The Letter of Paul to:
THE COLOSSIANS
AD 61- The last letter of Paul from Paul???? It is believed to be. The GENUINENESS of this Epistle is attested by JUSTIN MARTYR [Dialogue with Trypho, p. 311, B.], who quotes "the first-born of every creature," in reference to Christ, from Colossians 1:15 THEOPHILUS OF ANTIOCH [To Autolychus, 2, p. 100]. IRENÆUS [Against Heresies, 3.14.1], quotes expressly from this "Epistle to the Colossians"
Colossians 1:
1 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, chosen by God, and also from our brother, Timothy
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ.
No Trinity here
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, making prayer for you at all times,
4 After we have heard that you trust in Christ Jesus and that you love all of His people.
5 You do this because you are looking forward to the joys of heaven -- as you have been ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
6 It has come to you; and which in all the world is giving fruit and increase, as it has done in you from the day when it came to your ears and you had true knowledge of the grace of God;
7 As it was given to you by Epaphras, our dear servant, who is a true slave of Christ for us,
8 And who, himself, made clear to us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason, we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual understanding;
10 Living uprightly in the approval of the LORD, giving fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Full of strength in the measure of the great power of his glory, so that you may undergo all troubles with joy;
12 Giving praise to the Father who has given us a part in the heritage of the saints in light;
13 Who has made us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of his love;
14 Nn whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
CHRIST IS IN HUMAN FORM, the exact image of Him and the Father in Heaven! Also, Christ is the first BORN AGAIN- or Resurrected from the dead!!!!
16 For by Him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, authorities, lords, rulers, and powers; all things were made by him and for him;
This agrees with Genesis 1 and John 1! Christ created all things!
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together.
( John 8:58 .) Translate as Greek, "And He Himself (the great HE) is (implying divine essential being) before all things," in time, as well as in dignity. Since He is before all things, He is before even time, that is, from eternity. Compare "the first-born of every creature" ( Colossians 1:15 ).
by him--Greek, "IN Him" (as the conditional element of existence, Colossians 1:16 ) [ALFORD].
consist--"subsist." Not only are called into being from nothing, but are maintained in their present state. The Son of God is the Conserver, as well as the Creator of all things [PEARSON]. BENGEL less probably explains, "All things in Him come together into one system: the universe found its completion in Him" ( Isaiah 41:4 , Revelation 22:13 ). Compare as to GOD, Romans 11:36 : similar language; therefore Christ must be God. (Jamieson)
by him--Greek, "IN Him" (as the conditional element of existence, Colossians 1:16 ) [ALFORD].
consist--"subsist." Not only are called into being from nothing, but are maintained in their present state. The Son of God is the Conserver, as well as the Creator of all things [PEARSON]. BENGEL less probably explains, "All things in Him come together into one system: the universe found its completion in Him" ( Isaiah 41:4 , Revelation 22:13 ). Compare as to GOD, Romans 11:36 : similar language; therefore Christ must be God. (Jamieson)
18 And He is is the head of the church, which is His body. He was the first of all who will rise from the dead {at His second coming}, so He is first in everything.
namely, of the new creation, as of the old ( Proverbs 8:22 , John 1:1 ; compare Revelation 1:8 ): the beginning of the Church of the first-born ( Hebrews 12:23 ), as being Himself the "first-born from the dead" ( Acts 26:23 , 1 Corinthians 15:20 1 Corinthians 15:23 ). Christ's primogeniture is threefold: (1) From eternity the "first-begotten" of the Father ( Colossians 1:15 ); (2) As the first-born of His mother ( Matthew 1:25 ); (3) As the Head of the Church, mystically begotten of the Father, as it were to a new life, on the day of His resurrection, which is His "regeneration," even as His people's coming resurrection will be their "regeneration" (that is, the resurrection which was begun in the soul, extended to the body and to the whole creation, Romans 8:21 Romans 8:22 ) ( Matthew 19:28 , Acts 13:33 , Revelation 1:5 ). Sonship and resurrection are similarly connected ( Luke 20:36 , Romans 1:4 , 8:23 , 1 John 3:2 ). Christ by rising from the dead is the efficient cause ( 1 Corinthians 15:22 ), as having obtained the power, and the exemplary cause, as being the pattern ( Micah 2:13 , Romans 6:5 , Philippians 3:21 ), of our resurrection: the resurrection of "the Head" involves consequentially that of the members. (Jamieson)
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Him,
20 and 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.
