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About this book: Colossians

Colossians is a letter about the supremacy of Christ. Paul writes to a church he had not personally visited, having heard from a co-worker named Epaphras that they were growing in faith but were being pulled toward teachings that added other requirements and spiritual intermediaries to the gospel. Paul answers by lifting Jesus high: he is the image of the invisible God, the one through whom and for whom everything was made, the head of the church and the reconciler of all things. Believers, therefore, already share in his death and resurrection and do not need rules about food, festivals or visions to complete what he has finished. The second half turns practical. Because they have been raised with Christ, they are to set their minds on things above, put away old habits, put on compassion, humility and forgiveness, and let love bind everything together. Paul then addresses households, urges prayer and wise speech, and closes with greetings from many friends. Scholars debate the exact nature of the false teaching, but the letter's answer is clear.

Author
The apostle Paul, with Timothy named in the greeting; a minority of scholars question this, but the church has long accepted Paul.
Date
Usually placed about AD 60–62, while Paul was imprisoned, traditionally in Rome.
Audience
The church in Colossae, a small town in the Lycus Valley in what is now western Turkey.

Themes

The supremacy of ChristReconciliationLife raised with ChristPutting on a new selfChrist in every household

Outline

  1. 1:1–1:14Greeting, thanks and prayer
  2. 1:15–1:23The supremacy of Christ
  3. 1:24–2:5Paul's labor for the church
  4. 2:6–2:23Warning against empty teaching
  5. 3:1–3:17Raised with Christ: the new self
  6. 3:18–4:18Households, prayer and farewell

Key verses

Colossians 1:15-17 →Colossians 2:9-10 →Colossians 3:1-2 →Colossians 3:12-14 →
About this chapterPaul gives thanks for the Colossians' faith, hope, and love and prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will and bear fruit. He then describes Christ in exalted terms: the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over creation, the one in whom and for whom all things were made and who holds them together. Christ is head of the church and, through his cross, reconciles all things to God. Paul describes his own labor to make Christ known, including his sufferings for the church, so that everyone may be presented mature in Christ.

Paul gives thanks for the Colossians' faith, hope, and love and prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will and bear fruit. He then describes Christ in exalted terms: the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over creation, the one in whom and for whom all things were made and who holds them together. Christ is head of the church and, through his cross, reconciles all things to God. Paul describes his own labor to make Christ known, including his sufferings for the church, so that everyone may be presented mature in Christ.

Themes

  • Supremacy of Christ
  • Reconciliation
  • Fruitful faith

Key verses

Audio Bible · Colossians 1

Listen while you go about your day.

Colossians 1

Berean Standard Bible29 verses · 3 min read

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. 3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints— 5the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God. 7You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit. 9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. 19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. 21Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. 22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— 23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. 25I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, 26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
Verses in Colossians 1
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