Please refer back to the entry posted on June 30 for an overview of our passage, found at Col. 1:9 – 14. Our verse for this lesson is, “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col.1:9 NASB). This verse was phrased as follows:
For the purpose of this blog entry we will give only a brief comment about each line of phase shown above.
We will start at the phrase “pray for you” because it is to the far left. We notice that there are three lines above “pray for you.” This will provide us with background information. We will cover that next.
“And so” starts a new topic, which is the prayer of Paul.
“from the day we heard” reminds us to ask a question, “Heard what?” Paul has heard of their faith (v4) and their love (v8).
“we have not ceased to” do what? We know it is pray, but before we look at prayer we must think about what it means to not cease doing something. To not cease is to continue, but how can one continue to pray when there are other things to do? In class we decided it meant, “Not to lose from your mind.” We may not be speaking or thinking a prayer, but what we are praying about is near enough to the front of our mind that through out the day or even night it becomes a conscience thing and we can pray.
“pray for you” is having communication with God. We considered kinds of prayer, who to pray to, and kinds of things to pray for as seen in the Bible. Paul is praying for those at Colossae.
“asking that you may be filled” is the first request. Asking for something should mean that you lack and need more of what you are lacking. Paul wants them to be filled up with something.
“with the knowledge of” begins our understanding of what we are to have. To have knowledge of something is to know something with familiarity gained through experience or association. The Bible says that men shall run here and there and increase in knowledge [of the world] (Daniel 12:4). I don’t think that is the kind of knowledge Paul had in mind.
Knowledge of “his will” is what we are to be filled with. It is knowledge of things ethical and divine; that which God wishes to be done by us. Are we spending enough time with him and his word to know the importance of obedience, to be holy, to love one another, to be set apart for good works, to always give thanks, to study to show oneself approved by God, to see the interest of others as more important than our own, and to bear fruit in our good works?
“in all spiritual wisdom” indicates what our knowledge of his will is associated with. James speaks of two kinds of wisdom; that from above and that which is not. He says that which is not from above is earthly (denies the existence of God), natural (does not include the ways or mind of God, but will include the ways and mind of a fallen depraved nature) and demonic (pays attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons) (James 3:15 – 16). Wisdom that is from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit, unwavering, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17). If we are going to be filled with the knowledge of his will we will have to be very careful about our relationship with the world and allow enough time with him and his word to keep us filled.
“understanding” is a level beyond knowledge. I see this so clearly in language study here in China. Chinese students study and gain knowledge of the English language, but it takes much longer and maybe time in the western culture to gain an understanding. The difference is so clear when I have a chance to talk with a Chinese student who has worked or studied for awhile in the US.
The sentence in the box above is the beginning of our prayer we are developing from Paul’s prayer.
I pray that this brief summary of lesson two provided you with some things to think about.
For the purpose of this blog entry we will give only a brief comment about each line of phase shown above.
We will start at the phrase “pray for you” because it is to the far left. We notice that there are three lines above “pray for you.” This will provide us with background information. We will cover that next.
“And so” starts a new topic, which is the prayer of Paul.
“from the day we heard” reminds us to ask a question, “Heard what?” Paul has heard of their faith (v4) and their love (v8).
“we have not ceased to” do what? We know it is pray, but before we look at prayer we must think about what it means to not cease doing something. To not cease is to continue, but how can one continue to pray when there are other things to do? In class we decided it meant, “Not to lose from your mind.” We may not be speaking or thinking a prayer, but what we are praying about is near enough to the front of our mind that through out the day or even night it becomes a conscience thing and we can pray.
“pray for you” is having communication with God. We considered kinds of prayer, who to pray to, and kinds of things to pray for as seen in the Bible. Paul is praying for those at Colossae.
“asking that you may be filled” is the first request. Asking for something should mean that you lack and need more of what you are lacking. Paul wants them to be filled up with something.
“with the knowledge of” begins our understanding of what we are to have. To have knowledge of something is to know something with familiarity gained through experience or association. The Bible says that men shall run here and there and increase in knowledge [of the world] (Daniel 12:4). I don’t think that is the kind of knowledge Paul had in mind.
Knowledge of “his will” is what we are to be filled with. It is knowledge of things ethical and divine; that which God wishes to be done by us. Are we spending enough time with him and his word to know the importance of obedience, to be holy, to love one another, to be set apart for good works, to always give thanks, to study to show oneself approved by God, to see the interest of others as more important than our own, and to bear fruit in our good works?
“in all spiritual wisdom” indicates what our knowledge of his will is associated with. James speaks of two kinds of wisdom; that from above and that which is not. He says that which is not from above is earthly (denies the existence of God), natural (does not include the ways or mind of God, but will include the ways and mind of a fallen depraved nature) and demonic (pays attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons) (James 3:15 – 16). Wisdom that is from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit, unwavering, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17). If we are going to be filled with the knowledge of his will we will have to be very careful about our relationship with the world and allow enough time with him and his word to keep us filled.
“understanding” is a level beyond knowledge. I see this so clearly in language study here in China. Chinese students study and gain knowledge of the English language, but it takes much longer and maybe time in the western culture to gain an understanding. The difference is so clear when I have a chance to talk with a Chinese student who has worked or studied for awhile in the US.
The sentence in the box above is the beginning of our prayer we are developing from Paul’s prayer.
I pray that this brief summary of lesson two provided you with some things to think about.
