Lesson 5: Colossians 1:19-23
New King James Translation
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 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.
Personal Translation
For He was well pleased
- The complete fullness to settle down in connection with Him
- And by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself
- Whether the things upon the earth or the things in connection with the heavens
- Making peace through the blood of His cross.
And you who were formerly alienated and hated ones in the mind
- In connection with evil works
But now He has reconciled you
- In connection with the body of His flesh through death (means)
- To present you holy ones and without blemish and blameless in His presence (purpose)
- If indeed you are remaining in the faith
- Established ones
- And steadfast ones
- And not shifting from the hope of the Gospel
- Which you heard
- The one proclaimed to every creature under heaven
- Of which I, Paul, became a servant.
Verse Study
Verse 19-20
For [the Father] was well pleased [to have] the complete fullness settle down in connection with [Christ] and by [Christ] to reconcile all things unto Himself—whether the things upon the earth or the things in connection with the heavens—making peace through the blood of His cross.
- Paul continues to speak about the person of Christ, His fullness, and the work God accomplished through Him. The Father was well pleased with the Son and His work (cf. Matthew 3:17; 17:5). Through Him and His fullness, the Father reconciled sinful mankind.
- settle down — to dwell with no intention of leaving, completely settled
- reconcile — change from one condition to another; here an intensive and complete reconciliation.
Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Ephesians 2:11-16; Romans 5:10
Verses 21-22
And you who were formerly alienated and hated ones in the mind in connection with evil works; But now He has reconciled you in connection with the body of His flesh through death to present you holy ones and without blemish and blameless in His presence.
- All were once alienated from God and in need of reconciliation: the Colossians and us!
- mind — “a thinking through,” knowing and understanding, a reasoning that shows itself in the works produced
- Means of reconciliation = Christ’s physical death (cf. Romans 8:3-4)
- Purpose of reconciliation = to cleanse us and present us holy, without blemish, blameless in God’s sight (cf. Ephesians 5:25-27)
Alienation
Ephesians 2:12, 4:17-19; Isaiah 57:20-21
Verse 23
If indeed you are remaining in the faith, established ones and steadfast ones and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel which you heard—the one proclaimed to every creature under heaven of which I, Paul, became a servant.
- Remaining established in the faith is not a condition that must be fulfilled to make God’s reconciliation real. However, if we do not remain established in the faith, we walk away from that reconciliation (cf. Ephesians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 15:58).
—Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt
