Colossians, written between 59-62 AD. Timothy being the scribe for Paul, Chapter 1 and verse 1 reads.
Col.1:1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
[2] To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul being a chosen vessel of God, is an Apostle of Jesus, a sent one. Acts 9.
Col.1:3] We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Here’s an example for us, pray for others.
Col.1:4] Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
[5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
By the gospels we hear of the hope in Jesus Christ. It is the hope in Faith, of the resurrection of Jesus. Let’s go to 1Pet.1:3-5 and read.
1Pet.1:3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
The mercy of God the Father which has begotten us, don’t overlook who receives his mercy, those that believe he has resurrected.
1Pet.1:4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
We receive the inheritance for his sacrifice on the cross.
1Pet.1:5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Salvation for faith until the end times. John 10:28. Back to Col.1 and verse 6 reads.
Col.1:6] Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
When we hear the truth, we know by unction that it is from God. Then we are to spread the truth, the Word, to the world.
Col.1:7] As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
[8] Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Epaphras founded the church in Colossi, and did speak of their love for the Lord.
Col.1:9] For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
All wisdom, knowledge and understanding comes from the LORD. Let’s go to Proverbs 1 and read verses 5-7. Wisdom speaking.
Prov.1:5] A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
[6] To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
[7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
A great time to explain this word “Fear”, it is Reverence, absolute Love. Back to Col.1 and verse 10 reads.
Col.1:10] That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Planting seeds as we go through this world, preparing the way for the Lord.
Col.1:11] Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Patience is the hardest to learn for God’s elect, that is waiting for the Lord.
Col.1:12] Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
This light is Jesus Christ, as we are in him, he is in us.
Col.1:13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
He has kept us from the evil of this world and has moved us into his kingdom by the sacrifice of his Son.
Col.1:14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Only through repentance can our sins be forgiven.
Col.1;15] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Isa.7:14, Emmanuel, God with us. but also Gen.1:26 reads.
Gen.1:26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
He included himself when he said this. Back to Col.1 and verse 16 reads.
Col.1:16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
It is written in John 1 and verse 3 reads.
John 1:3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Also, in Rev. 4:11 it reads.
Rev.4:11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Back to Col.1 and verse 17 reads.
Col.1:17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
The Son is God with us in the flesh. John 1:14.
Col.1:18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
After Christ was crucified, while yet in the tomb, he went to those on the other side of the gulf to preach to them and many were saved. 1Pet.3:18-19 reads.
1Pet.3:18] For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
[19] By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Back to Col.1 and verse 20 continues.
Col.1:20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Showing us here he went back to those that were on the other side of the gulf. We need to take away from this that it is his blood on the cross that gives us Salvation upon repentance.
Col.1:21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
[22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Knowing his sacrifice for us should bring us humbly to him with repentance. We know that no evil can stand before God.
Col.1:23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
This word “If” is a condition. We must continue in Faith.
Col.1:24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Paul suffered much for teaching the word of God, he picked up his cross.
Col.1:25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Speaking of the stewardship of God.
Col.1:26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Made known to his elect at this time, meaning the fact that the antichrist comes before the true Christ.
Col.1:27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Known even to the Gentiles, Isaiah 49:6 reads.
Isa.49:6] And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
So much said of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, made known even to the Gentiles for these end times. Back to Col.1 and verse 28 reads.
Col.1:28] Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Showing here we need to teach others the word of God. Perfect means mature.
Col.1:29] Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
It is God Almighty that works in us for his will. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible