John Calvin Commentary Colossians 1:3

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

We give thanks to God. He praises the faith and love of the Colossians, so that it may encourage them all the more to eagerness and steadfast perseverance. Furthermore, by showing that he has this kind of assurance about them, he gains their goodwill, so that they may be more favorably inclined and teachable for receiving his doctrine.

We must always note that he uses thanksgiving in place of congratulation. Through this, he teaches us that in all our joys we must readily recall the goodness of God, since everything that is pleasant and agreeable to us is a kindness bestowed by Him. Besides, he admonishes us by his example to acknowledge with gratitude not only those things which the Lord bestows upon us, but also those things which He bestows upon others.

But for what things does he give thanks to the Lord? For the faith and love of the Colossians. He acknowledges, therefore, that both are bestowed by God; otherwise, the gratitude would be feigned. And what do we have except through His generosity? If, however, even the smallest favors come to us from that source, how much more should this same acknowledgment be made in reference to those two gifts, in which our entire excellence consists?

To the God and Father. Understand the expression in this way—To God who is the Father of Christ. For it is not permissible for us to acknowledge any other God than Him who has manifested Himself to us in His Son. And this is the only key for opening the door to us, if we desire to have access to the true God. For this reason, also, He is a Father to us, because He has embraced us in His only begotten Son, and in Him also displays His paternal favor for us to contemplate.

Always for you. Some explain it in this way—We give thanks to God always for you, that is, continually. Others explain it to mean—Praying always for you. It may also be interpreted in this way: “Whenever we pray for you, we at the same time give thanks to God”; and this is the simple meaning: “We give thanks to God, and we at the same time pray.”

By this he suggests that the condition of believers is never perfect in this world, so that something is not always missing. For even the person who has begun admirably well may fall short in a hundred instances every day; and we must always be making progress while we are still on the journey. Let us therefore remember that we must rejoice in the favors we have already received, and give thanks to God for them in such a way that we also seek from Him perseverance and advancement.