Colossians Introduction
The Letter of Paul to the Colossians is one of the few of his writings addressed to a church Paul did not found. Paul never met them face to face. Neither was the city of Colossae well known or important. The city Colossae and its church are not even mentioned in the Book of Acts. The church was founded by Epaphras and was one of several founded in the Lycus Valley, part of the province of Lycia in what is now Turkey. Laodicea and Hieropolis are the other cities with nearby Christian communities.
Epaphras started the church, perhaps after a time in Ephesus under Paul’s teaching. Apparently, Epaphras is quite concerned about the heresy that threatened to swamp the true Gospel in Colossae, and he has traveled all the way across the Mediterranean to visit Paul, who is in prison in Rome, to gain his advice and prayers. As a result, Paul writes a beautiful and powerful letter to the Colossian church. Timothy was probably his secretary (Colossians 1:1) to write Paul’s letter. It was to be delivered to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus (Colossians 4:7-9) at the same time as a letter to Laodicea.
The letter more or less follows the following outline:
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Greeting and thanksgiving for the church of Colossae (Colossians 1:1-8)
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His prayers for the Colossians (Colossians 1:9-12)
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His description of the authority and power of the Lord Jesus as an antidote to the mixture of religious philosophies being spread to the Colossians (Colossians 1:15-20)
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His explanation how their relationship with Jesus gives them the power to live their lives for God (Colossians 1:21-23)
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Paul’s assignment to help them (Colossians 1:24-29)
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Specific instructions to avoid the errors of the amalgamation of worshipping hierarchies of angels and/or deities of various religions with Judaic traditions combined with reverence for Jesus (Colossians 2)
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Instructions on righteous living individually and as a community (Colossians 3)
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Final instructions and greetings (Colossians 4)
Colossians Guide to the Transcommentary
This is a little bit more than a translation and a bit less than a full commentary. It serves a similar function to the Amplified Bible, though that work’s purpose was to provide a complete sense of the meaning of the words used by the writers of scripture. This work has a somewhat different purpose:
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To convey as close as possible the actual meaning of the sentences as they would have been understood at the time they were originally spoken or written. To accomplish this for twenty-first century Americans, dynamic equivalent words and sayings have been used at a sentence level. An attempt has been made to preserve intended wordplay and irony from the original author.
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We have attempted to clarify ideas, references, and thought sequences that would have been clear to first century audiences but are not clear to modern audiences because of differences in culture, customs, language, or degree of familiarity with Old Testament scriptures and Messianic prophecies. The phrasing of the translation itself aims at that clarity, but we have also added words, phrases, and sentences to the narrative for improved understanding. All such additions are in brackets []. This allows the reader to have the explanatory additions when reading but also insulate these additions from the translated scripture – indeed, with a little effort they can be skipped entirely when reading aloud.
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Color codes for different types of additional material are intended to further aid understanding:
- Green is used for words added to descriptive narrative because they are implied or as commentary to explain the context.
- References to scriptures are shown in orange.
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As in many translations and editions, we have added headings in bold to help understand when a new theme is introduced by the author.
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The author frequently refers to "Christ" or to "Jesus Christ". We have employed the words “the Anointed One” rather than "Christ", since that is the meaning of “Christ”. We wanted to avoid the sense of "Christ" as Jesus’ surname, yet still recognize it as a well-known title.
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We have also added study questions at the end of each chapter to help you think more thoroughly about the meaning and application of the author’s writing.
We will have succeeded in this translation if you the reader find that you can read this work of scripture with greater comprehension and enjoyment than ever before. Please let us know if you find the various supplementary materials helpful. or too distracting, or if you have any other suggestions about how to improve this approach to translation.
Richard Tittle, pneuma9@gmail.com
Colossians Chapter 1
Thanksgiving for the church in Colossae
1 [From] Paul, an apostle [sent out ambassador] of Jesus the Anointed One by the will of God, and Timothy, my brother.
2 [To] those in Colossae who are the holy ones [believers] and faithful brothers in the Anointed One. [I pray for] grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed One.
