SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:13
Porque le doy testimonio, que tiene gran celo por vosotros, y por los que estn en Laodicea, y los que estn en Hierpolis.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:13
Verse 13. He hath a great zeal for you] Instead of zhlon polun, much zeal, ABCD**, several others, with versions and fathers, read polun ponon, much labour; they are here nearly of the same meaning, though the latter appears to be the better and genuine reading. Laodicea, and-Hierapolis] These were both cities of Phrygia, between which Colosse, or the city of Colassa, was situated. See chap. ii. 1.
The latter was called Hierapolis, or the holy city, from the multitude of its temples. Apollo, Diana, AEsculapius, and Hygeia, were all worshipped here, as appears by the coins of this city still extant.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. For I bear him record , etc.] The apostle was an eye and ear witness of his fervent prayers, his labour of love, and zealous affection for these saints and others; and therefore, as he judged he ought, he bears a testimony for him, that he hath a great zeal for you ; for their spiritual welfare, that the Gospel might continue with them, and they in that, against false teachers, and their attempts to subvert them; that they might grow in the grace of the Gospel, and walk worthy of it, and be at peace among themselves: and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis ; cities in Phrygia, which lay near to Colosse, the one being situated by the river Lycus, and the other by the Maeander; here were many believers, for whom Epaphras had a like zeal and affections as for the Colossians, and to whom very likely he had been useful, either in conversion or edification, or both. The apostle takes no notice to the Colossians of Epaphras being his fellow prisoner, as, he does in his epistle to ( Philemon 1:23) it may be for this reason, lest they should be over much distressed and cast down with it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-18 - Paul had differed with Barnabas, on the account of this Mark, yet he is not only reconciled, but recommends him to the churches; an example of a truly Christian and forgiving spirit. If men have been guilty of fault, it must not always be remembered against them. We must forget a well as forgive. The apostle had comfort in the communion of saints an ministers. One is his fellow-servant, another his fellow-prisoner, an all his fellow-workers, working out their own salvation, an endeavouring to promote the salvation of others. The effectual, ferven prayer is the prevailing prayer, and availeth much. The smiles flatteries, or frowns of the world, the spirit of error, or the workin of self-love, leads many to a way of preaching and living which come far short of fulfilling their ministry. But those who preach the sam doctrine as Paul, and follow his example, may expect the Divine favou and blessing __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
μαρτυρω 3140 5719 γαρ 1063 αυτω 846 οτι 3754 εχει 2192 5719 ζηλον 2205 πολυν 4183 υπερ 5228 υμων 5216 και 2532 των 3588 εν 1722 λαοδικεια 2993 και 2532 των 3588 εν 1722 ιεραπολει 2404
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. Zeal (zhlon). Read ponon labor, which occurs elsewhere only in Apoc. xvi. 10, 11; xxi. 4, in the sense of pain. Ponov labor is from the root of penomai to work for one's daily bread, and thence to be poor. Ponov toil, penhv one who works for his daily bread, and ponhrov wicked, have a common root. See on wickedness, Mark vii. 22. In their original conceptions, kopov labor (1 Cor. xv. 58; 2 Cor. vi. 5) emphasizes the fatigue of labor: mocqov hard labor (2 Cor. xi. 27; 1 Thess. ii. 9), the hardship: ponov the effort, but ponov has passed, in the New Testament, in every instance but this, into the meaning of pain. Hierapolis. The cities are named in geographical order. Laodicaea and Hierapolis faced each other on the north and south sides of the Lycus valley, about six miles apart. Colossae was ten or twelve miles farther up the stream. Hierapolis owed its celebrity to its warm mineral springs, its baths, and its trade in dyed wools. It was a center of the worship of the Phrygian goddess Cybele,207 whose rites were administered by mutilated priests known as Galli, and of other rites representing different oriental cults. Hence the name Hierapolis or sacred city.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:13 {And for them in Hierapolis} (kai twn en hierai polei). The third of the three cities in the Lycus Valley which had not seen Paul's face (#2:1). It was across the valley from Laodicea. Probably Epaphras had evangelized all three cities and all were in peril from the Gnostics.
