1:8

your love: In many languages it will be necessary to state whom the Colossian Christians loved. There are three possibilities:

(1) They loved other believers (as in 1:4).

(2) More specifically, they loved one another.

(3) They loved Paul and Timothy.

If you need to include the object of their love in your language, it is recommended that you follow the first option (1). This verse probably refers back to 1:4 where Paul wrote that the Colossians loved all God’s people. The first option includes the second option, because if they loved all believers they also loved one another.

in the Spirit: This refers to the Holy Spirit. If the word Spirit by itself might have an unclear or negative meaning in your language, you could say “God’s Spirit” or use your term for “Holy Spirit.” Paul was saying that the Colossians loved others “by means of” the Holy Spirit, that is, it was the Holy Spirit who enabled/caused them to love others. Here is another way to express this:

the love that the Holy Spirit has given you (Good News Translation)

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