{{ Introduction to Colossians 62-64 AD
The Colossians had a ‘pastor’ problem, a one-man self-righteous false teacher, most likely a Jewish Christian with ‘persuasive speech’ who wanted the congregation to follow his teachings and not the teachings of the Christ given to them by Paul. There are reasons, as shown here, why God did not establish a democracy or a dictatorship in the congregation, but multiple shepherds (overseers, elders, etc. Philippians 1:1, Tim. 3, Titus 1). An inspired description of this man, without naming him and strong rebuke in Chapter 2:8-23. In this there is a teaching that immersion cleaned away their sins, trespasses, and killed the Old Testament Law ‘has nailed it to the cross.’ He uses the same type of example here as he did in Rom 6. In Chapter 3, now that you have been raised up from the dead do away with old sinful things and replace them with holy things. Do all in the name of Jesus. In Christian terms do only what is authorized. He also had a short encouragement to the married, children, bondservants (workers), and employers; some simple instruction to them and the plans to send others in his place to continue to help them grow.
We can learn a valuable lesson from this letter to never exalt or follow any man, as well as how to live as a Christian. Hero worship has no place with Christians.}}
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timothy the brother, 1:2 to the holy and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: grace to you° and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.1:3 We are giving-thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying concerning you°, 1:4 and we heard of your° faith in Christ Jesus and of the love* which you° have toward all the holy-ones, 1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you° in the heavens, of which you° heard beforehand in the word of the truth of the good-news. 1:6 This good-news is what is present* *for you°; just-as it also is in all the world. And it is bearing-fruit and growing, just-as it also does in you°, from the day you° heard and fully knew the grace of God in truth, 1:7 just-as you° also learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow bondservant, who is a faithful servant of the Christ on your° behalf, 1:8 who also indicated to us your° love* in the Spirit.
1:9 Because of this, we also do not cease praying and asking on your° behalf from the day we heard it in-order-that you° may be filled with the full knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and intelligence, 1:10 for you° to walk worthy of the Lord toward pleasing him in everything, bearing-fruit in every good work and growing yourselves into the full knowledge of God; 1:11 being empowered in all power, according-to the dominion of his glory, *for all endurance and patience with joy; 1:12 giving-thanks to the Father, who made us sufficient *for the part of the inheritance of the holy-ones in the light, 1:13 who rescued us out-of the authority of darkness and transplanted us into the kingdom of the Son of his love*, 1:14 in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins {T} through his blood, 1:15 he who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 1:16 This is because all things were created by him: the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth, the visible and invisible, whether thrones or lordships or principalities or authorities. All things have been created through him and *for him. 1:17 And he himself is before all things and all things are standing {Or: established} in him. 1:18 And he himself is the head of the body, the congregation* of believers; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead in-order-that he himself might become foremost in all things, 1:19 because all the fullness was delighted to dwell in him, 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, whether things upon the earth or things upon the heavens, and made peace through the blood of his cross, through him. 1:21 An previously have been alienated and enemies in mind, in evil works, but now he reconciled you° 1:22 in the body of his flesh through his death, to present you° holy and unblemished and irreproachable in his sight, 1:23 if-indeed you° are remaining in the faith, and have been founded and grounded and not being moved away from the hope of the good-news which you° heard, which was preached in all the creation which is under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a servant.
1:24 Now I am rejoicing in the sufferings of mine on your° behalf and I am filling up in my flesh the things lacking of the afflictions of the Christ on behalf of his body, which is the congregation* of believers, 1:25 of which I became a servant, according-to the stewardship of God which was given to me *for you°, to fulfill the word of God, 1:26 the mystery which has been hidden away from the ages and away from the generations, but now it was manifested to his holy-ones, 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, who is Christ in you°, the hope of glory. 1:28 It is this Christ whom we are proclaiming, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom in-order-that we should present every man as complete in Christ Jesus; 1:29 *for which I also labor, struggling according-to his working, which works in power in me.