For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for
you,
&c.] This is occasioned by what he had said in ( Colossians
1:29 ) , that he laboured and strove according to the energy
of divine power in him, to present every man perfect in Christ;
and lest these Colossians should think that these labours and
strivings of his were only for all and every of those persons
among whom he was, and to whom he personally preached, he would
have them know, observe, and assure themselves, that the great
conflict, strife, and agony, in which he was engaged, was for
them also; by which he means, his fervent prayers and wrestlings
with God, the conflicts he had in his own mind, with his own
spirit, about the good of the churches of Christ, the care of
which were upon him, and even of those to whom he was by face
unknown, sometimes hoping, sometimes fearing, sometimes
rejoicing, at other times weeping, at what he heard concerning
them; also his combats with the false apostles, striving and
earnestly contending for the faith of the Gospel, giving no place
to them, no, not for an hour, defending truth, refuting error,
and fighting the good fight of faith, by preaching, writing, and
disputing; likewise the various persecutions, great afflictions,
and hardships he met with from men, for the sake of the Gospel;
add to all this, the frequent battles he had with the enemy of
souls, his wrestlings against principalities and powers, the many
temptations of Satan with which he was attacked, to draw him off
from the service of Christ, to weaken his hands, and hinder his
success in it; all which he endured and went through with a
greatness of mind, and that for the good of the churches of
Christ, and the glory of his name, which were the great things he
had in view and among others, for the good of these Colossians,
and [for] them at Laodicea;
the saints of that place, the church of Christ which was there;
and is the rather mentioned, because near to Colosse: it was a
famous city by the river Lycus, first called Diospolis, and then
Rhoas F16, and afterwards Laodicea; it was
the metropolis of Phrygia, in which Colosse stood: hence this
epistle is ordered to be read to them also, they being infested
with false teachers, and in the same situation and circumstances
as the Colossians were; and though the apostle was unknown to
both of them, having never been at either place, yet was heartily
concerned for each of their welfare, and he strove for them as he
did for others; one of Stephens's copies adds, "and them in
Hierapolis"; see ( Colossians
4:13 ) .
And [for] as many as have not seen my face in the
flesh;
meaning the churches in Christ, and believers in him; such as had
never heard him preach, nor had any personal knowledge of him,
and conversation with him, which tend to knit the hearts of
Christians more firmly together; yet his heart was towards them,
he laboured for them, by praying for them, writing to them,
suffering all things for their sakes, for the confirmation of
them, and of the Gospel of Christ. Christian love and care, and
the benefit of the labours and sufferings of Gospel ministers,
extend and reach to persons that never saw them.