Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Colossians 1:21 - 1:23
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Col_1:21-23
21And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach- 23if 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_1:21 "you" This refers to Gentile believers. Notice the three characterizations of their former lives in paganism which follow in this verse.
▣ "were formerly alienated" This is a Perfect passive participle of a rare compound word for a stranger or foreigner which describes the Gentiles' previous relationship to God. The theological description of this estrangement is found in Eph_2:1; Eph_2:3; Eph_2:11-22. The moral description is in Eph_4:18-19. It is possible that this term is used of slaves in the sense of "being transferred to another owner." If so, Col_1:13 is the background.
▣ "hostile in mind" Fallen mankind has a mind-set of independence (cf. Rom_1:28; Rom_8:7; Jas_4:4; 1Jn_2:15-16). Mankind, not God, becomes the measure of all things (atheistic humanism).
NASB "engaged in evil deeds"
NKJV "by wicked works"
NRSV "doing evil deeds"
TEV "the evil things you did"
NJB "your evil behavior"
The rabbis assert that as a person thinks, so he/she becomes. An evil heart/mind eventually reflects itself in acts of evil toward God and other humans (cf. Gal_5:19-21; 2Ti_3:2-5; Tit_3:3).
Col_1:22 "yet He has now reconciled you" "Reconciled" is the main verb of Col_1:21-23. See note at Col_1:20. What a change has occurred because of God's actions in Christ toward these fallen, alienated Gentiles (cf. Col_1:20)!
God's promise to redeem mankind in Gen_3:15 has been fulfilled. This promise was accomplished completely as an act of God. Fallen mankind was unable to return to the Creator (cf. Isa_53:6, quoted in 1Pe_2:25; and Rom_3:9-18 for a series of OT quotes). What love is this that has pursued sinful, rebellious humanity through time and in time gave His only Son to die on our behalf!
▣ "in His fleshly body through death" This may have related to the false teachers' rejection of Jesus' humanity (cf. Col_1:20). Jesus was fully God and fully human (cf. 1Jn_4:1-6). He had a physical body (cf. Col_2:11). He was really one of us.
hyperlink
▣ "in order to present you before Him" This could refer to (1) the day of salvation; (2) the time of the believers' death; or (3) the Judgment Day/Second Coming (cf. Col_1:28; Eph_5:27).
▣ "holy and blameless and beyond reproach" These three adjectives are used as synonyms. This describes the purity of believers in Christ (cf. Php_1:15). They are not only forgiven, they are totally changed! This is very similar to the emphasis of Eph_1:4; Eph_4:1; Eph_5:27. The goal of justification is not only heaven when we die, but holiness now (cf. Lev_19:2; Mat_5:48)!
Sanctification is a current reality for believers as a gift from Christ (cf. Act_26:18; 1Co_1:2; 1Co_1:30; 1Co_6:11; Heb_10:10; Heb_10:14). It is also a progressive, Christlike living (cf. Eph_1:4; Eph_2:10; 2Ti_2:12; Jas_1:4; 2Pe_3:14) and an eschatological goal (cf. 2Co_11:2; Eph_5:27; 1Th_3:13; 1Th_5:23; 1Jn_3:2). See Special Topic: Holy at Eph_1:4.
hyperlink
Col_1:23 "if indeed you continue in faith" This is a first class conditional sentence which was assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes. Paul assumed their continuance, which was an evidence of their true conversion (cf. 1Jn_2:19; Rev_2:7; Rev_2:11; Rev_2:17; Rev_2:26; Rev_3:5; Rev_3:12; Rev_3:21). See Special Topic: Perseverance at Php_1:9.
Faith (a dative with no article) refers to either (1) personal trust in Jesus, or (2) faithfulness to Christ; or (3) Christian doctrine (cf. Act_6:7; Act_13:8; Act_14:22; Gal_1:23; Gal_6:10; Jud_1:3; Jud_1:20, also the Pastoral Epistles). Christian maturity involves (1) a personal faith; (2) a godly lifestyle; and (3) doctrinal correctness. In a context of false teachings, each of these is crucial!
▣ "firmly established" This is a perfect passive participle (same verbal form as "alienated" in Col_1:21). "They have been and continue to be firmly established (implication, by God)." This was a construction metaphor for a sure foundation (cf. Col_2:7; Mat_7:25; Eph_3:17). It may have been a play on Colossae's geographical location in an earthquake area.
NASB "and not moved away from"
NKJV "and are not moved away"
NRSV "without shifting from"
TEV "and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from"
NJB "never letting yourselves drift away"
This term is used only here in the NT. It is the negative expression of the previous positive statement. It can be passive voice (God keeps us, cf NASB, NKJV) or middle voice (believers must exercise diligence, cf. NRSV, TEV, NJB).
▣ "the hope of the gospel" Paul often used this term in several different but related senses. Often it was associated with the consummation of the believer's faith. See Special Topic: Hope at Col_1:5. This can be expressed as "glory," "eternal life," "ultimate salvation," "Second Coming," etc. The consummation is certain, but the time is unknown.
▣ "which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven" "All creation" is a hyperbole for the Roman Empire (cf. Col_1:6).
The grammatical form of this is an aorist passive participle. However, this does not fit the context. It must be used in the sense of a present active participle. It must be remembered that grammatical form is subservient to literary context, as is lexical definition of words. Context, not grammatical form or lexical meaning, is always priority!
▣ "minister" This was the general term for "servant" or "service" (diakonos, cf. Col_1:7; Col_1:23; Col_1:25; Col_4:7; Eph_3:7; Eph_6:21). Jesus uses this term for Himself in Mar_10:45. This became the title for local church servants-deacons (cf. Php_1:1).