3 We give thanks to our Father and our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, praying for you always. [Paul had a list of churches and individuals he prayed for every night (Ephesians 6:18).] 4 For we have heard of your faith in the Anointed One, Jesus, and your love toward all the believers, 5 based on your confident hope for what is reserved for you in heaven, which you heard about when you received the Good News of Truth. 6 And that is the same Good News which has gone out in all the world, bringing forth fruit [everywhere] just as it did in you ever since the day you heard and recognized the grace of God as truth, 7 which you received from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who has been a faithful minister to you of the Anointed One. 8 He has also told us about your love [guided] in the [working of the] Spirit. [It is powerful when we hear the Good News and recognize the truth of it – then we are born again and saved from death and we believe not only that Jesus is our Lord but that he has reserved for us eternal life, and we are infused with love from the Holy Spirit.]
Prayer for the Colossians
9 Since we first heard about it [your response to the Good News], we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you would be filled with the knowledge of his [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 10 [Also,] that you might walk worthily of the Lord, pleasing [him] in all things, fruitful in every [type of] good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 strengthened with all strength according to [the measure of] his glorious power. [This will] make you patient and enduring, filled with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father. He has enabled us to share the inheritance for all believers in [the realm of] the light, 13 having delivered us from the rule of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his dear Son. 14 In him our sins are forgiven since we have redemption through his blood[, as he died willingly in our place as an innocent man shedding his blood on the cross].
Jesus creator and maintainer of all things
15 He is the visible representation of the invisible God, firstborn [and pre-eminent] among every created being. 16 For by him all things were created in the heavens [including the sky, universe, and spiritual heavens] and the earth [realm including the sea], what is visible and what is invisible. The invisible things include [angels and demons, no matter what rank, whether] thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and for him.
[Jesus was the first being that existed besides Father God. The word translated “firstborn” also can mean preeminent, which certainly applies here. Because he was part of the Godhead himself, he accomplished creation alongside of his Father. But, by the very plan of God, the entire created order is under the direction of Jesus to fulfill his purpose. When the Gospel writer in John 1:1-3 wrote, “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God”, he was saying much the same thing. The one born as Jesus preexisted alongside Father God as “the Word” and expressed the plan and purpose of God first by bringing about the creation of all things and then, in the fullness of time, by coming into the world as the firstborn son of God to live and die a sinless human life as our example and deliverer.]
17 And he is before all things and by him all things hold together. [Since he is “the word” or “expression” of God, creation sprang out of him and continues to hold together in accordance with his plan.] 18 And he is the head of the body, the Church. The one who was in the beginning was also the firstborn [resurrected] from the dead so that in all things he might have preeminence. 19 It was pleasing [to the Father] that in him [Jesus] all fulness would dwell, 20 and by him to reconcile all things to himself, whether things on earth [including people groups and nature] or things in heaven [including spiritual forces], having made peace by him through the blood of his cross.
Paul’s ministry
21 And even you, who once were alienated and enemies [of God] by your thoughts and evil actions, now have been reconciled to himself through the death 22 in his body of flesh [that is, Jesus came as a human to die in our place and thus paid for our sins]. He thus presented us holy, unblemished, and without fault in God’s eyes, 23 if you continue grounded and settled in the faith and have not departed from the hope of the Gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven. [This is the truth] of which I, Paul, was made a minister [for that purpose].
24 I take joy in my sufferings for you[, especially for bringing the Gospel to non-Jews], filling up in my own flesh what [yet] falls short [in me] of the sufferings of the Anointed One on behalf of his body which is the Church. [The Lord gave his own life after great suffering for our sake. Jesus said (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23) that we must pick up our own cross and be willing to die on his behalf. Paul had already suffered much and felt he still had more to give. He saw that he would eventually be martyred himself (2 Timothy 4:6).]
25 In fact, I am a minister with a particular assignment to complete [the bringing of] the word of God to you, 26 this mystery which has been hidden in ages past but is being revealed to this generation of God’s people. 27 God wants to reveal all the riches of the glory [contained in] this mystery to the non-Jews [as much as his original chosen people the Jews], which is “the Anointed One in you [is] the hope of glory”. 28 We preach “the Anointed One”, counseling every man and imparting wisdom to every man[, regardless of background and previous religious training,] so we can present all men completely perfect in the Anointed One, Jesus, 29 towards which I am striving with all the energy [he provides], which works in me powerfully.
Discussion questions
1. Why do you think Paul was writing, thanking God, and praying for this church that he neither planted nor had responsibility for? Do you ever pray for the churches in your area? What might happen if you did? (vs 1-14).
2. Do you believe Paul that Jesus was the creator and maintainer of the universe? How did Paul come to understand this? How does this change how you view yourself as a Christian? (vs 15-20)
3. Why is the reconciliation of us with God through Jesus’ death in our place such an important truth to share? Why did Paul think that truth was worth personal suffering to bring to people everywhere? According to Paul, is there anyone anywhere who can’t benefit from this teaching? (vs 21-29)
Colossians Chapter 2
Avoiding deceptive philosophies
1 I want you to know what a great burden I have for you [in Colossae] and those in Laodicea and as many [of the churches] as I have not met face to face, 2 that their hearts might be encouraged, knit together in love, gaining all the riches [that come] from full assurance of understanding the [deepest] knowledge of God, which is the Anointed One, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and understanding. 4 I say this so that no one might delude you through persuasive words, [attained through study or discipline alone or following rules rather than through receiving Jesus].
5 Truly [though] I am away from you in the flesh, yet in the Spirit I am with you, rejoicing and seeing your discipline and the consistency of your faith in the Anointed One. 6 You have received the Anointed One, Jesus the Lord. Therefore, walk in him, 7 as one having been rooted and built up in him and continually being strengthened in your faith, just as you were taught, filled with thanksgiving. [Don’t take your well-being for granted but work at being just like the one who is the basis of your faith.]
8 Beware that no one take you captive through [speculative] philosophy and empty deceptions, based on the traditions of men [concerning the working of angels or] based on [the popular theory of] fundamental powers [like earth, wind, air, water], rather than based on [what was accomplished and taught by] the Anointed One. 9 For in him lives all the fullness of the Deity bodily. 10 And you are complete in him, who is over all authority and power. [We have access to Jesus through the Holy Spirit, so we do not need to worship or pray to angels or saints, as was being taught by speculative philosophers to the Colossians.]
11 Also, in him [Jesus], you received the circumcision not accomplished by hands, in which the entire body of flesh [not just a physical foreskin] was removed, in the circumcision of the Anointed One, having been buried with him in baptism, in which 12 we [who chose to follow Jesus] were also raised with him [in his resurrection to life in the Spirit], by our faith in the power of God. 13 And you being dead in the trespasses [sins] and the uncircumcision of your flesh [as not only the uncircumcision of non-Jews but for all who are controlled by their flesh], he has made us alive together with him. Having forgiven all of our trespasses, 14 he crossed out the handwriting of ordinances [in the scrolls of the Law] that brought us harm, removing it [the penalty specified in the Law] and nailing it to the cross. [Otherwise, we would have had to pay the penalty for our sins.]
[As a sinless human being unjustly condemned, he was willing to stand in place of every other human being, taking the penalty for all of their sins. So he essentially took the hand-written ten commandments and all of the other ordinances that specified the penalties against us and had that nailed to the cross along with his body. They were removed for us by him, if we accept his sacrifice for us. We were set free from the Law and its accusations against us and from the guilt of our sins.]
Choosing Jesus instead of traditions or worship of angels
16 Therefore, let no one condemn you about food, or drink, or a Feast, or a New Moon, or sabbaths, 17 which were only a shadow of things to come, but the body [which casts that shadow] is the Anointed One. [Observances of calendar events were all part of the Law and intended to help men think about God, but following Jesus brings us much closer to God, so we no longer need the Law or its observances. This is also conveyed in Hebrews 8:5,10:1.]
18 [Likewise, ]don’t let anyone cause you to be disqualified from the prize [of salvation through your faith in Jesus] by putting on [fake] humility and worshipping angels, reporting on deep mysteries they have seen while becoming puffed up in their fleshly mind. 19 They are losing their hold on the head [the Anointed One Jesus], who nourishes and holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and who grows us with the increase from God. [A mixture of teachings were running through the Colossian church, tempting them to let go of their faith in Jesus and run after speculative doctrine on the one hand or conforming to Jewish rituals on the other.]
