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 Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving for the Colossians' Faith

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

Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

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 for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

¶ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

The Supremacy of Christ (The Christ Hymn)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, and by 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 pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Reconciliation Through Christ

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Paul's Stewardship of the Gospel

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

To whom God would 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 preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Whereunto I also labour, 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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