Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Because of the hope (dia thn elpida). See Romans 8:24. It is not clear whether this phrase is to be linked with euxa istoumen at the beginning of verse Colossians 1:3 or (more likely) with thn agaphn just before. Note also here pistiv (faith), agaph (love), elpiv (hope), though not grouped together so sharply as in I Corinthians 13:13. Here hope is objective, the goal ahead.
Laid up (apokeimeinhn). Literally, "laid away or by." Old word used in Luke 19:20 of the pound laid away in a napkin. See also apoqhsaurizw, to store away for future use (I Timothy 6:19). The same idea occurs in Matthew 6:20 (treasure in heaven) and I Peter 1:4 and it is involved in Philippians 3:20.
Ye heard before (prohkousate). First aorist indicative active of this old compound proakouw, though only here in the N.T. Before what? Before Paul wrote? Before the realization? Before the error of the Gnostics crept in? Each view is possible and has advocates. Lightfoot argues for the last and it is probably correct as is indicated by the next clause.
In the word of the truth of the gospel (en tw logw thv alhqeiav tou euaggeliou). "In the preaching of the truth of the gospel" (Galatians 2:5, Galatians 2:14) which is come (parontov, present active participle agreeing with euaggeliou, being present, a classical use of pareimi as in Acts 12:20). They heard the pure gospel from Epaphras before the Gnostics came.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Colossians 1:5:
2 Timothy 4:8
Hebrews 9:27
James 1:18
1 Peter 1:4
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