20 Since you have died with the Anointed One[, your flesh dying in baptism as you chose to follow Jesus], you are no longer subject to the basic principles the world follows as though living in the world, so why then do you submit to dogmatic instructions – 21 “don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch” – 22 relating to perishable things, following the commandments and doctrines of men? You might reason these [additional] things seem wise – extra religious practices, self-humiliation, and harsh treatment of your own body - but they have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Discussion questions
1. Which do you think is most valuable – studying the words of Jesus, following a book of laws, or observing feasts and holidays? Will studying Jesus help us to love others better? (vs 1-22)
2. In what way does it help to know Jesus cancelled the punishments for all our errors and sins? (vs 11-14)
3. Have you ever been exposed to some new approach or teaching for your Christian faith? How could you tell if the new teaching was wise or not? (vs 16-22)
Colossians Chapter 3
Attitudes and behavior to put away
1 If then, you have been raised up together with the Anointed One [Colossians 2:11-12], seek the things above, where the Anointed One is sitting at the right hand of God [Psalms 110:1, Ephesians 1:20]. 2 Set your minds on the things above[, satisfying God’s purposes][Romans 8:5-6], not on the things of the earth [that satisfy your fleshly desires]. 3 For you have died and you have been hidden with the Anointed One in God. 4 When the Anointed One, who is your life [Philippians 1:21], appears in majesty, then you also will appear with him. [When Jesus returns, whether we have died or are still living, if we are his follower, we will be given a resurrection body and will meet him in the air, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:17.]
5 [Since you are so identified with the Anointed One,] put to death, therefore, the earthly parts of you – sexual immorality, impurity, passion, lust, evil, and greed - which are [in fact forms of] idolatry. 6 Because of these, the anger of God is coming to the sons of disobedience, among whom you once walked, 7 when you were living in them. [God judges entire cultures when their standard behavior is sin, and he judges us individually when we don’t allow him to transform us.]
8 But now put off these things also – anger, rage, evil intent, evil speaking, foul language – from out of your mouths. 9 Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man, with his practices, 10 and having put on the new [man], who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one [Jesus] who created him. 11 [In that renewed man] there is not Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian [uncivilized], Scythian [from the farthest away cultures], slave, free, but the Anointed One is all [for all who are born again are in him] and [he] is in all.
Attitudes to put on within the church
12 Therefore, as the chosen [people] of God, set apart as [holy and] beloved, put on tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, 13 bearing with each other and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. [These are the fruits of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23.] Just as the Lord has forgiven you, do also to others [Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 6:14]. 14 And beyond all this, put on [also] love, which perfectly binds [everything] together.
15 Let the peace of the Anointed One and thankfulness rule over your hearts, keeping you unified as a single body. [While it’s inevitable for there to be conflict over differing points of view, be thankful for the peace of abiding in the Anointed One helps maintain unity.] 16 Let the word of the Anointed One live in you richly, teaching and reminding each other all wisdom with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs [1 Corinthians 14:26], singing to God in your hearts. 17 And in everything you might do in word and deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.
[Jesus and the Father are already aligned in will (John 6:38). When we do what we believe is God’s will, we are given the authority of Jesus’ name (John 14:13-14), and then Jesus and the Father together accomplish it (John 5:19). Our thankfulness completes our faith (John 11:41) by indicating our trust that we are heard, and when we thank Jesus, the Father receives our thanks as well since they are one (John 10:30).]
How to act towards one another
18 Wives, submit to [the authority of] your husbands, as is proper in the Lord [1 Corinthians 11:8-9, Ephesians 5:22-24,33]. 19 Husbands, love your wives[, sacrificing yourselves, ][Ephesians 5:25-33] and do not be bitter towards them[, no matter how you feel they have treated you]. 20 Children, [listen to and] obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord [Ephesians 6:1-3]. 21 Fathers [as the chief discipliner], do not provoke your children [through unfair or harsh discipline], or they will become discouraged[, thinking they can never please you][Ephesians 6:4]. 22 Slaves [or servants], obey your earthly masters [Ephesians 6:5-7], not as eye-pleasers[, acting to please only when watched,] but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord [who cares about our inward attitude].
