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Colossians 1

Salutation – 1:1-2

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

  1. Paul is the primary apostle to the Gentiles. He was a chosen, special apostle. An apostle is “one sent” as an ambassador or one sent on a mission or one sent with a message. This was Paul. He was sent to the Gentiles with the message of the gospel.

  2. Paul is an apostle by the will of God. Paul is adding weight to his authority as an apostle and the authority of this letter by showing that his apostleship was not a self-appointed office. Therefore, if one rejects this letter and the doctrine it contains, they are rejecting God and His message.

  3. Timothy is not an apostle, but a brother in Christ and a companion with Paul.

1 – Paul, an apostle, appointed by God, and Timothy our brother.

 

2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  1. Today, we often use the word “saint” for those who are extra special, very holy, and in some cases one who died many years ago. Paul, and other New Testament writers call living, average, Christians, “Saints.” A saint is not a Super-Christian. Saints are dedicated children of God.

  2. SEB - “To the holy people” TEV - “To God's people”

  3. Faithful brethren are identified as a specific group within the saints. All Christians are saints. Not all Christians are faithful. Paul addresses the saints (large group of all Christians) and then he addresses the faithful brethren (smaller group who are dedicated, active, and faithful).

  4. NOTE: We often use the term “faithful” to describe attendance; agreement with us in doctrine. Paul realizes that not all saints are faithful to the cause of Christ. Many are on the fringe. They show up, sing, give, pray, and go home, but are not dedicated to Christ.

  5. “Grace and Peace” was a standard greeting as we might say, “Hi, How are you?” In the New Testament it was applied to Christians and found in almost all of Paul's letters.

2 – To the holy and faithful brothers at Colosse: May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ grant you grace and peace.

 

Thanksgiving – 1:3-8

3We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

  1. All our praise and gratitude belong to God. Paul offers an expression of thanksgiving for this church. We are often quick to criticize but very slow to express appreciation and gratitude.

  2. Praying always is the attitude of faithful Christians. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Jesus taught us to always pray and never faint. (Luke 18:1) We must be sure that at all times and situations we are in a place and position where prayer could be made. We must be in the frame of mind and in situations where prayer would not only be allowed, it would be appropriate.

3 – We are thankful to God, who is the Father of Jesus Christ our Lord. We are continuing in prayer for you.

 

4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;

  1. Since Paul had not been to Colosse, he was relying on the information of those who had been there and reported to him. He heard of their faith. To be a saving faith, it must be active, living, obedient.

  2. Paul also knew of the love this church has for all saints in all places.

  3. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul binds together – Faith, Hope, and Love – these three. Here he does the same with the discussion of Faith and Love in verse 4 and Hope in verse 5.

4 – We have heard of your active faith and of your love of the brotherhood.

 

5because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

  1. Hope is desire AND expectation. Both must be present to have hope. Desire without expectation is only a wish or a dream. Expectation without desire is fear or dread.

  2. The hope we have is eternal life. That hope will be realized in heaven. Our hope is to be raised to eternal life and be with Jesus in that eternal abode. Peter said it was “reserved in heaven.” (1 Peter 1:4)

  3. The gospel is truth. These two words are often used in exchange for each other. There are several words or phrases that are parallel: Way, Truth, Gospel, Light, Word, and Life.

5 – And the hope reserved for you in heaven. You heard the word, the gospel;

 

6which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

  1. As the gospel was heard by others, it has now come to you. Now you can keep it going by sharing this news with others.

  2. Without radio, TV, or Internet, the news of the gospel was being rapidly spread through out the world.

  3. Paul declares that the message has been declared to every creature under heaven. (verse 23)

  4. Where the gospel is shared with others – there is fruit. The fruit of an apple tree is apples. The fruit of sharing your faith with others is Christians. This principle is taught in John 15:16.

  5. Do you remember the day you heard the message of salvation? How long should one wait after becoming a Christin, to begin working in the Kingdom? Answer: From the day you heard the message, you had faith, and you have exercised and acted on that faith since that day.

  6. Salvation includes knowing the grace of God. Here is the motivation for these Christians. They “knew” God's grace. I have to wonder if we have even started to understand the depth and breath of grace in our lives.

6 – Which came to you from others, and is going from you into all the world producing Christians. From the day you heard, motivated by your understanding of God's grace, you were reaching others, growing faith in them.

