Tyndale Open Study NotesColossians 1

Timothy was one of the closest co-workers of Paul. Their relationship was very strong. The work of Timothy was so important that Paul included him as a sender of this letter. He also included him in 2 Corinthians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon.

• Colossae was in the Lycus River valley in western Asia Minor. It was about 193 kilometers (120 miles) east of Ephesus and 16 kilometers (10 miles) southeast of Laodicea. Its place on an important Roman road exposed it to the social and religious trends of the time.

• brothers: Greek adelphoi, a term used for family members, both male and female.

This section starts with a thanksgiving, common in New Testament letters. Paul thanks God for the growth of the faith of the Colossians. He prays they will understand it even more. Through this prayer, Paul shows his concern about the influence of false teachers.

All the saints (meaning holy ones): The New Testament calls all Christians saints. They are set apart by God as his holy people (3:12).

• The confident hope of the Colossian Christians provides a strong base for their faith and love (1:4).

• What God has reserved for believers has not yet been fully revealed, but it already exists in heaven.

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing: The good news about Jesus is effective in changing lives and producing spiritual growth (compare 1:10).

Epaphras probably became a Christian when Paul preached in Ephesus (see Acts 19:10; see also Colossians 4:12–13; Philemon 1:23). He then went back to Colossae to share the good news about Jesus with his own town.

Paul prays that God would help his readers understand the the good news about Jesus better and its full expression in their lives. Spiritual growth leads to a clearer understanding of Christian truth and actions that please the Lord. This understanding gives believers the strength and patience to resist evil (1:11).

• giving thanks to the Father: having humble gratitude to God for salvation gives powerful help to resist false teachings (see also 2:7; 3:17; 4:2).

• The inheritance is what God has promised his people (for example, see Deuteronomy 3:28; Psalm 33:12; Ezekiel 44:28). In the New Testament, the inheritance includes salvation and final rescue (see also Ephesians 1:11; Titus 3:7; Hebrews 9:15).

Paul describes Jesus as the ultimate creator and redeemer (1:15–17; 1:18–20). Three main things suggest these verses quote an early Christian hymn about Jesus:

1. These verses are brief statements.

2. These verses have contain high praise and special honor for Christ (he is exalted).

3. These verses use similar language and ideas.

Paul applied this hymn to the situation of the church in Colossae.

• the image: In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, eikōn means "image" or "representation." It describes humans as made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27). It also refers to the wisdom figure in Jewish writings (see Wisdom of Solomon 7:25–26). New Testament writers describe Christ as "the wisdom of God" to explain his importance (compare 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).

• the firstborn over all creation: This phrase was important in early Christian debates about Christ's nature. Firstborn does not mean God created him. It is a title from the Old Testament, showing supremacy in rank and priority in time (see, for example, Psalm 89:27).

• Thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities in the unseen world refer to different spiritual powers. This line emphasizes Christ's supremacy over these beings, who were getting a lot of attention from false teachers (see 2:18).

• All things were created through Him and for Him: Christ is both the creator of all things and the purpose of all creation.

• Head of the body, the church: The Greek word kephalē (meaning “head”) often has the sense of authority over or chief when Paul uses it as a metaphor (see also 2:10, 19; 1 Corinthians 11:3–10; Ephesians 4:15; 5:23).

• of the body: The metaphor of the church as Christ’s body shows the essential unity of Christ and the church (see also Colossians 1:24; 2:19; 3:15; Ephesians 1:23; 2:16; 4:4, 12; 5:23, 30).

• firstborn from among the dead: See study note on Colossians 1:15.

God, in all his fullness, shows that he has chosen to give a complete revelation of himself in Jesus Christ. By seeing and understanding Jesus, we also see and understand God (see John 14:6–11). Some false teachers claimed that Christians needed to seek other spiritual beings to learn more about God (see Colossians 1:16, 20). Yet, Christ alone is enough for all our knowledge of God (compare Colossians 2:8–9).

Through Jesus Christ, God has made peace with everything. He has restored his control over all creation, in the spiritual places and on earth.

Paul shares the message of 1:15–20 with the Christians in Colossae. Since God has reconciled them, they now have a new spiritual status. They need to stay strong in the truth they have learned.

The phrase alienated from God probably refers to their former status as Gentiles, who were not part of God's covenant people (see Ephesians 2:12).

The Colossians, like all believers, were considered holy and blameless by God. This was not due to their own perfection but because Christ's death reconciled them with God.

proclaimed to every creature under heaven: Paul used hyperbole (exaggeration for emphasis) when he said the gospel has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. He meant that key cities in the Roman world had established centers for spreading the good news about Jesus (see also 1:6).

Paul considers his own role in the widespread preaching of the good news about Jesus (1:23).

I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions: Christ's suffering for redemption is unique and fully accomplished. Yet, he continues to suffer through his followers in a world opposed to the message of redemption. Christ and his church will keep suffering until God completes his purposes for this world (see also Mark 13:19–23; Romans 8:17–18; 1 Thessalonians 3:3).

The idea of a hidden mystery… now revealed comes from Jewish apocalyptic beliefs. Jewish thinkers believed God's entire plan already existed in heaven. It remained hidden until God chose to reveal it. The good news, especially for non-Jews, remained secret until Christ revealed it.