Colossians 1
Christ and the Father are seen working for our salvation
Text
Comments
 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, an apostle He shows his credentials.
  Timotheus See on ac1601.
  Saints Greek hagioi. See ro0107.
  Colosse Or more commonly spelled "Colossae." The city had been much larger than it was in the time of Paul. See map, left of center.
 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:
.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.		   3 - God and the Father Two terms for the same person.
  4 - In Christ The term is for those who are totally committed and who see their very lives and salvation dependent on this relationship jn1504.
  4,5 - Do you see some of the idea of 1co1313?
  6 - Which is come According to the Greek, these words refer to the gospel.
  6 - Bringeth forth fruit Fruit of the Spirit ga0522.
  6 - Knew Or, more precisely "came to know fully." This comes from experience.
  7 - Epaphras Apparently a native of Colossae co0412.
  7 - Minister See ep0621.
 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;		   9 - Wisdom and spiritual understanding Should be "spiritual wisdom and understanding." The adjective, "spiritual," applies to both. The Holy Spirit helps us discern right and wrong is3021.
  10 - Increasing Knowing God is a gradual and important process jn1703; 2pe0318.
  11 - Power Did you notice how the power we are given is to be used? and what the result will be? Also see jn0112.
.12 ¶ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
.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:		   12 - Giving thanks As we sense and express gratitude to the source of all good things, we are happy. ep0504, ph0406, co0207.
.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.		   15 - Firstborn Means more than born first ps08927, 1ch2610. Christ obviously is not the first ant, or horse, or tree. He is the one who gave these things life. He opens the way for us to have eternal life. He is the greatest v18. The firstborn in the OT was the one who followed his father as spiritual leader. See note below.
  16 - All things The Father and the Holy Spirit were also involved ge0101f, while Christ was the active agent.
.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:		   21 - Reconciled How wonderful! He prepares us for harmony with God.
  22 - Body of His flesh In His human nature, Christ prepares us in two ways. Of course He was divine, too. ro0704.
  22 - Holy and unblameable Sanctified and justified. The two are also seen in both 1jo0109 and 2pe0314.
.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:		   25 - Dispensation See on 1co0917.
  26 - Mystery The way Christ works in us to develop our character was revealed in the sanctuary system but is seen more clearly in us who have fully committed our lives to Christ.
  27 - Make known God wants all including the Gentiles to know the mystery.
  27 - Christ in you The "hope" isn't wishing. It's a reality we look forward to. Jesus stands at the door re0320. As we open to Him and grow in Christ, our desires become the same as His.
 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.		   28 - Perfect in Christ This does not mean that our feet never slip. It means that, placing all we have and are into His hands, we claim His robe of righteousness. He then stands in our place before the Father in the sanctuary in Heaven! His righteousness becomes ours!
Next
Contact
Colossians home
Commentary home
The Firstborn
___________________

    In the days of the patriarchs, the first son born had special privileges and responsibilities ge4813, de2115, 2ch2103 (often texts have more verses than the one verse indicated in the link code). He received a double portion of the inheritance and was given the work of family priest. We see it in the story of Jacob and Esau ge2718. The firstborns were to be redeemed as described in ex1313, nu1815. On leaving Egypt the firstborn sons were saved from death by blood on the doorposts ex12. This represented Christ's work of salvation. Then the tribe of Levi was charged with the priesthood nu0311, nu0345.
   The term was also used figuratively as in the text above v15. Christ was also "firstborn" of the dead v18. His resurrection is the key for ours 1co1512. See jb1813, is1430. David was a "firstborn" although the youngest son of Jesse ps08927, 1sa1714.
    In summary, the firstborn is the one who opens the womb or path for others to follow ex1302. Compare he0210.