 

7as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

  1. Epaphras is, apparently, the one who established the church in Colosse and is the source of information for Paul to know about this church and their faith.

  2. SEB “Our co-slave” NASB “Our beloved fellow bond-servant”

  3. We do not like the idea of slavery. In society, I agree. In the church, we are slaves. We are either the slaves of God or the slaves of sin. (Romans 6:16) We chose who will be our Master. Whom are we really working for?

  4. Epaphras is a faithful minister. This is not a title to be worn. It is a work to be done. God had only one Son and he was a minister. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. (Mark 10:45)

7 – You learned about God's grace from Epaphras. He is a very special co-slave, faithful to his Master, Jesus.

 

8who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

  1. Paul's information is from Epaphras. He brought Paul the report of their faith, love and hope. The news was good. The church at Colosse is growing.

  2. Their love is directed toward God and then toward all the saints. (1:4) The phrase “in the Spirit” have been explained in several ways.

    1. Their love was because some apostle had given them power to perform spiritual gifts.

    2. Their love is on a spiritual level. It was a deep, fervent love, in a spiritual sense.

    3. Their love was the spiritual gift which they had.

  3. I believe that we are learning of their spiritual love for Paul.

8 – He has told me about your fervent spiritual love.

 

Paul's Prayer for them – 1:9-14

9For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

  1. Paul did not say that he would pray for them. He states that he has been praying, is now praying, and will continue to pray for the church at Colosse.

  2. Paul prays that they might be filled with knowledge. Many prayers today are generic, shallow and without specifics. Many prayers today are, “Lord, bless the sick. Bless the hurting. Bless us as we go home.” What do we mean by “bless”? What is it we want God to do as He answers our prayer?

  3. Paul was very specific. Paul prayed that they be filled with:

    1. Knowledge of God's will

    2. Wisdom

    3. Spiritual Understanding

9 – From the day we learned of your faith, we have continued to pray for you. We pray that you will increase and continue in knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual insight.

 

10that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

12giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

  1. Walk worthy of the Lord. The Greek word here means to earn your pay, to receive your due reward.

  2. TEB “Made you fit to have your share” SEB “Entitled to have a part” NASB “In a manner worthy that qualified us to share.”

  3. Paul lists eight things in which they can “earn their pay.”

    1. Please God

    2. Be fruitful in good works

    3. Continue in the increase in knowledge

    4. Grow stronger in the glorious power of God

    5. Grow in patience

    6. Increase in your ability to endure

    7. Keep on living in abundant joy

    8. Always remember to express gratitude

10 – We are praying for you to live so that you will have earned your reward. The reward will be yours by pleasing go, bearing fruit in good deeds and growing in knowledge.

11 – I pray that you will grow stronger, be more patient, more able to endure and be full of joy.

12 – Remember to be grateful to God for making us suited to inherit the light.

 

13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

  1. Not only did God make us suited to inherit His estate, He also rescued us from the power of darkness.

  2. “The devil made me do it” is a common excuse. This is an excuse for our own weakness. Satan is only as powerful as we allow him to control us. We can resist. (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9)

  3. God delivered us from sin. TEV - “brought us safe” SEB “moved us” God was not satisfied with bringing us out of darkness. He also moved us into the kingdom.

  4. The kingdom is the church. (Matthew16:18-19) It is not to be established at some future date. It was in existence in the first century. The kingdom was not only in existence but it had citizens. Study the following passages: Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 1:9; Ephesians 2:19. The kingdom of God is not a future promise. It is a present reality.

13 – God rescued us from the darkness of sin and moved us into citizenship in the kingdom of the Son of His love.

 

14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

  1. Salvation is available ONLY in Christ. (2 Timothy 2:10) All spiritual blessings are in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

  2. Redemption usually carries the idea of “buying back”. That may not be the meaning here. Here it is more the idea of obtaining our release. God obtained our eternal release and deliverance. (Hebrews 9:12)

14 – In Christ we are made free by His blood. We have the forgiveness of our sins.
 

