Colossians 1:11

strengthened "made powerful;" R.V. marg. The same verb occurs in the LXX. of Psalms 67:(Heb. and Eng. 68.) 28, and some other O.T. passages, and in Hebrews 11:34. A compound of it occurs Acts 9:12; Romans 4:20; Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13. The three last reff. are a full spiritual commentary on the word here. The Lat. Versions have confortati;Wyclif, "counfortid." Observe that the Greek participle is in the present or continuing form, and suggests a maintained and abiding strengthening.

with Lit., in.

all might Greek dunamis;the cognate noun to the verb just rendered "strengthened." The strengthening was to meet "all" sides and kinds of spiritual need with a corresponding completeness. For the word in such a connexion, cp. especially Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8 in the Greek.

according to his glorious power Lit. and far better, according to the power (or might, R.V.) of His glory; in a way worthy of the forces springing from that "glory" of God which is in fact His supreme and blessed Nature in manifestation. The word "glorious" (in the A.V.) represents similar Greek in the following passages; Romans 8:21; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 3:21; 1 Timothy 1:11; Titus 2:13; and these all gain greatly in significance by the literal rendering.

unto all patience The "all" of result answers to the "all" of Divine supply.

" Patience:" the Greek word rises above, while it amply includes, the thought of uncomplaining suffering. It is a noble word, denoting the enduranceof the soul in the path of faith, hope, and love; perseverance, under trials, in the will of God. Cp. (in the Greek) especially Matthew 10:22; Luke 8:15; Luke 21:19; Romans 2:7; Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 12:7.

longsuffering Latin Versions, longanimitas, a beautiful and literal equivalent for the Greek. The word "longanimity," formed on this, and used by the Rhemish translators (1582), was adopted by Bp Jeremy Taylor (cent. 17), but has never taken root in English. The temper indicated is the opposite to that hasteof spirit which gives the man no time, under pressure of pain or (particularly) of wrong, to remember what is due to others, and to the Lord. Cp., for the use of the word and its cognates, Matthew 18:26; 1 Corinthians 13:4, &c.; and, for a soul-moving reference to the "longanimity" of the Lord Himself, 1 Timothy 1:16. The two words, "patience," "longsuffering," occur together, 2 Corinthians 6:4; 2Co 6:6; 2 Timothy 3:10; James 5:10-11.

with joyfulness with joy. Cp. esp. Isaiah 29:19; Habakkuk 3:17-18; John 16:20-24; John 17:14; Acts 13:52 (a good illustration here from facts); Romans 14:17; Rom 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Hebrews 10:34; James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:8. Nothing like the Gospel can open the secret of a joy, perfectly real and unaffected, under sufferings and sorrows, and that without the least tendency to blunt sensibility.

Observe the holy paradox of the thought here. The fulness of Divine power in the saints is to result primarily not in "doing some great thing" but in enduring and forbearing, with heavenly joy of heart. The paradox points to one deep characteristic of the Gospel, which prepares the Christian for service by the way of a true abnegation of himself as his own strength and his own aim.