Colossians Chapter 1
*It’s a letter written to set straight the position of God the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ.
He never directly mentions Gnosticism or any other false doctrine. He laid down the
doctrines surrounding God the Father and Jesus as the Messiah and Creator of all things.
v. 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, (KJV)
v.1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the
Anointed) by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, (Amplified Bible)
A. 1. Apostle – NT meaning is probably derived from the Hebrew word “shalah”, to send. It is
primarily a legal term, signifying authorized representative. As in the modern law of agency,
the one sent was held to be equivalent to the sender himself. Apostle = Messenger Although
the term apostle of Jesus Christ, it appears to apply primarily to those directly commissioned
as apostles by the risen Lord. (Chuck Missler)
2. An apostles of Jesus Christ by the will of God. An apostle is a prime-minister in the
kingdom of Christ, immediately call by Christ, and extraordinary qualified for his work was peculiarly to plant the Christian church, and confirm the Christian doctrine. (Matt Henry)
3. Timothy here is called “our brother” which is an instance of his humility, and an example
of the elder and more eminent ministers to look upon the younger as more obscure to
treat them accordingly with kindness and respect. In other places, he calls him son.
(Matt Henry)
B. The Colossians had never seen him, and on that account his authority was no as yet so firmly
established among them as to make his private name by itself sufficient, he premises that he
is an Apostle of Christ set apart by the will of God. In vs. 2 he calls them faithful brethren,
to allure them more willingly to listen to him. (John Calvin)
C. Timothy (not an apostle) was here with Paul as he often was. Paul picked up Timothy in his
second missionary journey at Lystra where “the brothers . . . spoke of him”. He was a native
of area of Phrygia.
v. 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.
v. 2 To the saints and faithful believers in Christ [who are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace
[inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father.
A. Saints
1. – hagios -- sacred, holy -- Usage: set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred.
2. He calls them saints. As all good Christians, are brethren one to another, who stand in
near relation ad owe a mutual love. (Matt Henry)
3. We must love all the saints, bear an extensive kindness and good-will to good men,
notwithstanding smaller points of difference, and many real weaknesses.
(Matt Henry)
B. Grace and Peace –
1. You will not retain grace and peace if you keep going astray.
2. Kindness is the very breath of Christianity, so the apostle will not begin a subject matter
of his letter until first of all he has breathed out a benediction upon those to whom he
writes. (Charles Spurgeon)
v. 3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
v. 3 We continually give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), as we pray
always for you,
A. Again, here, Paul is laying down the position of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Prayer
1. is an important activity of leaders of the Gospel. Here the thanks and the prayers are to
the Father and Jesus Christ the Messiah. This is a contradiction to the heresies in
Colosse.
2. Continually give thanks to God.
3. Thanksgiving ought to be a part of every prayer and whatever is the matter of our rejoicing
ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving. (Matt Henry)
4. Paul very graciously blends his giving of thanks and his constant prayer for these
Christians, and therein sets us an example that we may imitate. (Charles Spurgeon)
C. In this expression of St. Paul’s thanksgiving for them there is as usual a peculiar
correspondence to their circumstances. They had been full of faith, love, and hope, the fruit
of a true gospel preached by Epaphras; there was fear now lest they should be beguiled from
it, although that fear was obviously not yet realized, as had been formerly the case with the
Galatians. Hence St. Paul’s emphasis on their hearing, knowing, and learning the truth, and
on the faithfulness of Epaphras as a minister of Christ. (Ellicott)
v. 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
v. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in
His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] love which you have for all the saints
(God’s people);
A. Paul keeps the conversation as optimistic and remains positive without even mentioning
the heresies in the church.
B. Faith
1. “your faith in Christ” – Faith in a Person, not a “system” or a doctrine, or philosophy.
2. Faith – is the soul looking upward to God. Love looks out to others. Hope looks forward
to the future. (Chuck Missler)
3. He instanceth in principal graces, as the matter of his thanksgiving, beginning with faith,
described and differenced from the special object of it, Christ Jesus, implying not a
bare knowledge or assent, but a trust in him alone for salvation; (Matthew Poole)
v. 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;
v. 5 Because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing that] which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven.
