Finished: Book of Colossians Inc. Introduction

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Author : of Colossians is the apostle Paul.


Date : the letter to the Colossians is one of the Prison Epistles, meaning that Paul wrote it during his house arrest in Rome, sometime between Ad 60-62


Audience : Paul wrote this letter to the church in Colossae (In modern-day Turkey). Prior to the first century Ad, Colossae was an influential trading town in Asia Minor. However by the time Paul wrote Colossians, the city had been on the decline for several centuries.

According to : Bible Overlook -> Published by Hendrickson Publishers and Rose Publishings 2012 Bristol Works

Colossians Chapter 1: (1 - 14) NKJV

Thank you all for who has been reading these, hope God and Jesus Christ are teaching you many great things and important lessons.


1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,


2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:


Grace to you and peace from God our Father [a]and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 1: Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of god, and Timothy our brother.​

You can see this is a letter from Paul who had timothy with him.​

Verse 2: To the Saints and Faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse.​

Paul extends grace unto them, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ​

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Verse 3: Paul and Timothy give thanks to God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for those they knew - in this case the people of Colose.​

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;

Verse 4: Since Paul and Timothy heard of their faith in Christ Jesus, and of their love for the saints - They have been always praying for them.​

5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

Verse 5: Because of the hope which is laid up for them in heaven, which they had heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel.​

Paul and Timothy are praying for them, so they continue in their faith and love, and also reminding them of the hope which is laid up for them in heaven (which is for us not today as well) We have an expectant hope of having a resurrected spiritual body, and rewards based on our faith and love.


(Matthew 6:19-21 - is just one reference of - what they heard in the Gospel of truth, about the Lord Jesus Christ.)​

6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth [b]fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

Verse 6: The Gospel of Truth has come to you, as it has also into all the world,


The word for world here is 2889 "Kosmos" which means the Gospel of truth of the Lord Jesus Christ - has came into the 'whole' world. 2889 kósmos (literally, "something ordered") – properly, an "ordered system" (like the universe, creation); the world.​

Verse 6: The Gospel of Truth is bringing forth fruit as it (The Gospel of Christ Jesus) is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.​

7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

Verse 7: Paul and Timothy are reminding the people of Colosse; to remember what they had learned from Epaphras, who was a fellow servant, and a faithful minister of Christ - On their behalf.


Verse 8: Epaphras reported back to Paul and Timothy of the people of Colosse; of their love in the Spirit.​

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Verse 9: Since knowing about the Colossians, and their love for the truth of the Gospel of trust found in the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul and Timothy make a point to not stop praying for them, asking God for them to be filled with the knowledge of Gods will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.​

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Verse 10: Paul and Timothy ask that they may be filled with the knowledge of God's will and in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that they by their faith, may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him, and being fruitful in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God.​

11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Verse 11: To be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power - by the spirit: to have all patience, and longsuffering with joy.


Longsuffering here means endurance: 5821: 5281 hypomonḗ (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 3306 /ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life.


Joy in Greek here means: Cognate: 5479 xará (another feminine noun from the root xar-, "extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed") – properly, the awareness (of God's) grace, favor; joy ("grace recognized").


So they were encouraged to stay strong and lean on the Lord, and rely on the spirit and continue to have faith in the Gospel of Truth that had been made known through out the world.​

12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Verse 12: Paul and timothy also pray that those in the Colosse would give thanks to the Father, who has qualified to be partakers of the inheritances of the saints in the light.


Today we too are partakers of the inheritances : for having faith, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Which was are able to share in by faith. We receive a portion from God which is the holy spirit living with in us now today too, and we also can grow in the knowledge of God's will and spiritual understanding.


The word qualified is share in the Greek: 3310: meris: which to share a portion.


