Chapter 1
1:1: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus"... Paul is an apostle indeed! Even from the beginning of his renewal (In his calling) It is made clear that Paul was personally sent by Christ. Paul makes this claim to apostleship multiple times in the New Testament. If Paul were a false, self-proclaiming apostle, he would not be "filling up what is lacking on behalf of [Christ's] body". Apostle (Apostolos) means "one who is sent". Paul was sent by Christ to preach to the gentiles. An Apostle is not just sent but sent with authority in the name of the one who sent them. Paul's calling and authority are verified by the other apostles and can even be seen with Paul rebuking Peter. All in all, Paul was a true apostle of Christ. "Timothy"... Timothy was Paul's child in the faith and one of "spirit" with him. (Philippians 2:20)
1:2: saints..." Unlike catholic doctrine which "canonizes" saints and holds them in high regard and status, The Bible calls us all to be saints. Saints simply means "set apart ones" or "holy ones". Paul was addressing this letter to the saints in Christ that were at the church in Colossae.
1:3-4: Somebody's true faith in the Lord is something that is to be rejoiced over and praise be given to God.
1:3: This steadfast prayer was done with thanksgiving. (Philippians 4:6)
1:4: "the love which you have for all the saints," Love is the unifying factor of Christian fellowship and allows us to strive together.
1:5: "because of the hope laid up for you in heaven," This hope is the gospel of Christ and their hope and faith in Christ was the root and founding participant of their love for eachother.
1:6: "bearing fruit and multiplying... has been doing in you..." A Biblical understanding of the true gospel is crucial to bearing good fruit. Verses 9 and 10 even tell us that Paul was praying that they would be filled with the "full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding". So that they could walk in a manner pleasing of the Lord. (Col 3:16). An understanding of the word of God is a necessity to walk in a manner that pleases and brings glory to God.
1:7: "Epaphras..." A co-laborer with Paul in the faith and the possible founder of the Colossae church. We know that Paul is not the founder of the Colossae church partly because of his comment of "all those who have not seen my face in the flesh,". Paul could not have founded a church in which they had never seen or met him. This is why it is more likely that Epaphras is the founder of the Church at Colossae. They were familiar with Epaphras and knew him.
1:8: "love in the Spirit..." Love found in the Spirit is the only true love this world has. (Galatians 5:22). This world has no true, steadfast, abounding love except for the love that is found in the true follower of Christ.
1:9: What reason? The reason is their love in the Spirit (cf. verse 8). A hint to this fact is found in these words: "since the day we heard". Heard what? Of their love in the Spirit. Because of the faithful brothers in Colossae's true commitment to Christ, Paul and Timothy had not ceased to pray for the brothers at Colossae that they may be full in the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom.
1:10: This full knowledge of God's will allows us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and allows us to please Him in everything we do. If we walk by the Spirit we will not grieve the Spirit and not bring displeasure to God.
1:11: "patience…" This work is "makrothumia"; It means "long suffering". A precise definition would be something like the opposite of "short-tempered"; it essentially means "long-tempered". Makrothumia is also a fruit of the spirit.
1:12: "Qualified" in Greek ("hikanoo" is from "hikanos" which means to "make able"). God has made us able, moreover "enabled" us to share in his inheritance (which is our portion/lot.) "qualified" is the English Equivalent of the term which means "Sufficient". The Lord has indeed qualified us by His own grace and good will, through the cross (v. 20, Ephesians 1:4-5).
1:13: 'Trans" is to go beyond. He has taken us beyond the authority of darkness and into the kingdom of Christ.
1:14: "redemption…" This Greek word "apolutrosis" speaks essentially to a release from debt through payment. Essentially a "release made in effect by payment of ransom". (cf v.20) Redemption is Reconciliation.
1:15: This "image" is not the same as the image we bear as humans. This image is the exact imprint of the Fathers nature rather than the "likeness" of God we bear. (Hebrews 1:3)
1:16: "For Him..." All things were made for Christ to bring glory to the Godhead.
1:17: "And He is before all things," This verse is not to say that there is a time that Christ didn't exist but was still made before everything else made. This is to say that Christ is eternal because all things were made through Him and are held together in Him.
1:18: Christ is the head of the Church. He is our leader, our authority, our God. There is no human institution that takes the head of the church. that authority belongs to Christ alone. This is why Sola Scriptura is so important! Because we cannot find true spiritual authority in anything apart from the word of God.
1:19: Christ is not part-God or part-human. He is fully man and fully God. He has two natures, one human, one divine. Both are in their own fullness.
1:20: Reconciliation to God the Father only comes through Christ: "through the blood of His Cross".
1:21: "in mind and in evil deeds"... It is important to understand that this is not just a juvenile sin but a complete alienation and lack of recognition to the holiness of God. We were not just people or humans but sons of disobedience (3:6) "alienated…" This word is "apollotrioo"; it means to be estranged or a non-participant or "cut off from". We were previously "cut off" and "non-participants" of Christ, committing evil deeds, but God reconciled us by His good will.
1:22-23: We can only be brought holy and blameless if keep firmly grounded and faithful. This verse stresses the importance of walking in obedience to the Lord.
1:23: "Of which I, Paul, was made a minister." Paul had been set apart by God but this "making" Paul into a minister was found not at Paul's birth or conception but was found at Paul's calling from God. (Galatians 1:15-16) This calling was not earned but given. (1:20) The reconciliation spoke of here is only found through steadfast faith in Christ.
1:24: This is not saying that Christ or Christ's atonement was lacking but rather was speaking of Paul's persecution. Paul was taking these persecutions on "behalf of Christ's body". (Matthew 24:9) This persecution also goes to show that Paul was truly In Christ and "firmly established" in Christ. (Matthew 13:21, Matthew 5:10)
1:25: "stewardship…" A steward was one who managed another's household or "looked after another's affairs". Paul was made a steward of Christ's church. A minister according to that stewardly authority.
1:26: Christ is the image of God and the physical manifestation of God. Christ is the mystery (2:2) and is still revealed to us today through the Word by the Holy Spirit
(John 15:26-27, John 14:26). "manifested…" This word means to "reveal, make manifest, show openly".
1:27: The indwelling of Christ was previously hidden from past generations but now made known to the New Testament saints. "Saints..." (Compare with notes on 1:2). God made the riches of the mystery known to the saints which He has called. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
1:28: "admonishing…" to admonish is to counsel or warn. Noutheteo comes from "nous - mind" and "tithemi - to put/place". It essentially means to "place the mind". We proclaim Christ and "admonish" others, setting their mind and warning them to Christ. (cf. Acts 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
1:29: Paul was laboring and striving (agonizingly working) according to Christs working, to spread the word of God and admonish and teach everyman with all wisdom in Christ.
1:28-2:2: Paul was laboring and striving to "present every man complete in Christ". It was a struggle (2:1) both in Colossae and Laodicea for Paul to bring these believers to maturity. Paul was striving that they would be held together in love and would have a mature, "full" understanding of Christ.