You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the gospel [regarding salvation]
A. Hope:
1. The Christian hope is that God’s way is the best way and that the only real peace, the only
real joy, the only true and lasting reward is found in it. (William Barclay)
2. Our hope is “laid up”—reserved, set aside, for us. Tense of the verb indicates that this
hope has once and for all been reserved so that nothing can take it from us.
3. Hope of the second return.
4. Faith, hope, and love, are the three principal graces in the Christian life, and proper matter
of our prayer and thanksgiving. (Matt Henry)
B. The Hope Reward:
1. Where it comes from – the gospel v. 5b
2. What the Gospel does – bringeth forth fruit v. 6
3. For the hope of eternal life will never be inactive in us, so as not to produce love in us.
For it is a necessity, that the man wo is fully persuaded that a treasure of life is laid up for him in heaven will aspire thither, looking down at upon this world. (John Calvin)
4. Meditation, however, upon the heavenly life stirs up our affections both to the worship of
God and to exercises of love. (John Calvin)
C. The Message:
1. Here Paul begins to get to the body of the epistle.
2. Paul still stays with the basics of Christian theology.
v. 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:
v. 6 Which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and
spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard
of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it].
A. The Fruit:
1. Wherever the pure Gospel of Christ is preached, it is the seed of the kingdom, and must
be fruitful in all those who receive it by faith, in simplicity of heart. (Adam Clarke)
2. Wherever the gospel comes, it will bring forth fruit to the honor and glory of God.
(Matt Henry)
B. The Gospel:
1. If there is a way of knowing the grace of God which is of no value, is when it is not known
in truth, that is to say, when it is only head-knowledge, not heart-knowledge. But, oh
when in truth the grace of God sinks into the soul, and changes the whole nature, then
it is an experience for which we may well give thanks to God. (Charles Spurgeon)
C. Which is come unto you - It has not been confined to the Jews, or limited to the narrow country
where it was first preached, but has been sent abroad to the Gentile world. The object of the
apostle here seems to be, to excite in them a sense of gratitude that the gospel had been sent to
them. It was owing entirely to the goodness of God in sending them the gospel, that they had
this hope of eternal life. (Barnes)
D. The meaning is, that the gospel was not without effect wherever it was preached. The same results
were observable everywhere else as in Colossae, that it produced most salutary influences on
the hearts and lives of those who received it. On the nature of the "fruits" of religion, (Barnes)
E. The meaning is, that ever since they had heard the gospel it had been producing among them
abundantly its appropriate fruit, and that the same thing had also characterized it wherever it
had been dispensed. (Albert Barnes)
F. Christ's command was that the Gospel should be preached to all nations, and not be limited, as the
law was, to the Jews (JFB)
v. 7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
v. 7 You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful
minister of Christ on our behalf
A. Epaphras: (Chuck Missler)
1. The messenger to the Colossians church. There must be a human channel through which
the gospel can come to men. We can be channels for the gospel. (WB)
2. Epaphras’ outstanding characteristic was fervency in prayer.
3. He was in Rome with Paul when he called him his “fellow prisoner”.
4. Epaphras was possible a shortening for Epaphroditus. These could be the same person
or different since both names were common.
B. To maintain the truth, it did much concern them to have a good opinion of him, who was an
eminent instrument in communicating it to them, and therefore Paul doth here very
opportunely commend Epaphras, in opposition to those false teachers, who likely might
insinuate somewhat to his disparagement. (Matthew Pooles)
v. 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
v. 8 And he also has told us of your love [well-grounded and nurtured] in the [Holy] Spirit.
A. Love is the evidence of salvation. (Chuck Missler)
B. The love wrought in you by the Holy Spirit.
1. It was not mere natural affection, but love worked in their hearts by the agency of the
Holy Spirit. (Barnes)
2. Faithful ministers are glad to be able to speak well of their people. (Matt Henry)
v. 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;
v. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things],
A. We always feel stimulated and encouraged to pray for those who are doing well. (Barnes)
1. Filled with Knowledge
a. epignosis, super knowledge in contrast to the Gnostics superior knowledge
boasted of. (Chuck Missler)
b. That they might be knowing intelligent Christians filled with the knowledge
of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. (Matt Henry)
2. They had shown by faith and love that they were disposed to do his will, and the apostles
Now prays that they might be full acquainted with what he would have them do.
