- Colossians 1:1-8 | Gospel Growth
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4since we heard of your…
- Colossians 1:9-14 | Knowing God’s Will
9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and…
- Colossians 1:15-23 | Christ is Preeminent
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For 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. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things…
- Colossians 1:24-2:5 | Ministers of the Mystery
24Now 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, 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the…
- Colossians 2:6-15 | Fullness in Christ
6Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of…
- Colossians 2:16-23 | Freedom from Rules
16Therefore let no one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism [false humility] and worship of…
- Colossians 3:1-17 | Put on the Nature of Christ
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who…
- Colossians 3:18-4:1 | God over Marriage, Family & Work
This section is very similar in structure and theme to Ephesians 5:22-6:9, albeit more condensed. The close similarity shows how concerned Paul was with encouraging believers to live Christ centred lives which affected their daily living. Note how in all these examples, Paul mentions the ‘lesser/weaker’ partner in the relationship first, showing his concern for…
- Colossians 4:2-18 | Pray for Opportunities and Each Other
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to…
