Colossians 01

Salutation

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

The author was Paul. He identified himself as an apostle, which meant that he was sent by God. He was sent by the will of God. At the time of this authorship, Timothy was with Paul. Timothy had a Gentile father, but a Jewish mother. His mother taught him the Old Testament Scriptures from childhood. Paul picked up Timothy during his second missionary journey. He spent a lot of time discipling him. Later, he would write two of his epistles to him, in order to prepare him to be pastor of a church.

1:2 to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!

Paul was writing to the believers in Colossae.  Colossae was about 100 miles east of Ephesus, close to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Colossae was a large city during the reign of Xerxes  (the King of Persia in the fifth century), because it was situated on a major trade route. However, by the time of Paul, the trade route had been re-routed, so the city was beginning to decline.

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Church

1:3 We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

There was no mention of Paul founding the Colossian church. One of Paul's converts may have founded the church, making Paul the grandfather of the church. Paul had a large prayer list which included the Colossians.

1:4 since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.

The Colossians were a model church.  Paul had heard about how they had come to faith, perhaps through one of his converts. He heard about the love that they had for the other saints.

1:5 Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel

The Greek word for "hope" is ἐλπίς (elpis), meaning an expectation of what is sure to come. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The Colossians heard the gospel, believed it, showed love to fellow believers, and they had an attitude of certainty of what was sure to come.

1:6 that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

The Greek words for "in the entire world" are ἐν παντὶ τῷ κόσμῳ (en panti to kosmo), meaning in each and every part of the Roman Empire. The church started with the seed of Christ, but by this time, it had grown into a gigantic tree that was growing and producing fruit all over the Roman Empire.

1:7 You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave – a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf –

The Greek word for "slave" is σύνδουλος (sundoulas), meaning a fellow bond-servant of the same Master. A bond servant was a servant who was set free by his master, but because he loved his master so much, he decided to stay and serve him forever. Both Paul and Epaphras were bond-slaves of their Master and Lord,  Jesus Christ. Apparently, Epaphras was a convert of Paul, a minister of Christ, and possibly the founder of the Colossae Church.

1:8 who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

The Greek word for "love" is ἀγάπη (agape), meaning divine love. Only a believer in Christ can possess divine love. Paul made it clear to the Colossians that the only reason they possessed divine love was because they were "in the Spirit". 

Paul’s Prayer for the Growth of the Church

1:9 For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

The Greek word for "knowledge" is ἐπίγνωσις (epignosis), meaning first-hand experiential knowledge, or super knowledge.  

There was a heretical group in Colossae called the Gnostics. They were an offshoot of the Essenes, the Jewish group that left the cities of Rome and moved to the Qumram caves of the deserts to study the Scriptures. The Dead Sea Scrolls were written by these groups. The Essenes boasted that they had super-knowledge, or a monopoly, on spiritual matters. They taught that they had special insight into the Scriptures which others did not have. They were very similar to the charismatics, who claim that they receive divine information which is outside of the Bible.

The gnostics taught that God did not create the universe directly, but that He created an angel who created all things. This is very similar to the false teachings of the modern Jehovah Witnesses. Paul wrote this letter to dispute gnostic teaching. This is a good book to disprove the modern false teachings of the Jehovah Witnesses. Paul was praying that the Colossians would receive super-knowledge not from the Gnostics, but from the Word of God. 

Cults, isms, and charismatics claim that they receive outside divine revelation other than that which is found in the written Word of God. This is a dangerous avenue to travel, because Satan mixes truth with error. He will place just enough Bible doctrine in his false messengers, that those who are not grounded in the entire counsel of the Word of God will be deceived. This satanic deception will be so subtle, that these biblically ignorant people will think that they are actually agents of God. However, they are really agents of Satan. They are spreading his false gospel, but thinking that they are working for God.

1:10 so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, 

The second petition of Paul's prayer was that the Colossians would live a life that glorified God. He prayed that they would grow in the knowledge of God and bear more fruit.

1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully

Paul prayed that the Colossians would be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

Paul was thankful that God the Father had given the Colossians the light to see and understand the gospel.

1:13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Paul was thankful that the Colossians had been delivered from Satan's kingdom and transferred into the Kingdom of God.

1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Greek word for "redemption" is ἀπολύτρωσις (apolutrosis), meaning to buy back what one has lost. For example, if the Jews owned land, then lost it because of debt, then a near relative (a kinsman redeemer) could repurchase the land and give it back to them.

Another example is a Jewish property owner owing a debt that he cannot pay. He loses his land and sells himself into slavery for seven years. However, a near relative (the kinsman redeemer) purchases him out of slavery. The Colossians were enslaved by Satan, but redeemed by their kinsman-redeemer, which is Christ. 

