COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:1 Greeting. As he often does, Paul begins by asking God to pour out his grace and peace upon the Colossians. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:2 COLOSSAE. A city in Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia. It was on the Lycus River just over 100 miles (161 km) east of Ephesus. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:3 Thanksgiving. Paul thanks God for the Colossians and their expressions of faith, hope, and love. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:4 FAITH... LOVE... HOPE. Paul wrote often about these three Christian virtues (see Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:3). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:6 IN THE WHOLE WORLD. The gospel has spread from Jerusalem into Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, and probably into Egypt, North Africa, and Persia as well. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:7 Paul did not start the church at Colossae. The people heard the gospel from EPAPHRAS (a shortened form of “Epaphroditus”), a fellow Colossian (Colossians 4:12). ON YOUR BEHALF. The esv footnote indicates that some manuscripts read “on _our_ behalf.” If this is the o... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:9 Prayer. Paul reports how he regularly prays for the Colossians. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:10 SO AS. The “wisdom and understanding” (v. Colossians 1:9) would then lead to changed lives, for it would enable these Christians TO WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE LORD. “To walk” is a metaphor for conducting or behaving oneself (compare Psalms 1:1). Paul calls beli... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:11 BE STRENGTHENED WITH ALL POWER. God, not idols and demons, has “all power.” FOR ALL ENDURANCE AND PATIENCE WITH JOY. God gives this power to help believers continue in the faith, resist temptation and deceitful teachers, and know the joy of the Lord. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var ima... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:12 SHARE IN THE INHERITANCE. God’s promise to Israel under the old covenant (see Genesis 13:14; Numbers 26:52); Paul applies it to Gentiles under the new covenant. SAINTS. “Holy ones” or “consecrated people.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:13 HE HAS DELIVERED US. Just as God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt under the old covenant (Exodus 6:6; Exodus 14:30), he has now delivered them FROM THE DOMAIN OF DARKNESS, that is, from Satan and the powers of evil (see Acts 26:18). THE KINGDOM OF HIS BELOV... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:14 REDEMPTION. Deliverance or release from captivity. Believers have been rescued from condemnation and have received FORGIVENESS OF their SINS. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:15 Praise to Christ. In moving poetic language, Paul praises the lordship of Christ over creation and redemption. These verses may be part of an early Christian hymn. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:16 BY HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED. Jesus cannot be the first thing created, since he himself created “all things.” THRONES OR DOMINIONS OR RULERS OR AUTHORITIES. Paul uses Jewish terms for various rankings of angels. He probably refers to evil angels, since they play... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:17 IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER. Christ continuously sustains his creation, preventing it from disintegrating (compare Hebrews 1:3). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:18 HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY. This metaphor conveys Christ’s leadership over the church (see 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:25). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:19 FOR IN HIM ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD WAS PLEASED TO DWELL. The term “fullness” here and throughout the letter recalls its use in the OT, where God “filled” the temple with his presence. Jesus not only bears God’s glory, but all that God _is_ also dwells in him. He is... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:20 TO RECONCILE TO HIMSELF ALL THINGS. As “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), Jesus will ultimately defeat all rebellion against God. For believers, this means reconciliation to God as his friends. For nonbelievers and the demonic powers, this means defeat by Christ, the... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:21 Reconciliation to God. Paul explains the meaning of reconciliation for the church. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:23 IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH. The specific Greek phrase Paul uses here indicates that he fully expects the Colossian believers _will_ continue in the faith. IN ALL CREATION. To both Jews and Gentiles throughout the Greco-Roman world (compare v. Colossians 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:24 Paul’s Labor for the Gospel. Paul describes his own work for the gospel generally, and then more specifically for the Colossians. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:25 THE STEWARDSHIP FROM GOD. Paul views himself as a divinely chosen “steward” or “administrator.” This word was used widely in the Roman world for the administrator of a large household or estate. Paul’s responsibility was to MAKE THE WORD OF GOD FULLY KNOWN. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:26 THE MYSTERY refers to God’s unfolding plan for the world and for redemption through the Messiah (see Colossians 2:2; Colossians 4:3; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:9; Ephesians 6:19). Key aspects of God’s plan were hidden for ages and generations [ Continue Reading ]
COLOSSIANS—NOTE ON COLOSSIANS 1:29 Paul is STRUGGLING WITH ALL HIS [Christ’s] ENERGY to help the Colossians grow and mature in Christ. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]