Paul's self-identification as apostle "through God's will" appears in only four Pauline openings, marking Colossians among his most authority-conscious letters.
Colossians 1
Epistolary Opening
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving for the Colossians
3We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
5because 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
6which 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,
7even as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf,
8who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
Prayer for Spiritual Growth
9For 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,
10that 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,
11strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy,
12giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,
13who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
14in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.
The Supremacy of Christ
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16For 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.
17He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
18He 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.
19For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,
20and 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.
Reconciliation through Christ
21You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
22yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
23if 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.
Paul's Ministry and Suffering
24Now 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,
25of which I was made a servant according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you to fulfill the word of God,
26the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
27to 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.
28We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
29for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
Paul opens his letter to the Colossians with thanksgiving for their faith and love, followed by prayers for their spiritual growth and understanding. The chapter's centerpiece is a magnificent hymn declaring Christ's supremacy over all creation and his role as head of the church, emphasizing that all things were created through him and for him. Paul concludes by describing Christ's work of reconciliation and his own ministry of suffering for the sake of the gospel.
Context
This opening chapter establishes the theological foundation for Paul's subsequent warnings against false teachings in Colossae.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2 Epistolary Greeting Paul and Timothy extend grace and peace to the faithful believers in Colossae.
- 3-8 Thanksgiving for Faith and Love Paul expresses gratitude for the Colossians' faith in Christ and love for fellow believers.
- 9-14 Prayer for Spiritual Maturity Paul prays for their growth in wisdom, worthy living, and understanding of their redemption.
- 15-20 The Supremacy of Christ A hymnic passage declaring Christ as the image of God, creator of all things, and reconciler.
- 21-23 Personal Reconciliation Paul applies Christ's reconciling work specifically to the Colossians' transformation from alienation to holiness.
- 24-29 Paul's Apostolic Ministry Paul describes his suffering for the church and his mission to proclaim the mystery of Christ.
Epistolary Opening
1:1–1:2 epistle instruction solemn
Paul opens his letter to the Colossians by identifying himself as an apostle by God's will, along with Timothy, and extends grace and peace to the faithful believers in Colossae.
person_contrast
Paul's self-identification as apostle "through God's will" appears in only four Pauline openings, marking Colossians among his most authority-conscious letters.
Thanksgiving for the Colossians
1:3–1:8 epistle prayer joyful
Paul expresses thanksgiving to God for the Colossians' faith, love, and hope, acknowledging how the gospel has borne fruit among them through Epaphras' ministry.
person_contrast
Paul's thanksgiving formula uniquely combines "faith," "love," and "hope" as a triad here, while his other letters typically pair only two of these cardinal virtues together.
Prayer for Spiritual Growth
1:9–1:14 epistle prayer hopeful
Paul prays for the Colossians' spiritual growth in wisdom and knowledge, that they may live worthily and be strengthened by God's power for endurance and joy.
person_contrast
Paul's prayer uniquely combines military language ("strengthened with all power") with inheritance terminology ("share in the saints' inheritance"), creating a rare fusion of spiritual warfare and covenant blessing themes.
The Supremacy of Christ
1:15–1:20 epistle instruction triumphant
A christological hymn declaring Christ's supremacy as the image of God, creator of all things, head of the church, and the one through whom all things are reconciled.
person_contrast
While Jesus typically exercises authority through judgment in the Gospels, this hymn uniquely presents his cosmic authority as fundamentally reconciling, making peace through his blood on the cross.
Reconciliation through Christ
1:21–1:23 epistle instruction hopeful
Paul explains how the Colossians have been reconciled to God through Christ's death, transforming them from enemies to holy and blameless people if they remain faithful.
person_contrast
Paul's conditional phrase "if you continue in the faith" creates theological tension by making the permanence of reconciliation dependent on human perseverance rather than divine grace alone.
