Colossians 1:10-12

The goal of understanding God’s will fully was that the Colossians would be able to live one day at a time in a manner that would glorify and please their Lord. The metaphor "walk," signifying conduct in the progress of life, has its origin in Jewish rather than Greek culture. The Hebrew verb halak, translated "walk," gave rise to the technical term "halakhah," which denotes the rabbinic rulings on how the Jews were to interpret the law in their daily lives. [Note: See Dunn, p. 71.] "Please" (Gr. aresko) refers to an attitude that anticipates every wish (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:9).

"In my pastoral ministry, I have met people who have become intoxicated with ’studying the deeper truths of the Bible.’ Usually they have been given a book or introduced to some teacher’s tapes. Before long, they get so smart they become dumb! The ’deeper truths’ they discover only detour them from practical Christian living. Instead of getting burning hearts of devotion to Christ (Luke 24:32), they get big heads and start creating problems in their homes and churches. All Bible truths are practical, not theoretical. If we are growing in knowledge, we should also be growing in grace (2 Peter 3:18)." [Note: Wiersbe, 2:111.]

Four characteristics (each a present participle) mark this worthy walk (an aorist infinitive in the Greek text, Colossians 1:10-12). First, it includes continuously bearing fruit in character and conduct in every type of good work (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). Second, it includes growing. Paul’s idea was that the Christian can continue to grow in his knowledge of God’s will revealed in Scripture. As he does so, he not only bears fruit but grows in his ability to bear fruit, as a fruit tree does.

"What rain and sunshine are to the nurture of plants, the knowledge of God is to the growth and maturing of the spiritual life." [Note: Vaughan, p. 178.]

Third, it includes gaining strength manifested in steadfastness (endurance under trial, "the capacity to see things through"). [Note: F. W. Beare, The Epistle to the Colossians, p. 158.] It also includes patience (longsuffering restraint), and joy (cf. Philippians 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:1). Fourth, it includes expressing gratitude to God consistently.

"There is a kind of patience that ’endures but does not enjoy.’ Paul prayed that the Colossian Christians might experience joyful patience and longsuffering." [Note: Wiersbe, 2:113.]

Three causes for thankful gratitude follow in Colossians 1:12-13.