἀποκειμένην τὴν ἐλπίδα) refers to the hope that extends to you from heaven. The saints of the Colossian church held a hope regarding heaven—a hope that originated in heaven and reached out to them.

*Tou euangeliou tēs alētheias tō logō* (τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς ἀληθείας τῷ λόγῳ) translates to "in the word of the truth of the Gospel." This implies that the Gospel, the truth, and the word are synonymous; indeed, the Gospel, the truth, and the word are none other than Jesus Christ Himself. When a believer proclaims and speaks about Jesus Christ, that message becomes the Gospel, the truth, and the Word. Therefore, we must have an accurate understanding of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:6: "This gospel has come to you. In the same way that it is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world, it has been doing so among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace."

Without an accurate understanding of Christ, one cannot bear the fruit of the Gospel. The Gospel is the proclamation of the message concerning Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:7–8: "You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit."

Paul had taught Epaphras, and Epaphras had conveyed the message to the believers; however, upon hearing the report, Paul realized that the message had not been accurately transmitted.

Colossians 1:9: "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We ask that you be filled with the knowledge of God’s will (*tēn epignōsin*) through all spiritual wisdom (*pneumatikē sophia*) and understanding."

*Pneumatikē sophia* refers to spiritual wisdom (wisdom from the Holy Spirit).

*Tēn epignōsin* refers not merely to intellectual knowledge, but to knowledge gained through a relationship with God. In other words, it signifies hearing and knowing through communion with *ho Logos* (the Word) who dwells within one's spirit. It is a concept akin to the Hebrew word *yada*. Colossians 1:10–12: "I pray that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work (*agathos*) and growing in the knowledge of God; that you may be strengthened with all power (*dynamis*) according to His glorious might, attaining all steadfastness (*hypomone*) and patience (*makrothymia*) with joy; and giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."

*Agathos* refers to God’s will—specifically, establishing the Kingdom of God on earth through the Gospel. Paul’s prayer—building upon the relationship between the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the Word (*Logos*) mentioned in verse 9—is for believers to hear the Word, establish the Kingdom of God on earth through the Gospel, and deepen their intimacy with God.

*Dynamis* signifies God’s power. *Hypomone* refers to the believer entering into the temple that has been established within their own spirit. *Makrothymia* is the act of enduring the arduous process of the Gospel; this can be likened to an athlete who endures and trains to win a gold medal.

By fulfilling the work of the Gospel, the believer—who dwells in the light—inherits the Kingdom of God and becomes a child of God.