John Calvin Commentary Colossians 1:6

"which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as [it doth] in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;" — Colossians 1:6 (ASV)

As also in all the world it brings forth fruit. This has a tendency both to confirm and to comfort the devout—to see the effect of the gospel far and wide in gathering many to Christ. The faith of it does not, it is true, depend on its success, as though we should believe it on the ground that many believe it.

Though the whole world should fail, though heaven itself should fall, the conscience of a devout person must not waver, because God, on whom it is founded, nevertheless remains true. This, however, does not prevent our faith from being confirmed whenever it perceives God’s excellence, which undoubtedly shows itself with more power in proportion to the number of people who are gained over to Christ.

In addition to this, in the multitude of the believers at that time, an accomplishment of the many predictions extending Christ's reign from the East to the West was observed. Is it a trivial or common aid to faith to see accomplished before our eyes what the Prophets long ago predicted about the extending of Christ's kingdom through all countries of the world? There is no believer who does not experience in himself what I am speaking of.

Paul accordingly aimed to encourage the Colossians further by this statement, so that by seeing the fruit and progress of the gospel in various places, they might embrace it with more eager zeal. Αὐξανόμενον, which I have rendered propagatur (is propagated), does not occur in some copies; but, because it suits the context better, I did not choose to omit it. It also appears from the commentaries of the ancients that this reading was always the more generally received.

Since the day ye heard it, and knew the grace. Here he praises them on account of their docility, because they immediately embraced sound doctrine; and he praises them on account of their constancy, because they persevered in it. It is also appropriate that the faith of the gospel is called the knowledge of God’s grace; for no one has ever tasted the gospel except the person who knew himself to be reconciled to God and took hold of the salvation that is offered in Christ.

In truth means truly and without pretense; for as he had previously declared that the gospel is undoubted truth, so he now adds that it had been purely administered to them, and that by Epaphras. For while all boast that they preach the gospel, and yet at the same time there are many evil workers (Philippians 3:2), through whose ignorance, ambition, or avarice its purity is adulterated, it is of great importance that faithful ministers should be distinguished from the less upright.

For it is not enough to hold the term gospel, unless we know that this is the true gospel—what was preached by Paul and Epaphras. Hence Paul confirms the doctrine of Epaphras by giving it his approval, to induce the Colossians to adhere to it and, by the same means, to call them back from those profligates who endeavored to introduce strange doctrines.

He at the same time dignifies Epaphras with a special distinction, so that he may have more authority among them. Lastly, he presents Epaphras to the Colossians in a favorable light by saying that Epaphras had testified to him of their love.

Paul everywhere makes it his particular aim, by his recommendation, to make those whom he knows serve Christ faithfully very dear to the Churches; just as, on the other hand, the ministers of Satan are wholly intent on alienating the minds of the simple from faithful pastors by unfavorable representations.

Love in the Spirit I take to mean spiritual love, according to the view of Chrysostom, with whom, however, I do not agree in the interpretation of the preceding words. Now, spiritual love is of such a nature that it has no regard for the world, but is consecrated to the service of piety and has, as it were, an internal root, while carnal friendships depend on external causes.