Colossians 1:5
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the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
For--to be joined with the words immediately preceding: "The love which ye have to all the saints because of (literally, 'on account of') the hope," &c. The hope of eternal life will never be in us an inactive principle but will always produce "love." This passage is abused by Romanists, as if the hope of salvation depended upon works. A false argument. It does not follow that our hope is founded on our works because we are strongly stimulated to live well; since nothing is more effectual for this purpose than the sense of God's free grace [CALVIN]. laid up--a treasure laid up so as to be out of danger of being lost (Ti2 4:8). Faith, love, and hope (Col 1:4-5), comprise the sum of Christianity. Compare Col 1:23, "the hope of the Gospel." in heaven--Greek, "in the heavens." whereof ye heard before--namely, at the time when it was preached to you. in the word, &c.--That "hope" formed part of "the word of the truth of the Gospel" (compare Eph 1:13), that is, part of the Gospel truth preached unto you.
Open source ↗We have here, I. The inscription, as usual (Col 1:1, Col 1:2). II. His thanksgiving to God for what he had heard concerning them - their faith, love, and hope (Col 1:3-8). III. His prayer for their knowledge, fruitfulness, and strength (Col 1:9-11). IV. An admirable summary of the Christian doctrine concerning the operation of the Spirit, the person of the Redeemer, the work of redemption, and the preaching of it in the gospel (v. 12-29).
Open source ↗1:5 The Colossian Christians’ confident hope gives them a secure foundation for their faith and love (1:4). • What God has reserved for believers has not yet been fully revealed, but it already exists in heaven.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness.
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.