Homilies on Colossians — Homily 2

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

[[Colossians 1.9]], 10

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding; to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

For this cause. What cause? Because we heard of your faith and love, because we have good hopes, we are hopeful to ask for future blessings also. For as in the games we cheer on those most who are near upon gaining the victory, just so does Paul also most exhort those who have achieved the greater part.

Since the day we heard it, says he, we do not cease to pray for you. Not for one day do we pray for you, nor yet for two, nor three. Herein he both shows his love, and gives them a gentle hint that they had not yet arrived at the end. For the words, that you may be filled, are of this significancy. And observe, I pray, the prudence of this blessed one. He nowhere says that they are destitute of everything, but that they are deficient; everywhere the words, that you may be filled, show this. And again, unto all pleasing, in every good work [[Colossians 1.11]], and again, strengthened with all power, and again, unto all patience and long-suffering; for the constant addition of all bears witness to their doing well in part, though, it might be, not in all. And, that you may be filled, he says; not, that you may receive, for they had received; but that you may be filled with what as yet was lacking. Thus both the rebuke was given without offense, and the praise did not suffer them to sink down, and become supine, as if it had been complete. But what is, that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will? That through the Son we should be brought unto Him, and no more through Angels. Now that you must be brought unto Him, you have learned, but it remains for you to learn this, and why He sent the Son. For had it been that we were to have been saved by Angels, He would not have sent Him, would not have given Him up. In all spiritual wisdom, he says, and understanding. For since the philosophers deceived them; I wish you, he says, to be in spiritual wisdom, not after the wisdom of men. But if in order to know the will of God, there needs spiritual wisdom; to know His Essence what it is, there is need of continual prayers.

And Paul shows here, that since that time he has been praying, and has not yet prevailed, and yet has not desisted; for the words, from the day we heard it, show this. But it implies condemnation to them, if, from that time, even assisted by prayers, they had not amended themselves. And making request, he says, with much earnestness, for this the expression ye knew shows. But it is necessary still to know somewhat besides. To walk worthily, he says, of the Lord. Here he speaks of life and its works, for so he does also everywhere: with faith he always couples conduct. Unto all pleasing. And how,