Good angels, in one sense, do not need reconciliation to God; fallen angels are excluded from it ( Jude 1:6 ). But probably redemption has effects on the world of spirits unknown to us. Of course, His reconciling us, and His reconciling them, must be by a different process, as He took not on Him the nature of angels, so as to offer a propitiation for them. But the effect of redemption on them, as He is their Head as well as ours, is that they are thereby brought nearer God, and so gain an increase of blessedness [ALFORD], and larger views of the love and wisdom of God ( Ephesians 3:10 ). All creation subsists in Christ, all creation is therefore affected by His propitiation: sinful creation is strictly "reconciled" from its enmity; sinless creation, comparatively distant from His unapproachable purity ( Job 4:18 , 15:15 , 25:5 ), is lifted into nearer participation of Him, and in this wider sense is reconciled. Doubtless, too, man's fall, following on Satan's fall, is a segment of a larger circle of evil, so that the remedy of the former affects the standing of angels, from among whom Satan and his host fell. Angels thereby having seen the magnitude of sin, and the infinite cost of redemption, and the exclusion of the fallen angels from it, and the inability of any creature to stand morally in his own strength, are now put beyond the reach of falling. Some conjecture that Satan, when unfallen, ruled this earth and the pre-Adamic animal kingdom: hence his malice against man who succeeded to the lordship of this earth and its animals, and hence, too, his assumption of the form of a serpent, the subtlest of the animal tribes. Luke 19:38 states expressly "peace in heaven" as the result of finished redemption, as "peace on earth" was the result of its beginning at Jesus' birth ( Luke 2:14 ). BENGEL explains the reconciliation to be that of not only God, but also angels, estranged from men because of man's enmity against God. Ephesians 1:10 accords with this: This is true, but only part of the truth: so ALFORD'S view also is but part of the truth. An actual reconciliation or restoration of peace in heaven, as well as on earth, is expressed by Paul. As long as that blood of reconciliation was not actually shed, which is opposed ( Zechariah 3:8 Zechariah 3:9 ) to the accusations of Satan, but was only in promise, Satan could plead his right against men before God day and night ( Job 1:6 , Revelation 12:10 ); hence he was in heaven till the ban on man was broken (compare Luke 10:18 ). So here; the world of earth and heaven owe to Christ alone the restoration of harmony after the conflict and the subjugation of all things under one Head (compare Hebrews 11:23 ). Sin introduced discord not only on earth, but also in heaven, by the fall of demons; it brought into the abodes of holy angels, though not positive, yet privative loss, a retardation of their highest and most perfect development, harmonious gradation, and perfect consummation. Angels were no more able than men by themselves to overcome the peace disturbers, and cast out the devils; it is only "by," or "through HIM," and "the blood of HIs cross," that peace was restored even in heaven; it is only after Christ has obtained the victory fully and legally, that Michael ( Revelation 12:7-10 ) and his angels can cast out of heaven Satan and his demons (compare Colossians 2:15 ). Thus the point of Paul's argument against angel-worship is, that angels themselves, like men, wholly depend on Christ, the sole and true object of worship [AUBERLEN].
21 This includes you who were once in darkness. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions,
22 yet now He has brought you back as His friends. He has done this through His death on the cross in His own human body. As a result, He has brought you into the very presence {of God}, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to live in faith and stand in it firmly. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it.
24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am completing what remains of Christ's sufferings for his body, the church.
25 God has given me the responsibility of serving His church by proclaiming His message in all its fullness to you Gentiles.
26 This message was kept a mystery for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to His own holy people.
27 For it has pleased God to tell His people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in His glory.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 I work very hard at this, as I depend on His mighty power that works within me.
Colossians 2:
1 For I want you to know much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for all who have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 So that their hearts may be comforted, and that being joined together in love, they may come to the full wealth of the certain knowledge of the mystery of God, and Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I say this so that you may not be deceived with persuasive arguments.
5 For though I am not present in the flesh, still I am with you in the spirit, seeing with joy your order, and your unchanging faith in Christ.
6 As, then, you have received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk with Him,
7 Rooted and based together in Him, strong in the faith which the teaching gave you, giving praise to God at all times.
8 Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.
