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Colossians 1:3

in Colossians 1

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

KJV

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

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This verse in Colossians 1

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

This site's exposition

We always thank God

on Colossians 1:3-6

The thanksgiving names the three the letters keep together: faith in Christ Jesus, love for all the saints and the hope stored up in heaven. The hope is the spring of the other two.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Colossians 1 · Written before 407.

proposed

Ver. 3. "We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." He seems to me to refer everything to the Father, that what he has to say may not at once offend them. "Praying always for you." He shows his love, not by giving thanks only, but also by continual prayer, in that those whom he did not see, he had continually within himself.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Colossians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Here Paul begins his message. First, he commends the truth of the Gospel; secondly, he defends this against those who attack it (in the second chapter). In regard to the first he does two things. First, he commends the truth of faith in the Gospel; …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Colossians · Written before 1107.

proposed

He does not add the name of Christ here, although this was his custom, so as not to immediately, from the very first words, openly attack them and thereby turn them against the following content of the speech. Let those who diminish the Holy Spirit …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

We give thanks to God,.... Meaning himself and Timothy.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Thanksgiving for the "faith, hope, and love" of the Colossians. So in the twin Epistle sent at the same time and by the same bearer, Tychicus (Eph 1:15, 16).
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

We give thanks to God - Who is the author of all good; and from whom the grace, which has produced your conversion, has sprung by his mission of Christ Jesus. See the note on Eph 1:15, Eph 1:16 (note).
We give thanks to God - See the notes at the parallel place in Eph 1:15-16. Praying always for you - See the Rom 1:9, note; Eph 1:16, note; compare 1Th 1:2.

The words behind it

13 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

17 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Thessalonians 1:2We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers18 works2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.11 worksColossians 1:9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,10 worksRomans 1:8–9First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.8 worksEphesians 1:16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,8 works1 Corinthians 1:4I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.7 works
The other 11 cross-references, with their words ▾
Philippians 1:3–5I thank my God every time I remember you.6 worksColossians 1:13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,5 works1 Thessalonians 3:10–13Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.5 worksPhilemon 1:4I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,5 works2 Thessalonians 2:16–17Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,4 worksPhilippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.4 worksEphesians 3:14–19... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,4 worksEphesians 1:15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,4 worksPsalms 72:17May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.4 worksPhilippians 1:9–11And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,3 works2 Corinthians 11:31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Colossians 1:9

    For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and…

    it leads to

    • James 3:17

      But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

    • Philippians 1:9–11

      And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

    • James 1:5

      Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

    • Ephesians 1:15–20

      For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

    • 1 Thessalonians 5:17

      Pray without ceasing.

  • Through

    1 Thessalonians 1:2

    We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers

    it leads to

    • Romans 1:8–9

      First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Ephesians 1:15–16

      For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 1:4

    I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.

    it leads to

    • Romans 1:8

      First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.

Where this verse is studied

About Colossians

Christ Blessing ('The Saviour of the World'), El Greco, 1600, Scottish National Gallery. Public domain.
Christ Blessing ('The Saviour of the World'), El Greco, 1600, Scottish National Gallery. Public domain.
Colossians: the study guide →Read Colossians 1 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians.

Read on in Colossians 1 →