Colossians 1 study

Colossians 1:1-29 (KJV)

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

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.

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

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

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;

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:

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

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

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;

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;

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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;

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:

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;

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

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:

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

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

Verses 1 and 2, Paul gives his customary greeting to the Congregation. Note how Paul always gives the greeting of peace from Two divine beings, the Father and Son. Paul calls the Father "God" (the Supreme Divinity, God) Jesus Christ "the Lord" (Master, Supreme in authority, God). Paul also shows the interconnectedness of the Father and Son and states that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ.

The word Apostle in greek is rendered "apostolos" (Greek Strongs 652) and means "messenger, a delegate, one sent forth with orders, apostle".

Paul states that he is a delegate and messenger of Jesus Christ by the will of God who is the Father. This denotes the Source/Channel relationship that the Father and Son have. According to Romans 8:28-30, it is the Father that predestinates and ordains us to be conformed to the image of His Son. The Father pre appointed Paul to be an apostle of His Son Jesus Christ. When we are disciples of Jesus, it is due the Father's will for our lives. The Father draws men and women to His Son. When we become born again, it is due to the Father's calling and choosing us.

Verse 3, Paul makes a declarative statement that God is indeed the Father of Jesus Christ. This can only be taken in a real and literal sense (begotten). Not one verse in the bible supports a metaphorical Sonship for Christ. Over and over again the truth of Christ literal Sonship is affirmed. Also, when the word God is used in the highest sense it is used in refrence to the Father.

Verse 4, Paul commends the Congregation at Colossae as he has heard the reports of their faith in Christ and their love towards all the saints. This is should be the desire of all Congregations, that is to be known for their love of the saints and not just the saints in their Congregation but all saints. It's not about how many prophecy conferences we have or how many entertaining "church" programs we have, but it's about our faith in the Son of God and the love we have towards the brethren. Many professed Christians today are more about busying themselves in the programs and agenda's of the "church" then they are about deeply loving their brothers and sisters in the faith.

Verse 5, Paul states that hope for Christians is in heaven. He also says that they (saints at Colossae) have heard this before in the word of truth in the gospel. This is a very important truth, we should not gloss over it. Many today in Christendom believe that the hope for Christians is in an earthly millennium kingdom rather than paradise which is above. The bible is clear in the new testament that the hope for Christians after Christ returns is heavenly not earthly. Our eventual hope is in Eden restored (New earth), however that is not be until we reign with Christ for a thousand years in heaven. Paul states this concept of a heavenly hope is part of the gospel. Those teaching a earthly millennium are in contrary to the word of truth.

Verse 6, Paul tells the Congregation at Colossae that this gospel has borne has gone into all the world and had brought forth fruit in all the world including in them. The grace of God is always found in truth. Many pulpit preachers teach a false grace which is not according to the word of God. The Congregation at Colossae received the grace of God through the gospel which went forth unto all the world. It was the word of truth that allowed the Colossians to know the grace of God. Grace is interconnected with truth and truth is found in God's word. Anytime you hear a concept of grace that is not aligned with God's word, you then have a false concept of grace. Most churches teach a version of grace that is more akin to the world than the word.

Verse 7-8, Paul makes mention of a fellow minister who testified of the Colossians love. Only by having the indwelling Jehovah (Spirit) can we exhibit that perfect love for our brethren.

Verse 9, Paul and his fellow workers prayed constantly for the Colossians. We are not just to pray for our brethren when they are struggling to stay to faithful but also when they are walking faithfully. Remember, the enemy of souls will resort to all sorts of craftiness to get faithful followers of Christ fallen. When are brethren are being solid in their walk they need our prayers just as much as when they are faltering. Paul's prayer for these faithful brethren is to be filled with the knowledge of the Father's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

The Father's will is what all Christians should desire. Why is this? Because as Christians we follow Christ and He sought His Father's will not His own.

John 5:30 (KJV)

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

In order to be disciples of Christ we have to be like Him and seek the Father's will not our own. Isn't that what the "Our Father" prayer is about?

Galatians 4:6 (KJV)

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

When we have the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to us from the Father, it causes us to cry out to the Father saying "Abba" (Daddy) in a childlike manner as He truly is our Father.

