Colossians 1:21-29

Growing in Christ: Perseverance and Maturity

Colossians 1:21–29 NKJV

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—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. 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, 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, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 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. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

His body as a sacrifice

Paul toward the ending of Chapter 1 emphasizes The Lords body being the vehicle to which now we are reconciled back to God

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

Reconcile The Greek word used here, apokatallassō, refers to the act of restoring a relationship to harmony. The purpose of Christ’s death on the cross was to bring all things created by Christ and for Christ (Col 1:16) into harmonious relationship.

Some believed the seeds of Gnosticism were already starting to sprout up at Colossae

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

his physical body Christ was not an angel or a nonphysical being; He had a body, and He endured suffering and death in His body. By emphasizing Christ’s physical body, Paul may be combatting early gnostic-like influences that could have been at work in Colossae. Gnostics emphasized spiritual, nonmaterial reality over the material world, prompting some people to deny that Christ had a physical body. Gnostics wrongly considered material reality to be evil and sought to escape it through abstaining from worldly comforts and pleasures. While fully developed Gnosticism postdates the NT, the beliefs Paul seems to be addressing here resemble later gnostic thought

A Call to Perseverance in Faith (v. 23): Paul urges the Colossians to remain firm in their faith, grounded in the hope of the gospel. He warns against being moved away from the hope they have in Christ, emphasizing the importance of steadfastness in the face of potential false teachings or pressures to conform to other beliefs.

Colossians 1:23 NKJV

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.

Paul’s Suffering and Service (v. 24): Paul views his sufferings for the church as a continuation or completion of Christ's afflictions. This does not mean that Christ’s redemptive work on the cross was insufficient, but rather that Paul’s sufferings serve to further the mission of the gospel and strengthen the church.

Colossians 1:24 NKJV

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,

The Mystery Revealed (vv. 25-27): Paul speaks of the “mystery” that has been hidden for ages but is now revealed to God’s people. This mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This signifies the profound truth that Christ dwells within believers, restoring the relationship that was once lost in Garden of Eden.

Colossians 1:25–27 NKJV

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

Proclaiming Christ and Maturity in Faith (vv. 28-29): Paul’s mission was to proclaim Christ, to teach, warn & shepherd every believer to reach full maturity in their faith. These two verses reveal the necessity of continual growth in the faith, so we can move beyond the basics of salvation towards a deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ. Paul shows us the idea that growth and maturity in Christ often involve enduring trials, afflictions, & challenges. While allowing Himself to be used by the power of The Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:28–29 NKJV

Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.