Don Smith
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 (Col. 1:1-2).
Paul begins with a statement establishing his apostleship, and this “by the will of God.” Timothy is also present with Paul while he was under the Roman house arrest. This was apparently a faithful congregation, though the primary purpose of this letter was to quell a doctrinal heresy that was infiltrating the region. Paul greets them with the grace and peace of God and Christ.
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 (v. 3-4).
Paul expresses his care and joy for this congregation by letting them know of his continual prayers for them and thanks to the Father for their faithfulness. Notice prayer is directed to the Father and not to Christ (John 16:23). The fact that Paul mentions “hearing” of their faith, and that being the point at which he began praying for them, indicates he never had been to visit this congregation. The report that Paul had heard of them informed him of the significant showing of love the Colossians had for the church overall.
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 (Col. 1:5-6).
The “faith” the Colossians had “in Christ Jesus” (v. 4) was for the “hope”/expectation they had of the blessings of heaven. This confident expectation was based on the word of the gospel which they had heard and received. That word of the gospel had been preached throughout the ancient world at the time Paul wrote these words. This was due to the Holy Spirit’s work and the zeal of Paul and others in ensuring its spread through their evangelistic efforts (Acts 2:1-12; 19:8-10; Col. 1:23). Paul is giving encouraging word here that, though he did not personally convert these brethren, the gospel certainly has the Divinely intended effect of producing fruit as it spreads from convert to convert. Notice, also, the emphasis on “truth” in verses 5 and 6. Paul is establishing this fact as he is about to oppose falsehoods and error creeping into this sound congregation.
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 (v. 7-8).
The Colossians had apparently learned under the guidance of Epaphras and obeyed the gospel, establishing the congregation there. He is referred to as Paul’s “fellowservant,” indicating he had served alongside Paul in the cause, or was mutual in servitude for Christ alongside every other faithful Christian. Epaphras was also a messenger between Paul and the Colossians, as well as other congregations of the region. The Colossians’ “love in the Spirit” is representative of the actions they walked in which were in accordance with the Spirit’s teaching.
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 (v. 9).
The cause here is the Colossians “love in the Spirit,” and the day Paul heard of it was the day Epaphras declared it to him (v. 7-8). Paul has continued to regularly pray for the congregation at Colossae since that day. This is a great example of to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). Paul is building the foundation of his case against the doctrinal heresy that has infiltrated the region. His prayer and desire is for the Colossian’s continued growth in knowledge of spiritual matters and that they may know how to apply that knowledge (wisdom), especially in defense of the truth.
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 (Col. 1:10-12).
Paul’s recounting of the things he has prayed for on behalf of the Colossians continues. The worthy walk Paul mentions is an act of living according to the righteous demeanor of a Christian. This is pleasing in God’s sight. It also includes having a diligent hand in every good work that opportunity presents, again, along with growing in the knowledge of God’s will. The “might” that Paul refers to here would be the spiritual strength one gains through growth and boldness in the word (2 Cor. 10:3-5). The might of the Christian is only possible by the power of God; by His power the gospel of salvation was made possible and that through the earthen vessel of the Christian. That continual growth in might is also towards (unto) the proper awaiting for right conditions (patience) and holding back of wrath (longsuffering). When this is done right, it is also accompanied with joyfulness. Paul gives the conclusion of his prayer on the Colossians’ behalf with thanks to the Father. He indicates that the faithful are fit recipients (meet) of the inheritance of heaven, based upon the Father’s will.
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: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature (Col. 1:13-15).
What power would darkness have over the Colossians? It would keep them blinded from salvation in God, but Paul says here that he and the Colossians have been delivered from such by the Father. As well, the Father had transferred them into the kingdom (church) of Christ. This was done by the salvation from the condemning darkness. It indisputably links salvation with the church. Forgiveness of sins and that salvation is only in Christ. How do we get into Christ? (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). Jesus is the likeness of the Father, just as any earthly father can be seen in his son (John 14:8-9; Heb. 1:3). Though the Jehovah’s Witnesses would have the unsuspecting believe by this passage that Christ was the first created being, it actually teaches He is the “the firstborn of every creature” in the sense that He is the firstborn from the dead to never die again (Col. 1:18).
