TWeb Bible Study Thread

[One Bad Pig]

I think it has to do with me using the HCSB while browsing biblegateway, In HCSB Col 1:9-14 (Titled: Prayer for Spiritual Growth in HCSB) and 1:15-20(23) (The Centrality of Christ) are split into two different sections. I'm fine with expanding it to also include Paul's "poem" about Christ, i.e up to verse 20.

Done. My print NKJV shows paragraph breaks at verses 9 and 19.

[37818]

The phrase, Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς, . . . at the start of our v.9, "For this cause we also, . . ." refers to what was in the text before this. Even though this (v.9) in the translations is a start of a new paragraph. What follows is in reference to what was just referred to. Such as v.8, ". . . your love in the Spirit."

". . . 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; " Which introduces the reasons for this.

[37818]

Continuing from v.9 ". . . 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; (v.10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; . . ."

The NKJV reads more clearly, " . . . that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [Him], . . ."
". . . being fruitful in every good work, . . ." this is a characteristic of being saved (Ephesians 2:10; 3 John 11).
". . . and increasing in the knowledge of God; . . ." BTW is why we are doing Bible study.

[JonathanL]

Reading from a little further back of the chapter, Paul writes:



At the risk of being obvious, it would seem to me then that Paul is thanking God that the gospel has been allowed to bear fruit in the community at Colossae, and that verses 9-12 is essentially Paul saying that he's praying for this positive trend to continue.