What is the meaning of Colossians 1:4? Because we have heard about Paul says, “because we have heard about…” (Colossians 1:4). • This shows the gospel’s impact in Colossae was so real that news traveled beyond the city, much like the report that reached Jerusalem in Acts 11:22 or Rome in Romans 1:8. • Paul had never met these believers (Colossians 2:1), yet their reputation testified loudly enough to encourage him from prison (Colossians 4:3). • Hearing is important in Scripture—faith itself “comes from hearing” (Romans 10:17), and here faithful lives, once birthed, echo back for others to hear. your faith in Christ Jesus Paul pinpoints the object of their faith: “in Christ Jesus.” • Faith is not generic optimism; it rests on the crucified and risen Lord (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). • By placing faith “in” Christ, the Colossians acknowledged His exclusive lordship (John 14:6) and sufficiency (Colossians 2:9–10). • This kind of faith moves beyond initial belief to steadfast trust (Hebrews 3:14). Paul later urges them to “continue in the faith, established and firm” (Colossians 1:23). • Their faith mirrors what Paul praised in Ephesus: “faith in the Lord Jesus” (Ephesians 1:15). True saving faith always has a visible outworking, which flows seamlessly into the next phrase. and your love for all the saints Faith’s companion virtue is love. • Paul notes not just “love,” but love “for all the saints,” echoing Jesus’ command in John 13:35 and the apostle’s own words in Galatians 6:10. • “No exceptions” love breaks through ethnic and social barriers (Colossians 3:11). It reaches every believer, rich or poor, local or distant (2 Corinthians 8:1–5). • Such love proves spiritual life (1 John 3:14) and completes faith’s expression (Galatians 5:6). • Paul later commends their continued love in Colossians 1:8, where Epaphras “informed us of your love in the Spirit,” underscoring its Spirit-empowered nature (Romans 5:5). summary Colossians 1:4 celebrates a church whose testimony rings out. Outsiders hear of a faith anchored firmly in Christ Jesus and a love that embraces every believer without discrimination. These two realities—trust in the Savior and sacrificial care for His people—stand as inseparable marks of authentic Christian life, inspiring us to deepen both qualities so our own communities resound with the same good report. |
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