The Epistles of Paul to the Ephesians and Colossians (New International Commentary | NIC)

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“Much of his news was encouraging, but there was one disquieting feature: at Colossae in particular there was a strong inclination on the part of the Christians to entertain a form of teaching which (although they did not suspect it) would inevitably subvert the pure gospel which they had accepted a few years before, and force them to give up their Christian liberty for spiritual bondage. It was mainly to safeguard them against this threat that Paul sent them the Epistle to the Colossians.” (Page 164)

“What does this mean for you? It means that since you have shared in His resurrection, your interests are now centred in Him, in that place of highest honour to which God has exalted Him. You must therefore pursue those things which belong to the heavenly realm where He reigns; your mind, your attitude, your ambitions, your whole outlook must be characterized by your living bond with the ascended Christ.” (Page 257)

“True knowledge is founded in practical religion; it is that knowledge which, according to the OT, starts with a proper attitude towards God: ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ (Prov. 1:7; cf. Ps. 111:10; Prov. 9:10). Right knowledge, according to Paul, leads to right behaviour;³⁰ and here right knowledge is contrasted with wrong teaching.” (Page 186)

“The believer’s life is safely ‘hidden away’ with Christ. Its well-being depends on His. So long as He lives, His people live also.¹⁶ Their true life is an extension of that indissoluble life which is His at the Father’s right hand.” (Page 260)

“What God has done for us in Christ is the grand argument and incentive for Christian living.” (Page 259)