Fruitful And Growing

...fructificantes et crescentes in agnitionem Dei, in omni virtute robur capientes secundum potentiam gloriae eius in omnem patientia et longanimitate cum gaudio, gratias agentes Deo et Patri qui vocavit vos in partem sortis sanctorum in lumine, qui liberavit nos a potestate tenebrarum et transtulit in regnum Filii dilectionis suae. Incrementum operum eorum cum scientia vult fieri, ut non ignorent fidei suae spem; tunc enim firmi et stabiles sunt, si advertant quae pro fide promissa sunt, et quanta sit potentia gloriae maiestatis Dei in patientia; ut longa exspectatione sustineat humanum genus, quod irreverentia sua non solum negligit Creatorem, verum persequitur amantes eum: ut et ipsi similiter patientes sint, ut supportent probra et maledicta infidelium, vel si illata fuerit pressura, exspectantes iudicium Dei, nec dubitantes de eo, magis autem gaudentes in promissa vita cum gratiarum actionibus Deo, qui dignatus est advocare et inducere gentes in promissionem Iudaeorum, quae est lumen aeternum, id est, vita aeterna, veritas perpetua. Liberati enim de conditione tenebrarum, hoc est, eruti de inferno, in quo tenebamur a diabolo tam ex proprio quam ex delicto Adae, qui est pater omnium peccantium, translati sumus per fidem in regnum coeleste Filii Dei; ut ostenderet nobis Deus quo amore diligit nos, quando attollens nos de imo tartari, induxit in coelos cum vero Filio suo. Jam enim omnes credentes, qui fixa mente devoti sunt, exeuntes de saeculo, duce dextrae Patris Angelo, inducuntur in coelos, quod ante devictam mortum concessum non erat. Ambrosiaster, Commentaria In Epistolam ad Colossenses, Caput I Source: Migne PL 17.422a-c

...fruitful and growing in the knowledge of God, in every virtue having strength according to the power of His glory, in all patience and endurance with joy, giving thanks to God the Father who has called you to the inheritance of the saints in the light, He who freed you from the power of darkness and brought you into the kingdom of His beloved Son. 1 He wishes for the increase of their works with knowledge, that there are not ignorant of the hope of their faith; for then they are firm and stable if they are looking toward those things promised for faith, and so great is the power of the glorious majesty of God in patience, that humanity might endure long waiting, because irreverance neglects not only the Creator, but it persecutes those who love Him, so that indeed they likewise suffer who endure the abuse and curses of the faithless, or if they are dragged off in oppression, they hope for the judgement of God, and doubt not at all concerning Him, indeed rejoicing more in the life promised, and giving thanks to God who condescended to call and bring in the nations to the promise of the Jews, which is the light eternal, that is, eternal life, eternal truth. For freed from the state of darkness, that is, snatched from hell, in which place we are benighted by the devil on account of the sin of Adam, who is the father of all sinners, we have been carried off by faith into the heavenly kingdom of the Son of God, that God show us with what love He loves us, when carrying us off from the depths of Tartarus, He brought us into heaven with His own Son. For now all believers, who have a firm devotion of soul, passing out of the world, under the direction of the angel of His right hand, are brought into heaven, which was not permitted before the conquest of death. Ambrosiaster, Commentary On The Letter to The Colossians, Chapter 1 1 Colos 1.10-13