The word inheritance in Greek is Kleros - Cognate: 2819 klḗros (a masculine noun derived from klēro, "to cast a lot") – properly, a lot, cast to distribute ("apportion"). Scripture encourages casting lots (2819 /klḗros) to better discern the preferred-will of God (cf. 2307 /thélēma and their association in Col 1:9-12).​

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and [c]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Verse 13: Expresses that God has delivered us from the power of darkness,


Darkness here in Greek is : 4655 skótos (a neuter noun) – properly, darkness (obscurity); (figuratively) the principle of sin with its certain results. Usage: darkness, either physical or moral.


Verse 13: Expresses Also that God has delivered us (The Colosse: and Us too today) into the kingdom of the Son of His Love.​

14 in whom we have redemption [d]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Verse 14: Paul explains that we have redemption through Jesus Christ blood, - which is the forgiveness of Sins.


Redemption means in Greek: 629 apolýtrōsis(from 575 /apó, "from" and 3084 /lytróō, "redeem") – properly, redemption – literally, "buying back from, re-purchasing (winning back) what was previously forfeited (lost)."


Forgiveness means in Greek: Cognate: 859 áphesis (from 863 /aphíēmi, "send away, forgive" ) – properly, "something sent away"; i.e. remission ("forgiveness"), releasing someone from obligation or debt. See 863 (aphiēmi). Usage: a sending away, a letting go, a release, pardon, complete forgiveness.​

 

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Lets keep going and see what else there is to learn from this book.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Verse 15: The Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was a man, was the expressed image of the invisible God,​

Jesus Christ was a man who was once the Word of God, and Was God, and Was with God, before humbling himself to come down to earth to be born in flesh. Jesus Christ was the Word of God made flesh names Jesus Christ who was tempted in all things.

Jesus Christ second name was Emmanuel which meant God with us. God was with His Son Jesus Christ through the spirit as He Jesus Christ the Son of God walked on this earth.

Jesus Christ was the image of the invisible God, in all stature for God was in and working through His Word doing many miracles, and keeping his Son from falling into temptation, for God cannot be tempted.​

Verse 15: the firstborn over all creation.

Jesus Christ was the firstborn over all creation in the manner of dying by living a sinless life, and being resurrected back to life by God. He was the first person to receive glorification. So this is why Jesus Christ is the firstborn over all creation.​

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or [e]principalities or [f]powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Verse 16: For by the Word -> Jesus Christ -> created things were created. That are on earth, visible, and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers.

For by the Word -> Jesus Christ -> All things were created through -> God through His Word all things were created for Him -> Jesus Christ.​

17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Verse 17: Jesus Christ is before (existing before as the Word) all things and in Christ Jesus all things are held together, or stand together.

Consist: 4921 synistáō (from 4862 /sýn, "union, together with" and 2476 /hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, "stand together," referring to facts "lining up" with each other to support (commend) something.​

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 may have the preeminence.

Verse 18: Jesus Christ is the head of the body (the cornerstone), Jesus Christ is also the head of the church (which is the whole body of believers), who is the one who first and Chief,

Head: 2776. kephalé : Usage: (a) the head, (b) met: a corner stone, uniting two walls; head, ruler, lord.

Body: 4983 sṓma – the physical body. 4983 (sṓma) is also used figuratively of the mystical Body of Christ (= the Church, the one people of God).

Church: 1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.

Beginning: 746 arxḗ arché– properly, from the beginning (temporal sense), i.e. "the initial (starting) point"; (figuratively) what comes first and therefore is chief (foremost), i.e. has the priority because ahead of the rest ("preeminent").

Verse 18: Jesus Christ is the first born of the dead, that in all things he may have the Chief rule over all things.

preeminence : 4409. próteuó Usage: I have preeminence, am chief, am first.​

Reconciled in Christ

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

Verse 19: It pleased the Father that in Christ Jesus all the fullness should dwell:​

Pleased: 2106 eudokéō (from 2095 /eú, "good, well" and dokeō, "to think, seem") – properly, what seems good (pleasingly acceptable).
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Fullness of what? The Holy Spirit/ Fullness of the Law and Prophets? -> God with-in Jesus Christ was the Father pleased.

