Colossians retains its place among the epistles of Paul, who identified himself as the author (1:1; 4:18). The church fathers unreservedly endorsed Pauline authorship (Irenaeus, Adv. Haer., 3.14.1; Tertullian, De Praescr. Haer., 7; Clement of Alexandria, Strom., 1.1; see Justin, Dialogue, 85.2; 138.2). A close reading of Colossians reveals a considerable number of lexical, grammatical, and theological similarities with the other Pauline writings (1:9,26; 2:11-14,16,20-21; 3:1,3,5-17). Also favoring the authenticity of Colossians as a letter of Paul is its close connection with Philemon, an epistle widely regarded as Pauline.
During his ministry in Ephesus (Ac 19:10), Paul sent Epaphras to spread the gospel in the Lycus Valley. Epaphras subsequently established the church at Colossae (1:7; 4:12-13). The city’s population consisted mostly of Phrygians and Greeks, but it also included a significant number of Jews. The church, likewise, was mostly composed of Gentiles (1:21,27; 2:13), but it also had Jewish members (2:11,16,18,21; 3:11). When Epaphras (Phm 23) informed Paul of certain heretical teachings that had spread there, Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians as a theological antidote.
Paul wrote Colossians during his first Roman imprisonment (4:3,10,18; see Ac 28:30-31; Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., 2.22.1) in the early AD 60s. Together with Philemon, Philippians, and Ephesians, Colossians is commonly classified as a “prison epistle.” All four epistles share several personal links that warrant this conclusion (Col 1:7; 4:7-8,17; Eph 6:21-22; Phm 2,12,23).
Colossians provides one of the Bible’s fullest expressions of the deity and supremacy of Christ. This is most evident in the magnificent hymn of praise (1:15-20) that sets forth Christ as the image of the invisible God, the Creator and sustainer of the universe, and the head of his body, the church. In Christ are all the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3), because in him “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily” (2:9). The supremacy of Christ also has implication for believers’ salvation (2:10,13,20; 3:1,11-12,17) and conduct (3:5–4:6). Colossians contributes to Scripture a high Christology and a presentation of its implications for the believer’s conduct.
Colossians may be divided into two main parts. The first (1:3–2:23) is a polemic against false teachings. The second (3:1–4:17) is made up of exhortations to proper Christian living. This is typical of Paul’s approach, presenting a theology position first, a position on which the practical exhortations are built. The introduction (1:1-2) is in the form of a Hellenistic, personal letter.
Notable in the final section are the mention of Onesimus (4:9), which links this letter with Philemon; the mention of a letter at Laodicea (4:16) that may have been Ephesians; and Paul’s concluding signature which indicates that the letter was prepared by an amanuensis (secretary; see 4:18).
To the eyes of reason, the cross is the center of sorrow and the lowest depth of shame as Jesus dies an evildoer’s death. How different, however, is the view that presents itself to the eyes of faith. Faith knows no shame in the cross. It sees no ground for scorn; but it hurls indignant scorn at sin, the enemy that pierced the Lord. Faith regards the cross not as the emblem of shame but as the token of glory. It tells us that the cross was Jesus Christ’s field of triumph. There he fought and there he conquered, too.
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:
2 To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father. A
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace. B 7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your C behalf, 8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, D 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you E to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, F the forgiveness of sins.
15He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
16For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities —
all things have been created through him and for him.
17He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
18He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
19For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
20and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace
through his blood, shed
on the cross. G
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him — 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 25 I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.
QUOTE 1:29
And if there is any glory, any praise resulting from the work which we achieve, let us be careful to lay it all at the Redeemer’s feet.
1:3-5 “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.” Three graces should be always evident in Christians—faith, love, and hope. They are each mentioned by Paul in the opening verses of this epistle. These lovely graces should be so obvious in every believer as to be spoken of and heard of even by those who have never seen us. These flowers should yield so sweet a perfume that their fragrance may be perceived by those who have never gazed on them. So it was with the saints at Colossae.
1:18 “He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.” As if to show us that this title of “head of the body” is to be held in highest esteem, it is here placed in connection with the loftiest honors of our Lord Jesus. In the same breath the Son of God is styled “the image of the invisible God,” “the firstborn over all creation,” and then, “the head of the body, the church.” We dare not, therefore, think lightly of this title, nor do we hesitate to assert that any levity with regard to it would be as disgraceful as the profane use of any other name of our divine Lord.
1:29 “I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.” Paul remembered where to put the crown; he took care not to steal an atom of the glory for himself. He ascribed all to the power of him who loved him and gave himself for him. Let us imitate the apostle in these two things. My brothers and sisters, let us live, while we live, a life of energy; but let us at the same time confess when we have done all that we are unprofitable servants. And if there is any glory, any praise resulting from the work which we achieve, let us be careful to lay it all at the Redeemer’s feet.
