Colossians 1:19

19. For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;

Translation and Paraphrase

19. (Christ has this universal preeminence) because it was well-pleasing (to God for) all the fulness (of God-hood) to dwell in him;

Notes

1.

With the beginning of Colossians 1:19 a new style of composition appears. The short independent clauses of Colossians 1:16-18 cease, and the new section comes as an extended paragraph (through Colossians 1:23) relating the things which God's good pleasure decided concerning Christ.

2.

Colossians 1:19-20 says that it was well pleasing (pleasing presumably to God) for Christ to have two honors:

(1)

All the divine fulness would dwell in him.

(2)

All things would be reconciled through him.

3.

Those using modern translations like the R.S.V. will quickly notice a difference in translation of Colossians 1:19 between the newer versions and the older King James and American Standard versions.

King James: For it pleased the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell, (The A.S.V. is similar)

Revised Standard: For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell.

The difference in translation does not indicate any variation in the ancient manuscript readings. The difficulty lies in the fact that Colossians 1:19 in Greek has no subject clearly stated, unless the term fulness is taken as the subject, which is done in the R.S.V, But the word fulness seems to be the subject of the infinitive to dwell, and it further seems a bit incongruous as a subject for was pleased. The Gnostics used the word fulness as a title for God, and the Colossians were probably familiar with this usage. But its basic meaning is abstract, signifying a full quantity, the full character, the full measure, an abundance. There is no indication that Paul used the word in any sense other than its usual meaning. Fulness is a quality rather than a person. How can a quality be pleased? The R.S.V. reading makes it sound as if the quality of divine fulness is to be thought of as apart from God himself. The R.S.V. reading, while grammatically unobjectionable, leaves us somewhat unsatisfied with the meaning.

To get around this difficulty the K.J.V. and A.S.V. supplied the words the father as a subject for was pleased. This was done because it apparently is the father who, according to Colossians 1:20, is reconciling all things through Christ. The same subject seems to go with was pleased in Colossians 1:19 that goes with to reconcile in Colossians 1:20.

It probably would be simpler and safer just to render the verb in Colossians 1:19 as having an impersonal subject: It was well-pleasing for (for) all the fulness to dwell in him. This is quite literally the way the Greek text has it. Also the particular verb here (eudokeo) often is used with an impersonal subject.

4.

It was well-pleasing (presumably to God and everyone else involved) that in Christ should all the fulness dwell. All the qualities of God-hood dwell in Christ to a fulness. There is no jealousy or rivalry in heaven.

Study and Review

22.

Define the word fulness in Colossians 1:19. What did the Gnostics mean by this word?

23.

In whom does all the fulness dwell? Is this a grudgingly granted concession to him? How do you know?

24.

Through whom are all things to be reconciled?