This Week's Study

1:1–5 Gratitude is designed to be constant. Paul echoes this truth by saying that he always thanks God for the church at Colossae. He has good reason for this, as they have shown exemplary faith and love. Their faith is in Jesus, and they demonstrate love to the saints. This faith and love are grounded in the hope laid up for them in heaven. That hope inspires and sustains both faith and love.

1:5–8 This hope came from the word of truth, which Paul calls the gospel. The gospel was not preached by Paul, for this church was founded by one of his converts—Epaphras. This gospel has not only reached them but has gone out into the whole world, and it is bearing fruit and increasing. They not only heard the gospel but also understood it. Epaphras shared the good news of their faith and love with Paul.

1:9–10 Paul is not satisfied with the good news he has heard about them; quite the opposite, he is inspired to pray for them all the more. He prays continually that they may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Knowledge of God always leads to tangible change. As they grow in this knowledge, they will be able to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, being fully pleasing to him. The pleasing believer bears fruit and increases in knowledge. Both are necessary. One will notice that Paul does not simply teach for knowledge, but he prays for knowledge.

1:9–14 One will notice Paul’s all-encompassing perspective. He does not cease to pray; his prayers are continual. He prays that they will be filled with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. He wants them to be fully pleasing to God, to bear fruit in every good work, and to be strengthened with all power. The believer’s life is not designed to be experienced with only a part of God; believers are to yearn for all that God has for them. It is his desire for us to have all of him.

1:11–14 As God’s people grow in knowledge and bear fruit, they are strengthened with power. This is not their own power but God’s power—it is his glorious might. This power gives believers the strength to endure and to be patient with joy. These three qualities are rare and not usually found together. Some can do one without the other, but when God strengthens you, you endure; you endure with patience, and you are patient with joy. This joy is expressed through thanksgiving for what God has done for us. And what has God done? He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. God qualified us by delivering us from the domain of darkness and transferring us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. Since we are in his kingdom, this means that the Son is our King and rules over us. In him we have redemption, which comes through the forgiveness of sins.

1:15–20 Paul now begins to elucidate who Jesus is. All of the growth and fruitfulness he desires for them are tied to this one person—Jesus.

He begins by describing Jesus as the image of the invisible God. When we see him, we see the one who is invisible. Many wonder and even look up to imagine a God they’ve never seen, but Jesus came near and showed us what we were looking for. He is our example—everything we’ve been looking for. Jesus is God.

Next, he describes him as the firstborn of all creation. In Hebrew culture, the term firstborn spoke of authority and sovereignty—not necessarily birth order. Jesus was not created. What Paul is describing is Jesus’ divine authority over all creation. David was appointed by God to be the firstborn, even though he was not born first. All things, visible and invisible, were created by him—on earth and in heaven. Thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities are included. This means that anything or anyone that is authoritative answers to him. The authority of science answers to him. The authority of man answers to him. Anything that has authority answers to him. This also means that anything in nature that we find beautiful is a reflection of him. As he reflects the invisible God, so creation reflects his goodness and power. Jesus is powerful and beautiful.

Jesus is not only first, he is the one who holds all things together. He is like the glue that touches every component we see and gives it stability. If it holds together, if it carries any longevity, it is because of Jesus. Jesus is not some absent father; what he creates, he sustains. What he births, he involves himself with and sustains continually. Jesus is loving.

His authority is most importantly tied to a body. This body is described as the church. The world is not his body—the church is. The church is therefore authoritative and important in creation. Jesus is not just God; Jesus is our God.

Jesus is also the beginning. This means not only is he the orchestrator of the events found in Genesis, but he is also the beginning of the new creation. He redeems creation as well as man—a new earth for a new man. He is the firstborn from the dead. At the Garden of Eden he lost us, but he redeemed us at the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is our joy.

In Jesus, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. He was fully God and fully man. All things were reconciled through the blood he shed on the cross, which brought about peace. Jesus is our peace.

1:21–23 Having addressed Jesus, Paul now turns his attention to those Jesus redeemed. This needed to be done because they were alienated and hostile in mind. We were not just ignorant of God, we were enemies of God. One might be tempted to think that some need him more than others, but this is not the case—we all need him. This alienation and hostility are what lead to evil deeds. The answer to this was reconciliation. Just as alienation led to evil deeds, reconciliation now leads to us being presented as holy, blameless, and above reproach. This is only if we continue in the faith. This is not some fleeting faith; faith in Jesus must be stable and steadfast. We do not need him less as we walk with him; if anything, we learn to depend on him more. Our hope should be set firmly on him. This is the hope of which Paul is a minister.

1:24 Paul’s ministry of this gospel has led to his suffering for the sake of the church. His suffering emboldens and inspires the church, and it also gives them the freedom to grow, since the enemy has attacked Paul primarily. He rejoices because it is developing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Jesus’ death was sufficient, but because we are his, we too will suffer. This suffering always brings glory and development to the lives of God’s people.

1:25–26 Paul describes his ministry. First, it was a ministry given to him. We are called by God to fulfill his purposes; we don’t come up with them but instead discover his plans for our lives. Second, it was for the sake of others. Paul’s ministry was for the church, and we too are called to fulfill our calling for the blessing of others. Paul was specifically called to make God’s word fully known. He had been given a special revelation to unveil the mystery.

1:27 God chose to make the mystery known to his people and did so among the least likely—the Gentiles. God cares for those whom many consider outsiders. This reveals to the world his immense love. If God can love the people farthest from him, he can love anyone. This mystery is rich in glory, and it is none other than Christ in us. God chose to dwell not merely among but within those who believe in him. It gives us an unshakeable hope never before experienced by others.