Chapter
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Verse

Colossians 1:9

ESV And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
NIV For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,
NASB For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
CSB For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
NLT So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
KJV For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
NKJV For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

What does Colossians 1:9 mean?

This passage transitions from Paul's thankfulness into a prayer for the Colossian believers. Paul states that he and Timothy have been praying constantly, presumably from the moment they learned about the Colossian church. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, Paul speaks about prayer without ceasing as part of God's will for all Christians. Here, he presents this as part of his ministry on behalf of the Colossian believers.

Paul and Timothy's prayer includes asking for knowledge among the Colossian believers. The qualities Paul prays for are not only helpful, they are part of becoming more like Christ. Jesus was known for His wisdom (Matthew 13:54; Mark 6:2), and His followers are to walk with wisdom as well. The faith of the Colossian Christians was not based on worldly thinking, but rather the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5). At the same time, Paul also desires wisdom among believers. He would later mention the importance of "wisdom toward outsiders" (Colossians 4:5).
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