23 Whatever you do, work whole-heartedly, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of your inheritance[, eternal life with the Lord and a resurrection body], for you serve the Lord, the Anointed One. 24 But he who has done wrong, will be [suitably] repaid for what he has done, with no favoritism [based on position in our earthly life] [Ephesians 6:8].
4:1 Masters, treat your slaves fairly and justly, knowing that you also have a master – in heaven [Ephesians 6:9].
Discussion questions
1. Do you feel you have been raised up with the Anointed One? How easy or hard is it for your mind to be set on the things above? If you indeed have been raised up and your sins aren’t held against you, then why is it still hard to set your mind above [vs 1-4]
2. Do you think the behaviors listed in verses 5-9 are mostly absent from the members of your church, or are they still present? How about the positive behaviors in verses 12-19? What would happen if you church operated more like these verses?
3. What difference would it make if you worked as though for the Lord rather than your boss or supervisor of board of directors or clients? Would you work harder or relax more? Would you be more competitive or less? Make more money or less? (vs 3:23-4:1)
Colossians Chapter 4
Prayer and wisdom
2 Remain steady in prayer, alert [to keep praying and looking for the answer], thankful [that Father is always ready to answer], 3 praying at the same time for me [Paul], that God will open up a door for the word, to declare the hidden truths about the Anointed One [especially that faith in Jesus is available for non-Jews as well as Jews] - and for reason of which I am imprisoned. 4 [Also, pray] that I be able to make the truth clear, just as I should whenever I speak. [Paul believed that prayers could help him speak with clarity as he says here, or with boldness, as described in Ephesians 6:19-20.]
5 [Likewise, you also should] walk in wisdom toward those outside [the faith], making the most of every opportunity. 6 May your speech always be gracious and seasoned with salt [wit], prepared with just the right response for each one.
Greetings and introductions
7 Tychicus, who is a dearly loved brother, faithful minister and servant of the Lord, will tell you everything concerning me. 8 I sent him to you for this very purpose, so you would know everything going on with us and that he would encourage your hearts, 9 along with Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.
[Tychicus had traveled with Paul (Acts 20:4) and was frequently used by Paul to convey information, as described in Ephesians 6:21-22, Titus 3:12, and 2 Timothy 4:12. Onesimus was formerly a slave who had run away from Philemon, a wealthy member of the Colossian church. Paul had led both of them separately to faith , and now Paul sent Onesimus back as a free man and believer in Jesus. See the letter to Philemon.]
9 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, 10 and so does Mark, Barnabus’ cousin. You have received instructions [from me] concerning him [Mark] to welcome him if he comes to you. 11 And also Jesus called Justus [likely to distinguish him from Jesus the Lord] greets you. These are my only fellow workers among the Circumcision [believers who were Jewish] who have supported me.
[Aristarchus was from Thessalonika (Acts 19:29) and had traveled with Paul (Acts 20:4, .Acts 27::2), and was considered a fellow worker (Philemon 1:24). Barnabus had picked Paul to help him lead the church in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas and Mark had accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 15:4-5).]
12 Epaphras greets you - he who comes from among you, a servant of the Anointed One, Jesus, [who was first to bring you the Good News (Colossians 1:6-8)], and who continually fights on your behalf in his prayers, so you will stand mature and fully assured in all that God has planned for you. 13 For I bear witness that he has great concern for you and those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. [Epaphras likely also founded the church in Laodicea, which is not far from Colossae and is also mentioned in Revelation 3:17. Hierapolis likely had a budding church though it is not mentioned elsewhere is scripture.]
14 Luke, the beloved physician [and author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles], greets you, and [so does] Demas.
15 Greet the brothers in [the church of] Laodicea and also Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when the letter [I am writing you] is read among you, see it is also read in Laodicea and that you may also read the one to Laodicea.
17 And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received from the Lord, so that you will fulfill it”.
18 This greeting is in my own handwriting. Paul. Remember my chains [as you pray for me]. Grace be with you!
Discussion questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize so much the way he and his writing audience should speak to others to reach them with the Good News? (vs 2-6)
2. What do you know about each person Paul mentions? What is Paul’s purpose in mentioning them to his readers? (vs 7-17)
3. What should your attitude be towards those who brought you the Good News or founded your church? What role do you have in helping them? (vs 12-13,18)