Colossians1

Paul and Timothy greet the Colossian saints, expressing gratitude for their faith, love, and hope in the gospel. Paul prays for their spiritual growth and knowledge, then profoundly exalts Christ as the image of the invisible God, the creator and sustainer of all things, and the head of the church. He emphasizes that through Christ's death, reconciliation and redemption are achieved, and concludes by explaining his ministry to preach this mystery to all.

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Salutation

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

to the saints and faithful brethren in Christthat areat Colossæ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving for the Colossians' Faith

We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,

because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;

giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;

who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;

in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins:

The Supremacy of Christ (The Christ Hymn)

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;

for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;

and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;

and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.

Reconciliation Through Christ

And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,

yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:

if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.

Paul's Stewardship of the Gospel

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;

whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,

even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,

to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;

whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Study Notes for Colossians 1

Verse 1

Paul emphasizes that his apostolic authority comes directly 'by the will of God,' establishing the divine mandate behind his instruction to the Colossians.

Verse 2

The recipients are called 'saints' (set apart) and 'faithful brethren,' highlighting their status as part of God’s covenant community in a city prone to syncretistic philosophies.

Verse 4

Paul's knowledge of the Colossian church's health came via Epaphras (v. 7). Their spiritual condition is summarized by the triad of faith, love, and hope (v. 5), a common summary of Christian virtues.

Verse 6

The gospel is presented as a dynamic, living message that is actively 'bringeth forth fruit' wherever it is preached, contrasting with static, secret knowledge.

Verse 7

Epaphras was likely the founder of the church in Colosse and the surrounding Lycus Valley. He acted as their representative and Paul’s trusted fellowservant.

Verse 9

Paul’s prayer focuses on 'knowledge of his will,' emphasizing that true spiritual maturity comes through wisdom and understanding, rather than through rituals or esoteric practices.

Verse 10

The goal of spiritual knowledge is practical: 'That ye might walk worthy of the Lord,' resulting in ethical fruitfulness and a deeper understanding of God.

Verse 12

The 'inheritance' is the eschatological reward of salvation, made possible because God has 'made us meet' (qualified us) to participate.

Verse 13

Salvation is described as a dramatic transfer of citizenship, delivering believers from the kingdom of Satan ('power of darkness') into the 'kingdom of his dear Son.'

Verse 14

The specific benefit of this deliverance is 'redemption' (a release achieved through payment of a ransom), which Paul defines as 'the forgiveness of sins.'

Verse 15

This verse is central to Colossians. Christ is the 'image' (eikon), meaning He is the perfect manifestation and visible representation of God. 'Firstborn of every creature' (prototokos) denotes His preeminence and sovereignty over all creation, not His temporal origin.

Verse 16

Christ is affirmed as the agent of creation. This directly refutes any philosophy suggesting that Christ was merely one intermediary spirit among others. He created all things, including angelic beings ('thrones, or dominions').

Verse 17

Christ is not only the Creator but also the sustainer. The universe is held together ('consist') by Him, demonstrating His ongoing relationship with and control over creation.

Verse 18

The focus shifts from creation to the church. As 'firstborn from the dead,' Christ establishes His preeminence over the new creation and is the source of resurrection life for all believers.

Verse 19

The 'fulness' (pleroma) of God dwells in Christ. This key theological assertion combats Gnostic ideas that one must seek spiritual 'fullness' through additional, secret knowledge or angelic mediation outside of Christ.

Verse 20

Christ’s reconciliation is cosmic, extending to 'all things' in heaven and earth, restoring the order and peace that was disrupted by the fall.

Verse 21

Paul applies the cosmic reconciliation (v. 20) directly to the Colossian believers, emphasizing their past state as 'alienated and enemies' due to sin.

Verse 22

Reconciliation was achieved through Christ's death on the cross, ensuring that believers are presented as 'holy and unblameable' before God.

Verse 23

While reconciliation is a gift, Paul stresses the necessity of perseverance. Believers must 'continue in the faith grounded and settled' to fully inherit the hope of the gospel.

Verse 24

Paul rejoices in his sufferings, viewing them not as completing Christ’s atoning work (which was finished), but as fulfilling the necessary measure of suffering experienced by Christ’s ministers for the sake of His body, the church.

Verse 25

Paul describes his ministry as a 'dispensation of God' (oikonomia), meaning a divine stewardship or commission given specifically to him to preach the gospel fully to the Gentiles.

Verse 26

The 'mystery' is the divine plan of salvation previously hidden but now revealed through the gospel message.

Verse 27

The content of the mystery is 'Christ in you, the hope of glory'—the radical inclusion of Gentiles into God's covenant and the indwelling presence of Christ in every believer.

Verse 28

Paul's labor is focused on preaching and teaching with 'all wisdom' (contrasting with the false wisdom of the Colossian heresy) so that every believer may reach maturity ('perfect') in Christ.

Verse 29

Paul attributes the effectiveness of his strenuous labor ('striving') entirely to the divine power ('his working') that works mightily within him.

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Colossians1

Salutation

Thanksgiving for the Colossians' Faith

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

The Supremacy of Christ (The Christ Hymn)

Reconciliation Through Christ

Paul's Stewardship of the Gospel

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