Faith, hope, and Love

The apostle Paul uses a unique style of writing at Colossians 1:3-5 that distinguishes truth from all other literature of man. Paul writes,

“3 We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you 4 having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love which you have toward all the saints, 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.”

The conclusion is that Epaphras taught the whole council of God to the Colossians and they consequentially attained faith, hope, and love. Let us now prove the point.

Paul heard, from Epaphras, that the Colossians had heard the word, truth, or gospel and consequentially attained faith, hope, and love. The astute Bible student will note that there is a Greek article before each of the words “word, truth, gospel.” The literal would read, “the word the truth the gospel.”

The three articles are anaphoric in that the connect “word, truth, and gospel” together as synonyms.  The “word” is reframed as “truth” or the “gospel” (see Ephesians 1:13 and Colossians 1:25-27). The Bible is written in such unique ways to promote deeper understanding of its truths.

Why does Paul use three different synonyms in relationship to the gospel? The answer lies in the product of the gospel, truth, or word. That product is faith, hope, and love. These three things are mentioned by Paul at 1 Corinthians 13:13 in the context of spiritual gifts ending when the word of God is completely revealed (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). When truth has been fully revealed it will no longer be a mystery. The knower of truth may then be complete in Christ (compare 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 to Ephesians 4:11-14). Spiritual gifts (ability to perform miracles) will end; however faith, hope, and love will not.  Paul uses three terms for God’s eternal word because it has three eternal outcomes of faith, hope, and love.

“Faith” is produced by “hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17 and Colossians 1:5). “Hope” is produced when hearing “gospel” (Colossians 1:5). “Love” is produced when one hears the “truth” or word of God (2 Timothy 1:13 and 1 Peter 1:22). Faith, hope, and love are products of the complete word, truth, and or gospel. The Colossians had attained these three things because Epaphras preached the whole council of God to them. This becomes significant, later in the letter, because many of the Colossians were being misled by things that did not represent the absolute truth (see Colossians 2:8ff).

One must take into consideration the multitudes of digressive teachings in our modern world to make application of this text. Preachers today have the responsibility to teach the whole council of truth while keeping their opinions in check. Listeners of truth have the responsibility to put all words of the preacher to the test. Make sure that your faith, hope, and love are established in the truth alone!