Note 12 at Col. 1:8: This is speaking of Epaphras (see note 11 at v. 7) as the one who declared the love of the Colossians for the apostle Paul and his company.

Note 13 at Col. 1:8: The Colossians had never met Paul and yet they loved him. To a person who doesn't know God's kind of love that would be impossible. But God's love doesn't know the limitations of carnal love. This love was "in the Spirit." The Lord knew Paul and loved him and the Holy Spirit within the Colossians was releasing that love towards Paul.