Having the Spirit of Christ causes us to seek the Father's will for our lives.

Verse 10 of Colossians, Paul's prayer for the Colossians to be filled with the wisdom of God is so that they walk worthy of Christ unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God the Father. Many today in Christendom, including pastors, are minimizing the importance of studying the word, gaining knowledge and understanding doctrine yet Paul contradicts these false notions. Paul prayed constantly for the Colossians to increase in the wisdom and knowledge of God who is the Father. One of the primary ways to do this is by studying and meditating on the word of God.

The pulpit preachers that minimize the importance of this are either knowingly or unknowingly doing the work of the enemy. Many professed Christians have time for everything under the sun yet rarely open the bible or if they do, it's for a short space of time. Christians that fail to devote themselves to the study of God's word will be held accountable. There really is no excuse. Many pew sitting Christians are following their Pastor's lead and railing against those who dive in to God's word. These lukewarm professed Christians label those dedicated to the study of God's word as "legalists" and fundamentalists".

Verse 11, Paul's prayer and desire for the Colossians is to be filled with all might according to the glorious power of the Father. Having the Spirit of the Father means having patience, joy and longsuffering.

Verse 12 and 13, we are to give thanks to the Father as it is Him that made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. This light is the Son of God.   It is the Father that bestowed grace on us to accept His Son as our Saviour. It is the Father who delivered us from the power of the devil, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. The work of salvation begins with the Source who is the Father and the Son is the channel by which we obtain salvation. The Father delivers us to His Son. This is proven over and over again in scripture. Jesus isn't an independent God but rather God's very own obedient Son who receives all things from His Father.

The Father translated us into His Son's kingdom which is the born again experience.

The word translated in the greek is rendered "methistemi" (Greek Strongs 3179) and means "of change of situation and place, to remove from the office of a steward, to depart from life, to die, transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another, remove, put out, turn away, translate".

The Father removed us from the kingdom of this world (darkness) and brought us to another place which is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ His Son.  This harmonizes with Romans 8:28-30 as it is God (the Father) who foreordained and predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son. Again the work begins with the Father and brings us to His Son.

Also, notice the term of endearment used for in relation to Jesus being the Father's Son:

"hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."

This term of endearmeant denotes a literal and true Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and His Son Jesus. Most professed Christians deny this literal Father-Son relationship and they say that the terms "Father" and "Son" are just metaphors. This teaching of a metaphorical Father-Son relationship is the spirit of antichrist (1 John 2:18-26)

Veree 14, in Jesus blood we have redemption.

Redemption in the greek is rendered "apolutrosis" (Strongs 629) and means "a releasing effected by payment of ransom, redemption, deliverance, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom".

Jesus blood ransomed us and liberated us. His body and was the payment to receive eternal life and rescue us from darkness. This was the Father's will that Jesus submitted to at the garden of Gethsemane.

Luke 22:42 (KJV)

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Because of Jesus obedience to His Father we now have the forgiveness of sins.

Verse 15, Jesus is the image of the invisible God. The Father is invisible to mankind as due to our fallen nature we cannot see the Father and live. Jesus said no man has seen the Father. However, the Father does have a form and shape as is proven by scripture. Jesus is the image of the Father. The word image in the greek is rendered "eikon" (Strongs 1504) and means "a likeness i.e. statue, profile, a likeness, representation, resemblance, image."

Jesus is the representation of the Father and the exact (express) representation of Him. That's why He said when we have seen Him we have seen the Father. That's why we can rightfully call Jesus God and Jehovah. Jesus inherited His Father's divine attributes (Godship) and Jesus also inherited His Father's name (Jehovah).

Jesus is the firstborn of every creature. This is literal as scripture proves that Jesus was begotten (born, brought forth) from the Father in the ages of eternity before anything else came into existence (John 3:16, Revelation 3:14, John 1:1, Proverbs 8:22-31).

The word "firstborn" is rendered in the greek "prototokos" (Strongs 4416) and means "firstbegotten, first-born."

Any other understanding that strays from the literal meaning of this passage is grasping at straws to prove man made doctrines (trinity).