1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,

The Greek word for "image" is εἰκών (icon), meaning a mirror-like representation, or a perfect copy. The Lord Jesus Christ is the exact mirror-image representation of God the Father. He is a perfect copy of God the Father. In other words, Jesus and the Father are both God, the first and second members of the Trinity.

The Greek word for "invisible" is ἀόρατος (aopratos), meaning invisible to the physical eyes, but not to the spiritual eyes. 

The Greek word for "firstborn" is πρωτότοκος (prototokos), meaning first, pre-eminent, a proto-type, with more to follow. The Jehovah Witnesses falsely teach that Jesus was born, or created as an angel. The Greek states that the Lord Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected and many will follow.

1:16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.

The Greek word for "all things" is τὰ πάντα (ta panta), meaning each and every part of creation, or piece by piece. In Genesis 1:1, God created all things. In this verse, Jesus created all things. Therefore, Jesus is God.

The Jehovah Witnesses mistranslate this verse as "all (other) things." The Greek word for "other" is either ἄλλως,  (allos)  meaning another of the same kind, or ἕτερος (heaters), meaning another of a different kind. Neither of these Greek words were used, so the additional "other" (added by the New Worlds Translation of the Jehovah Witnesses) is an addition to Scripture. The Jehovah Witnesses are adding to Scripture so that they can falsely teach that Jesus was a created angel who created all "other" things that Jehovah did not create.

Notice that Jesus created everything. He created everything that is visible, such as the sun, moon, earth, and stars. He created all things which are invisible, including angels, demons, and even Satan himself. Satan is a created fallen angel, but through the Jehovah Witnesses, Satan blasphemes the Lord Jesus by calling Him a created angel. Satan is making himself to be equal with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus created all of the thrones and dominions on earth as well as in the spiritual world. There are three dominions of power in the angelic world--the common angels, the seraphim, and the cherubim. Satan and his demonic army are also ranked in military command chains.

Jesus created all things piece by piece. Evolution is blasphemy to God, because it claims that nothing, or some other spiritual being besides Jesus, created all things. Agnosticism is an insult to God, because agnostics claim that God did not give them enough revelation to know God. The New World Translation Bible of the Jehovah Witnesses is blasphemy, because it adds to the Scriptures and falsely teaches that Jesus is a created angel.

Notice that all things were also created "for Him". During the Millennial Kingdom, believers will co-reign with Christ. Therefore, Christ will share everything that was created for Him to all of those who will reign with Him. The believers will be the governmental officials of the Millennial Kingdom.

1:17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

Jesus is God who has existed for eternity. He was before all created things, because He was the Creator of all things. 

The Greek word for "held together" is συνίστημι (sunistaymi), meaning to stand together in unity in support of each other. The verb is in the perfect active tense, meaning that Jesus created all things in the past as a one-time complete action, and he will hold all things together for eternity. The mood is indicative, meaning that it is a 100% statement of fact. 

No unbelieving modern scientist can explain what keeps the atom together. However, the answer is found in this verse. Jesus Christ is holding all of the atoms together in unison.

Dr. Henry Morris, the founder and President of the Institute of Creation research, wrote:

The Greek word translated “consist” is sunistano, from which we get “sustain.” The things created by Christ are now being sustained, or conserved, or held together, by Him. He is “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). The most basic of all scientific principles is implied in these two verses (Colossians 1:16-17), that is, the principle of conservation of mass/energy, or “all things.” According to this principle, nothing is now being either created or annihilated—only conserved, as far as quantity is concerned. One state of matter can be changed to another (e.g., liquid to solid); one type of energy can be converted to another (e.g., electrical energy to light energy); and under some conditions, matter and energy can be interchanged (e.g., nuclear fission); but the total quantity of mass/energy is always conserved. This law—also called the First Law of Thermodynamics—is the best-proved law of science, but science cannot tell us why it is true. The reason nothing is now being created is because Christ created all things in the past. The reason why nothing is now being annihilated is because all things are now being sustained by Him. If it were not so, the “binding energy” of the atom, which holds its structure together, would collapse, and the whole universe would disintegrate into chaos.

1:18 He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

The four prison epistles gave a complete picture of Christ and His church. Colossians taught that the Lord Jesus is the head of the church. Ephesians taught that the church is the body of Christ. Philippians taught how the body is to walk in this satanic world system. Philemon taught that the church is to work as a servant or minister for the Master in the modern satanic world system.

The Greek word for "firstborn" is πρωτότοκος (prototokos), meaning the preeminent one, the first of a type, or the prototype. Jesus is the only person in history who has been raised from the dead with a glorified body. There will be many more who will follow this prototype.

Even though man is depraved, evil, and in rebellion against God, the Lord Jesus will get His way and He will be first in all things.

1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son

The Greek word for "fullness" is πλήρωμα (plaroma), meaning the sum total or all of the fullness. The fullness of deity was found inside the man Jesus Christ. He was 100% God and 100% human.

