Col. 1:3-8 - Epaphras told us about your faith

The gospel has come to you

Vs. 3 - We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

- "praying always for you" - Paul must have had a tremendous prayer list. Each of his letters has a list of people for whom he prays.

Vs. 4 - since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;

- "since we heard"- Paul began praying for them (see vs. 3) specifically at the point he heard (1) of their faith in Jesus, and (2) the love that they showed to their fellow Christian brethren.

Vs. 5 - because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel

- "because of the hope" - Their faith and their outgoing love (their faith had to be outgoing or Paul would not have heard). The active demonstration of faith and love was, is, a result of knowing and having a hope waiting for them in heaven. This truth, this hope had been told to them as part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The hope is eternal life with Christ if we only will trust Him with ourselves. See 1 Cor. 15:19 - We have at least two reasons for hope: peace with God now (release from shame, guilt, and abundant living) and the prospect of eternity with Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Vs. 6 - which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

- "which has come to you" - The gospel had come to them through Epaphras (see verse 5). At the same time the gospel was being spread throughout the world. Not only was it spreading, but increasing, growing by adding new souls of those being saved (bearing fruit, Rom. 1:13).
I also believe this verse is talking about the growth, the progressive sanctification, of each believer in the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a static message, but dynamic, living and breathing. Christ came that we might have life, abundant life, a life that is full and meaningful. So the gospel not only grows world wide, but in each believer, bearing fruit.

“heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth” - The Good News, the Gospel, is the story of grace and truth. You may hear the message of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for you - to remove your sin and bring you into God’s presence unafraid. If, however, you do not believe it to be true, you have not truly understood what Jesus has done for you - personally. You have not grasped the truth of the Gospel. You can be God’s child! You are forgiven of your sin. God Loves You! That is a ‘step-wise’ function, not gradual easing into it, sneaking in through a side-door.

Vs. 7 - just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,

- "learned it from Epaphras" - They had heard the gospel from Epaphras, who was a native of Colossae (4:12). The church at Colossae was probably started, or at least nurtured by Epaphras.

- "fellow bond-servant " - Although Christ has set us free from sin, we now are slaves to Him, bought by His blood. Epaphras must have volunteered to go with Paul and work with him.

Vs. 8 - and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

- "and he also informed us " Epaphras told Paul of the love of the believers at Colossae. Because of the love of Christ for them, they were filled with love for one another. They were following Jesus' command and prayer that as His followers to love one another. (See: John 13:34,35; 15:12, 17)

*** Note: Sometimes I diagram the sentences Paul writes. Diagramming helps me to get to the 'nut', or central point of his sentence/paragraphs. Diagraming (for those of us old enough to know what that is, or had to do it in grade school) Paul's sentences is difficult. He writes using run-on sentences; I am not sure the Greeks used periods at the end of sentences. He usually makes a statement, and then adds several clauses to define that statement or words in that statement, e.g., "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" defines "God" to whom they were giving thanks.