(Barnes)
3. Spiritual wisdom (sophia; used six times in Colossians) that is, practical know-how which
comes from God.
4. Through prayer we reach the greatest gift in all the world—knowledge and wisdom. (WB)
B. In understanding those things that pertain to the “Spirit,” that is, those things taught by the Holy
Spirit, and those which he produces in the work of salvation. (Barnes)
1. Our knowledge of the will of God must be always practical; we must know it, in
order to do it. (Matt Henry)
2. Our knowledge is then a blessing indeed when it is in wisdom, when we know how to
apply our general knowledge to our particular occasions, and suit it to all emergencies.
(Matt Henry)
v. 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;
v. 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];
A. Walk Worthy:
1. That you may live as becomes the followers of the Lord. How this was to be done he
states in this and the following verses. (Barnes)
2. The agreeableness of our conversation (behavior) to our religion is pleasing to God as well
as to good men. (Matt Henry)
B. Being fruitful:
1. Again, reminding them that in all these things you should be bearing fruit.
2. Good words will not do without good works. (MH)
3. We must abound in good works. (MH)
4. The more fruitful we are in good works the more we shall increase in the knowledge
of God. (MH)
C. Knowledge:
1. Christians should endeavor to be filled with knowledge not only to know the will of God,
but to know more of it, and increase in the knowledge of God. (Matt Henry)
2. If we have faith, and hope, and love, it is desirable that we add to these a fullness of
knowledge, and this holiness of life and fruitfulness of service that we may have
patience to endure the afflictions of this life, and long with which to put up the
provocation of the ungodly. (Charles Spurgeon)
3. God is pleased with those who desire to understand what he is; what he does; what he
purposes; what he commands. All good beings desire that others should understand
their character, and God delights in those who are sincerely desirous of knowing what
he is, and who inquire with humility and reverence into his counsels and his will.
(Barnes)
v. 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
v. 11 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy;
A. Strengthened
1. This was also an object of Paul’s earnest prayer. He desired that they might be
strengthened for the performance of duty; to meet temptations; and to bear up
under the various trials of life. (Barnes)
2. Not by any human means, but by the power of God. There is a manifestation of power
in the spirit with which Christians are enabled to bear up under trials, which God
gives them in the day of trial. (Barnes)
3. Fortified against the temptations of Satan and furnished for all their duty. (Matt Henry)
4. It is a great comfort to us that he who undertakes to give strength to his people is a God of
power and of glorious power. (MH)
B. Patience
1. So that you may be enabled to bear all your trials without complaining. It is only the
power of God that can enable us to do that. (Barnes)
2. The we are strengthened to all patience—when we not only bear our troubles patiently,
but receive them as gifts from God and are thankful for them. (MH)
3. When we bear our troubles well, though ever so many, and the circumstances of them so
aggravating, then we bear them with all patience. And the same reason for bearing
one trouble will hold for bearing another, if it be a good reason. (MH)
C. Joy
“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3
v. 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
v. 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.
A. Giving thanks
1. Here is the beginning of the list of things Paul is thankful. All our prayers should be filled
with thanksgiving.
2. This is another mode by which we many “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing”
to wit, by rendering appropriate thanks to God for His mercy. Because they had
been called from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. (Barnes)
3. Our special thanks are due to the “Father” in this, as he is represented as the great Author
of the whole plan of salvation—as He who sent His Son to redeem us. (Barnes)
B. Saints in the Light. Delivered from darkness which represents that which is evil.
v. 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
v. 13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
A. Dark and Light
1. Dark and light are common theological terms used in many religions, and found in the
Dead Sea Scrolls. Here Paul seems to be contrasting the realm or sphere of the new
age – light, with that of the present age, the evil sphere or authority (exousia) of
darkness. (Chuck Missler)
2. Light, in the Scriptures is the emblem of holiness, knowledge, happiness. (Barnes)
B. Darkness:
1. Behold darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the nations; but the Lord
shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (John Calvin)
2. In the first place, we ourselves are called darkness, and afterwards the whole world, and
Satan, the prince of darkness, under the tyranny we are held captive, until we are set
free by Christ’s hand. (John Calvin)
3. He has rescued us from the state of heathenish darkness and wickedness. He hath saved
us from the dominion of sin. (Matt Henry)
v. 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
v. 14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].