The Preeminence of the Son – 1:15-20

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

  1. Christ is the visible expression of what is invisible to us.

  2. TEV “the visible likeness of the invisible God” Vincent “The essence of a person, not the outward form, shape. He existed as essentially one with God.” (Philippians 2:6)

  3. The firstborn has reference to the one who has special rights of inheritance. This is not always to the one who was first to be born. Isaac was not Abraham's first born, but he was the one who had special rights of inheritance. The same is true with Jacob over his twin, and firstborn brother, Esau.

  4. God said, “Israel is my son, even my firstborn.” Exodus 4:22

15 – Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God. He is the firstborn son with all the rights of inheritance and blessing.

 

16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

  1. Christ was involved in every part of the creation of the world. (Genesis 1:26-27; John 1:1-4)

  2. Christ all things in heaven. Christ is before and helped create the angels. Angels are created spirit beings. Angels are under Jesus. Why would anyone worship angels? You can worship the creator of angels and the one who is in authority over them.

  3. Creation includes the visible and the invisible. Jesus created all material things and all non-material things. He created man (material) and life (non-material).

  4. Christ also created thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. It is difficult for us to distinguish all of these words. The message is that Christ is LORD OF ALL.

  5. For every noun (person, place or thing) Christ is the creator of it. All were created for a purpose. See Revelation 4:11. Our purpose is to seek to please our creator. We were not created to rule, but to serve. “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” 1 Chronicles 16:29

16 – By Christ all things were created. This includes all beings in heaven and on earth, all things material or non-material. All things with power, authority, or ability to rule were created by Him and with purpose of serving under Him.

 

17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

  1. Jesus pre-existed all things. He is also before them in power and authority.

  2. This verse asserts Jesus' eternal existence. Study John 1:1-4.

  3. In Christ all things consist. TEV “in union with him all things have their proper place” SEB “everything holds together in Christ”

  4. Christ created all things. He also hold and maintains the order of this universe. It is the power of Christ which holds this world together.

17 – Christ has eternally existed. He holds everything together with his power.

 

18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

  1. Since He is head over all creation, He is the head. The head is the source of thought, ideas, and has power over the body. It is the central control of all actions and movements.

  2. The church is the body. Christ is the head. (See verse 24; Ephesians 1:22-23)

  3. Bodies to not think. They only follow the directions given by the head. The church is a “thoughtless” body. When members of the church start thinking for themselves, they have rebelled against their head, Christ. May we follow the commands and directions which Jesus Christ our Lord has given to his body, the church.

  4. Christ is the beginning. In his relationship to the church, He is the beginning. He is the builder. (Matthew 16:18) He is the purchaser. (Acts 20:28) He is the head. (Ephesians 1:22-23) He is the savior. (Ephesians 5:25) He loved it and gave himself for it. (Ephesians 5:25) It is, in fact, the “church of Christ.” (Romans 16:16)

  5. Phillips - “Life from nothing began through him, and life from the dead began through him.” Jesus was not the first to be raised from the dead, temporarily. Their dead was just postponed. Jesus' death was canceled! Lazarus (John 11) was raised but still was liable to death. Jesus was the first raised incorruptible, never to taste death again. (1 Corinthians 15:50-53) Christ has been raised from the dead and became the “first fruits of that that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

  6. He has the preeminence. SEB “first in everything” Thayer “To be first, to hold first place.” Vincent “Tobe first only.” Christ must be supreme in all respects. He is Lord of the church. He is to be the Lord of our lives. He must be LORD – period. He can have no rival.

18 – Christ is the supreme authority over his church. He is the ruler over his body. The church has it origin in Christ. He is the first to be raised not subject to death. In every sense Jesus is our supreme authority.

 

19For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

  1. God is in control. This is my Father's world. He knows what is best. We are to do His will.

  2. Paul is an apostle “by the will of God.” (1:1)

  3. All fullness dwells in Christ. TEV “the Son has in himself the full nature of God.” In Christ is everything of everything. He is all in all. See Colossians 2:9. Even when he was in the flesh with his humanity evident, he was also fully divine. He was not 50% human and 50% divine. Rather, He was 100% human and 100% divine. In becoming flesh and living on earth, he did not abandon any aspect of his divine nature.

19 – It is God's will and pleasure that Christ be complete in his divinity and in his humanity.

