Colossians
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Colossians 1
Colossians 1
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
Commentary · verse 1
2to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ that are at Colossæ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
2To 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.
Commentary · verse 2
Paul made it clear that he was writing to the believers in Colossae.
3We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,
3We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
Commentary · verses 3-4
Paul and Timothy were thankful to God because of the faith the Colossians had in Christ and the love they had towards each other.
5because 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, 6which 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;
5For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6Which 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:
Commentary · verses 5-6
The word of the truth of the Gospel had brought forth fruit in Colossae since the day they heard it and knew the grace of God in truth.
7even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
7As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Commentary · verses 7-8
Next, Paul identified a cause for intentional growth during our day-to-day Christian walk.
9For 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, 10to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
9For 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;
10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Commentary · verses 9-10
Paul had been praying for the Colossians that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding which causes us to walk worthy of God, pleasing God, and being profitable in every good work. Knowing God's Will helps believers intentionally grow during their day-to-day walk. What do you think Paul would say to someone who said we cannot know God's Will? Was this prayer in vain?
11strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;
11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Commentary · verse 11
Verse 11 gave another effect of knowing God's Will: joy in all circumstances, which was the overarching theme of the Book of Philippians.
12giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; 14in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins:
12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Commentary · verses 12-14
Doctrine: Christ is our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins, which was a theme of the Book of Romans.
15who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16for 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; 17and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16For 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:
17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Commentary · verses 15-17
Doctrine: By Christ, all things were created. God the Father has always existed. Jesus was begotten of God (John 3:16). Even though this means Jesus came after God the Father (since God the Father has infinitely existed), Jesus has essentially infinitely existed. For example, there is no difference between infinity and infinity plus one. When God the Father created everything, it was after Jesus was begotten because it was through Jesus everything was created. Creation has to be done by agreement, which means there had to be more than one Being prior to creation.
Doctrines on this passage
18And 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.
18And 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.
Commentary · verse 18
Mystery From Ephesians: Christ is the Head of the Body which is His Bride, the Church. The next two verses also sounded similar to what Paul wrote to the Ephesians.
19For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; 20and 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.
19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20And, 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.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Doctrine: By His cross, Christ has reconciled us to Himself.
21And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:
21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Commentary · verses 21-22
In verse 21, the Greek word for mind was dianoia. It was composed of two Greek words that meant "the channel through which the Mind/Soul operates," which is the conscious brain! The word brain is a relatively new word and was created more than a thousand years after the New Testament was written. We saw this same word was used in Ephesians 1:18 and Ephesians 4:18. In fact, verse 22 was similar to how the Book of Ephesians began: Christ will present us holy, without blemish, and unreproveable...
23if 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.
23If 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;
Commentary · verse 23
…if we continue in faith. We must continue to grow if we want to realize the hope of the Gospel: the Meaning of Life.
24Now 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;
24Who 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:
Commentary · verse 24
Paul rejoiced in suffering, which was the overarching theme of the Book of Philippians.
25whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God, 26even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,
25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Commentary · verses 25-26
The mystery (the Meaning of Life) has been made manifest. According to the Book of Ephesians, Paul wrote it was: All believers (both Jews and Gentiles) interact with each other as "cells in the body" of the Bride which is married to Jesus.
27to 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: 28whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; 29whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
27To 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:
28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Commentary · verses 27-29
Theme of Chapter 1: Knowing God's Will helps us intentionally grow during our day-to-day Christian walk. It is clear this letter was written around the same time as Ephesians because during this chapter Paul alluded to several concepts from his letter to the Ephesians.
Doctrines on this passage
Just as in the letter to the Philippians, Paul was with Timothy during this letter.