A. His Blood:
1. The passage here proves that we obtain forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ;
but it does no prove that this is all that we obtain through the blood. (Barnes)
2. He now proceeds to set forth in order, that all parts of our salvation are contained in Christ,
and he alone ought to shine forth, and to be seen conspicuous above all creatures,
inasmuch as He is the beginning and the end of all things. (John Calvin)
B. The taking away of sins; all the power, guilt, and infection of sin. All sin of every kind, with all
it influence and consequences. (Adam Clark)
C. He hath prepared us for the eternal happiness of heaven, as the Israelites divided the promise
land by lot and has given us the earnest and assurance. (Matthew Henry)
v. 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
v. 15 He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.
A. Image of the invisible God
1. The meaning of this is, that he represents to mankind the perfections of God, as an
image, figure, or drawing does the object which it is made to resemble. (Barnes)
2. The meaning here is, that the being and perfections of God are accurately and fully
represented by Christ. (Barnes)
3. In contrast to the Gnostics (and Muslims) who maintains that God can never be known
or understood. We have One that has made Him known to us.
4. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14
5. It is because the man “bears the image of his Creator that it was possible for the Son
of God to become incarnate as man and in his humanity to display the image of the
invisible God”. (F. F. Bruce)
6. God is invisible. No eye has seen him, or can see him; but in what Christ is, and has
done the works of creation and redemption, we have a fair and full representation
of what God is; (Barnes)
7. He is as man at the head of all the creation of God; nor can he with any propriety be
considered as a creature, having himself created all things, and existed before any
thing was made.
8. If you want to see what God is like, look at Jesus.
B. Firstborn
1. “Firstborn” = prototokis (5x: Col. 1:15, 18; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 1:5) priority
of position, rather than origin. (Chuck Missler)
2. Firstborn Positional: (C. M.)
a. Ishmael and Isaac; Esau and Jacob; Rueben and Joseph; Manasseh and Ephraim
b. The first Adam vs the last Adam
c. Pre-existent – Micah 5:2
d. Only Begotten 5X in N. T. John 1:14, 18; 3:16; 1 John 4:9
e. Firstborn: Messianic Psalm 89:20-23 David
3. He that “created all things that are in heaven and that are in earth,” was Himself
was not created.
4. The meaning, is, that Christ sustains the most exalted rank in the universe; He
is pre-eminent above all others; He is at the head of all things. (Barnes)
5. Clearly firstborn is not used in a time sense at all, but in the sense of special honor. So
when Paul says of the Son that he is the firstborn of all creation, he means that the
highest honor which creation holds belong to him. (William Barclay)
v. 16 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:
v. 16 For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.
A. “All things”: including Satan (vs Mormon view – Jesus’ brother)
1. Whatever cosmic powers there may be, they have nothing to offer or deny a Christian;
in Christ he has all things Romans 8:38; Eph. 1:10
2. He does not declare that He created all things in the spiritual kingdom of God, or that
he arranged the events of the gospel dispensation; but that everything was created
by Him. (Barnes)
B. Heaven, then, according to this division (Heaven and Earth), will embrace all the universe,
except Earth; and will include the heavenly bodies and their inhabitants, the distant worlds,
as well as heaven, more strictly so called, where God resides. (Barnes)
C. Visible and invisible.
1. Both of these kinds were included in the foregoing distinction of heavenly and earthly
things; but as Paul meant to chiefly to make that affirmation in reference of
angels, he now makes mention of thing invisible. Not only, therefore, have those
heavenly creatures which are visible to our eyes, but spiritual creatures which are
invisible to our eyes, but spiritual creatures also been created by the Son of God.
(John Calvin)
2. So, it was by the Son that all things were created. This is true of the things in heaven
things in earth, of things seen and unseen. (William Barclay)
D. Gnostics (the intellectual ones) vs. Paul & Christ (WB)
1. Some of the Jews, and even more of the Gnostics, had a highly-developed system of
angels. With the Gnostics that was only to be expected with their long series of
intermediaries between man and God. Thrones, lordships, powers and authorities
were different grades of angels having their places in different spheres of the seven
heavens.