9 For in Him all the fullness of the Godhead- lived in a human body,
10 And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all rule and authority:
11 In whom you had a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
12 Having been put to death with him in baptism, by which you came to life again with him, through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Baptism is regarded as the burial of the old carnal life, to which the act of immersion symbolically corresponds; and in warm climates where immersion is safe, it is the mode most accordant with the significance of the ordinance; but the spirit of the ordinance is kept by affusion, where immersion would be inconvenient or dangerous; to insist on literal immersion in all cases would be mere legal ceremonialism ( Romans 6:3 Romans 6:4 ). (Jamieson)
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14 Having canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to the cross.
15 In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross of Christ.
16 For this reason let no man be your judge in any question of food or drink or feast days or new moons or Sabbaths:
the sabbath--Omit "THE," which is not in the Greek (compare Note, SABBATHS" (not "the sabbaths") of the day of atonement and feast of tabernacles have come to an end with the Jewish services to which they belonged ( Leviticus 23:32 Leviticus 23:37-39 ). The weekly sabbath rests on a more permanent foundation, having been instituted in Paradise to commemorate the completion of creation in six days. Leviticus 23:38 expressly distinguished "the sabbath of the LORD" from the other sabbaths. A positive precept is right because it is commanded, and ceases to be obligatory when abrogated; a moral precept is commanded eternally, because it is eternally right. If we could keep a perpetual sabbath, as we shall hereafter, the positive precept of the sabbath, one in each week, would not be needed. Hebrews 4:9 , "rests," Greek, "keeping of sabbath" ( Isaiah 66:23 ). But we cannot, since even Adam, in innocence, needed one amidst his earthly employments; therefore the sabbath is still needed and is therefore still linked with the other nine commandments, as obligatory in the spirit, though the letter of the law has been superseded by that higher spirit of love which is the essence of law and Gospel alike ( Romans 13:8-10 ). (Jamieson)
17 For these are a shadow of the things which are to come; in Christ.
18 Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind,
19 And not joined to the Head, from whom all the body, being given strength and kept together through its joins and bands, has its growth with the increase of God.
20 You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following laws of this world, such as,
21 Which say there may be no touching, tasting, or taking in your hands,
22 (Rules which are all to come to an end with their use) after the orders and teaching of men?
23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires.
Colossians 3:
1 If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2 Keep your mind on the higher things, not on the things of earth.
3 For your life on earth is done, and you have a secret life with Christ in God.
Compare Matthew 13:31 Matthew 13:33 , "like . . . leaven . . . hid." As the glory of Christ now is hid from the world, so also the glory of believers' inner life, proceeding from communion with Him, is still hidden with Christ in God; but ( Colossians 3:4 ) when Christ, the Source of this life, shall manifest Himself in glory, then shall their hidden glory be manifest, and correspond in appearance to its original [NEANDER].
4 At the {second} coming of Christ who is our life, you will be seen with Him in glory.
Those err who think to find a perfect Church before then. The true Church is now militant. Rome errs in trying to set up a Church now regnant and triumphant. The true Church shall be visible as a perfect and reigning Church, when Christ shall be visibly manifested as her reigning Head. Rome having ceased to look for Him in patient faith, has set up a visible mockhead, a false anticipation of the millennial kingdom. The Papacy took to itself by robbery that glory which is an object of hope, and can only be reached by bearing the cross now. When the Church became a harlot, she ceased to be a bride who goes to meet her Bridegroom. Hence the millennial kingdom ceased to be looked for [AUBERLEN].
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.
Greek, "make a corpse of"; "make dead"; "put to death." consequence the fact of your having once for all died with Christ spiritually at your regeneration, by daily "deadening your members," of which united "the body of the sins of the flesh" consists (compare Colossians 2:11 ). "The members" to be mortified are the fleshly instruments of lust, in so far as the members of the body are abused to such purposes. Habitually repress and do violence to corrupt desires of which the members are the instruments (compare Romans 6:19 , 8:13 , Galatians 5:24 Galatians 5:25 ). upon the earth--where they find their support [BENGEL] (Compare Colossians 3:2 , "things on earth"). See Ephesians 5:3 Ephesians 5:4 .
6 Because of which the wrath of God comes on those who go against His orders;
7 Among whom you were living in the past, when you did such things.
8 But now it is right for you to put away all these things; wrath, passion, bad feeling, curses, unclean talk;
9 Do not make false statements to one another; because you have put away the old man with all his doings,
10 And have put on the new man, which has become new in knowledge after the image of his Maker;
11 Where there is no gentile or Jew, no one with circumcision or without circumcision, no division between nations, no servant or free man: but Christ is all and in all.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Being gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the LORD had forgiveness for you:
14 And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ be in you in all wealth of wisdom; teaching and helping one another with songs of praise and holy words, making melody to God with grace in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do, in word or in act, do all in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving praise to God the Father through Him.