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 (v. 16-17).
With the Godhead, Christ had a hand in creating every authority, governing structure, and being in both heaven and earth, both time and eternity. All of it stems back to His purpose, and the scripture is clear that He, Jesus Christ, was before everything, giving perfect apology for His eternal nature.
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 (v. 18).
By inspiration, Paul places Christ as the head, and only Deity can be that head. Further, the body is the church, the church is the body of Christ—one head and one body (Eph. 1:22-23). When Christ arose from the dead, He was the first, the beginning of the end of death, the beginning of true life in God. He was the “firstborn from the dead” to never die again. Paul made this statement to combat the error that Christ couldn’t have died on the cross. He affirms this solidly; Christ did die, and there was a bodily resurrection. God the Son was the beginning of this, the beginning, not only of all things from the initiation of time but also of the age of Christianity. Jesus is the head of the church. He built it, purchased it, and it belongs to Him (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28). Since He is the firstborn from the dead and His work had only just begun, the Father then set Him as the authoritative figure over all things, giving Him power over all things in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28:18). Christ, then, has the superiority (“preeminence”).
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell (Col. 1:19).
In Christ, all the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily (2:9). The Godhead consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the unity they share harkens to the preeminence that Christ wields. It pleases the Father for Him to exercise this authority.
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 (v. 20).
The blood shed on the cross made peace by the sacrifice between God and men (all who would obey). This passage speaks again to Christ’s deity. All who are obedient to the will of God would be reconciled through this peace. It seems that the “things in heaven” may refer to those “principalities and powers” who are learning from the church the “manifold wisdom of God” (Eph. 3:10). Upon the lesson learned, no question will be in the minds of such heavenly beings, bringing true reconciliation of them as well.
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… (Col. 1:21-23a).
The fact that Christ’s mortal death in the flesh was part of the scheme of redemption drives through the heart of the Gnosticism creeping into the region. Paul uses this fact, in turn, reminding the Colossians of their former lost position in contrast to their current reconciled state. The only condition the church may be in when presented before God is in the purity this passage describes. This can only be done through reconciliation by the blood of Christ—contacting that blood by baptism (Eph. 5:26-27). That reconciliation and presentation in purity is conditioned upon staying faithful and not being moved away from the truth. This is an admonition to put away the error. Apparently at this time, the gospel had been spread to the far reaches of the ancient world, and everyone had had the opportunity to obey it (Col. 1:5-6).
…whereof I Paul am made a minister; 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 (v. 23b-24).
Remember that Paul had the care of all the churches upon his heart daily (2 Cor. 11:28). He felt the obligation to minister to their needs in the gospel as much as he was humanly able; by inspiration, he is termed as such a caretaker of the gospel. Paul, being a faithful minister of the gospel, rejoices in the afflictions he suffers for the church and desires that he might be more afflicted to more closely resemble the sufferings of Christ. This passage also, once again, affirms the body of Christ 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 (Col. 1:25-26).
Paul plays one of the most important roles in all of human history. By Inspiration, he is made a minister according to the body of governing law of God, and this is to complete the word of God. He plays such key importance in revealing the New Testament to the church—the law of God which before Christ had been hidden to all (Matt. 13:17; Eph. 3:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:12).
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 (Col. 1:27).
God made known to the saints that the Gentiles would be a part of the grand picture of salvation to all—the spirit of Christ’s walk in you (Rom. 8:9-10; Eph. 3:6).
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 (Col. 1:28-29).
A part of preaching and teaching of Christ and the wisdom of God is to warn of all that would cause man to be lost, and in this letter, Paul warns of the error creeping into the church. The intended result is to create growth to maturity that they may be presented to God in purity. Paul’s labor in this is placed in accordance with God’s plan for the work. By inspiration, he works this plan of preaching, teaching, and warning, just as all the faithful are to continue on with the teaching from all the inspired words of the New Testament (1 Cor. 4:16-17; 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:1-2).
