Colossians 1: Christ's Supremacy and Our Transformation
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
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.
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Colossians 1 serves as a powerful introduction to Paul's letter, emphasizing the supremacy of Christ in all things. This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding how our faith in Christ should shape our lives and protect us from false teachings. Paul masterfully weaves together greetings, thanksgiving, prayer, and a profound declaration of Christ's glory, setting the stage for the practical instructions that follow. Let's delve into the depths of this chapter to uncover its rich theological insights and practical applications.
Greeting and Thanksgiving (Colossians 1:1-8)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. (Colossians 1:1-2)
Paul begins his letter with a customary greeting, identifying himself as an apostle and including Timothy as a co-author. He addresses the believers in Colossae as "saints and faithful brothers in Christ," highlighting their special relationship with God and their commitment to the faith. It's worth noting that unlike some of the other churches Paul wrote to, he hadn't personally met the believers in Colossae.
Paul's greeting is followed by an expression of gratitude for the Colossians' faith, love, and hope. He writes, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven." (Colossians 1:3-5). He recognized their "vertical-horizontal connection": their faith in Christ (vertical) intersected with their love for the saints (horizontal) because both came from the same hope that was waiting for them.
Paul had heard of their growing faith and love through Epaphras, who ministered to them. Epaphras, whom Paul describes as "a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf" (Colossians 1:7), had shared with Paul the encouraging news of their spiritual progress. The gospel not only offers the hope of eternal life but also rewards us in this life. Paul saw the scope of the gospel as universal. God’s good news in Jesus Christ isn’t reserved for a privileged few—any person in the world may respond to the grace of God. It is also productive, since it was bearing fruit and growing. Truth will always bring change, development, and growth.
Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Growth (Colossians 1:9-14)
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Colossians 1:9)
Paul's thanksgiving transitions into a heartfelt prayer for the Colossians. He prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding. This is not simply intellectual knowledge, but an experiential knowledge of God that leads to practical application in their lives. Paul connects bearing good fruit with the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10). This is experiential knowledge, not just informational. When Adam knew Eve, she conceived; that intimacy produced fruit. Paul asks the Lord that the Colossians would have the wisdom to make biblically-based decisions that come from knowing God’s will (Colossians 1:9). Then he prays that the walk of their Christian life (how they live) would result in every good work (Colossians 1:10). The product of all of this is fruitfulness, having a useful Christian life that positively affects the lives of others. On the basis of our experience with him, God produces something in our lives that is beautiful, enjoyable, and useful.
Paul continues to pray that they would "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). He emphasizes the importance of living a life that reflects God's character and brings Him glory. The evidence of knowing God is the fruit we bear, which should be visible, reflect God's nature, and benefit others.
Paul also prays for their strength and endurance: "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" (Colossians 1:11-12). Endurance usually involves inconvenience and an unpleasant experience. A pregnant woman, for instance, endures significant inconveniences and unpleasant symptoms. But the joy of what awaits her at the end of her trial overrides any inconvenience. For Christians, God has a spiritual inheritance prepared (Colossians 1:12). Most of that inheritance awaits us in eternity, but God grants access to enough of it now that you are spiritually equipped to fulfill his kingdom purposes for you.
He concludes this section by reminding them of God's grace in delivering them from the domain of darkness and transferring them into the kingdom of His beloved Son, "in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14). We were under the rule of the devil, but Jesus Christ provided redemption (Colossians 1:14). A slave could be redeemed in the ancient world if a price was paid for his freedom. We were slaves to sin and Satan, but through his atoning death Christ purchased us off the slave block, granting us forgiveness of sins and transferring us into his glorious kingdom.
The Preeminence of Christ (Colossians 1:15-20)
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. (Colossians 1:15-16)
These verses contain some of the most profound statements about Christ in the New Testament, emphasizing His absolute supremacy. Paul declares that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God," meaning he is the perfect replica. God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Colossians 1:19). The one God exists in three persons—as a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Second Person of the Trinity took on human flesh; he is fully God and fully man. Every attribute of God is manifested in the Son; Jesus is God in bodily form (see Colossians 2:9). That’s why we see in Scripture that one minute Jesus is thirsty because he’s a man, and the next minute he calms the sea because he’s the Son of God.