HUSBANDS and WIVES and CHILDREN:
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting to those who belong to the LORD.
19 Husbands, love for your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, you must always obey your parents, for this is what pleases the LORD.
21 Fathers, do not be hard on your children, so that their spirit may not be broken and become discouraged.
22 You slaves must obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fearing God.
23 Whatever you do, do it cheerfully, as though you were working for the the LORD and not for men;
24 Being certain that the LORD will give you the reward of the heritage: for you are the servants of the LORD Christ.
25 For he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, without respect for any man's position.
Colossians 4:
1 Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven.
1 Masters, give your servants what is right and equal, conscious that you have a Master in heaven.
equal--that is, as the slaves owe their duties to you, so you equally owe to them your duties as masters. Compare "ye masters do the same things" ALFORD translates, "fairness," "equity," which gives a large and liberal interpretation of justice in common matters ( Philemon 1:16 ).
knowing--( Colossians 3:24 ).
knowing--( Colossians 3:24 ).
with thanksgiving--for everything, whether joyful, or sorrowful, mercies temporal and spiritual, national, family, and individual ( 1 Corinthians 14:17 , Philippians 4:6 , 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ).
3 And making prayer for us, that God may give us an open door for the preaching of the word, the mystery of Christ, for which I am now in chains;
ALFORD thinks that Paul asks their prayers for his release as if it were the "only" way by which he could "make it (the Gospel) manifest" as he ought. But while this is included in their subject of prayer, Philippians 1:12 Philippians 1:13 , written somewhat later in his imprisonment, clearly shows that "a door for the word" could be opened, and was opened, for its manifestation, even while he remained imprisoned (compare 2 Timothy 2:9 ).
6 Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.
7 Tychicus, a much loved brother, will tell you how I am getting along. He is a faithful helper who serves the LORD with me.
9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and much loved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will give you all the latest news.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas's cousin. And as you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way.
Aristarchus--a Macedonian of Thessalonica ( Acts 27:2 ), who was dragged into the theater at Ephesus, during the tumult with Gaius, they being "Paul's companions in travel." He accompanied Paul to Asia ( Acts 20:4 ), and subsequently ( Acts 27:2 ) to Rome. He was now at Rome with Paul (compare philemon 1:23 philemon 1:24 ). As he is here spoken of as Paul's "fellow prisoner," but in Philemon 1:24 as Paul's "fellow laborer"; and vice versa, Epaphras in Philemon 1:23 , as his "fellow prisoner," but here ( Colossians 1:7 ) "fellow servant," MEYER in ALFORD, conjectures that Paul's friends voluntarily shared his imprisonment by turns, Aristarchus being his fellow prisoner when he wrote to the Colossians, Epaphras when he wrote to Philemon. The Greek for "fellow prisoner" is literally, fellow captive, an image from prisoners taken in warfare, Christians being "fellow soldiers" ( Philippians 2:25 , 1:2 ), whose warfare is "the good fight of faith." Mark--John Mark ( Acts 12:12 Acts 12:25 ); the Evangelist according to tradition. sister's son--rather, "cousin," or "kinsman to Barnabas"; the latter being the better known is introduced to designate Mark. The relationship naturally accounts for Barnabas' selection of Mark as his companion when otherwise qualified; and also for Mark's mother's house at Jerusalem being the place of resort of Christians there ( Acts 12:12 ). The family belonged to Cyprus ( Acts 4:36 ); this accounts for Barnabas' choice of Cyprus as the first station on their journey ( Acts 13:4 ), and for Mark's accompanying them readily so far, it being the country of his family; and for Paul's rejecting him at the second journey for not having gone further than Perga, in Pamphylia, but having gone thence home to his mother at Jerusalem ( Matthew 10:37 ) on the first journey ( Acts 13:13 ). touching whom--namely, Mark. (Jamieson)
11 And Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish Christians among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his love, ever taking thought for you in his prayers, that you may be complete and fully certain of all the purpose of God.
13 For I give witness of him that he has undergone much trouble for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
16 And when this letter has been made public among you, let the same be done in the church of Laodicea; and see that you have the letter from Laodicea.
18 I, Paul, give you this word of love in my handwriting. Keep in memory that I am a prisoner. Grace be with you.
{signed by Paul}
