Colossians 1:9 kjv

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Colossians 1:9 nkjv

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Colossians 1:9 niv

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,

Colossians 1:9 esv

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,

Colossians 1:9 nlt

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Colossians 1 verses

Colossians 1 9 Meaning

This verse initiates a profound prayer by the apostle Paul for the Colossian believers. Paul and his companions continuously pray for them, specifically asking that they may be saturated with a deep, full, and accurate understanding of God's divine purpose and intentions for their lives. This knowledge is not merely intellectual, but is rooted in all forms of wisdom and insight granted by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to comprehend spiritual truths and apply them in every aspect of life. This filling is essential for navigating the challenges and living out their faith effectively.

Colossians 1 9 Context

Colossians chapter 1 sets the theological foundation for Paul's letter. Following a traditional greeting, verses 3-8 serve as Paul's thanksgiving for the Colossian believers, highlighting their faith in Christ, love for all saints, and hope laid up in heaven, all results of the gospel bearing fruit among them, just as it did globally. Epaphras, who ministered to them and reported on their spiritual state, is affirmed as Paul's faithful fellow servant. Verse 9, beginning with "For this reason," directly flows from this thanksgiving, establishing that the positive report from Epaphras spurs Paul and his team to continually pray for their ongoing spiritual maturity and equipping. The immediate historical context involves countering a developing heresy in Colossae that downplayed Christ's supremacy and advocated for mystical experiences, legalism, and a false form of "knowledge." This verse thus anticipates the deeper theological arguments in later chapters by emphasizing true, Spirit-led knowledge and wisdom.

Colossians 1 9 Word analysis

• For this reason (διὰ τοῦτο, dia touto): Links Paul's prayer directly to the positive report of their faith and love (Col 1:4-8). It signifies that their spiritual growth and the effective working of the gospel are the very basis and motivation for his unceasing intercession.
• we also (καὶ ἡμεῖς, kai hēmeis): Includes Paul and his associates (e.g., Timothy mentioned in Col 1:1). It highlights a shared commitment and deep pastoral concern, extending the community of prayer beyond the Colossian assembly.
• since the day we heard it (ἀφʼ ἧς ἡμέρας ἠκούσαμεν, aph hēs hēmeras ēkousamen): Refers to Epaphras' report (Col 1:7-8). This phrase emphasizes the continuity and immediacy of their prayer; their intercession began the moment they received the news and has persisted without interruption.
• do not cease (οὐ παυόμεθα, ou pauometha): Implies consistent, fervent, and persistent prayer, not sporadic or occasional. It reflects a core Pauline practice (cf. 1 Thes 5:17) – a life marked by constant communion with God and intercession for others.
• to pray (προσευχόμενοι, proseuchomenoi): Refers to general worshipful communication with God, fostering communion and adoration.
• and ask (καὶ αιτούμενοι, kai aitoumenoi): Denotes a specific petition or request. The combination with "to pray" shows that their communion with God included concrete petitions for the Colossians' specific needs for spiritual growth.
• that you may be filled (ἵνα πληρωθῆτε, hina plērōthēte): Purpose clause indicating the content of their specific petition. "Filled" (from plēroō) implies completion, abundance, and saturation, much like a container being filled to the brim. The passive voice indicates God as the one who performs this filling.
• with the knowledge (τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν, tēn epignōsin): Crucial term. More than mere gnosis (intellectual knowledge), epignosis means a full, accurate, complete, precise, or intimate experiential knowledge. It signifies a transformative understanding that goes beyond facts to personal assimilation and application, especially important given the emerging "gnostic-like" heresies that boasted a superior, secret knowledge.
• of His will (τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ, tou thelēmatos autou): Refers to God's divine purpose, desire, and intentions. This knowledge encompasses both God's moral will (how believers should live) and His sovereign plan (His overall purposes for salvation and the world). It is a life-shaping understanding, enabling believers to live in accordance with God's design.
• in all (ἐν πάσῃ, en pasē): Emphasizes comprehensiveness; not partial or selective, but every facet and form.
• spiritual wisdom (σοφίᾳ πνευματικῇ, sophia pneumatikē):
  • wisdom (σοφίᾳ, sophia): The practical skill and insight for living well, discerning truth from error, and applying knowledge to real-life situations. It's practical godliness.
  • spiritual (πνευματικῇ, pneumatikē): Qualifies "wisdom" and "understanding," meaning this is not human or worldly wisdom, but wisdom given and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It pertains to spiritual realities and values, enabling discernment of God's truth against human philosophies.
• and understanding (καὶ συνέσει, kai synesei): Cognitive insight and discernment. It's the ability to grasp the significance of facts, combine them, and draw right conclusions. It refers to intellectual clarity and acumen, particularly in discerning complex spiritual matters.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "do not cease to pray for you and ask": This phrase emphasizes the fervency, regularity, and pastoral burden of Paul. Their prayer life for others was constant and specific.
• "that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will": This forms the core content of the petition. The aim is not just surface understanding, but a profound saturation and personal appropriation of God's revealed purpose. It’s an internal transformation aimed at guiding outward action.
• "in all spiritual wisdom and understanding": This phrase describes the manner or medium through which the "knowledge of His will" is truly apprehended and applied. It underscores that this comprehension is divinely gifted, comprehensive, and oriented towards discernment and practical living in light of spiritual truth.

Colossians 1 9 Bonus section

• Paul’s prayer reveals his priorities for believers: not material prosperity or worldly influence, but deep spiritual understanding, character formation, and fruitful living for Christ.
• The "knowledge of His will" is both objective (God's revealed plan in Scripture) and subjective (discerning God's specific guidance in one's life). "Spiritual wisdom and understanding" empower both.
• This prayer highlights the synergy between divine enablement and human responsibility. God fills, but the believer must receive and exercise this spiritual wisdom and understanding.
• The emphasis on "spiritual" is a direct polemic against the "empty deceit" and "human tradition" Paul would confront later in the letter (Col 2:8). True wisdom originates from God's Spirit, not human philosophy.

Colossians 1 9 Commentary

Colossians 1:9 encapsulates a vital aspect of Paul's pastoral heart and his understanding of Christian maturity. His prayer moves beyond mere thanks for the Colossians' initial faith; it pivots to a deep longing for their ongoing spiritual growth. The core request is for a filling of the "knowledge of His will." This isn't superficial information, but epignosis, an intimate and comprehensive knowing that saturates the entire being, guiding both thought and action. It directly addresses the incipient errors in Colossae, presenting God's will, revealed in Christ and through the Spirit, as the true source of all complete knowledge, as opposed to any secret, humanly contrived wisdom. This filling is not a passive event; it comes "in all spiritual wisdom and understanding," implying an active engagement of Spirit-illuminated intellect and discernment. This integrated wisdom enables believers to grasp divine truth deeply and apply it discerningly, distinguishing what honors God and is true from what does not. The outcome of such knowledge is the "worthy walk" described in subsequent verses.