Colossians 1 KJV
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.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
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;
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:
Colossians 1 (New Testament)
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.
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;
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;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Colossians 1 (New Testament)
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
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:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
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;
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.
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:
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;
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:
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;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
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:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
| Greek Word + Transliteration + Meaning | Verse + Snippet | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|
| παύω — pauō (“to cease/stop”) | Verse 9 — “…we do not cease to pray…” | Pauō denotes intentional cessation, emphasizing Paul's uninterrupted intercession. The term underscores pastoral constancy. — Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon (1889) |
| πληρόω — plēroō (“to fill/complete”) | Verse 9 — “…filled with the knowledge…” | Plēroō indicates spiritual completeness in divine will. Paul stresses fullness over partial understanding. — Richard C. Trench, Synonyms of the NT (1896) |
| σοφία — sophia (“wisdom/skill”) | Verse 9 — “…in all wisdom and understanding…” | Sophia signifies spiritual insight rooted in God. Paul contrasts divine wisdom with human speculation. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1884) |
| ἐξουσία — exousia (“authority/power”) | Verse 13 — “…power of darkness…” | Exousia denotes ruling authority behind spiritual oppression. Paul highlights Christ’s superior dominion. — Philip Schaff, Commentary on the NT (1882) |
| ἀπολύτρωσις — apolytrōsis (“redemption/ransom release”) | Verse 14 — “…in whom we have redemption…” | Apolytrōsis conveys liberation through a paid price. Paul stresses Christ’s atoning work. — James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
| εἰκών — eikōn (“image/likeness”) | Verse 15 — “…image of the invisible God…” | Eikōn articulates perfect representation. Paul asserts Christ’s full deity and revelatory role. — Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon (1889) |
| πρωτότοκος — prōtotokos (“firstborn/pre-eminent”) | Verse 15 — “…firstborn of every creature…” | Prōtotokos denotes rank, not origin. Paul proclaims Christ’s supremacy over creation. — Trench, Synonyms of the NT (1896) |
| συνέστηκεν — synestēken (“to hold together”) | Verse 17 — “…by him all things consist.” | The verb implies cohesive sustaining power. Paul attributes cosmic stability to Christ. — Schaff, Church History (1890) |
| κατοικέω — katoikeō (“to dwell permanently”) | Verse 19 — “…it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” | Katoikeō signifies permanent residence of divine fullness. Paul asserts Christ’s essential deity. — Delitzsch, Commentary (1884) |
| ἀποκαταλλάσσω — apokatallassō (“reconcile fully”) | Verse 20 — “…to reconcile all things…” | The verb emphasizes complete restoration. Paul teaches cosmic reconciliation through Christ’s blood. — Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
Chapter 1
Verse: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." - Colossians 1:17
Lesson: In this chapter, Paul emphasizes the supremacy of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, and the head of the Church. This verse reminds us that everything in this world is held together by Christ, and without Him, everything would fall apart.
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Conclusion: As believers, we need to acknowledge the supremacy of Christ in our lives and give Him the central place. We must rely on Him to hold our lives together and sustain us in all circumstances. We should also strive to make Christ known to others, just as Paul did, so that they too may experience His saving grace.
Prayer Points: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the supremacy of Christ, who holds all things together. Help us to put Christ first in our lives and to rely on Him to sustain us. Give us boldness to share Christ with others, that they may experience His saving grace. Amen.
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