Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

“Colosse--written in the oldest manuscripts, "Colasse." As "saints" implies union with God, so "the faithful brethren" union with Christian men [BENGEL]. and the Lord Jesus Christ--supported by some oldest manuscripts omitted by others of equal antiquity.”

because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—

“Since we heard--literally, "Having heard." The language implies that he had only heard of, and not seen, them (Col 2:1). Compare Ro 1:8, where like language is used of a Church which he had not at the time visited. love . . .”

the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel

“Compare Col 1:23, "the hope of the Gospel." in heaven--Greek, "in the heavens." whereof ye heard before--namely, at the time when it was preached to you.”

You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

“The insertion implied that those inserting it thought that Paul had preached the Gospel to the Colossians as well as Epaphras, Whereas the omission in the oldest manuscripts implies that Epaphras alone was the founder of the Church at Colosse. of--"from Epaphras." dear--Greek, "beloved."”

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

“The connection is not, "We do not cease to pray for you (Col 1:9) giving thanks." unto the Father--of Jesus Christ, and so our Father by adoption (Ga 3:26; 4:4-6). which hath made us meet--Greek, "who made us meet."”

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.

“His essential nature as the Word of the Father is not a mere appendage of His incarnation, but is the ground of it.”

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

“(Joh 8:58.) Translate as Greek, "And He Himself (the great HE) is (implying divine essential being) before all things," in time, as well as in dignity. Since He is before all things, He is before even time, that is, from eternity.”

and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

“The Greek order is, "And through Him (Christ) to reconcile again completely (see on Eph 2:16) all things (Greek, 'the whole universe of things') unto Himself (unto God the Father, 2Co 5:19), having made peace (God the Father having made peace) through the blood of…”

if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and…

“For "to (Greek, 'in') every creature," the oldest manuscripts read, "in all creation." Compare "in all the world," Col 1:6; "all things . . .”

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

“This sense is proved by the following: "Christ in you the hope of the (so Greek) glory." The lower was the degradation of you Gentiles, the higher is the richness of the glory to which the mystery revealed now raises you.”

To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

“The same Greek word is used of Epaphras (Col 4:12), "laboring fervently for you in prayers": literally, "agonizing," "striving as in the agony of a contest." So Jesus in Gethsemane when praying (Lu 22:44): so "strive" (the same Greek word, "agonize"), Lu 13:24.”

For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,

“Translate as Greek, "I wish you to know how great a conflict (the same Greek word as in Col 1:29, "agony of a conflict" of fervent, anxious prayer; not conflict with the false teachers, which would have been impossible for him now in prison) I…”

I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.

“And--"Now." Compare with "lest any man," &c. He refers to the blending of Judaism with Oriental philosophy, and the combination of this mixture with Christianity. enticing words--plausible as wearing the guise of wisdom and humility (Col 2:18, 23).”

For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.

“Compare 1Co 14:33, 40. steadfastness--Greek, "the firm (or 'solid') foundation." As "order" expresses the outward aspect of the Church; so "steadfastness" expresses the inner basis on which their Church rested.”

rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

“Rooted-- (Eph 3:17). built up--Greek, "being builded up." As "rooted" implies their vitality; so "builded up," massive solidity.”

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on…

“But NEANDER, "the elements of the world," in the sense, what is earthly, carnal and outward, not "the rudiments of religion," in Judaism and heathenism.”

And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

“He is full of the "fulness" itself; we, filled from Him. Paul implies, Therefore ye Colossians need no supplementary sources of grace, such as the false teachers dream of. Christ is "the Head of all rule and authority" (so the Greek), Eph 1:10;”

In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.

“3:1, 3, 4, which similarly makes the believer, by spiritual union with Christ, to have personal fellowship in the several states of Christ, namely, His death, resurrection, and appearing in glory.”

And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

“Faith in God's mighty operation in raising again Jesus, is saving faith (Ro 4:24; 10:9); and it is wrought in the soul by His same "mighty working" whereby He "raised Jesus from the dead" (Eph 1:19, 20).”

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

“But at the ascension Satan and his demons were "judged" and "cast out" by Christ's obedience unto death (Joh 12:31; Re 12:5-10), and the Son of man was raised to the throne of God; thus His resurrection and ascension are a public solemn triumph over…”

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen.

“"To be umpire in a contest to the detriment of one." This defrauding of their prize the Colossians would suffer, by letting any self-constituted arbitrator or judge (that is, false teacher) draw them away from Christ," the righteous Judge" and Awarder of the prize (2Ti…”

He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.

“"Receiving ministration." knit together--The Greek is translated, "compacted," Eph 4:16: implying firm consolidation. with the increase of God-- (Eph 4:16); that is, wrought by God, the Author and Sustainer of the believer's spiritual life, in union with Christ, the Head (1Co 3:6); and tending to…”

If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:

“Wherefore--The oldest manuscripts omit "Wherefore." if ye be dead--Greek, "if ye died (so as to be freed) from," &c. (compare Ro 6:2; Ga 2:19). rudiments of the world-- (Col 2:8).”

Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

“It implies a self-idolizing, grasping spirit; far worse than another Greek term translated "the love of money" (1Ti 6:10). which is--that is, inasmuch as it is "idolatry." Compare Note, see on Eph 4:19, on its connection with sins of impurity.”

Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,

“(Eph 4:25.) put off--Greek, "wholly put off"; utterly renounced [TITTMANN]. (Eph 4:22). the old man--the unregenerate nature which ye had before conversion. his deeds--habits of acting.”