ETB Colossians 1:9-23

Colosse was a minor city about one hundred miles east of Ephesus in the region of the seven Asian churches of Revelation 1–3. Located in the fertile Lycus Valley by a mountain pass on the road from Ephesus to the East, Colosse once was a populous center of commerce, famous for its glossy black wool. By the time of Paul, it had been eclipsed by its neighboring cities, Laodicea and Hierapolis (cf. 4:13), and was on the decline. (Open Bible Study Notes)

An earthquake destroyed the cities in the region in 60 A.D. without any mention of this hardship in the letter the early dating of 58 AD.. is generally recognized.

Paul began his Letter to the Colossians with the standard first-century opening for letters. It contained three elements: the identity of the writer, that of the recipients, and a polite greeting. By terming himself an apostle, Paul set forth his authority as a spokesperson for God. He included Timothy in the greeting, not as a co-author but a trusted associate who was with Paul at the time of writing (Col. 1:1).

Paul expressed his thankfulness to God for the church and assured them of his prayers for them. The testimony of their faith, love, and hope had reached the apostle. He was also aware that the Colossians were bearing fruit, just as was happening everywhere the gospel was preached (1:3-6).

The naming of Epaphras as a faithful servant of Christ who had told him about the Colossians’ love implied that Paul had not personally visited their church. Epaphras, whom he later in 4:12 referred to as one of them, was most likely associated with the founding of the Colossian church (1:7-8). [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 74). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

We begin our study at the beginning of the specifics of what Paul is praying for them and how he desires all believers who read the letter to grow in Christ. Then as a part of the reason we are able to grow in Christ-likeness Paul expounds on the authority and power that Jesus is endowed with in order to make that redemption and growth possible. The “prayer” ends with a final reminder of what Christ has pulled us all out of and the hope that we now can have which Paul gladly proclaims to “all creation”.

Explore the Text

Colossians 1:9–10 ESV

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

This is one of those prayers that you can always come back to when you don’t know what to pray for someone. In one of the lesson books, it suggest making two columns and under one record all the things in our passage today that are done through and to the believer and the other column all that are done by God for the believer. We get to put 6 things in that first column:

filled with knowledge - specifically of His will

spiritual wisdom

spiritual understanding

walk worthy and full pleasing to the Lord

bearing spiritual fruit through good works

increasing in the knowledge of God

If you were here or listened to the recording of last Sunday night’s message by Pastor Steve, you probably know which Greek word for knowledge it being used here. As a refresher, there are 3 words often translated for knowledge with the same root: gnosis, ginosko, and epignosis. Each of these is progressively more intense and fuller. Gnosis is the most basic and epignosis the word used both times in these verses is the fullest. It requires time, study, and understanding to develop. Steve had a great example of a couple who has been married from many years have an epignosis kind of knowledge about each other. In our list there is a being filled with knowledge and then increasing in knowledge. Epignosis lets us have both be true, you can learn all there is to know about a person’s past but as you continue to walk together the new situations you walk through increase your knowledge about them and yourself. All of these things on our list are rooted in God and sense He is limitless, there is no limit to how much of any of these we can obtain of fulfill.

You will notice that I put walking in a worthy manner and fully pleasing in the same list item. Although it may be read differently, they are the same concept and I think duplicated for emphasis as one can not be done to the exclusion of the other. The word used for “fully” is the Greek word pas translated elsewhere in the passage as “all” and “every” so the concept of fully or completely pleasing applies.

Although Paul is expressing his prayer for the Colossians to bear fruit in a spiritual sense, I like the concept of being sustenance for another and enabling another to grow spiritually.

We learned last week that we cannot bear fruit without abiding in the vine (John 15:5) so this fruit although we can present to others and others will see it, its growth and ripening for usefulness is done by the Lord.

What kind of fruit does God want us to bear? First, He wants us to bear the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22–23 and comment). Second, through our own witness and example, God wants us to “bear” or raise up new believers, new disciples, new children for Him; this kind of “fruit” is also pleasing to God (see John 15:16; Philippians 1:9–11 and comments).

Notice that Paul says that we must keep growing in the knowledge of God. A tree either grows, or it dies. If we see a tree that has stopped growing and has stopped bearing fruit, then we know that that tree is about to die. Let our Christian lives never reach that state! - Hale, Thomas. The Applied New Testament Commentary. Colorado Springs, CO; Ontario, Canada; East Sussex, England: David C. Cook, 1996. Print.

