The Knowledge of God’s Will: Pt 1, Colossians 1:10-11

(10) so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously (12) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. (13) For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:10-14)

This passage stresses our good works and service to God, which is the outgrowth of our relationship with God through our personal relationship with Jesus. Our works are the fruit and not the root. They are the fruit of God working in us, not us working for God. We are not earning a paycheck based on what we do for God. As Scripture says, we are clay in the hands of the potter, designed to be filled with the knowledge of the potter, which will transform our lives to be like Him.

The results of being filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding is: 1) a worthy walk, 2) a fruitful life, 3) growth, 4) strength, and 5) endurance, 6) inheritance, 7) deliverance, 8) transference, 9) redemption and 10) forgiveness.

A Worthy Walk

so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, (1:10a)

• ‘so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord’ –
• ‘so that you will walk’ –
• Definition: ‘will walk’ – is the Greek word, ‘peripateo’, which means to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities, to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self. The clear meaning here is that God’s will is to influence someone’s conduct on a day to day basis.

• ‘in a manner worthy of the Lord’ –
• Definition: ‘worthy’ – is the Greek word, ‘axios’, and means being of value, of worth, right on the ground of fitness, used to describe persons and their deeds.
• A worthy walk is one that is by faith in Christ, after the Holy Spirit, and according to the Word. As John Calvin put it, “renouncing our own understanding, and bidding farewell to all the inclinations of our flesh.” [1] “To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord means to walk in a way that is commensurate, fitting and consistent with who the Lord is to us and what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do for us.” [2] (Col 2:6; Mic 4:5; Ro 6:4; Eph 4:1; Php 1:27; 1 Th 2:12)
• As Christians we should act or conduct our lives in a manner that corresponds to the character we see demonstrated by Christ in Scripture. If we profess to be His, then our character will be in the process of being changed to match His. Having the knowledge of His will, is what will cause us to walk in that worthy manner.

• ‘to please Him in all respects’ –
• Definition: ‘to please’ – is the Greek word, ‘areskeia’, means a desire to please, to be acceptable; to endeavor to please and render service. This is the only place in the NT that this word is used. The root word is used 14 times in the NT and “describes an attitude that is the driving force behind one’s actions whether a false or proper attitude.” [3] In this context the attitude is to please God above all else.
• It should be our constant aim in life to please God in all things. When we do the right things for the wrong reasons (bad attitude, etc.) then we destroy the very fruit that God is attempting to produce in us. Paul is talking about a mind that is completely controlled by the knowledge, wisdom and understanding that comes only from God’s Word, and that will enable us to live a worthy life that pleases God (1 Cor 7:32; 1 Th 4:1; 1 John 3:22).
• There are two dangerous extremes that too many Christians gravitate towards. They will either dedicate themselves to their own pleasure like the world around them does, or they will make pleasing God complicated with legalistic man made rules. It should be our heart’s desire to avoid these two extremes.

A Fruitful Life

• bearing fruit in every good work (1:10b)
• Definition: ‘bearing fruit’ – is the Greek word, ‘karpophoreo’, means to bear, bring forth, deeds. Vine’s says that the metaphorical use, as is the case here, refers ‘to conduct, or that which takes effect in conduct’. Paul appears to be using a slightly different usage of the word that was used in verse 6. Here the attention is being redirected away from the person, and directing it to Christ, who is the life within us. The emphasis is not on what we will do for Christ, but what Christ will do through us (John 15:16; Eph 2:10).
• The Greek word is in the continuous present tense, meaning that He is constantly at work in us, using us to bear fruit for His purposes.
• It is important that we not overlook the symbolism of fruit that Jesus, John and Paul use in the NT. For a grapevine to be its most productive, it must have constant care. Pruning is one of the most important tasks that must be done to achieve that goal. And sometimes the pruning must be severe. The pruning process that occurs in us is always painful, but it’s for our best, even though at the time we usually do not see those benefits.
• For the Christian, fruit is the by-product of righteousness, and is the mark of every believer (John 15:8, 16; Rom 7:4; Eph 2:10; Php 1:11; Tit 3:1,14; Heb 13:21).
• Good works are the natural result bearing Godly fruit.