2. As the Gnostics saw it, Jesus was by no means unique. They insisted that Jesus was
merely one of the emanations. (WB)
3. Gnostics were dissatisfied with what they considered the rude simplicity of Christianity
and wished to turn it into a philosophy and align it with the other philosophies which
held the field at that time.
4. The Gnostics believed that matter was eternal and the world was created out of evil matter
is stead of the Christian belief that all things were created from nothing. There were
several spheres of emanations far enough from the pure Spirit of God that it could
create everything from evil matter.
5. If salvation depended on this elaborate knowledge, it was clearly not for every man but
only for the intellectuals.
6. Paul dismisses them all with complete indifference. He is in effect saying to the Gnostics,
“You give a great place in your thinking to angels. You rate Jesus Christ merely as
one of them. So far from that, he created them.”
7. Paul lays it down that the agent of God in creation is no inferior, ignorant and hostile
secondary god, but the Son himself.
8. It was for the Son that all things were created. The Son is not only the agent of creation,
he is also the goal of creation. That is to say, creation was created to be his and that in
its worship and its love he might find his honor and his joy.
v. 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
v. 17 And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]
A. How can anyone ever read this passage, and yet say Christ Jesus is only a man? By what
twisting of words on such language as this be applied to the most eminent prophet or
apostle who ever lived? Surely he must be God by whom all thing were created, and by
whom all thing consist (Charles Spurgeon)
B. He is not called first-born, simply on the ground of his having preceded all creatures in point
of time, but because he was begotten by the Father, that they might be created in him, and
that he might be, as it were, the substance or foundation of all things. (John Calvin)
C. consist = sunistemi – to be compacted together, to cohere, to be constituted with, to be held
together
D. Matter examined:
Matter= Aristotle – small indivisible particles; J.J. Thomson—electrons (Cathode Ray Tube);
Ernst Rutherford – nucleus (Gold foil & Alpha particle)
Nucleus as size of golf ball, electrons would be 3 miles apart.
The nucleus of every atom is held together by what physicists call “weak” and “strong” forces.
The nucleus contains positively charged and neutral particles in a simplistic model.
Mutual Electrostatic Repulsion between the protons would drive the nucleus apart if it were not for the “strong” nuclear force which binds the nucleus together.
Zero Point Energy:
There is an active force imposed upon the universe, which actively holds the very atoms of the material world together, moment by moment, day by day, century by century.
Other forces keep the negative electrons, circling the nucleus, from crashing into the positive nucleus.
An invisible force keeps everything constant. The electrons would orbit forever unless acted upon.
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
God dynamically sustains the universe, including the very atoms themselves. Atoms, it seems, are stable only because force and energy are being supplied into their nuclear binding fields from outside of the system.
God is the sustainer of the universe: He is not uninvolved, remote, or detached and impersonal leaving things to run themselves. (Chuck Missler)
E. All things consist (hold together) (WB)
1. This means that not only is the Son the agent of creation in the beginning and the goal of
creation in the end, but between the beginning and the end, during time as we know it,
it is he who holds the world together.
2. That is to say, all the laws by which this world is order and not chaos are an expression of
the mind of the Son. The law of gravity, are not only scientific laws but also divine.
This forces will one day be released to a degree. New Earth & New Heavens
2 Peter 3:10-12 10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”
---Great noise = is the word used for the swish of an arrow, the rush of wings, the splash of water, the hiss
of a serpent
---elements = basic building blocks
---melt = to untie, loose
Dividing a nucleus results in a nuclear blast.
