This great hope is connected with the word of the truth of the gospel. This word of t r u t h had been preached (v. 23), was heard (v. 9), and was received by them (v. 7, 9). The word had proven its merit, for it had brought forth fruit by those receiving it. The word grace here re veals the nature of the gospel Epa- phras preached to them. It was good news of undeserved favor shown to ward the sinner. P rayer for R eal C hristian G rowth l:9-12a Paul has been rejoicing and thank ing God for the Colossian Christians’ status. He prays above everything else that they may be filled with the knowledge of the will of God. The first thing to see in this great petition is the motive. Paul’s heart is linked with God’s and the Colossians’ also in this deep desire. He has nev er seen them, and it is doubtful he ever expects to see them on this earth. But the tempter has assault ed the citadel of the faith, and the apostle feels he must come to the rescue. The second truth is the substance of this prayer. This petition is not composed of idle words or genuflec tions. In verse nine the word (plero- thdte) is aorist passive subjunctive and is in a purpose clause. It means to “fill full,” to overflow with the knowledge of His (God’s) will. This is the boomerang with which Paul will fight the conceit of Gnosticism. The way to combat these intellectual monads was not in ignorance, nor by delving into some enigmatic puzzle, but by searching for the will of God. The word (epignosis) “knowl edge” is in the accusative case and is the object of (pleroma) “may be filled. This is the word for super knowledge that Paul uses to counter act the superficial claims of the Gnostics. This characteristic word means a deep, full, mature, spiritual 31
Hope laid up in Heaven 1:5. The preposition dia with the accusative is noteworthy, as it ties these three virtues together. Faith and love are WE ARE HIS We are His! We are His! His peculiar possession, For He hath redeemed us from fear and oppression; We were servants of sin; we were chained and enslaved, But He sought us and found us and freed us and saved. Not with wealth were we purchased; not silver or gold Could forge the new fetters to bind us and hold. He had shed His own blood just to make us His own, And hath laid down His life for this purpose alone. Whatever may be, and whatever now is, In life we are His, and in death we are His. We are His! We are His! We are bondslaves of love. Though we serve Him on earth or in Heaven above; He loved us and bought us and called us by name, And gave us His own to rejoice in and claim, For the love that He bears us is faith ful and sure, And through all eternity it shall en dure. There is naught that can part us and naught can estrange, Nothing can separate, nothing can change; By the cords of that love, everlasting and deep, Our hearts unto His He hath bound and will keep; He hath raised us from woe to un speakable bliss; In life we are His, and in death we are His. — Annie Johnson Flint not based on hope but reveal the hope. Faith rests on the past, love works in the present, and hope looks toward the future.
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