(Col 1:1 NASB) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
(Col 1:2 NASB) to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
Col 1:2: Paul is writing to the assembly in Colossae (map). He is writing this letter to those he calls “saints” and “faithful brethren in Messiah.” The term “saints” means “set-apart ones.” The term also means “blameless ones.” Saint – G40. hagios, hag’-ee-os; from hagos (an awful thing) [comp. G53, H2282]; sacred (phys. pure, mor. blameless or religious, cer. consecrated):–(most) holy (one, thing), saint.
So we see that Paul is writing this letter to those in Colossae who are faithful in Messiah in their lives and are blameless according to Torah.
(Col 1:3 NASB) We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
(Col 1:4 NASB) since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
Col 1:4: Paul said that they have heard of their faith in Messiah. What is to hear? How do you hear of ones “faith?” The key to the phrase is the translation of the Greek word “pistis.” G4102. pistis, from G3982; faith, faithfulness:– faith(238), faithfulness(3), pledge(m)(1), proof(1). It is almost always translated as “faith,” but should be translated as “faithfulness.” The Greek word cannot be translated as meaning some deep inward belief, because that does not make sense in Romans 3:3 and other places.
The passage is saying that Paul has heard of their faithfulness in Messiah, and in the love they show for the other saints.
(Col 1:5 NASB) because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel,
(Col 1:6 NASB) which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
Col 1:6: The hope they have laid up is the Gospel which is the promise of the Kingdom they are a part of.
(Col 1:7 NASB) just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,
(Col 1:8 NASB) and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
Col 1:8: Paul says they have the Spirit of Elohim within them and it shows in their lives as they are apparently obedient to Torah.
(Col 1:9 NASB) For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
(Col 1:10 NASB) so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:10: Paul is asking that the Colossians be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom. This is spoken of throughout that Tanakh (Psalm 25:4-12, 119:5-7, Micah 4:2).
(Col 1:11 NASB) strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
(Col 1:12 NASB) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Col 1:12: The Father has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. The light he speaks of is the light of Torah (Psalm 119:105). The inheritance spoken of here is the inheritance of the land in the Kingdom (Deut.25:19).
(Col 1:13 NASB) For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
(Col 1:14 NASB) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Col 1:14: In Messiah we have redemption and forgiveness because His Spirit resides in us if we yearn for His Torah..
(Col 1:15 NASB) And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.
(Col 1:16 NASB) For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created by Him and for Him.
(Col 1:17 NASB) And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
(Col 1:18 NASB) He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.
Col 1:18: In this introduction to Colossians, Paul has talked about how the people who have a heart for Torah have the Spirit of Elohim within them, teaching them to walk in His ways and that they have a inheritance in the Kingdom of Israel. Even though the Kingdom is not yet consummated, their name is written in the Book of Life and they have an inheritance in that Kingdom.
Now Paul is going to discuss Messiah, who made all this possible for them. He is the Word of Elohim made flesh. Elohim created all things through His Word and Yeshua is that very Word that became flesh for us. Yeshua is the head of their assembly and is the first-born of all creation through His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-23, Rev. 1:5).
(Col 1:19 NASB) For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him,
(Col 1:20 NASB) and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
(Col 1:21 NASB) And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
(Col 1:22 NASB) yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach–
Col 1:22: We are reconciled to the Father through the blood of Yeshua Messiah, which is the vehicle of the Spirit (Breath) of Elohim to enter into us and make us a part of His New Covenant.
(Col 1:23 NASB) if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
(Col 1:24 NASB) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
Col 1:24: The “hope” (or “expectation”) of the Gospel is the Kingdom of heaven here on earth. They are not to move away from that anticipation.
Paul speaks of his sufferings. Then he states that he does his share on behalf of the assembly to fill up that which is lacking in their afflictions.
(Col 1:25 NASB) Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
(Col 1:26 NASB) that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints,
(Col 1:27 NASB) to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(Col 1:28 NASB) And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Col 1:28: The mystery that has been hidden from past generations had manifested itself in Pauls day. The mystery is that the Kingdom of Israel is for Gentiles that Elohim has selected also, not just the Jews. This happens through through Messiah. It is through His shed blood that we may have the Spirit of the Father within us. Therefore we should be teaching every man Torah with wisdom in order that they may be complete (or “perfect”) in Messiah.
(Col 1:29 NASB) And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Col 1:29: This is Paul’s purpose. He wants to proclaim Messiah and prepare every man to be complete (perfect) in Messiah.
Patrick McGuire
Copyright 2014 Patrick McGuire and Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly All rights reserved, no portion of this Lesson may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly Fort Smith, Arkansas