Let’s continue in the next 2 verses and see what we can add to our lists.

Colossians 1:11–12 ESV

being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

7. Strengthened by His glorious might

8. Endurance

9. Patience with joy

10. Giving thanks to God

Verse 11 starts off with some words that probably sounded good to the Greek ear but is a bit strange - “strengthened with strength” when literally translated into English. Both these words have the same root from which we get dynamic and dynamite so the verse could read “empowered with all power coming down with his divine power”.

This is a good example of the use of a dynamic translation to bring out meaning while avoiding confusion. “Glory” itself is typically Jewish and often connected to theophanies. More importantly, the ideas of power and glory are paired in several OT passages: 1 Chr 29:11; Pss 63:2 [62:3, LXX]; 145:11; Dan 2:37; and, significantly, in Mark 13:26 and parallels, where Jesus alludes to Daniel 7, saying, “Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory.” The theophanic overtones and the background of Daniel for this pairing support the idea that here it is an eschatological pairing; Paul had Jesus’ reign in view as he wrote here. - Hoehner, Harold W., Philip W. Comfort, and Peter H. Davids. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Philemon. Vol. 16. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2008. Print.

When I hear the word endurance I think about distance runners - like Rose - and Iron Man participants. The ancient Greeks probably had a similar concept of long struggle, but this also has the implications of not only being able to make to the finish line but also does not get distracted, stumble, or pushed off course. One who endures spiritually stay in the center of God’s will and remains “pleasing” to Him.

There are some scholarly discrepancies about whether the word joy goes with the act of giving thanks to God or with patience. I don’t know about you, but I think “patience without joy” can be much harder to endure through. We are told to “rejoice in all things” so either way does not contradict with the rest of Scripture.

If you are making the lists, we now shift to the other column and would not return to the believer’s side until the last verse in our passage of study. We give thanks to God because of all that He has done for and through us and Paul begins here in verse 12 expounding upon a sizeable list.

It is God that enables us to be able to share today in our inheritance of tomorrow by “qualifying” us for redemption. keeping with the racing theme, this would be God’s stamp on your entry form that you have proven yourself in the past and He is the sponsor providing all the necessary equipment for you in the future.

As non-Jews (Gentiles), the Colossians would have been considered outsiders to God’s blessings, which were reserved for the people of Israel. However, the central truth of the gospel for Paul was that Christ’s death and resurrection brought salvation for all who believed, Jews and Gentiles alike - Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.

We each get a portion of this inheritance, but since it is limitless there really isn’t a portion to be had. However, this is in line with the inheritance practices of the day that secondary offspring get a share, but the Firstborn gets the double-share.

What else can we put in our second column of Christ’s work “for the believer”

Colossians 1:13–14 ESV

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Depending on which translation of the Bible you read, and the commentary uses this verse may be the beginning of the poetic, hymn like verses of the Preeminent One. I am more inclined toward it completing the description of how and why we are “qualified” for the inheritance. Part of my reasoning is the common use by Paul in his letters of using contrasting concepts and words to make a point. Here the “domain of darkness” or under the rule of sin is in direct contrast to verse 11 inheritance “in light”. There is also the contrast between being delivered and being transferred. We are taken out of darkness, placed into light, removed from separation, and placed into holy fellowship, pulled from solitude and torment, and placed into a kingdom community and love.

This transfer also brings redemption (see Rm 3:24; 1Co 1:30), which is release from bondage, and further defined as forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7). - Peterman, Gerald W. “Colossians.” The Moody Bible Commentary. Ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014. 1869. Print.

Redemption is a financial term. We were bought with a price and given grace. This is part of the inheritance that we get to enjoy now.

By what authority does God qualify or redeem us for such a marvelous inheritance? Paul tells in in the next few verses.

The layout of verses 15-20 in several English versions suggests that one might view this section as a quotation of a previously crafted statement of truths about Christ, sometimes termed as a poetic passage or a standardized statement of faith. Whether quoted by Paul or originated by him, these verses are packed with theological truth about Christ, speaking of His relation to God the Father, to the created order, and to the church. Together, these truths point to Christ’s cosmic significance. [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 76). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

Colossians 1:15–16 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

He is the image [eikon /i·kone/] of God. We get our word icon from it which in the ancient and ecclesiastical settings speaks of a relic or image but does not convey the fullness of the Greek concept. I think our modern use of the word icon in computer terms is much closer because although the program or application is not there on your desktop or phone when you tap or click on the “icon” or “image” you get access to the full product and all usefulness of the product it represents. Jesus was the image, ikone, of God but that representation also has all His power and divinity as the rest of the poetic passage describes. Jesus incarnate helps us visibly see that which is too glorious to see and is fully spirit and not really “see-able” with a human eye.