 

20and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

  1. The peace that passes understanding is already available. Phillips “by virtue of the sacrifice of the cross.”

  2. Today, some are trying to remove the blood from Christianity. It can not be done. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22)

  3. The New Testament is filled with references to the blood of Jesus.

  4. Vincent on reconcile “restore to primal unity.” The word translated reconcile mean to transfer from one state to another which is quite different. Vine “change from one condition to another, so as to remove all enmity and leave no impediment to unity and peace.” SEB “to bring everything back to him”

  5. This reconciliation includes man (on earth) and angels (in heaven).

20 – Christ has made peace available through the blood shed on the cross. He brought everything back to him, both earthly and heavenly.

 

God's Purpose for the Colossians – 1:21-23

21And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

  1. In the past you were a stranger from God himself. You were a stranger to Israel. You were a stranger to life with God. You were a stranger to salvation.

  2. We were enemies. Anyone who loves sin is the enemy of God. (James 4:4) Not that God hated you, but that your life was demonstrating a hatred for God and His will.

  3. TEV “because of the evil thing you did and thought” Sin starts in the mind of man. (James 1:14) It often ends up destroying the mind through guilt, disease and knowledge that you are apart from God.

  4. In spite of this condition, God love you. He wants you to be restored. He wants you to have a proper relationship through Christ.

21 – You were separated from God and treated God as your enemy. In spite of this, God worked at changing your condition.

 

22in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

  1. Christ died. Literally. It was not just a trick, or in some spiritual sense. It was not just a swoon or passing out. Jesus died in the body of his flesh. He died physically so you could live spiritually.

  2. Holy means separated and dedicated to God and His will.

  3. Blameless means that we should be without blemish. We must be spotless.

  4. Above reproach suggests that we must be free from the charge of sin. Thayer “unaccused”

  5. Here is the purpose of God. Christ died, suffering the agony of physical death, so that we could be no longer enemies and strangers, but holy, spotless and unaccused. Now it is time to praise the Lord.

22 – Christ died physically to change you into one dedicated, spotless and free from the charge of sin.

 

23if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

  1. We must continue in the faith. Here is a conditional promise. To receive the benefits we must keep on living and growing in the faith. “The faith” is to be distinguished from “faith.” The faith has reference to the body of truth, the gospel. (Jude 3; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Faith is the trust, confidence and assurance that one has. We must remain constant in the gospel, the body of truth, taught in the New Testament.

  2. Here are the conditions necessary to obtain the benefits:

    1. We must be grounded and settled. Grounded means that we have a foundation on which a superstructure can be built. Settled comes from a Greek word meaning “a seat, literally, seated” (Vine) The idea is that of not just set on, but seated in. A car's valves must be seated – settled in so there is a tight seal.

    2. We must not move away. Don't drift off course. (Hebrews 2:1) Do not let anything lead you astray.

    3. Keep hope. Hope is obtained through growth in faith. Faith is gained by hearing the gospel. (Romans 10:17)

  3. This promise – and its conditions – have been preached, taught, offered to every creature under heaven. The grace of God has appeared to all men. (Titus 2:11)

  4. NOTE: Jesus command that we preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15) Paul, and those with him have accomplished this in the first century. What about us today? Are we able to say what Paul said about his generation?

  5. Paul is a minister. This does not refer to a process of being ordained. All who have heard and obeyed are commissioned to be ministering servants. Paul is saying, “This is my job by virtue of the fact that I am a Christian.”

23 – You must remain solid and seated in the hope you have in Christ. Do not drift from it. We have spread the message everywhere. As Christians and minister, this is our duty.

 

Paul's Sufferings – 1:24-25

24I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

  1. Christians must have the attitude of joy in all things, including suffering. (James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:14-16)

  2. Christ did not do all the suffering. He suffered for you to have the remission of sins. But there is still suffering for us in this world.

  3. Vine “Christ, the sinless Master, should have left something for Paul, the unworthy servant; to suffer.” Vincent “signifies that portion of Christ's ministerial sufferings which was not endured by Him in person, but is endured in the sufferings of Christians in all generations is carrying out Christ's work.”

  4. How far behind are we? Do we have some catching up to do?

  5. The body of Christ is the church which he purchased and built. See verse 18.

24 – Christians everywhere rejoice because we are allowed to suffer for Christ. Christ suffered for the sake of his body, the church.

