Colossians 1:11 Commentary and Bible Study

The Greek word ‘strengthened’ is talking about being miraculously strengthened. The strength that is available to us is the very strength that was in Christ. According to his glorious power and his limitless resources, he can impart to us, as we call upon him and as we strive, a strength which is miraculous to withstand the evil one and to enable us to fulfil the duties described in these this prayer. We are not at conversion made strong and then left to ourselves. If we only pray for God’s help there is available to us a continuous supply of power and strength.‘All might.’ It has been said that this means there is a power for every need of the Christian believer. That is true, and some of them are mentioned in this prayer. All that he prays for, we can be certain God is willing to give. We can have power for patience and longsuffering; resurrection power, mighty power, flowing from the Father. The Greek indicates what patience is: the word means ‘holding under, remaining under, remaining steadfast.’ It is often said that a better translation might be ‘unto all perseverance’ because patience tends to be passive, you wait patiently. The idea of this word however is that you persevere, you continue to make progress, even when you are under pressure and in difficulty. You advance while facing adversity and temptation; you don’t just bear it stoically, you actually continue with your spiritual duties and your love for God. Then ‘longsuffering with joyfulness.’ The term’ translated ‘longsuffering’ has to do more with bearing what people do to you, fierce opposition, attackers, persecutors. We need that strength to be able to bear with such things and stand for the Lord, while aiming at the high standard of our infallible Saviour – ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ ‘With joyfulness.’ We are not to persevere and suffer opposition with a grim type of spirit. We actually reflect on the things of God and we rejoice at all the blessings, which are ours. There is strength to live like this and even to give thanks at the same time. How can we live like this? Well, we pray for that strength, we desire it, and we also give thanks to the Father; we are a rejoicing and a thankful people. It is a simple formula.