Paul's Ministry and Suffering
1:24–1:29 epistle instruction triumphant
Paul describes his ministry and suffering for the church, revealing the mystery of Christ among the Gentiles and his mission to present everyone perfect in Christ.
person_contrast
Paul's paradoxical "rejoicing in sufferings" (v.24) uniquely combines his typical grace language with rare suffering terminology, creating one of only four passages where he explicitly connects personal affliction to Christ's ongoing work.
Insights
Paul's thanksgiving formula uniquely combines "faith," "love," and "hope" as a triad here, while his other letters typically pair only two of these cardinal virtues together.
Paul's prayer uniquely combines military language ("strengthened with all power") with inheritance terminology ("share in the saints' inheritance"), creating a rare fusion of spiritual warfare and covenant blessing themes.
While Jesus typically exercises authority through judgment in the Gospels, this hymn uniquely presents his cosmic authority as fundamentally reconciling, making peace through his blood on the cross.
Paul's conditional phrase "if you continue in the faith" creates theological tension by making the permanence of reconciliation dependent on human perseverance rather than divine grace alone.
Paul's paradoxical "rejoicing in sufferings" (v.24) uniquely combines his typical grace language with rare suffering terminology, creating one of only four passages where he explicitly connects personal affliction to Christ's ongoing work.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Colossians 1:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Corinthians 1:1 Lexical
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Co…
1 Corinthians 1:1 Lexical
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 Timothy 1:1 Lexical
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 1:1 Lexical
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ J…
Philemon 1:1 Lexical
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
Colossians 1:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Romans 1:7 Lexical
to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jes…
1 Peter 5:12 Lexical
Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that…
Ephesians 1:2 Lexical
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:3 Lexical
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:2 Lexical
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:3 1 reference
Colossians 1:4 2 references
Colossians 1:5 1 reference
Colossians 1:6 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Corinthians 1:14 Lexical
as also you acknowledged us in part—that we are your boasting, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
John 18:37 Lexical
Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have b…
Ephesians 4:21 Lexical
if indeed you heard him and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
Colossians 1:7 3 references
Lexicals 3
Colossians 4:7 Lexical
All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in t…
Ephesians 6:21 Lexical
But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, w…
1 Corinthians 4:17 Lexical
Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my…
Colossians 1:9 2 references
Colossians 1:10 1 reference
Colossians 1:12 1 reference
Colossians 1:13 1 reference
Colossians 1:14 1 reference
Colossians 1:15 2 references
Colossians 1:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ephesians 1:21 Lexical
far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that whi…
Revelation 10:6 Lexical
and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things…
1 Corinthians 8:5 Lexical
For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many…
Acts 7:49 Lexical
‘heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord. ‘Or w…
Revelation 20:11 Lexical
I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the sky fled away. There was found no pl…
Colossians 1:18 1 reference
Colossians 1:20 4 references
Lexicals 4
1 Corinthians 8:5 Lexical
For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many…
Ephesians 2:16 Lexical
and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it.
Revelation 11:6 Lexical
These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over th…
Acts 2:19 Lexical
I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
Colossians 1:21 1 reference
Colossians 1:22 4 references
Lexicals 4
Ephesians 1:4 Lexical
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in lo…
Ephesians 5:27 Lexical
that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she sho…
Jude 1:24 Lexical
Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in gre…
Romans 12:1 Lexical
Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Go…
Colossians 1:24 2 references
Lexicals 2
Colossians 1:26 2 references
Lexicals 2
Colossians 1:27 4 references
Lexicals 4
Romans 9:23 Lexical
and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory—
Ephesians 1:18 Lexical
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches o…
1 Timothy 3:16 Lexical
Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by…
Romans 11:25 Lexical
For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a…
Colossians 1:28 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
v. 25
v. 26
v. 27
v. 28
v. 29
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
Loading map...
Timeline
Crucifixion
~30 ADJesus' death by crucifixion on Golgotha, bearing the sins of humanity as the ultimate sacrifice. This central Christian event provides atonement and reconciliation between God and mankind.
Christ's death enables the reconciliation of all things mentioned in this supremacy hymn.
The Supremacy of Christ