Colossians 1

Comments Colossians 1
Colossians 1 is structured around three main sections that establish the supremacy of Christ and the nature of the apostolic ministry.
Introduction and Thanksgiving (Verses 1–14)
Paul begins with a salutation to the saints in Colossae, followed by thanksgiving for their faith, love, and hope.
He offers a prayer for them to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, walk worthy of the Lord, and be strengthened by His power.
This section highlights their deliverance from the dominion of darkness and translation^[1] into the kingdom of God’s Son.
The Preeminence of Christ (Verses 15–23)
This central section proclaims Christ’s supremacy in creation, describing Him as the image of the invisible God and the agent through whom all things were made. It further details His preeminence in redemption as the head of the church and the one who reconciles all things to Himself through the blood of the cross.
Paul uses the Colossians' own reconciliation from alienation to a state of holiness as a practical example.
Paul’s Ministry and the Mystery Revealed (Verses 24–29)
The chapter concludes with Paul’s joy in suffering for the church, viewing his hardships as completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
He describes his stewardship of the mystery once hidden but now revealed: Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Paul’s goal is to present every person mature in Christ through diligent teaching and labor, relying on God’s power.




Questions

Colossians 1

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

2 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.

Thanks for your faith

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

4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

6 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:

7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

desire wisdom

9 ¶ 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;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power^[2] , unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12 ¶ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power^[3] of darkness^[4] , and hath translated^[1] us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Preeminence of Christ

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created^[5], that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers^[6]ἐξουσία : all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 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.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 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.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 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; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

the Mystery Revealed (Verses 24–29)

24 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:

25 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;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 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:

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

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↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 3179 ‭μεθιστημὶ methistemi meth-is’-tay-mee; or (#1 Corinthians 13:2) μεθιστανω methistano meth-is-tan’-o or Colossians 1:13; from 3326 and 2476; v; AV-remove 2, put out 1, turn away 1, translate 1; 5
1) to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another
1a) of change of situation or place

1b) to remove from the office of a steward

1c) to depart from life, to die
↑ 2904 ~κράτος~ kratos \@krat’-os\@ perhaps a primary word; TDNT-3:905,466; {See TDNT 410} n n AV-power 6, dominion 4, strength 1, mighty + 2596 1; 12
1) force, strength

2) power, might: mighty with great power
2a) a mighty deed, a work of power

3) dominion

For Synonyms see entry 5820
↑ 1849 ~ἐξουσία~ exousia \@ex-oo-see’-ah\@ from 1832 (in the sense of ability); n f AV-power 69, authority 29, right 2, liberty 1, jurisdiction 1, strength 1; 103 See Romans 13
1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
1a) leave or permission

2) physical and mental power
2a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises

3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)

4) the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
4a) universally
4a1) authority over mankind

4b) specifically
4b1) the power of judicial decisions

4b2) of authority to manage domestic affairs

4c) metonymically
4c1) a thing subject to authority or rule
4c1a) jurisdiction

4c2) one who possesses authority

4c2a) a ruler, a human magistrate

4c2b) the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates

4d) a sign of the husband’s authority over his wife
4d1) the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself

4e) the sign of regal authority, a crown

For Synonyms see entry 5820
↑ 4653 σκοτία skotia [skot-ee’-ah] from 4655; n f; TDNT-7:423,1049; [{See TDNT 724 }] AV-darkness 14, dark 2; 16
1) darkness

2) the darkness due to want of light

3) metaph. used of ignorance of divine things, and its associated wickedness, and the resultant misery in hell
↑ 2936 ~κτίζω~ ktizo \@ktid’-zo\@ probably akin to 2932 (through the idea of proprietor-ship of the manufacturer); v AV-create 12, Creator 1, make 1; 14
1) to make habitable, to people, a place, region, island
1a) to found a city, colony, state

2) to create
2a) of God creating the worlds

2b) to form, shape, i.e. to completely change or transform
↑ 1849 ~ἐξουσία~ exousia \@ex-oo-see’-ah\@ from 1832 (in the sense of ability); n f AV-power 69, authority 29, right 2, liberty 1, jurisdiction 1, strength 1; 103 See Romans 13
1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
1a) leave or permission

