Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Colossians 1:11

"strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;" — Colossians 1:11 (ASV)

(3) “Being strengthened with all power” is the next element in the life pleasing to God. Christians are engaged in moral conflict with the cosmic powers of a darkened world (cf. Ephesians 6:12), and nothing short of divine empowerment can enable them to stand. “Strengthened” (GK 1540) translates the same root word used in Php 4:13: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” This empowerment is “according to his [God’s] glorious might.” That is to say, it is not proportioned simply to our need, but to God’s abundant supply. “His glorious might” is literally translated “the might of his glory.” We should probably retain this rendering and understand the thought to be the might of God’s own manifested nature. In this interpretation “glory” stands for the revealed splendor or majesty of God—the sum total of his divine perfections.

The twofold issue of such empowerment is “endurance and patience.” The first term (GK 5705) denotes the opposite of cowardice and despondency; it is the capacity to see things through. “Patience” (GK 3429) is the opposite of wrath or a spirit of revenge. It speaks of even-temperedness, the attitude that in spite of injury or insult does not retaliate.

It is debatable whether “joyfully” should be construed with “endurance and patience” or with “giving thanks.” A distinctively Christian quality (cf. Galatians 5:22; 2:17; 3:1; et al.), joy is often associated in the NT with hardship and suffering.