To walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing (Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 1 John 2:6; Revelation 3:4; Hebrews 13:21); so as to please him in every way.
"The end of all knowledge, the apostle would say, is conduct" (Lightfoot). Spiritual enlightenment (Colossians 1:9) enables the Christian to walk (a Hebraism adopted also into biblical English) in a way "worthy of the Lord" (Christ, Colossians 2:6; Colossians 3:24; Acts 20:19, etc.
), becoming those who have such a Lord and who profess to be his servants. And to be "worthy of Christ" is to "please God" (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:9).
This is the ideal and the aim of the religious life throughout the Bible. The characteristics of this walk are set forth by three coordinate participial phrases (Colossians 1:10-12), standing in the half independent nominative case instead of the more regular accusative.
In every good work bearing fruit (Ephesians 4:28; Galatians 6:9, Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 13:16; Acts 9:36). "Good work" is that which is beneficial, practically good (see parallel passages).
"In every good work" might grammatically qualify the foregoing" pleasing ', but appears to be parallel in position and sense with "in all power" (Colossians 1:11). On"bearing fruit" (active in voice where the subject is personal: comp.
ἐνεργέω in Colossians 1:29 and in Philippians 2:13), see note to Colossians 1:6. While doing good to his fellow-men, the Christian is growing by (or, in) the knowledge of God (Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 4:13-16; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 3:1, 1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Hebrews 5:12-14).
His own nature becomes larger, stronger, more complete. Here it is individual (internal) growth, in Colossians 1:6 collective (external) growth (of the gospel, the Church) that is implied; the two are combined in Ephesians 4:13-16.
The dative τῇ ἐπιγνώσει (so best copies and Revised Text: the Received, unto the knowledge, is a repetition of Ephesians 4:9) is "dative of instrument" (Alford, Lightfoot) rather than "of respect" (in the knowledge; so R.
V.).