1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

The Greek word for "reconcile" is ἀποκαταλλάσσω (apokatalassow), meaning to change from one feeling to another. Man was at a rebellious situation with God, but through the Lord Jesus Christ, he changed this relationship.

The Greek word for "peace" is εἰρηνοποιέω (eirainonoieow), which comes from the Hebrew word "shalom" meaning to make peace with God. This participle is aorist active, meaning that God Himself made peace with man as a one-time completed action of the past. This one-time completed action of the past was the atonement of Christ on the cross.

Notice that the peace was made with everything "on the earth" which is human, plant, and animal life, which had all fallen under the curse. Peace was made with everything "under heaven", which would be the sun, moon, stars, and earth, which was also under the curse. God did not make peace with everything "under the earth, which is the location of those who died in eternal rebellion against God, including fallen angels, who are imprisoned in Tartarus.

Paul’s Goal in Ministry

1:21 And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds,

At one time before their conversion, the Colossians were strangers and enemies to God. As strangers, they did not know God. As enemies, they did not want to know God.  According to Romans 3:10-11. they did not understand God, nor did they seek Him. In fact, they hated God and wanted nothing to do with Him. If God left them alone, they would have been happy to live their lives without God. If given a choice, they would rather burn in the Lake of Fire forever than to live with God in eternity. Before God opened their hearts, their minds expressed anger towards God. They were continually doing evil deeds. 

Often, atheists will boast about the good work that they do for the poor, the hospitals, or society in general. These types of works are not to glorify Christ. They are used to glorify Satan and the satanic world system. Their donations of food may aide Communist nations in silencing the Word of God in their own nation. They may aide and feed unbelievers who use their time and energy to attack Christ and the Bible. According to Isaiah 65, these kinds of works are dirty menstrual rags to God.

The Church is to take care of its own. It is unbiblical for a church to go to a Catholic village in Mexico and feed the poor, repair their houses, give them dental care, and other social gospel activities. They are feeding those who are teaching the false doctrine of Catholicism. It is better for them to fail in their own system, than to feed them so that they can combat against the Christian church. 

1:22 but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him –

In the Old Testament, sacrificial lambs were offered for the sins of Israel every morning, evening, week, month, and once of year. The lamb must be offered "without blemish". It could have no imperfections on its body. The Jews had to offer their very best lambs to God, not the sick and unhealthy ones (which they did later). Every one of the lambs pointed to Christ as being "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." The unblemished lambs temporarily covered the sins of the Jews. The unblemished Christ removed the sin forever as a one-time completed action. For this reason, Hebrews teaches that the blood of Christ was superior to the blood of all of the unblemished lambs.

Just as the lamb was unblemished, and just as Jesus was unblemished, not all believers in Christ are identified with this same unblemished status. God identifies and sees all believers in the image of Christ, who was the prototype of the future completed sanctified child of God. This is a good example of being "in Christ". When we are in Christ, God does not see the sins of the believer. Instead, He sees the righteousness of Christ.

1:23 if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

The "if" is a first class conditional sentence, meaning that it is a 100% condition. The "if" should be translated as "since," such as "since you remain in the faith", then you will be 100% established and 100% firm, and you will 100% not shift from the assurance of the gospel that the Colossians heard. This one little Greek word confirms the doctrine of eternal security. 

The greatest honor in this world is to preach the gospel to all of creation. Paul was a servant to this cause. All believers are called to preach this gospel. There can be no greater honor.

1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body – for the sake of his body, the church – what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ told Ananias, "Go your way: for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15–16). Paul wrote this letter from prison. Paul had not only been imprisoned, but he had been beaten, shipwrecked, and even stoned to death for sharing the gospel. Paul rejoiced in these sufferings, which is the very opposite reaction of the satanic world system.

1:25 I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God – given to me for you – in order to complete the word of God,

The Greek word for "stewardship" is οἰκονομία (oikonmia), meaning a special dispensation of time. God appointed Paul as a servant to the church during this special dispensation of time. 

1:26 that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

The existence of the church had been hidden in the Old Testament, but now it had been revealed in Paul's current dispensation. The mystery was not that Gentiles would be saved, because that was revealed in the Old Testament. The mystery was that God would combine Jews and Gentiles into one body, called the church. 

1:27 God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

God calls the believer to salvation, and when the believer believes, then he is baptized into the body of Christ.

1:28 We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.

The gospel is not what believers teach, but whom they preach. The gospel is proclaiming Jesus, and then instructing and teaching them the wisdoms found in Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God. This type of instruction matures the believer.

1:29 Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.

The Greek word for "struggling" is ἀγωνίζομαι (agonizomai), meaning to agonize intensely in an athletic contest. The goal of Paul was to share the gospel with unbelievers and then teach them complete Bible doctrine so that they could mature in Christ. He could only do this through the power of the Holy Spirit working in him. This should be the goal of every church.