The interpretation applied to Ephesians re Paul’s use of "filling" and "fulness" as having reference to the infant ecclesia’s "baptism in Spirit" is corroborated when applied also to Paul’s use of the terms in Colossians. The idea of "fulness", and the use of various cognate forms of the Greek verb pleroo (to fill up) are marked features and this points to a parallel use of identical thoughts and expressions as in Ephesians.

Col. 1:8

Epaphras "also informed us of your love in the Spirit"

The "spirit" is a New Testament idiom meaning "the new life in Christ".

Col. 1:9

"We ... pray ... that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding".

"filled" = Grk. pleroo. This word tells us that Paul is again speaking of the Spirit’s miraculous ministry in the first century ecclesias. As in Ephesians 1, he follows up this prayer for the more liberal bestowal of the Spirit gifts upon the Colossians by references to the cross (v. 20), by which Christ made the new dispensation possible; and to the resurrection (v. 18), by which God gave a powerful token that the new creation had begun. This prayer was realized because Paul writes in 2:10 "and in him ye are made full" (ASV). The source of the filling was Christ "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (2:3). The principle function of the Spirit was to guide the infant ecclesia by the gifts into "all truth" (John 14), and ultimately, to commit those "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" to paper for the enlightenment of others who did not have these Spirit gifts.

Col. 1:27

"which is Christ in you (Gentiles) the hope of Glory"(AV)

The Apostles had received the gospel through the Spirit gifts, which they in turn taught to the Gentiles. "Christ in them" was not any mystical indwelling but a clear reference to the enlightenment of the Gentiles to the purpose of God, which gave them "the hope of glory".

Col. 1:29

"... for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me." (NASB)

Paul had been given God's "power" [Greek energeia] of the Spirit with which he taught his listeners or readers whether it was verbally or by writing letters like the one to the ecclesia in Colossae, while in prison; or other letters such as Corinthians, etc.

This wonderful power of God certainly did mightily work in Paul as he wrote more letters than all the other Apostles combined.