Colossians 1: Bible Study, Commentary and Summary

Here is a Bible study, commentary, and summary of Colossians chapter one.

Colossians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”

The Apostle Paul had to be struck down on the Damascus Road before he finally believed (Acts 9:1-9), and as such, he was called to be an apostle “by the will of God.” No one appoints themselves an apostle any more than a prophet would. In the Old Testament, the prophets were always reluctant to accept this call, and in one case, they even ran away (Jonah 1) so it is God Who must call a man into the ministry and never himself.

Who choose Paul to be an apostle?

Was it Paul’s will?

Colossians 1:3-5 “ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.”

The Apostle Paul was most certainly a thankful man who gave thanks for the Colossians, telling them that the gospel “has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth” (Col 1:6) so by all means, “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10), especially since “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14). Since God has rescued them and us, why should we not participate in the harvest of souls where the Lord of the Harvest sends us?

What is “the hope laid up…in heaven?”

Why should the Colossians walk in a manner worthy of their calling?

Who was it that delivered us from the “domain of darkness?”

Who was the leader of this domain?

Colossians 1:15-16 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, 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.”

Paul is speaking of Jesus Christ Who “is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Col 1:17-20). Paul tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, made visible in Christ. Jesus told Philip, who had asked to be shown the Father, that “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you” (John 14:9)? Being “the firstborn of all creation” essentially means that Jesus is the preeminent one as in the Old Testament, the oldest son, the firstborn son, always held preeminence in the family next to the Father, but also He also created all things and they were created for Him.

What does it mean that Jesus is the firstborn of all creation?

If some claim Jesus was created, how could He have also been said to have created all things?

How does Jesus reflect the attributes of the Father?

What are some of these attributes?

Colossians 1:21-22 “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.”

Prior to our placing our trust in Christ, we had been separated from God by our sins (Isaiah 59:2) and were without hope but Jesus reconciled us in the costliest manner possible; with His own body and by His own death. This was “in order to present you” (and me) before the Father as “blameless and above reproach.” Before this, we didn’t even have access to the Father and our mind was hostile toward the things of God and doing what we do best; evil deeds, but that all changed when God called us and Christ died for us, ending the separation.

What does a “hostile mind” mean?

Was there any other way to the Father (John 6:44)?

Colossians 1:26-27 “I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Just as Paul started off this chapter, he ends the chapter again by reminding the Colossians (and us) that he became a minister “according to the stewardship from God,” meaning it was not his own doing (Col 1:1). It was given to him, not that he offered it too God. This ministry’s purpose was to make know to the saints what was hidden or cloaked in the Old Testament, but now made plain by God through Christ.

Why do you think Paul calls it a mystery?

Why was it hidden?

What are some of the riches that the Gentiles now have access too?

Summary

In summary, the Apostle Paul didn’t call himself to be an apostle, but was appointed by God, and now that the Colossians have been redeemed, he expects them to walk in a manner befitting a believer in Christ, Who Himself created all things for Himself. He also ended the hostilities between us and God that our sins had caused and now this long hidden mystery is made plain for all to see. It is obvious to us but still a hidden mystery to those who all their lives have rejected Christ. May that not be so of you.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.