John Calvin on Colossians 1:11

11. Strengthened with all might. As he has previously prayed that they might have both a sound understanding and the right use of it, so also now he prays that they may have courage and constancy. In this manner he puts them in mind of their own weakness, for he says, that they will not be strong otherwise than by the Lord’s help; and not only so, but with the view of magnifying this exercise of grace the more, he adds, according to his glorious power. “So far from any one being able to stand, through dependence on his own strength, the power of God shews itself illustriously in helping our infirmity.” Lastly, he shews in what it is that the strength of believers ought to display itself — in all patience and long-suffering. For they are constantly, while in this world, exercised with the cross, and a thousand temptations daily present themselves, so as to weigh them down, and they see nothing of what God has promised. They must, therefore, arm themselves with an admirable patience, that what Isaiah says may be accomplished,

In hope and in silence shall be your strength. Lowth’s rendering of the passage is similar: “In silence, and in pious confidence, shall be your strength.” — Ed.

(Isaiah 30:15.)

It is preferable to connect with this sentence the clause, with joy. For although the other reading is more commonly to be met with in the Latin versions, this is more in accordance with the Greek manuscripts, and, unquestionably, patience is not sustained otherwise than by alacrity of mind, and will never be maintained with fortitude by any one that is not satisfied with his condition.

Colossians 1:12-17

12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

12. Gratias agentes Deo et Patri, “A Dieu et Pere, qui nous a faits, ou, au Pere, qui nous a faits;” — “To God and the Father, who hath made us, or, to the Father, who hath made us.” qui nos fecit idoneos ad participationem hereditatis sanctorum in lumine.

13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

13. Qui eripuit nos ex potestate tenebrarum, et transtulit in regnum Filii sui dilecti:

14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

14. In quo habemus redemptionem per sanguinem eius, remissionem peccatorum:

15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

15. Qui est imago Dei invisibilis, primogenitus universae creaturae.

16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

16. Quoniam in ipso creata sunt omnia, tum quae in coelis sunt, tum quae super terram; visibilia et invisibilia; sive throni, sive dominationes, sive principatus, sive potestates.

17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

17. Omnia per ipsum, et in ipsum creata sunt: et ipse est ante omnia, et omnia in ipso constant.