2) physical and mental power
2a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises

3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)

4) the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
4a) universally
4a1) authority over mankind

4b) specifically
4b1) the power of judicial decisions

4b2) of authority to manage domestic affairs

4c) metonymically
4c1) a thing subject to authority or rule
4c1a) jurisdiction

4c2) one who possesses authority

4c2a) a ruler, a human magistrate

4c2b) the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates

4d) a sign of the husband’s authority over his wife
4d1) the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself

4e) the sign of regal authority, a crown

For Synonyms see entry 5820

[methistemi-1] 1.0 ^1.1 3179 ‭μεθιστημὶ methistemi meth-is’-tay-mee; or (#1 Corinthians 13:2) μεθιστανω methistano meth-is-tan’-o or Colossians 1:13; from 3326 and 2476; v; AV-remove 2, put out 1, turn away 1, translate 1; 5
1) to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another
1a) of change of situation or place

1b) to remove from the office of a steward

1c) to depart from life, to die

[kratos-2] 2904 ~κράτος~ kratos \@krat’-os\@ perhaps a primary word; TDNT-3:905,466; {See TDNT 410} n n AV-power 6, dominion 4, strength 1, mighty + 2596 1; 12
1) force, strength

2) power, might: mighty with great power
2a) a mighty deed, a work of power

3) dominion

For Synonyms see entry 5820

[Exousia-3] 1849 ~ἐξουσία~ exousia \@ex-oo-see’-ah\@ from 1832 (in the sense of ability); n f AV-power 69, authority 29, right 2, liberty 1, jurisdiction 1, strength 1; 103 See Romans 13
1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
1a) leave or permission

2) physical and mental power
2a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises

3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)

4) the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
4a) universally
4a1) authority over mankind

4b) specifically
4b1) the power of judicial decisions

4b2) of authority to manage domestic affairs

4c) metonymically
4c1) a thing subject to authority or rule
4c1a) jurisdiction

4c2) one who possesses authority

4c2a) a ruler, a human magistrate

4c2b) the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates

4d) a sign of the husband’s authority over his wife
4d1) the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself

4e) the sign of regal authority, a crown

For Synonyms see entry 5820

[skotos-4] 4653 σκοτία skotia [skot-ee’-ah] from 4655; n f; TDNT-7:423,1049; [{See TDNT 724 }] AV-darkness 14, dark 2; 16
1) darkness

2) the darkness due to want of light

3) metaph. used of ignorance of divine things, and its associated wickedness, and the resultant misery in hell

[ktizo-5] 2936 ~κτίζω~ ktizo \@ktid’-zo\@ probably akin to 2932 (through the idea of proprietor-ship of the manufacturer); v AV-create 12, Creator 1, make 1; 14
1) to make habitable, to people, a place, region, island
1a) to found a city, colony, state

2) to create
2a) of God creating the worlds

2b) to form, shape, i.e. to completely change or transform

[exousia-6] 1849 ~ἐξουσία~ exousia \@ex-oo-see’-ah\@ from 1832 (in the sense of ability); n f AV-power 69, authority 29, right 2, liberty 1, jurisdiction 1, strength 1; 103 See Romans 13
1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases
1a) leave or permission

2) physical and mental power
2a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises

3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)

4) the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
4a) universally
4a1) authority over mankind

4b) specifically
4b1) the power of judicial decisions

4b2) of authority to manage domestic affairs

4c) metonymically
4c1) a thing subject to authority or rule
4c1a) jurisdiction

4c2) one who possesses authority

4c2a) a ruler, a human magistrate

4c2b) the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates

4d) a sign of the husband’s authority over his wife
4d1) the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself

4e) the sign of regal authority, a crown

For Synonyms see entry 5820

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Colossians 1

Contents

Colossians 1

Thanks for your faith

desire wisdom

Preeminence of Christ

the Mystery Revealed (Verses 24–29)

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Colossians 1

Colossians 1

Thanks for your faith

desire wisdom

Preeminence of Christ

the Mystery Revealed (Verses 24–29)

Navigation menu

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