Continuing in our study of prayer as part of the PPOG for the spiritual life of the believer we are now looking at Paul and Timothy's prayer for the believer's spiritual growth in Col 1:9-12;

"Since the day we heard of you , [we] have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you ” may be filled (pleroo) with the knowledge (epignosis) of His will (thelema) and all spiritual wisdom (sophia) and understanding (sunesis).

Paul and Timothy had not ceased to pray because it was their habit, and they prayed for the Colossian believers every time they prayed, whenever they prayed. (The Colossian believers were on their prayer list)

In their prayer they asked "aieto". Proseuchomai is the general word for prayer which is used to describe all categories of communication between believers and God. "Aieto" refers to the making of a request by a subordinate to a superior.

In doing this Paul and Timothy were fulfilling TLJC instruction in Matt 7:7;

The request being made is for the Colossian believer's advance to spiritual maturity and is based on the report of their Positive Volition to Bible Doctrine from Ephapras. Their advance will result in Glory to God and advantage to the Colossian believers.

Consequently their prayer is in accord with the will of God 1Tim 2:3-4; They had been saved by grace through faith alone in TLJC alone so it was God's will for them to continue in their spiritual life by coming to the knowledge (epignosis) of the truth.

The truth or all that is reality is embodied in the person of TLJC John 1:14; John 14:6; Eph 4:21; Heb 10:5; and his thinking which is written in the Bible. John 17:17; 2Tim 2:15; 1Cor 2:16b;

Col 1:9; their petition is that the Colossian believers "may be filled (pleroo) with the knowledge (epignosis) of His will (thelema) and all spiritual wisdom (sophia) and understanding (sunesis)"

The words translated "may be filled" is the Greek word "plerothete" which is the second peron aorist passive subjunctive of "pleroo".

Pleroo means to completely fulfill something, to make full or to fill up to the full.

TLJC is the one who fills everything with fullness Eph 1:22-23; He completely fulfilled the Law and the Prophets giving the Law it's ultimate meaning. Matt 5:17; as a result he is the "end" or completion or fulfillment of the law for righteousness to all who believe. Rom 10:4;

TLJC came not to destroy the Law, but to give it complete meaning as expressed in grace and truth. Matt 5:17b; John 1:17;

Because of what TLJC accomplished during his Incarnation in unglorified humanity he give ultimate meaning and purpose to the law. Gal 3:24; Col 2:16-17;

He has come and completely fulfilled the meaning and significance of the law which is completely explained in the epistles of the New Testament. Col 1:12-14;

Paul used the word "Pleroma" to describe TLJC and his identity as God. Col 2:9-10; as a play on words, because the gnostics also used the word "pleroma" to describe what they believed were the incalculable emanations that came from God which deteriorated until they could come into contact with "evil" physical matter.

Remember in the time it was written, the letter to the Colossian believers was in part written to refute gnosticism.

John, who was also engaged with refuting the gnostic lie at Ephesus wrote regarding these "emanations" in: 1John 4:1-2;

There is also a pleroma that is a condition of compete blessing Job 42:10-17;
Romans 15:29; Ephesians 3:19-20; that accompanies the believer in Christ who
comes to the full and accurate knowledge and awareness of the Reality that is
exemplified and personified in "The Christ", "The Messiah", "God's Anointed” Luke 9:20;

That state of pleroma is not arrived at by mystical transcendence or passage through mystical rites of passage, by transcendental meditation, or by having visions in which one converses with angels, and/or worships them. Nor is it reached by devotion to manmade taboos or the observance of the abrogated and rescinded rituals of the religious Jews who missed their Messiah. Col 2:21-23;

The state or condition of pleroma. the most developed experiential, status of the believer in Christ, is reached by the individual believer who continually "grows in grace and In the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Whom belongs the glory and the authority now and forever" 2Pet 3:18; Col 1:18;

On the road to pleroma various tests will be taken James 1:2 and the believer is advised to "let perseverance finish Its work so that you may be mature and entire, lacking nothing (James 1:4)." because we are his workmanship. Eph 2:10;

The believer is led to their very own personal pleroma through their continuity In the PMA of Bible Doctrine in the power of God the Holy Spirit. (John 8:31; 2Cor 6:6; Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 3:16-19).

God's mystery is Christ Himself as He is formed and re-presented in believers in the Church Age…. by means of His Word and His Spirit. Col 1:26-27; Col 2:2-3; 1Tim3: 16; Gal 4:19; Eph 4:13;

Believers "get to" pleroma not by disconnection from their Head but by "holding their Head," by maintaining contact with their"Head" or the "'Brains of the operation" of the Body of Christ of which we are all individual members. Eph 4:15-16;

The key feature of the state of pleroma is occupation with TLJC. Phil 1:21), not "the worship of angels" Col 2:18;.