Firstborn of all creation is a positional, authoritative, and entitlement reference not a chronological or biological one. Some say that this points to His self-creation before creating everything else.

Remember how repeating words and concepts in Scripture often add to intensity trying to be conveyed. Everything was created by him, to clarify and emphasize Paul breaks down all of creation into various sections.

Visible and invisible, or seen and not seen or maybe more precisely not see-able. Paul uses contrasting words and word order changes to draw attention to Christ’s authority; Heaven (not see) and earth (seen), visible and invisible, thrones (tangible) and dominions (intangible), rulers (visible) and authorities (invisible).

In my daily readings this week I read Psalm 89:11–12

Psalm 89:11–12 (ESV)

The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. The north and the south, you have created them;

He created the earth and all that is in it (visible), the north and the south (invisible). Whether north and south to Psalmist means dominions latitudinally above and below Israel or the magnetic forces coming from the poles of the earth - God created them both.

Wisdom was also created,is invisible, and comes from God.

Proverbs 8:22–31 (ESV)

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.

When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.

Satan was created in Heaven but is now a ruler on the earth - Jesus still reigns over all these.

Paul repeats the words “all things” but now the contrast is in the prepositions about the “all things”. Started with “by” Him speaking of beginning creative power, now “through him” by which we are saved and have redemption speaking of his purification power, then “for” him because He is worthy of all things and purchased them with His blood speaking of his everlasting sovereign power as Lord of Lord and King of Kings forever and ever.

And even though that pretty much covers all the things He created, now Paul moves to the authority and power He has over all that was created.

Colossians 1:17–18 ESV

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

The first phrase gives us the concept that He set thing up next to each other and keeps them that way. He put all things in heaven and earth in motion and keeps them going to complete His will.

Our exalted Savior not only addresses humanity’s need for a Redeemer, but He is at the same time the personal sustainer or divine cohesive of all creation. From our mortal point of view, we identify certain laws of nature by which the universe operates and holds together. The underlying truth is that Christ stands behind these laws as the personal explanation for the regularity of the cosmos and thereby prevents it from becoming chaos. [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 77). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide - ESV - Fall 2021. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

This phrase also points to an active God and not one that set things in motion and “let go” or is only watching things happen. When life seems to be coming apart and things keep slipping through our fingers know that nothing slips through His. We may not be able to see or understand what or how He is accomplishing His will, but He is holding it all together even when we don’t seem to be able to.

“He is the head of the body, the church.” Just in case a reader did not think it was not covered by the all rest, Paul makes absolutely clear to everyone who is in charge of the church - saints in the light - and its members. Now that Jesus is no longer physically in the world, we His followers, are now his eikone, “image” in the world.

In Revelation Jesus describes Himself as the Beginning and the End. Here Paul only uses “the beginning” because the authority and power that come with that position and title do not have and end.

Firstborn from the dead is again, not a chronological or biological term but because of His resurrection all other resurrections were, are, and will be possible.

“...that in everything he might be preeminent”. This is the only time that Greek word translated as preeminent is used in New Testament so difficult to analyze but appears to have the same definition now as it did then. He is preeminent in all of creation in heaven, on the earth and under the earth but we as humans of free will are still able to push Him off the throne of our hearts because that is part of the way we get to “know Him” better and increase in the “knowledge of His will” by recognizing when we are not following it.

And maybe just to confound the “thinkers” of the day a little more, Paul finishes up his “hymn” with a clear statement of Christ’s divinity and redemptive power.

Colossians 1:19–20 ESV

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Verse 19 is succinct in the ESV and most other English translations, but I like how the Amplified really drives home the point of Christ’s divinity

Colossians 1:19 AMP

For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently.

This pleasure of the Father is express directly by him as Jesus’ baptism in Matt 3:17 “and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”” Not that God could be displeased with His Son - but stressing the willingness and freedom of an intention or resolve regarding what is good [Zodhiates, Spiros. The complete word study dictionary: New Testament 2000 : n. pag. Print.] Another way to say it would be, “It was a good thing that all of God the Father was within God the Son.”