He is "the firstborn over all creation" (Colossians 1:15). This phrase has nothing to do with time but with rank. It’s like the term first lady. The president’s wife is not the first woman ever to live in the White House. She holds the rank of first lady because of her connection to the one in charge. By his divine connection to God the Father, Christ inherits creation and the right to rule: “God has appointed him heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2). He is the rightful King of creation. Second, he is the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)—the down payment on our resurrection. You can be raised from the dead because Jesus was raised from the dead. Third, he is also the head of the body, the church. The church isn’t ours; it’s his. He runs it. When it comes to the covenant people of God, then, Jesus is never to come in second place. He is to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18).
Paul emphasizes that all things were created through Him and for Him. Everything was created by him (Colossians 1:16). Genesis 1:1 says, “God created the heavens and the earth.” Yet Jesus is the uncreated Creator of all things (see John 1:1-4), and there is only one uncreated, eternal being. Thus, Jesus is God. What, then, should we make of the claim in Isaiah 9:6 that “A child will be born for us, a son will be given”? Well, the child (that is, Jesus) had to be born because the incarnation was a new thing, but the Son was given because he already existed. By him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). The planets stay in their orbits because Jesus holds them there. If he can do that, you can be confident that he can hold you too. If things are falling apart in your life, it might just be because Jesus doesn’t hold the preeminent position in your heart.
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. 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. (Colossians 1:17-20)
Through him God reconciled everything to himself. Sin has separated us from God, and we need reconciliation to bring things back into proper harmony. Job spoke of needing someone to mediate between him and God—someone like him who understood his pain (see Job 9:32-33). Since Jesus is a man, he understands our problems; since he’s God, he can fix them. Jesus experienced rejection, temptation, hunger, abuse, and death. He knows how you feel. But he’s also an Advocate (see 1 John 2:1) who reconciles sinners to God through his blood, shed on the cross. Your bank statement of righteousness is reconciled by Jesus Christ; you have perfect righteousness because you received a credit from him.
Reconciliation and Paul's Ministry (Colossians 1:21-29)
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. (Colossians 1:21-23)
Paul reminds the Colossians of their former state of alienation from God and their reconciliation through Christ's sacrifice. The Colossians’ former state of hostility toward God was manifest in their evil actions (Colossians 1:21). They were reconciled, brought into relationship with God, based on the atoning work of Christ (Colossians 1:22). The goal for every Christian is to be presented as a mature believer, though no one is perfect. Maturity requires responsibility on our part—we are not to be shifted away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23).
He emphasizes the importance of remaining steadfast in their faith and not being swayed from the hope of the gospel.
Paul then speaks of his own ministry and suffering for the sake of the church. Paul’s motivation for his sufferings was that they would benefit the church (Colossians 1:24). He wanted believers to be filled with what was necessary for their spiritual development, and that includes suffering. Paul’s ministry and stewardship were to prepare the church for the judgment seat of Christ. He wanted to facilitate the spiritual development of its members and to expose them to the mystery (Colossians 1:26)—that is, to the fact that Christ indwells every believer (Colossians 1:27) so that they increasingly reflect his character, conduct, attitude, and actions as they use God’s Word to deal with life (see Hebrews 5:11-14). As internal spiritual maturation is manifested externally in the action of believers, transformation takes place. Christ’s indwelling presence functions within us like a new motor in an old car.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Colossians 1:24-29)
Paul’s ministry centered on proclaiming this mystery, particularly to the Gentiles, so that they might be presented as mature in glory (Colossians 1:27). His proclamation—with a call to response, with admonishment, and with guidance in the application of truth—required all wisdom (Colossians 1:28). People are at various stages in their spiritual experience. Every minister should strive with God’s strength (Colossians 1:29) for the spiritual development of his entire congregation.
He sees his suffering as a participation in Christ's sufferings for the sake of His body, the church. His mission is to make known the mystery of Christ in the Gentiles, the hope of glory. He proclaims Christ, admonishing and teaching with all wisdom, so that everyone may be presented mature in Christ. This is his ultimate goal, and he strives towards it with the power that God provides.
Colossians 1 sets a high standard for believers. It calls us to a deeper understanding of Christ's supremacy and a commitment to living out our faith in a way that pleases Him. It is a call to maturity, perseverance, and a life lived for the glory of God.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
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.