Verse 16, For by Christ all things were created. The word "by" in the greek (Strongs 1722) is rendered "en" and means "through, in, among". This is important to understand as many today are denying that the Father is the creator. This scripture proves that everything was created "Through" Christ meaning that there a Source of creation that preceded it going "through" Christ. Christ was the channel (by, through) of creation and someone else was the Source. From scripture we know that to be the Father (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

The heavens and earth with all power, principalities and dominions were created by and for the Son of God. The Father put all things under the Son's authority  (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) until the end of the millennium.

Verse 17, this verse confirms Christ preexistence and His rulership over all creation and also that He truly is the firstbegotten (first born) of the Father. Jesus is the literal firstborn of every creature. By (through) Jesus all things consist. Jesus was the channel by which the Father created heaven and earth and everything else.

Verse 18, Jesus is the head of the Christian Congregation. Any man who tries to claim this position is antichrist. Only Jesus can rightfully make claim to this position. The Christian Congregation is made up of anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Christ is the firstborn from the dead in that He is the first of a series of saints which have and will rise from the dead to glorification. The first were the ones who came out of their graves and rose from the dead after Christ resurrection. The next ones will be those who have done good to eternal life in the special resurrection just before the second advent. The last ones the great multitude at the second advent of Christ.

Jesus has the preeminence (to be first in rank). Jesus has rulership over all things as He is first in rank. His death and resurrection gave Jesus back this position if authority.

John 17:5 (KJV)

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

The verse above proves Christ preexistence and also that He had an exalted position with the Father and ruled with the Father sharing in His very glory.

Verse 19 of Colossians 1, for it pleased the Father that in Christ, all the fullness which is a refrence to Divinity, should dwell.

Fullness in the greek is rendered "plemora" and means "repletion or completion, what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), what is filled, which is put in to fill up, piece that filled up, fufilling, full, fullness".

Christ has full divinity and divinity is complete in Him. If we have seen Christ we have seen the Father as Christ has the fullness of the Father in Him. This fullness is in divinity. Christ lacks no divine attribute. Christ lacks no divine power yet He still submits to the Father as the Father has headship over Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3).

Verse 20 -22, through the blood of Christ's cross, He reconciled all things unto himself whether they be things in heaven or in earth. At one time we were all enemies of God, however when we confessed that Jesus is truly the Son of God we then were reconciled to the Father. This work of reconciliation took place at the cross. In Christ body of flesh and shedding of blood through death, He is able to present us as holy and unblameable and unreproveable in the sight of the Father. Through the blood of Christ shed at the cross we are reconciled both to the Father and Son. Read these below passages that back up the last two sentences.

Jude 24-25 (KJV)

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Christ presents us as faultless before the Father's presence according to Jude 24-25. We know that the only wise God is the Father as Jesus himself said that the Father is the one true God (John 17;3, 1 Timothy 6:16). Does this mean that Jesus isn't wise? Of course not!! Scripture says that Jesus is the wisdom of God (Proverbs 8:22-31, 1 Corinthians 18:23-24). The Father is the source of all wisdom and Jehoshua is the manifestation and channel of the Father's wisdom.

1 John 1:3 (KJV)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The Father calls and chooses us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-32). God reconciles us to himself through His Son. When we are reconciled to God the Father, we are also reconciled to His Son Jesus Christ. We cannot separate the Father and Son. God showed His love to us by risking eternal loss in sending us His only begotten Son to die for us. Jesus showed His love for us by emptying Himself in coming down to earth and by denying Himself and going to the cross so that we can be reconciled to the Father and Himself. The result of being reconciled to God and Christ is having fellowship with them both and the end result is eternal life (John 17:3).

In order to have eternal life you must have fellowship with both the Father and Son.