Without the fullness of God, He would not be able to be the satisfying sacrifice for our sins and reconcile us to himself. Reconcile is defined here as to “bring back a former state of harmony” [Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1995 : n. pag. Print.] and “the restoration of a relationship of peace which has been disturbed” [Zodhiates, Spiros. The complete word study dictionary: New Testament 2000 : n. pag. Print.]

All things that have a disturbed or are not currently “at peace” with God will be brought back into peaceful relations because of His sacrifice and propitiation on the cross. But this does not only happen in the future but is a daily part of the believer’s life as we continually grow in “the knowledge of His will” and seek His forgiveness in those area we have not “reconciled” with His will.

Because of the reconciliatory context this “peace” is between God and His subjects in heaven and earth although it may include relationships between believers.

In contrast to this state of peace we now have, Paul reminds of where we came from.

Colossians 1:21–23 ESV

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

We were not “at peace” with God and therefore needed the reconciliation mentioned in the verse before and after this one.

“Alienated” contrasts with being in the the kingdom of verse 13 and holy in verse 22. It means - to be shut out from one’s fellowship and intimacy. [Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1995 : n. pag. Print.] Whereas holy is to be set apart for more intense fellowship and intimacy.

This “hostile in mind” contrasts with being “filled with the knowledge of his will" in verse 9 and “blameless” in verse 22. It means we are at enmity with God and opposing Him willfully with our thoughts and being. Whereas blameless is a “mind” and thoughts that are unblemished by sin.

“Doing evil deeds” contrasts with “walking in worthy manner” in verse 10 and “above reproach” in verse 22. These deeds prove our alienation and hostile mind to the world. Titus 1:16 (ESV) — 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Whereas “above reproach” is the opposite all these as we are fit to do any good work.

All of this is obtained by His work for us and toward us in the verse 22.

We will probably not have time to look at all these verses, but I want to at least list the other times in Paul’s letters he writes about this reconciliation.

Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

Eph 2:16 “and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

2Cor 5:18-21 “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Notice who does the presenting and who declares us holy, blameless, and above reproach. When this presentation occurs is debated. I prefer the final presentation at glorification since all other works in the passage are done by him which would mean the “if” in verse 23 is more like a “since” and the steadiness of faith is the work He is completing in us (Phil 1:6) until this presentation.

Then we get to the word that causes all kinds of scholarly debates “if”. “if indeed you continue in the faith” is a conditional clause based on the Christ’s reconciliation in verse 22.

Paul said God reconciled (past tense) them, if they continue (present tense) in faith. Since the present cannot change the past, it is past reconciliation that produces, and is seen in, present faith (cf. Jn 8:31–32; Heb 3:14). (2) The conditional (if … then syntax) Paul uses implies confidence that the readers will persevere (see also comment on Php 3:12–14) - Peterman, Gerald W. “Colossians.” The Moody Bible Commentary. Ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014. 1870. Print.

This statement is more about admonishing believers not to get side-tracked from walking in a pleasing manner before God than a statement of the possibility of losing one’s salvation.

If you have the true reconciling faith of Christ, then your faith in Him is held together by Him and it will be irrevocable. If you do not have this type of faith, there is hope as Paul proclaims it to all creation by Christ’s appointment.

Apply the Text

As the one who created all things including Satan who tempts us, God is able to supply, strengthen, guide,and fill in the gaps of our lives as we live for Him through His power applied to us. We can know (epignosis) Him more because He is limitless in all things.

Love to Eat, Hate to Eat (12. Crossing the Finish Line)

This process of learning to please God is ongoing. It won’t be fully accomplished until we’re in heaven and all of the impediments to our sanctification are removed. I long for that day, don’t you? Just to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I know that without His great grace and mercy, I would never hear Him say that. I’m not good, and I’m rarely as faithful as I should be. But I trust that He will change me and teach me how to glorify Him.

What was Paul’s prayer for these (Colossian) believers? He was praying that they would have the knowledge and the resultant wisdom and understanding that they needed—why?—so that they would walk in a manner that was glorifying and pleasing to God. He knew that we don’t automatically receive that knowledge when we become believers—he longed that every Christian would have it, though. He knew that as we grow in our understanding of how to please God that we will bear fruit, be strengthened by His power, and be filled to overflowing with joy and thanksgiving.

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