Colossians Chapter 1 — The Supremacy of Christ
Paul greets the Colossian believers, prays for their spiritual maturity, and describes the divine nature and supreme authority of Jesus Christ.
1Paul, an apostle of Christ*“Christ” means “Anointed One”. Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2to the saints and faithful brothers†The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.” in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
5because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News
6which has come to you, even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth,
7even as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your‡NU reads our behalf,
8who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
9For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
11strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy,
12giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,
13who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
14in whom we have our redemption,§TR adds “through his blood,” the forgiveness of our sins.
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.
17He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
18He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,
20and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
21You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
22yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
23if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly,
25of which I was made a servant according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you to fulfill the word of God,
26the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
27to whom God was pleased 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.
28We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
29for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Colossians 1:15-16
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things...”
These verses define Christ's divine nature and His central role as the creator of all things.
Colossians 1:27
“...to whom God was pleased 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.”
This verse summarizes the central mystery of the Gospel as the indwelling presence of Christ in believers.
Chapter Summary
Paul opens his letter to the Colossians with a greeting and a prayer of thanksgiving for their faith and love. He expresses his desire for them to be filled with the knowledge of God's will and to live lives worthy of the Lord. The chapter transitions into a powerful description of Jesus Christ, identifying Him as the image of the invisible God and the one through whom all things in heaven and earth were created. Paul emphasizes that Christ is the head of the church and has reconciled all things to God through His death on the cross. Finally, Paul discusses his own role as a servant of the Good News, laboring to reveal the mystery of "Christ in you" and striving to present every believer as spiritually mature.
Frequently Asked Questions
The text identifies Paul as an apostle and mentions Timothy as a brother, writing to the saints and faithful brothers at Colossae.
It describes Christ as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, and the head of the assembly through whom all things were created and reconciled.
Paul refers to a mystery hidden for ages but now revealed to the saints, which he defines as "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Study Note
The poetic structure of verses 15–20 is often identified as the 'Christ Hymn,' a passage likely used in the early church to confess Christ's divinity.
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