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Colossians 1:28

in Colossians 1

We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;

KJV

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

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This verse in Colossians 1

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Colossians · Written before 1107.

We preach, but not the angels. How then after this do you consider them ministers? And he expressively said: καταγγέλλομεν – we proclaim below, that is, as if bringing Him down from on high, Not in a commanding way and not with compulsion. For this …

This site's exposition

We proclaim Him

on Colossians 1:28-29

Every man stands three times in the Greek of verse 28, answering a teaching that graded souls into initiates and outsiders. The goal is to present everyone perfect in Christ, teleios, complete.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Colossians 5 · Written before 407.

proposed

"Whom we," not Angels: "teaching" and "admonishing": not imperiously nor using constraint, for this too is of God's lovingkindness to men, not to bring them to Him after the manner of a tyrant. Seeing it was a great thing he had said, "teaching," he added, "admonishing," which is rather like a father than an instructor. "Whom," saith he, "we proclaim, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom." So that all wisdom is needed. That is, saying all things in wisdom. For the ability to learn such things exists not in every one. "That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." What sayest thou, "every man"? Yea; this is what we are earnestly desirous of doing, he saith. For what, if this do not come to pass? the blessed Paul endeavored. "Perfect." This then is perfection, the other is imperfect: so that if one have not even the whole of wisdom, he is imperfect. "Perfect in Christ Jesus," not in the Law, nor in Angels, for that is not perfection. "In Christ," that is, in the knowledge of Christ. For he that knows what Christ has done, will have higher thoughts than to be satisfied with Angels.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Colossians · Written before 1274.

proposed

Now he mentions its function. In regard to this he does three things. First, he indicates its function; secondly, its fruit (v. 28b), and in the third place, the help he was given (v. 29). Its function is to announce Christ; and he shows this …

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

That which he aimed at was to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, teleios, either perfect in the knowledge of the Christian doctrine ( Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded, Phil. iii. 17 ), or else crowned with a glorious reward hereafter, when he will present to himself a glorious church ( Eph. v. 27 ), and bring them to the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb. xii.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Inscription and Apostolical Benediction. 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The inscription of this epistle is much the same with the rest; only it is observable that, 1.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:42w-of-63

Whom we preach,....
4 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century4 voices

Whom we preach, warning every man - This does not mean warning of danger, but “admonishing all of the claims of the gospel to attention.” Our word warn is commonly used in the sense of cautioning against danger. The Greek word here means to put in mind; to admonish; to exhort. The idea of the apostle is, that he made it his great business to bring the offers of the gospel fairly before the mind of every man.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

preach--rather as Greek, "announce" or "proclaim." warning . . . teaching--"Warning" is connected with repentance, refers to one's conduct, and is addressed primarily to the heart. "Teaching" is connected with faith, refers to doctrines, and is addressed primarily to the intellect.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

Perfection in Jesus Christ! What effect ought it to have upon our hearts if it really is ours? Perfection! What do we know of it from Scripture? We know that it is a word so large that while it takes us little time to say it, yet it comprehends all words within its meaning. There is no good word of any description which can be applied to any creature but this word, perfection, takes it in. And though it is easy to utter it with our lips, I question whether there is any mortal mind capable of grasping the idea of perfection any more than it can grasp the idea of eternity! When we begin to think of eternity—without beginning, without end—we are lost in trying to comprehend it because we are finite. And when we once endeavor to conceive perfection—without fault, without flaw—we are lost because we are imperfect! And therefore we cannot understand perfection any more than the finite can grasp the infinite! Perfection, indeed, seems to be the sole prerogative of God. He is perfect in everything. In all His attributes there is no lack. From whatever point of view we regard Him, He is without blot or blemish. And no man, speaking truthfully of God, can say that there is anything of imperfection in Him. If we speak of majesty, His Glory is unsurpassed. If we talk of power, His is Omnipotence and that, indeed, is infinite power! If we speak of wisdom, His is the wisdom of the Godhead—He knows all things, from the most minute to the most immense. He comprehends all secrets and grasps all knowledge in His mighty mind. It does seem, at first sight, as if perfection could belong only to the Creator. But we remember that the works of God are also perfect and so are all His ways.
Perfection in Jesus Christ! What effect ought it to have upon our hearts if it really is ours? Perfection! What do we know of it from Scripture? We know that it is a word so large that while it takes us little time to say it, yet it comprehends all words within its meaning. There is no good word of any description which can be applied to any creature but this word, perfection, takes it in.

The words behind it

20 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Ephesians 5:27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.28 worksJeremiah 3:15Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”27 worksEphesians 4:13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.27 worksMatthew 5:48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.24 worksEphesians 4:11–13And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,20 works2 Timothy 2:24–25And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.14 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.14 works1 Corinthians 2:6Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.12 worksMatthew 28:20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”11 worksColossians 1:22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—9 worksJude 1:24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—9 worksActs 20:31Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.8 works2 Corinthians 11:2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.8 worksActs 20:20I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house,8 worksLuke 14:23So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.8 works2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.7 worksActs 8:35Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.7 worksActs 20:2After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,6 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Matthew 5:48

    Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 1:15–16

      But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,

    • James 1:4

      Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

    • Leviticus 19:2

      “Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

    • Deuteronomy 18:13

      You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

    • Luke 6:36

      Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

  • Through

    Jeremiah 3:15

    Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

    it leads to

    • Jeremiah 23:4

      I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any go missing, declares the LORD.

    • Acts 20:28

      Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

    • Ephesians 4:11–12

      And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

Where this verse is studied

About Colossians

Christ Blessing ('The Saviour of the World'), El Greco, 1600, Scottish National Gallery. Public domain.
Christ Blessing ('The Saviour of the World'), El Greco, 1600, Scottish National Gallery. Public domain.
Colossians: the study guide →Read Colossians 1 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2581: “Perfection in Christ” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Colossians 5; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Colossians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Colossians.

Read on in Colossians 1 →