Trinity/After Pentecost · The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity
Colossians 1:3-11
Thanksgiving and Prayer
November 15, 2026
Overview & Insights
“The gospel… is bearing fruit and increasing in all the world.” (Colossians 1:6)
Paul’s Greetings The opening greeting in this epistle is typical of the way in which Paul has addressed other churches to whom he has written (1 Cor. 1:1–3; 2 Cor. 1:1–2; Phil. 1:1–2; 1 Thess. 1:1–2; 2 Thess. 1:1–2; cf. Eph. 1:1–2). Although the form of these salutations is quite similar to contemporary Greek models, the content is distinctly Christian and, in the case of Colossians, sets forth statements that are important to the body of the letter.
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Commentary
Enduring Word Bible Commentary Colossians Chapter 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik works through Paul's thanksgiving and prayer for the Colossians verse by verse.
Colossians 1:3 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic and modern commentary voices on Paul's opening thanksgiving for the Colossians' faith and love.
Colossians 1:1-14 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary covering the reading's prayer that the Colossians be filled with the knowledge of God's will.
Colossians 1:4 Commentary (Precept Austin) Precept Austin
Verse-level evangelical study of the faith, love, and hope Paul gives thanks for in this reading.
Background & Word Study
Enter the Bible: Colossians Enter the Bible
Introductory background on the letter's setting, authorship debate, and purpose.
BibleProject: Overview of Colossians BibleProject
An animated walk through the structure and message of Colossians to frame the opening prayer.
Colossians 1:3 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word-by-word text with parsing for study of terms like thanksgiving, hope, and knowledge.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
How does Paul open Colossians?
With thanks for the Colossians’ faith, love, and hope laid up in heaven, praying they be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and bear fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:3–11).
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