God does not lose track of His children but watches over them with infinite, patient, intimate, precise, Fatherly care. He also intervenes from time to time to alter the status quo in response to prayer, and even alters the course of entire nations. (CM) He moved an empire to move Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
F. Summary: (Adam Clarke)
1. That Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe; of all things visible and invisible; of
all things that had a beginning, whether they exist in time of eternity. (Adam Clarke)
2. That whatsoever was created was created for Himself; that he was the sole end of his
own work. (AC)
3. That he was prior to all creation, to all beings, whether in the visible or invisible world.
4. That he is the preserver and governor of all things; for by him all things consist.
5. Creation is the proper work of an infinite, unlimited, and unoriginated Being; possessed
of all perfections in their highest degrees; capable of knowing, willing, and working
infinitely, unlimitedly, and without control: and as signifies the production of being
where all was absolute nonentity, so it necessarily implies that the Creator acted of
and from himself.
6. Creation, therefore is the work of Him who is unoriginated, infinite, unlimited and eternal.
v. 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.
v. 18 He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.
A. Head ( From the primary kapto; the head, literally or figuratively.) of the body. (Adam Clarke)
1. What the apostle has said in the two preceding verses refers to the Divine nature of Jesus
Christ; Paul now proceeds to speak of his human nature, and to show how highly
that is exalted beyond all created things, and how, in that, he is the head of the Church.
2. The author and dispenser of light, life, and salvation, to the Christian world; or, in
other words, that from him, as the man in whom the fullness of the Godhead bodily
dwelt, all the mercy and salvation of the Gospel system is to be received.
3. In all things—alike in the work of creation and in the church. He is the fountain of
authority and power, and commences everything that is designed to uphold the order
of the universe, and to save the world. (Albert Barnes)
4. Here, he speaks chiefly of government. He shews, therefore, that it is Christ that alone
has authority to govern the Church, that it is he to whom alone believers ought to
have an eye, and on whom alone the unity of the body depends. (John Wesley)
5. He is the head of the body that is, the Church. The Church is the body of Christ, that is,
the organism through which he acts and which shares all his experiences. But,
humanly speaking, the body is the servant of the head and is powerless without it.
So Jesus Christ is the guiding spirit of the Church; it is at his bidding that the Church
must live and move. Without him the Church cannot think the truth, cannot act
correctly, cannot decide its direction. (WB)
B. The firstborn from the dead: (Adam Clarke)
1. Christ is called the first-fruits of them that slept; and here, the chief and first-born from
the dead. This does not mean literally that he was the first who rose from the dead
for he himself raised up Lazarus and others, it means that he had the pre-eminence
among them all; he was the most illustrious of those who will be raised from the dead,
and he is the head over them all. (Albert Barnes)
2. He being the first that ever resumed the natural life, with employment of all its functions,
never more to enter the empire of death, after having died a natural death, and in such
circumstances as precluded the possibility of deception.
3. Are we giving pre-eminence in all things? That theology must be false which puts Jesus
in the second place, or even lower than that, and that experience is a wrong one which
does not put Christ always in the front. He must in all things always stand first. (MH)
4. Here Paul comes back to the event which was at the center of all the thinking and belief
and experience of the Early Church—the Resurrection. Christ is not merely someone
who lived and died and of whom we read and learn. He is someone who, because of
his Resurrection, is alive for evermore and whom we meet and experience, not a dead
hero nor a past founder, but a living presence. (WB)
5. By his Resurrection he has shown that he has conquered every opposing power and that
there is nothing in life or in death which can bind him. (WB)
C. That in all things he might have the preeminence (To have preeminence, be chief, be first. From
protos; to be first.).
1. That he might be considered, in consequence of his mediatorial office, as possessing the
first place in and being chief over all the creation of God; for is it to be wondered at
that the human nature, with which the great Creator condescended to unite himself,
should be set over all the works of his hands? (Adam Clark)
2. That is, might be first in rank, dignity, honor, power. He has the preeminence: (AB)
a. As over the universe which he has formed—as it Creator and Proprietor.
b. As chief among those who shall be first from the dead—since he first rose to die
no more, and their resurrection depends on him.
c. As head of the church—all synods, councils, and governments being subject to
him, and he alone having a right to give law to his people.
d. In the affections of his friends—being in their affections and confidence superior
to all other.
v. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
v. 19 For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity—the sum total of His essence, all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son),
A. That is, that the majesty, power, and goodness of God should be manifested in and by Jesus
Christ, and thus by Him the Father reconciles all things to himself. (Adam Clarke)
B. fullness – pleroma – sum total of all the divine power and attributes
C. A fullness of merit and righteousness, of strength, wisdom, power, and grace.
D. “in him should all fullness dwell”
1. God the Father was in Him.
2. God the Holy Spirit was in Him in full measure
3. The verb (dwell—to reside, to be at home permanently) indicates that this fullness was
not something added to His Being that was not essential Being as part of His very
constitution and that permanently. (CM)
4. That in him there should be such dignity, authority, power, and moral excellence as to be
fitted to the work of creating the world, redeeming his people, and supplying
everything needful for their salvation. (Albert Barnes)
E. We have a Savior who is in no respect deficient in wisdom, power, and grace to redeem and save
us. There is nothing necessary to be done in our salvation which he is not qualified to do;
there is nothing which we need to enable us to perform our duties, to meet temptation, and to
bear trials, which he is not able to impart. (AB)
v. 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.
v. 20 and through [the intervention of] the Son to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven.
A. The meaning is, that by his atonement he produces reconciliation between those who were
alienated from each other (God and mankind). It does not mean here that he had actually
effected peace by his death, but that he had laid the foundation for it; he had done that which
would secure it. (AB)
B. He is the Mediator of reconciliation, who procures peace as well as pardon for sinners. (MH)
C. Reconcile – apokatallosso – to reconcile completely
D. The object of his coming was reconciliation. He came to heal the breach and bridge the chasm
between God and man. (WB)
E. Two Distinct Reconciliations:
1. At Calvary:
a. By the death of Christ, the barrier because of sin, was taken away judicially,
enabling God to show mercy where judgment was deserved. The work of
God alone, in which man had no part.
b. It was the blood which made atonement, for the blood is the life and without
the shedding of blood there is no remission. (MH)
c. The enmity was on the part of the creature; though God is angry with the wicked
everyday, yet he is never unwilling to be reconciled. (AC)
2. Wrought by God in the sinner himself, whereby he became changed in his rebellious
attitude toward God, so that he is persuaded to receive the reconciliation already
accomplished at the cross. (Romans 5:11) In this Christians have part, as
ambassadors for Christ:
a. bearing the “word of reconciliation” committed to them 2 Cor. 5:19
b. and beseeching men 2 Cor. 5:20 (CM)
F. All things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
1. All mankind whether Jew or Gentile, OT or NT.
2. That is, to produce harmony between the things in heaven and in earth; so that all things
shall be reconciled to him, or so that there shall be harmony between heaven and earth. (AB)
v. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
v. 21 And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things,
A. It was not merely by wicked works, or by an evil life; it was alienation seated in the mind, and
leading to wicked works. It was deliberate and purpose enmity. (AB)
B. Here see what was their condition by nature, and in their Gentile state-estranged from God:
and yet this enmity is slain, and, notwithstanding this distance, we are now reconciled. (MH)
C. Christ has laid the foundation for our reconciliation for he has paid the price of it. (MH)
D. The greatest enemies to God, who have stood at the greatest distance and bidden him defiance,
may be reconciled, if it by not their own fault. (MH)
E. Our happiness [joy] consists in our cleaving to God, and that, on the other hand, there is nothing
more miserable than to be alienated from him. (John Wesley)
v. 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
v. 22 yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
A. The Blood
1. There was such a value in the blood of Christ that, on account of Christ’s
shedding it, God was willing to deal with men upon new terms to bring them
under a covenant of grace, and for his sake, and in consideration of his death
upon the cross, to pardon and to accept to favor all who comply with them. (MH)
2. The gospel excludes none who do not exclude themselves. (MH)
B. Present you Holy – The entire blessing of redemption consists mainly in these two things,
remission of sins, and spiritual regeneration. Righteousness has been procured for us through
the death of Christ, so that, our sins being remitted, we are acceptable to God. (JW)
C. Unblameable and Unreproveable
1. Unblameable (Blameless, without blemish, faultless.) Having filled you with
his Spirit, and written his law in your hearts, becomes the principle and motive to
every action. The tree therefore being good, the fruit is also good. (AC)
2. Unreproveable (not to be called to account; Irreproachable, blameless. Unaccused) For
being filled with love, joy, peace, meekness, gentleness, and goodness, against these
there is no law;; and as they were called to love God with all their heart, soul, mind,
strength, and the neighbor as themselves. (AC)
v. 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;
v. 23 [and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.