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Colossians 1 serves as a powerful introduction to Paul's letter, emphasizing the supremacy of Christ in all things. This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding how our faith in Christ should shape our lives and protect us from false teachings. Paul masterfully weaves together greetings, thanksgiving, prayer, and a profound declaration of Christ's glory, setting the stage for the practical instructions that follow. Let's delve into the depths of this chapter to uncover its rich theological insights and practical applications.
Greeting and Thanksgiving (Colossians 1:1-8)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. (Colossians 1:1-2)
Paul begins his letter with a customary greeting, identifying himself as an apostle and including Timothy as a co-author. He addresses the believers in Colossae as "saints and faithful brothers in Christ," highlighting their special relationship with God and their commitment to the faith. It's worth noting that unlike some of the other churches Paul wrote to, he hadn't personally met the believers in Colossae.
Paul's greeting is followed by an expression of gratitude for the Colossians' faith, love, and hope. He writes, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven." (Colossians 1:3-5). He recognized their "vertical-horizontal connection": their faith in Christ (vertical) intersected with their love for the saints (horizontal) because both came from the same hope that was waiting for them.
Paul had heard of their growing faith and love through Epaphras, who ministered to them. Epaphras, whom Paul describes as "a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf" (Colossians 1:7), had shared with Paul the encouraging news of their spiritual progress. The gospel not only offers the hope of eternal life but also rewards us in this life. Paul saw the scope of the gospel as universal. God’s good news in Jesus Christ isn’t reserved for a privileged few—any person in the world may respond to the grace of God. It is also productive, since it was bearing fruit and growing. Truth will always bring change, development, and growth.
Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Growth (Colossians 1:9-14)
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Colossians 1:9)
Paul's thanksgiving transitions into a heartfelt prayer for the Colossians. He prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, spiritual wisdom, and understanding. This is not simply intellectual knowledge, but an experiential knowledge of God that leads to practical application in their lives. Paul connects bearing good fruit with the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10). This is experiential knowledge, not just informational. When Adam knew Eve, she conceived; that intimacy produced fruit. Paul asks the Lord that the Colossians would have the wisdom to make biblically-based decisions that come from knowing God’s will (Colossians 1:9). Then he prays that the walk of their Christian life (how they live) would result in every good work (Colossians 1:10). The product of all of this is fruitfulness, having a useful Christian life that positively affects the lives of others. On the basis of our experience with him, God produces something in our lives that is beautiful, enjoyable, and useful.
Paul continues to pray that they would "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10). He emphasizes the importance of living a life that reflects God's character and brings Him glory. The evidence of knowing God is the fruit we bear, which should be visible, reflect God's nature, and benefit others.
Paul also prays for their strength and endurance: "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" (Colossians 1:11-12). Endurance usually involves inconvenience and an unpleasant experience. A pregnant woman, for instance, endures significant inconveniences and unpleasant symptoms. But the joy of what awaits her at the end of her trial overrides any inconvenience. For Christians, God has a spiritual inheritance prepared (Colossians 1:12). Most of that inheritance awaits us in eternity, but God grants access to enough of it now that you are spiritually equipped to fulfill his kingdom purposes for you.
He concludes this section by reminding them of God's grace in delivering them from the domain of darkness and transferring them into the kingdom of His beloved Son, "in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14). We were under the rule of the devil, but Jesus Christ provided redemption (Colossians 1:14). A slave could be redeemed in the ancient world if a price was paid for his freedom. We were slaves to sin and Satan, but through his atoning death Christ purchased us off the slave block, granting us forgiveness of sins and transferring us into his glorious kingdom.
The Preeminence of Christ (Colossians 1:15-20)
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. (Colossians 1:15-16)
These verses contain some of the most profound statements about Christ in the New Testament, emphasizing His absolute supremacy. Paul declares that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God," meaning he is the perfect replica. God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Colossians 1:19). The one God exists in three persons—as a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Second Person of the Trinity took on human flesh; he is fully God and fully man. Every attribute of God is manifested in the Son; Jesus is God in bodily form (see Colossians 2:9). That’s why we see in Scripture that one minute Jesus is thirsty because he’s a man, and the next minute he calms the sea because he’s the Son of God.
