Col 1:4-5 | JFB | STEP | 4. Since we heard —literally, "Having heard." The language implies that he had only heard of, and not seen, them ( ). Compare , where like language is used of a Church which he had not at the time visited. love . . . to all —the absent, as well as those present [BENGEL ].

Colossians 1:4-5

4. Since we heard—literally, "Having heard." The language implies that he had only heard of, and not seen, them (Col 2:1). Compare Ro 1:8, where like language is used of a Church which he had not at the time visited.

love . . . to all—the absent, as well as those present [BENGEL].

5. For—to be joined with the words immediately preceding: "The love which ye have to all the saints because of (literally, 'on account of') the hope," &c. The hope of eternal life will never be in us an inactive principle but will always produce "love." This passage is abused by Romanists, as if the hope of salvation depended upon works. A false argument. It does not follow that our hope is founded on our works because we are strongly stimulated to live well; since nothing is more effectual for this purpose than the sense of God's free grace [CALVIN].

laid up—a treasure laid up so as to be out of danger of being lost (2Ti 4:8). Faith, love, and hope (Col 1:4, 5), comprise the sum of Christianity. Compare Col 1:23, "the hope of the Gospel."

in heaven—Greek, "in the heavens."

whereof ye heard before—namely, at the time when it was preached to you.

in the word, &c.—That "hope" formed part of "the word of the truth of the Gospel" (compare Eph 1:13), that is, part of the Gospel truth preached unto you.