 

25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

  1. Paul was a minister of the gospel. Not by ordination, but because of stewardship.

  2. Stewardship is the responsibility of each person to use and be accountable for their ability, talent, money, time, and other gifts God gave them to use.

  3. Each of us must fully discharge the office given to us so that God's intent and will is carried out in the preaching of the gospel.

  4. NASB “to carry out the preaching of the word of God” RSV “to make the word of God fully known”

25 – God has given to me the stewardship of fully declaring His message.
 

The Mystery of Christ – 1:26-28

26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

  1. Mystery – Thayer “a hidden thing, secret, not obvious to the understanding” Vine “In Colossians and Ephesians it is used, with a single exception, of the admission of the Gentiles to gospel privileges” (Romans 16:25-26)

  2. In the Gnostic system it was believed that only the initiated ones could know the way of salvation. The word translated “mystery” means the “initiated ones.” A mystery is a secret which would remain such except for revelation. Vine “Musterion – Primarily that which is known to the 'musts', the initiated ones.” To the Greeks it meant the secret rites and ceremonies which only those in the sect would know.

  3. Ages would refer to an era, a period of time of significant character. Generation is a lifetime, a step in genealogy. Paul is saying this is new. It was not known is previous eras.

  4. Now it is widely known. It has been made manifest. SEB “now has been made clear” Phillips “is now as clear as daylight” It is made known at a time and in a manner appointed by God, and to those only whom the Spirit would choose. It is now uncovered.

26 – The secret which our ancestors did not understand is now to be unveiled.

 

27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

  1. God is the one to make it known. Not some special initiated, knowing, one. Without God showing it to us, it would still be a hidden mystery.

  2. God has wealth beyond our ability to comprehend. Some of this wealth is knowledge. He is about to share some of it with us.

  3. Drum roll, please. SEB “The secret is ...” Here it comes. This is the moment. The envelope please.

  4. Christ in us. Christ dwells within the Christian. We often debate and discuss the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and forget that Christ dwells in us. (Ephesians 3:17)

  5. This is the hope of glory. Our hope of eternal life, our hope of heaven, our hope of being with God is only valid if Christ is in us.

  6. NOTE: This secret has two aspects to it.

    1. The hope we have is only through Christ. If you have hope in this life only, you are miserable. (1 Corinthians 15:19) Christ dwells in us. This is a secret the world does not understand.

    2. Christ dwells in Gentiles as well as Jews. The mystery “among the Gentiles” is that Christ loves them, died for them, and wants them to dwell in them.

27 – God has chosen you to learn this secret about the Gentiles. The secret is: Christ dwells in all his people (Gentiles as well as Jews). This is our hope of glory to come.

 

28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

  1. This is the Jesus Paul is preaching. NIV “we proclaim him” Phillips “so, naturally, we proclaim Christ” He is our hope. He dwells in us. He is the source of wisdom and knowledge. He died for us. He suffered for us. How could we preach anyone or anything else? Who else is there? (John 6:68)

  2. Paul has three goals in his preaching. They should be ours as well.

    1. Warning – It is the challenge of every man to warn every man. We must counsel, admonish, confront, warn the lost world. (Romans 15:14)

    2. Teaching – Our duty include giving instruction, explaining “how-to”, and instilling doctrine and wisdom in all men.

    3. Presenting – Phillips “bring every man up to his full maturity” Our goal goes beyond warning and teaching. Our goal is to bring the wandering sheep to the Good Shepherd.

  3. Preaching Christ is not just for preachers. It is the work of each child of God. Notice the repeated phrase - “every man”. We must warn every man. We must teach every man. We must bring every man to Christ.

28 – We proclaim Christ to all men. We admonish of sin. We teach doctrine. We present to God mature, full-grown men in Christ Jesus.

 

Paul's Prayer for his Readers – 1:29-2:5

29To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

  1. Paul is here expressing his prayer and desire for the Colossians. He is praying. He is also working. The terms used here have the olympic games in mind.

  2. Strive is from the Greek word “agonizomai”, meaning to put forth every effort, to agonize. (1 Corinthians 9:25)

  3. Paul is saying that he is contending “in the gymnastic games, struggling with difficulties and dangers, endeavor with strenuous zeal.” (Thayer)

29 – I am weary, putting forth every effort, even agonizing and wrestling with all the might I have.


 

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