Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Colossians 1:22 - 1:22
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Yet now (nuni de). Sharpened contrast with emphatic form of nun, “now” being not at the present moment, but in the present order of things in the new dispensation of grace in Christ.
Hath he reconciled (apokatēllaxen). First aorist (effective, timeless) active indicative (a sort of parenthetical anacoluthon). Here B reads apokatallagēte, be ye reconciled like katallagēte in 2Co 5:20 while D has apokatallagentes. Lightfoot prefers to follow B here (the hard reading), though Westcott and Hort only put it in the margin. On the word see Col 1:20.
In the body of his flesh (en tōi sōmati tēs sarkos autou). See the same combination in Col 2:11 though in Eph 2:14 only sarki (flesh). Apparently Paul combines both sōma and sarx to make plain the actual humanity of Jesus against incipient Docetic Gnostics who denied it.
Through death (dia tou thanatou). The reconciliation was accomplished by means of Christ’s death on the cross (Col 1:20) and not just by the Incarnation (the body of his flesh) in which the death took place.
To present (parastēsai). First aorist active (transitive) infinitive (of purpose) of paristēmi, old verb, to place beside in many connections. See it used of presenting Paul and the letter from Lysias to Felix (Act 23:33). Repeated in Col 1:28. See also 2Co 11:2; 2Co 4:14. Paul has the same idea of his responsibility in rendering an account for those under his influence seen in Heb 13:17. See note on Rom 12:1 for use of living sacrifice.
Holy (hagious). Positively consecrated, separated unto God. Common in N.T. for believers. Haupt holds that all these terms have a religious and forensic sense here.
Without blemish (amōmous). Without spot (Phi 2:15). Old word a privative and mōmos (blemish). Common in the lxx for ceremonial purifications.
Unreproveable (anegklētous). Old verbal adjective from a privative and egkaleō, to call to account, to pick flaws in. These three adjectives give a marvellous picture of complete purity (positive and negative, internal and external). This is Paul’s ideal when he presents the Colossians “before him” (katenōpion autou), right down in the eye of Christ the Judge of all.