Colossians 1:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“Having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus.” Above he mentioned our Lord, and here Jesus Christ. He Himself is Lord, he says. He did not say “servants of Jesus Christ.” And here are the signs of the benefaction: “For He will save His people from their sins” (Mt 1:21), said the Evangelist. “Having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.” Paul is already disposing them favorably toward himself. The one who announces such things is pleasing. He sends the epistle with Tychicus, whom he had kept with himself. “And of your love,” he says, “for all the saints,” not merely for some. Therefore, for us also.

"Having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus." We thank God, he says, because we heard from Epaphroditus of your faith in Christ Jesus, and not in angels. Through this he disposes them favorably toward himself.

For these names, Christ and Jesus, are symbols of benefaction. He received anointing for our sake, and He saved His people from their transgressions.

"And of the love toward all the saints." Not toward this one or that one, but toward all. Therefore it is toward us also, so that you will listen to us gladly. This is the speech of one who disposes them favorably toward himself.

By love he means almsgiving and communion, as in other places also.

Especially when we heard of your true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and of your great love which you have for all the saints, that is, for all the poor.

The Apostle bore witness to their perfection, saying that they shone with faith and love, because love encompasses all the active commandments. It is usual for the Apostle first to soften the ear with praises, and only then to set forth the proper teaching. Therefore here also he says that in his prayers he glorifies God for the faith they have in Christ the Master. He also glorifies God for the love they continue to show toward all who share the faith.

Here the Apostle shows them that the hope set before them, of the resurrection and the Kingdom, was not given by angelic governance, but by the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Bodily exercise in stillness purifies the body from the material element within it. The exercise of the mind humbles the soul and purifies it from coarse thoughts about passing things. It draws the soul away from a state in which its thoughts are passionately fixed on them. It brings the soul into a state in which they are moved by its divine contemplation. And it brings the soul near to the stripping bare of the mind, which is called immaterial contemplation. This is spiritual discipline. For it lifts thought from earthly things and brings it near to the first contemplation of the Spirit. It raises it to God through the vision of ineffable glory and through the preparatory delight of the mind in hope.

“Your faith which is in Christ Jesus.” The Apostle did not say, “faith in Christ Jesus,” but “faith in Christ Jesus.” In this way he shows that faith itself is rooted and founded in Him. Jesus Christ is not only the object of faith, but its foundation, or better, the giver of faith. He is the vine on which all believers grow as branches. Love is closely joined with faith, and not only love for Him, but also love for all the saints, that is, for all believers. Therefore the Apostle thanks God not for faith alone, but also for the mutual love of believers among themselves.

As in all the Pauline epistles, his Epistle to the Colossians has a preface (Col 1:1-11) and a conclusion with greetings (Col 4:7-18). Between these parts there is a doctrinal section (Col 1:12-2:23) and a moral section (Col 3-4:6).

In the preface, the Apostle Paul bestows grace and peace upon the Colossians from himself and from Timothy the brother. He then informs them that, since he heard from Epaphras of their faith and love toward all the saints, that is, Christians, he has not ceased praying for them.

In praising faith, love, and hope, the Apostle clearly means new manifestations of them. These appeared in mutual respect for faith and devotion, not only toward one another, but also toward neighboring Christians and even distant ones. This may have taken the form of help, for example, to the Christians of Jerusalem, which Epaphras could have reported to the Apostle Paul.

After the inscription and greeting (vv. 1-2), the Apostle expresses thanks to God for the rather favorable condition of the Church of Colossae. He had learned of this from Epaphras, who had communicated correct notions of Christianity to the Colossians.

The Colossians believe in Christ and perform works of Christian love. They are guided by hope for future, heavenly blessedness, and they nourish toward one another true love, free from fleshly motives (έν πνεύμα.).

"The Apostle here bore witness to their perfection, saying that they shine with faith and love" (Blessed Theodoret). For in Christ Jesus the summit of perfection is faith, aided by love (cf. Gal 5:6).

"Having heard" means from Epaphras. The Apostle could have known earlier, perhaps even personally, that they had believed. But what their faith was like, he now heard from Epaphras. Having heard, he thanked God: after I heard from Epaphras what your faith is like, I do not cease to thank God for it.