A. This is a text (20-23) that ought to be read and pondered every day by the many unstable
professors who are in the church at this present time. Like a building that will have no
further settlements, no more starting of stones, no more cracking of the walls, because your
foundation is secure, and you are firmly built upon it. (CS)
B. This will be the case if you, who have already believed in Christ Jesus, continue in that faith,
grounded in the knowledge and love of God, and settled—made firm and perseveringly
steadfast, in that state of salvation. (AC)
1. Continue (remain, tarry; I remain in, persist in) The meaning is, that it will be impossible
to be saved unless we continue to lead lives becoming the gospel. (AB)
2. Grounded (To found, lay the foundation (lit. & met.). to lay a basis for, i.e. erect, or
consolidate.)
3. Settled (Sitting, seated; steadfast, firm. sedentary, i.e. immovable.)
C. Be not moved – Not permitting yourselves to be seduced by false teachers. (AC)
v. 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:
v. 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church.
A. Oh how blessed it is when a man has so mastered himself that his sufferings for his
fellow-Christians become a matter of rejoicing for himself! (CS)
B. There is noting “behind” as to the atoning efficacy of the sufferings of Christ, but there is
much yet to be endured in order that all the elect may be brought to Christ. Some must
suffer through their extraordinary labors in preaching the gospel, others through bearing
reproach for the truth’s sake, and Paul was glad to take, in his mortal body, his share of the sufferings to be endured for the sake of Christ’s church, which is his mystical body. (CS)
C. Paul has passed through many sufferings and many afflictions were ahead of him on his journey
to the city made not by hands.
v. 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;
v. 25 In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]—
A. Minister:
1. It was according of the dispensation of God which was given unto. (MH)
2. He was steward and master-building, and this was given him: he did not usurp
it, nor take it to himself and could not challenge it as a debt. He received it from
God as a gift, and took it as a favor. (MH)
3. He suffered in the cause of Christ, and for the good of the church. He rejoiced
in his suffering. (MH)
B. The Greek of, “to fulfill the word of God,” may be translated, fully to preach the doctrine of God.
(AC)
v. 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
v. 26 that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).
A. Mystery – In the world of the 1st Century –musterion – meant:
1. something mysterious
2. an initiatory religious rite
3. a secret only known by divine revelation (CM)
B. The mystery is this: that God had designed to grant the Gentiles the same privileges with the
Jews and make them his people who were not his people. (AC)
C. “made manifest to his saints” It is fully known to all who have embraced the doctrine of Christ
crucified; to all Christians. (AC)
v. 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:
v. 27 God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.
A. “the riches of the glory” God manifests to these how abundantly glorious this Gospel I among
the Gentiles; and how effectual in this doctrine of Christ crucified to the salvation of
multitudes. (AC)
B. “the hope of glory” – Paul’s preaching has one aim, Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and
the plan is to the Spirit of God be imparted to those who through the blood believe on his
name.
v. 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
v. 28 We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed].
A. Every man has need to be warned and taught, and therefore let every man have his share.
When we warn people of what they do amiss, we must teach them to do better: warning
and teaching must go together. (MH)
B. They warned every one – they showed every man his danger; they proved that both Jews and
Gentiles were under sin; and that the wrath of God was revealed against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men; that time and life were uncertain; and that now was the day
of salvation. (AC)
v. 29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
v. 29 For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.
A. There will never be any mighty work come from us unless there be first a might work in us,
no man truly labors for souls unless the Holy Ghost has first wrought mightily in him. (CS)
B. Striving: Literal: “For this I labor to the point of exhaustion, agonizing.”
C. Agonizomia—to contend, struggle with difficulties and dangers; to endeavor with strenuous
zeal, strive: to obtain something. (CM)
Summary: (CM)
1. Our moment-by-moment existence depends upon His gracious sustenance of every electron, every atom,
every molecule and every spiritual entity as well.
2. We are safe when we put our trust in Him and put our whole lives into His hands.
3. Should we not stand in awe of our great God and Creator. (Psalms 95:1-7)
