Charles Ellicott Commentary Colossians 1:3

"We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you," — Colossians 1:3 (ASV)

On verses 3-4:

Compare to Ephesians 1:15-16, where there is an almost exact verbal coincidence. Whatever the force of the words “having heard of your faith” may be in that context, here they clearly harmonize with many indications that the Colossian Church, though well known to St. Paul, was not known to him personally.

On verses 3-8:

In this expression of St. Paul’s thanksgiving for them, there is, as usual, a distinctive correspondence to their circumstances. They had been full of faith, love, and hope, the fruit of a true gospel preached by Epaphras. Now, there was a fear that they might be beguiled from it, although that fear had obviously not yet been realized, as had formerly been the case with the Galatians. Therefore, St. Paul emphasized their hearing, knowing, and learning the truth, and the faithfulness of Epaphras as a minister of Christ.