4138: Cognate: 4138 plḗrōma – "sum total, fulness, even (super) abundance" (BAGD). See 4130 (plēthō).​

20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Verse 20 it pleased the Father that by Him (Jesus Christ) to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth, or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His Cross.

Jesus was able to reconcile all things to himself, all things on earth or things in heaven. Having made peace with God through the blood of His Cross, unto all things in the world - paying the price for sin.​

2 Corinthians 5:19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.​

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

verse 21: Jesus Christ was able to reconcile all people unto himself by paying the price of sin, through God who was in Christ, and everyone who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by unbelief, and wicked works, has been reconciled to having peace with God. - Especially believers now today they have many benefits having a relationship with God and Jesus Christ.​

22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

Verse 22: In the body of Jesus Christ flesh through dead -> by faith presents you holy, and blameless and above reproach in Jesus Christ and Gods sight.​

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

verse 23: If you indeed continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you heard.​

Which was preached to every creature under heaven, which Paul had became a minister. (earlier in the scriptures you can see how the Gospel was already being spread out through out the entire world.​

 

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24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

Verse 24: Paul writes to the believers in Colosse, that he rejoices in his sufferings, for them as believers,

Sufferings here is : 3804: Cognate: 3804 páthēma (from 3958 /pásxō, "the capacity to feel strong emotion, like suffering") – properly, the capacity and privilege of experiencing strong feeling; felt, deep emotion, like agony, passion (ardent desire), suffering, etc.​

Verse 24: Paul is being filled up in his flesh by -> the things that he has heard about the people of Colosee and their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Am filling up -> 466 antanaplēróō (from 473 /antí, "corresponding" and 378 /anaplēróō, "fulfill") – properly, to fill, especially in lieu of (in place of); to off-set, filling up what is lacking (remaining).
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Verse 24: Paul is expressing that because of them they are feeling up what is lacking in the pressure that he is going through right now, finding encouragement through others and their faith and love for God.

Verse 24: Paul is saying that through all the tribulations and sufferings it is all for the sake of Christ Jesus, and of his body, which is the church (1 st Church of believers)

Church: 1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.​

Today we are included in the body but this book is being written to Colossians in that day.
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25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

Verse 25: Paul is a minister of this body, and church who Christ Jesus is the head of, into the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to -> fulfill the word of God.​

26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

Verse 26: Paul is here to deliver the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His Saints. -> That is the mystery about Christ Jesus, and God's plan to save them our of their own afflictions they are suffering through too.​

27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Verse 27: To them God willed known what the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles.

So Gods will was to be made know of the riches of the glory of the mystery unto the Gentiles.

That mystery is that : which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory.

Christ Jesus is with-in us today as believers, and this was the mystery which was spoken long ago was the coming of the Messiah who would come to deliver the world from it's sins, and be the Saviour of mankind to have a redeemer who would be able to reconcile us back to God through belief and having faith and trusting in them.​

28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Verse 28: Christ Jesus we preach says Paul - Warning every man teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Perfect here means : Cognate: 5046 téleios (an adjective, derived from 5056 /télos, "consummated goal") – mature (consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e. developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey). See 5056 (telos).​

Mature spiritually -> through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Warning here means:
3560 nouthetéō (from 3563 /noús, "mind" and 5087 /títhēmi, "to place") – properly, to place the mind, i.e. reasoning with someone by warning (admonishing) them.

3560 /nouthetéō ("admonish through instruction") especially appeals to the mind, supplying doctrinal and spiritual substance (content). This "exerts positive pressure" on someone's logic (reasoning), i.e. urging them to choose (turn to) God's best.​

29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

verse 29 Paul is constantly laboring, striving according to Jesus Christ working that which works in Paul mightily. To reach and teach as many people as He can about the mystery of Christ Jesus, and present matters in accordance to God's will, spiritual understanding, and knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.​