Colossians Chapter 1

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Introduction

The chapter embraces the following topics : --

(1.) The usual salutation to the church, 1f.

(2.) Thanks to God for what he had done for the Colossians and for the fruits of the gospel among them, 3ff.

(3.) Prayer that they might persevere in the name course, and might walk worthy of their calling, 9ff.

(4.) An exhortation to render thanks to God for what he had done for them in redemption, 12ff.

(5.) A statement of the exalted dignity of the Redeemer, 15ff.

(6.) A statement of what he had done in the work of redemption, in making peace by the blood of his cross, and reconciling the world to God, 19f.

(7.) Through this gospel, Paul says, they had been reconciled to God, and were now brought into a state in which they might be presented as holy and unblamable in his sight, 21ff.

(8.) Of this gospel, Paul says he was a minister; in preaching it he had been called to endure trials, but those trims he endured with joy; and in preaching this gospel he used the utmost diligence, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that he might present every one perfect in Christ Jesus, 24ff.

Text

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

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. edit

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

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

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; edit

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: edit

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

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

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; edit

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; edit

11: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; edit

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

13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: edit

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

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

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: edit

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

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. edit

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

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. edit

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

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

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; edit

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: edit

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; edit

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

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: edit

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

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