Colossians 1
The apostle Paul sends greetings to the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are in Colosse. Here, Paul states that he was called as an apostle and expresses a wish for God’s grace and peace.
1versePaul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2verseto the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3verseWe give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4versehaving heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
5versebecause of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News
6versewhich has come to you, even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth,
7verseeven as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf,
8versewho also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
9verseFor this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10versethat you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
11versestrengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy,
12versegiving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,
13versewho delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
14versein whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.
15verseHe is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16verseFor by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.
17verseHe is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
18verseHe is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19verseFor all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,
20verseand through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
21verseYou, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
22verseyet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
23verseif it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
24verseNow I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly,
25verseof which I was made a servant according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you to fulfill the word of God,
26versethe mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
27verseto whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28verseWe proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
29versefor which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
Gratitude and Intercessory Prayer for the Church in Colosse (1:3-14)
Paul gives thanks to God after hearing news of the faith, love, and the gospel of the church in Colosse, and he prays that they may be filled more and more with the knowledge of God and spiritual wisdom. In particular, he reminds them again of the grace of salvation and forgiveness of sins they have received.
The Eminence and Work of Christ (1:15-20)
This section is the core of Colossians chapter 1. Paul proclaims that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God and the Creator of all things. He emphasizes that everything in heaven and on earth was created through him and exists in him. He also proclaims that Christ is the head of the church, that through the cross he brings about peace, and that he reconciles all things to God.
Transformation of the Church in Colosse and Paul’s Mission (1:21-29)
It mentions that the believers from among the Gentiles, who were once far from God, experienced reconciliation through Christ and are now transformed into holy and blameless people. Paul states that he endures suffering for this gospel and is serving so that everyone may reach maturity in their character in Christ.
Meditation Points
- As you meditate, consider that Christ is both the Creator and our Savior, and that he is the center of our lives and the church.
- In Paul’s example of praying and encouraging the church in Colosse continuously, we can reflect on the importance of a life of prayer for the community we belong to.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Check what is at the center of my faith, and whether Christ truly is the Lord of my life.
- Let’s also look back on whether we, like Paul, have time to intercede specifically for our family, church, and friends, and let’s make a commitment to do so.