Growth

and increasing in the knowledge of God; (1:10c)

• ‘and increasing in the knowledge of God’ –
• ‘increasing’ –
• Definition: ‘increasing’ – is the Greek word, ‘auxano’, which means to cause to grow, augment, become greater.
• There seems to be both a qualitative and quantitative aspect to the ‘increasing’ in knowledge. The qualitative aspect of the ‘increase’, as can be seen in John 15 and Gal 5:22-26, refers to the fruitfulness of our spiritual growth in all areas of our character. The quantitative aspect refers to the growth in our wisdom and understanding of the gospel as well as our ability to share it with others. This can only be achieved when we regularly and consistently strengthen ourselves with an inward communion with God.

• ‘in the knowledge of God’ –
• We bear fruit because of our knowledge of God. The direct result of the knowledge of God is spiritual growth. The knowledge of God, which is an intimate relationship with the creator of the universe, is the reason we grow spiritually (John 17:3; 2 Cor 4:6; Eph 1:17; 4:13; 2 Pet 1:3; 3:18; 1 John 5:20).
• Our knowledge of God will include: 
1. a deeper love for God and His word (Ps 119:97); 
2. more perfect obedience (1 John 2:3-5); 
3. greater faith (2 Th 1:3); and 4) more love (Phil 1:9).
• There should be nothing more precious to us than the knowledge of God because it is the only thing we will take with us when we die. And our only opportunity to acquire it is during our lifetime here on earth.

Strength

strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, (1:11a)

• ‘strengthened with all power’ –
• Definition: ‘strengthened’ – is the Greek word, ‘dunamoo’, which means ‘to make strong, confirm, strengthen.’ It is a present tense word suggesting continuous action. The implication here is of making someone strong who is inherently weak. Believers need to be continually strengthened if they are to persevere.
• Definition: ‘power’ – is the Greek word, ‘dunamis’, from which we get the English word dynamite. It means ‘inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth.’ It implies the ability to perform a task. It speaks of God’s divine power, which is the only thing that can transform sinners into saints.
• Paul’s implication is that believers are weak in themselves. They do not have the strength to stand on their own. Without the empowerment of Christ Jesus we do not have the strength to resist Satan’s temptations. We cannot stand against them, or bear up under them in our own strength. Nor do we have the ability to resist the corruption of our sinful nature. Only through Christ do we have any hope at all to overcome these temptations. It is God who has made His limitless power available to us, to strengthen us against the temptations that come our way each and every day. But this power is not at our beckon call, as if God works for us or we can command Him. That power is there to bring Him glory, for Him to achieve His purposes in our lives.

• ‘according to His glorious might’ –
• Definition: ‘might’ – is the Greek word, ‘kratos’, which means ‘force, strength, dominion. It refers to strength in action, a power that overcomes some form of resistance, such as sin.’ [4]
• Definition: ‘glorious’ – is the Greek word, ‘doxa’, and means ‘splendor, brightness, the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity.’ It refers to the outward manifestation of God’s inward divine character and attributes, His divine essence.
• We cannot stand in our own strength, even though we try. We are completely dependent on the divine impartation of power that God supplies us with to overcome sin and temptation, which is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. (Isa 40:29; 2 Cor 12:9; Eph 3:16; Php 4:13; Rom 15:13)