He is "the firstborn over all creation" (Colossians 1:15). This phrase has nothing to do with time but with rank. It’s like the term first lady. The president’s wife is not the first woman ever to live in the White House. She holds the rank of first lady because of her connection to the one in charge. By his divine connection to God the Father, Christ inherits creation and the right to rule: “God has appointed him heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2). He is the rightful King of creation. Second, he is the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)—the down payment on our resurrection. You can be raised from the dead because Jesus was raised from the dead. Third, he is also the head of the body, the church. The church isn’t ours; it’s his. He runs it. When it comes to the covenant people of God, then, Jesus is never to come in second place. He is to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18).
Paul emphasizes that all things were created through Him and for Him. Everything was created by him (Colossians 1:16). Genesis 1:1 says, “God created the heavens and the earth.” Yet Jesus is the uncreated Creator of all things (see John 1:1-4), and there is only one uncreated, eternal being. Thus, Jesus is God. What, then, should we make of the claim in Isaiah 9:6 that “A child will be born for us, a son will be given”? Well, the child (that is, Jesus) had to be born because the incarnation was a new thing, but the Son was given because he already existed. By him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). The planets stay in their orbits because Jesus holds them there. If he can do that, you can be confident that he can hold you too. If things are falling apart in your life, it might just be because Jesus doesn’t hold the preeminent position in your heart.
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. 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. (Colossians 1:17-20)
Through him God reconciled everything to himself. Sin has separated us from God, and we need reconciliation to bring things back into proper harmony. Job spoke of needing someone to mediate between him and God—someone like him who understood his pain (see Job 9:32-33). Since Jesus is a man, he understands our problems; since he’s God, he can fix them. Jesus experienced rejection, temptation, hunger, abuse, and death. He knows how you feel. But he’s also an Advocate (see 1 John 2:1) who reconciles sinners to God through his blood, shed on the cross. Your bank statement of righteousness is reconciled by Jesus Christ; you have perfect righteousness because you received a credit from him.
Reconciliation and Paul's Ministry (Colossians 1:21-29)
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. (Colossians 1:21-23)
Paul reminds the Colossians of their former state of alienation from God and their reconciliation through Christ's sacrifice. The Colossians’ former state of hostility toward God was manifest in their evil actions (Colossians 1:21). They were reconciled, brought into relationship with God, based on the atoning work of Christ (Colossians 1:22). The goal for every Christian is to be presented as a mature believer, though no one is perfect. Maturity requires responsibility on our part—we are not to be shifted away from the hope of the gospel (Colossians 1:23).
He emphasizes the importance of remaining steadfast in their faith and not being swayed from the hope of the gospel.
Paul then speaks of his own ministry and suffering for the sake of the church. Paul’s motivation for his sufferings was that they would benefit the church (Colossians 1:24). He wanted believers to be filled with what was necessary for their spiritual development, and that includes suffering. Paul’s ministry and stewardship were to prepare the church for the judgment seat of Christ. He wanted to facilitate the spiritual development of its members and to expose them to the mystery (Colossians 1:26)—that is, to the fact that Christ indwells every believer (Colossians 1:27) so that they increasingly reflect his character, conduct, attitude, and actions as they use God’s Word to deal with life (see Hebrews 5:11-14). As internal spiritual maturation is manifested externally in the action of believers, transformation takes place. Christ’s indwelling presence functions within us like a new motor in an old car.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Colossians 1:24-29)
Paul’s ministry centered on proclaiming this mystery, particularly to the Gentiles, so that they might be presented as mature in glory (Colossians 1:27). His proclamation—with a call to response, with admonishment, and with guidance in the application of truth—required all wisdom (Colossians 1:28). People are at various stages in their spiritual experience. Every minister should strive with God’s strength (Colossians 1:29) for the spiritual development of his entire congregation.
He sees his suffering as a participation in Christ's sufferings for the sake of His body, the church. His mission is to make known the mystery of Christ in the Gentiles, the hope of glory. He proclaims Christ, admonishing and teaching with all wisdom, so that everyone may be presented mature in Christ. This is his ultimate goal, and he strives towards it with the power that God provides.
Colossians 1 sets a high standard for believers. It calls us to a deeper understanding of Christ's supremacy and a commitment to living out our faith in a way that pleases Him. It is a call to maturity, perseverance, and a life lived for the glory of God.