“Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.”
He has made known to us your love in the Spirit — Epaphras has reported (delōō) the Colossians' love. 'In the Spirit' (en pneumati) indicates this is Spirit-produced love, not human sentimentalism. The Spirit's presence is evidenced by community love. This report sustains Paul's intercession and establishes continuity between himself, Epaphras, and the Colossian congregation. Love is the gospel's visible fruit.
Church Fathers on Colossians 1:8
“Even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant.” He, it is probable, had preached there. “You learned” the Gospel. Then to show the trustworthiness of the man, he says, “our fellow servant.” Doubt not, he says, of the hope which is to come: ye see that the world is being converted. And what need to allege the cases of others? What happened in your own is even independently a sufficient ground for belief, for, “ye knew the grace of God in truth:” that is, in…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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