Verse 23 follows the sentiment expressed in verses 20-22 and Paul makes a condition of being presented unblameable by Christ to the Father as he says "if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel". We are not allowed to fall away from the faith of the gospel and still think that we will be presented faultless before the Father's presence. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:6-8 (KJV)

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Those who don't diligently seek Jehovah God show their lack of faith. Many have fallen away from the faith and they don't even know it. Those who truly have faith diligently seek the Father as they truly that he rewards those who seek Him. The hope of the gospel is that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God and that His earthly ministry was true, that He died on the cross shedding His blood for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead,  presented the first fruits unto God in heaven and then ascended up to the right hand of the Majesty on high after 40 days spending time with His brethren here on earth. This is the gospel that was preached unto all the world in the time of the apostolic congregation.

Paul declares his ministerial office as He was made a minister by the Son of God directly (Acts 9).

Verse 24, Paul gives us an example of what it is to be a true minister of the gospel as he suffers for the Congregation's sake. Notice that Paul wasn't a taker but a giver. Paul risked often for the gospel's sake and for the sake of the Christian Congregation. Also, Paul rejoiced in his sufferings for Christ. Paul will be a witness against those Pastor's and theologians who are fleecing the sheep and taking from them and getting rich off the gospel.

Verse 25, Paul was made a minister according to the administration (dispensation) of Jehovah. It was the Father through His Son Jesus Christ that called Paul to a minister. Many Pastor's and theologians today have not been called by God and many are hirelings (doing it for a paycheck) and many are outright wolves (doing it to fleece souls of eternal life). Many Pastor's today are simply doing it because they grew up in the church and/or following in the family occupation.

Verse 26-27, the mystery which hath been hid from ages up until the time of the Son of God, is that Christ was and is in the true believer in God. In the old covenant times, it was the Spirit of Christ that was in the patriarchs and prophets. This was hid from the saints of old as the Son of God hadn't been fully revealed yet. There were glimpes of the truth that God had a divine Son but hadn't been fully manifest. It wasn't until the time of Christ's earthly ministry that it was fully revealed that God had a divine begotten Son.

 1 Peter 3:18-20 (KJV)

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The Spirit of Christ was in Noah when he preached the message of repentance unto the disobedient people before the flood came.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV)

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God and Christ. The Spirit of Christ was in the men of old who prophesied, the text above says they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of Christ and the Holy Ghost are one and the same. Ephesians 4:4-6 says there is only One Spirit.

1 Peter 1:10-12 (KJV)

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets who testified beforehand the sufferings of the Son of God and the glory that should follow. This mystery of God (Christ in them) was not fully revealed to the prophets but was manifested to the apostles who then preached unto all the world with the Holy Ghost which was sent down from heaven. Part of this mystery of God was that He has a Son. Again, there were glimpes of God having a divine Son in the old covenant times but it wasn't fully revealed until his earthly life. The Father affirmed the Sonship of Christ at His baptism. The Jews knew that there was a Messiah to come and many even believed this to be a Divine Son however this wasn't fully manifested until the time of Jesus earthly life.

Back to Colossians 1:27, Christ in us is the hope of glory. Christ can only be in us if we abide in Him and obey His commandments. Christ will then dwell in the believer and it is this that will keep us from falling (Jude 24-25). Only by Christ living in us, will see the glory of heaven and dwell forever with the Father and Son. When Christ lives in us we have a hope that without Him we can never have. It's Christ living in us that allows us to overcome until the end so that we receive the crown of life. Christ in us allows us to overcome temptation and to endure hardship. Christ in us gives us a hope beyond this life and it gives us a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Verse 28, we are to preach and teach Christ to every man in the wisdom of God which is found in His word. Only by preaching Christ in the wisdom of God can we present everyman perfect in the Son of God. Most Pastor's today are not preaching the real Jesus Christ as they are not preaching Christ according to the word of God. They are intermingling the philosophies of this world in their preaching of Christ resulting in them preaching a false Christ. These false pulpit preachers make their proselytes twice the sons of hell by giving them a counterfeit Jesus.

Matthew 23:15 (KJV)

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Verse 29, Paul labours for the gospel according to the working of Christ. Paul followed the example of the Son of God. Paul also told the Congregation's to follow his example as he followed Christ. Paul then said that Christ worked mightily in Him and remember in verse 27 he said that Christ in us is the hope of glory. We can only labour for the gospel according to the working of Christ if we have the Spirit of Christ not the spirit of another.