Endurance

• for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously (1:11b)
• Definition: ‘steadfastness’ – is the Greek word, ‘hupomone’, which means ‘steadfastness, endurance, constancy, perseverance, someone who does not swerve from their deliberate purpose and their loyalty to faith and holiness by even the greatest trials and sufferings.’ The KJV translates this word as ‘patience’ which just does not seem to communicate that meaning. (2 Pet 1:5-8)
• Definition: ‘patience’ – is the Greek word, ‘makrothumia’, which means ‘patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs, not easily provoked; long in compassion, even-temperedness’. The KJV translates the word as ‘longsuffering’, which seems to be a much better choice to communicate the intended meaning. While steadfastness refers to dealing with circumstances, ‘patience’ or ‘longsuffering’ refers to dealing with people or relationships. John Gill defines longsuffering ‘to be slow to anger, and not easily provoked to wrath; to be ready to forgive injuries; and to bear long, and with patience, all reproaches and persecutions for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel; all which require daily fresh supplies of grace and strength, especially to endure all.’ [5]
• God has strengthened us with His divine power so that we would be able to attain steadfastness and perseverance in the circumstances of life, and to attain longsuffering to be able to deal with people, especially those in the family of God (2 Cor 6:4-6).
• Here is our first instance of a Pauline trademark within his epistles. Normally, Paul will repeat something three times changing the emphasis slightly in each statement. However, Paul uses the word, ‘all’, four times in three verses. In verse 9, Paul prays that we may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will ‘in all spiritual wisdom and understanding’. In verse 10, Paul prays that we may ‘please Him in all respects’, and here in verse 11, Paul’s prayer is that we may be ‘strengthened in all power,’ and attain ‘all steadfastness and patience.’
• Definition: ‘joyously’ – Literally in the Greek, it's ‘with joy’, which is the Greek word, ‘meta chara’, and means ‘joy, delight, gladness; the cause or occasion of joy’.
• The Scholar’s Debate
• Does ‘joyously’ stay with verse 10 and go with ‘steadfastness and longsuffering’ as in the KJV, RSV and ASV, or does it go with ‘giving thanks’ in verse 11, as it does in the NIV and NASB?
• In favor of ‘joyously giving thanks’ is the fact that the first three participles in verses 10 and 11 are modified with phrases, many Bible expositors as well as translators believe that ‘with joy’ is that modifier for the participle ‘giving thanks to the Father.

• v. 10 -- Bearing fruit -- in every good work
• v. 10 -- Increasing -- in the knowledge of God
• v. 11 -- Strengthened -- with all power
• v. 12 -- Giving thanks to the Father -- with joy

Historical note – John Chrysostom (347-407) saw it this way, although probably not for the above reason.

• Against that view, Goodspeed sees joy as ‘the cheerful exercise of endurance (steadfastness) and forbearance (longsuffering).’ Joy is often associated with suffering (Gal 5:22; Php 1:18). Herbert Carson suggests that giving thanks does not imply joy. The other two places where giving thanks occurs in Colossians (‘give thanks’ – 1:3; ‘with thankfulness’ – 3:17) stand alone. This would reinforce the belief that joy is implicit in thanksgiving. [6]
• Regardless of the placement, we are always to have a cheerful spirit, to walk in the joy of the Holy Spirit, and to endure trials, even persecution with joy. It should be a cause of great joy in us to be counted worthy to suffer in the name of Jesus (Rom 5:3-5; 2 Co 1:5; Jas 1:2-4; Heb 12:1-2).

Footnotes

[1] Calvin’s Commentary, p/o the Online Bible, Computer Program, © 1987-2005.
[2] J. Hampton Keathley III, Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary, Walking Worthily of the Lord to Please Him in all Respects (Col. 1:10a).
[3] Ibid.
[4] J. Hampton Keathley III, Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary, 5. Four Ways to Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:10b-12a).
[5] John Gill’s Commentary, the Online Bible, Computer Program, © 1987-2005.
[6] J. Hampton Keathley III, Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary, 5. Four Ways to Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:10b-12a).

The primary sources for this study use J. Hampton Keathley III, Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary, from bible.org, Copyright ©1996-2020 Bible.org, and all attributions are reprinted with permission granted by bible.org, and John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Colossians & Philemon, (Moody Bible Institute: ©1992).

This study uses many of the commentaries, dictionaries and the Greek Lexicon which are all part of 'The Online Bible', Computer Program, © 2023, Larry Pierce, http://www.onlinebible.net/, unless otherwise referenced. See Greetings and Thanksgiving, Colossians 1:1-4 for full attribution.

All Scriptures quotes are from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Revision, unless otherwise noted. Verse links from Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/