A 1:2 Other mss add and the Lord Jesus Christ
B 1:6 Or and truly recognized God’s grace
D 1:9 Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding
2For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery — Christ. A 3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.
6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.
8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily B in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him. A
16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. B 17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is C Christ. 18 Let no one condemn D you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual E mind. 19 He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.
20 If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. 23 Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence. F
2:6 “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him.” Whatever else you have done or have not done, you have received Christ. The act of faith was the putting out of your empty hands to receive all the fullness of the Godhead in receiving Christ. There are some precious experiences to which you have not yet attained, some lofty heights to which you have not yet climbed, but you “have received Christ Jesus as Lord.” That is the distinguishing mark of all true Christians. Though you may not all belong to the same denomination, yet without a single exception this is true concerning you. Whether you are old or young, whether you are well instructed or ill taught, whether you are full of faith or are troubled with many doubts and fears, you “have received Christ Jesus as Lord.”
2:15 “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” To the eyes of reason, the cross is the center of sorrow and the lowest depth of shame as Jesus dies an evildoer’s death. How different, however, is the view that presents itself to the eyes of faith. Faith knows no shame in the cross. It sees no ground for scorn; but it hurls indignant scorn at sin, the enemy that pierced the Lord. Faith regards the cross not as the emblem of shame but as the token of glory. It tells us that the cross was Jesus Christ’s field of triumph. There he fought and there he conquered, too.
A 2:2 Other mss read mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ ; other ms variations exist on this v.
B 2:9 Or nature lives in a human body
3So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your G life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, H 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. 8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your I Creator. 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, A singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they won’t become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.
3:1-2 “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” The resurrection of our divine Lord from the dead is the cornerstone of Christian doctrine. Perhaps I might more accurately call it the keystone of the arch of Christianity, for if that fact could be disproved, the whole fabric of the gospel would fall to the ground. If Jesus Christ is not risen, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is also in vain—you are yet in your sins. If Christ is not risen, then they who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished; and we, ourselves, in missing so glorious a hope as that of resurrection, are of all men the most miserable! Because of the great importance of his resurrection, our Lord was pleased to give many infallible proofs of it, by appearing again and again in the midst of his followers.
3:13 “Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.” What a model is set before us. How perfect is that spirit of love that we are to manifest! Even as Christ forgave us, we are bidden to forgive others. What nobler pattern could have been chosen? Your Lord himself stands before you. You remember how he forgave you all your trespasses. And I am sure you will give earnest heed to his exhortation to forgive. May the dovelike Spirit now brood over this assembly and create love in all our hearts.
3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Remember that Christ himself is the Word of God, and also remember that the Scriptures are the word of the Word. They are “the word of Christ.” I think they will be all the sweeter to us if we realize they speak to us of Christ, that he is the sum and substance of them, that they direct us to Christ. Remember, also, that the Scriptures do, in effect, come to us from Christ. Every promise of this blessed book is a promise of Christ, “For every one of God’s promises is ‘Yes’ in him. Therefore, through him we also say ‘Amen’ to the glory of God” (2Co 1:20). They all come to us through Christ; God speaks them to us through him as the mediator. Indeed, we may regard the whole of the sacred Scriptures, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, as being “the word of Christ.”
4Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, 4 so that I may make it known as I should. 5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
QUOTE 4:2
It is not possible that God should refuse to hear prayer; it is possible for him to bid the sun stand still and the moon to stay her monthly march. It is possible for him to bid the waves freeze in the sea—possible for him to quench the light of the stars in eternal darkness. But it is not possible for him to refuse to hear prayer that is based on his promise and offered in faith.
QUOTE 4:2
God is as pleased to give us his blessing as ever we are to receive it. It is as much to his honor as it is to our comfort. He takes more pleasure in our prayers than we do in his answers.
7 Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are A and so that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured B in everything God wills. 13 For I testify about him that he works hard C for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas send you greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home. 16 After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”
18 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. D
4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” Why should the church continue in prayer? For several reasons, and the first is, God will answer her. It is not possible that God should refuse to hear prayer; it is possible for him to bid the sun stand still and the moon to stay her monthly march. It is possible for him to bid the waves freeze in the sea—possible for him to quench the light of the stars in eternal darkness. But it is not possible for him to refuse to hear prayer that is based on his promise and offered in faith. He can reverse nature, but he cannot reverse his own nature, and he must do this before he can forbear to hear and answer prayer.
Prayer should be mingled with praise. God is as pleased to give us his blessing as ever we are to receive it. It is as much to his honor as it is to our comfort. He takes more pleasure in our prayers than we do in his answers. Therefore, we ought to come boldly. We ought to come with thankfulness in our hearts and on our lips and join the hymn of praise with the cry of prayer.