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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface i

A Simple Commentary ii
From An Unworthy Christian

Introduction iii

Chapter One 1

Chapter Two 31

Chapter Three 48
 PREFACE

On one occasion when reading through the Book of Colossians, I was so im-
pressed that I read through the book one hundred times in the next thirty days.
It was during this time I became deeply impressed with the deep and rich spiri-
tual truths presented in the book.

The great doctrines of Colossians are presented against the background of Gnos-
ticism, and intellectualism, that challenged direct creation and the incarnation
of the Son of God. Because Paul was writing against this background, and to
refute the heresy of Gnosticism, it drew from his brilliant mind the greatest pre-
sentation of Bible doctrine found anywhere in his writings.

All of this made me aware of the fact that this book is not only good for the
teaching of the doctrines herein contained, but a close exegesis would discover
a wealth of doctrinal psychological counseling for believers. Since Paul is trying
to correct the thinking of the Colossians, he has also left a work of Inspiration
that the Holy Spirit designed to use as counseling material for the believers who
would follow.

Therefore, my aim is not only to present the doctrinal truths that make up our
creed, but also, to look at the truth determined to counsel believers as to the
right kind of walk in this world. I desire to offer personal counsel for the needy,
as they need it in a world filled with traps set by Satan to ruin the Christian’s tes-
timony and to neutralize the effects of the preaching of the gospel.

I would like to give credit to those almost too numerous to name who have been
an influence in my life. Many of the lessons that I have learned from others were
in simple conversation and would be difficult to give personal credit. I thank
God for my many friends who have encouraged me along the way. I also thank
the Lord for the critics who challenged what I believe. It sent me back to the
BOOK to reassure my own heart that I was not misrepresenting the truth as I
understand it.

It is my goal in this simple commentary to be an encouragement to those into

whose hands it falls and a help to them in communicating God’s Word.

I also am deeply indebted to Dr. Wash Pennington and the Fellowship Tract
League and their willingness to print this commentary so that it can get into the
hands of preachers and missionaries at no cost. We believe truth is not for sale.
It is a joy for Dr. Wash Pennington and myself to get some Scriptural material into
the hands of hungry and needy pastors and missionaries.

By Dr. Earl White

i
 A SIMPLE COMMENTARY FROM AN UNWORTHY CHRISTIAN

This commentary uses only the King James Text and The Textus Receptus from
which the King James was translated.

It is my firm conviction that a translation can be no better than the text from
which it is translated. It is a fact that all the new translations are translated from
corrupt texts (called the most ancient texts) but though the texts were older
they were copied by men who did not believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures,
thus their copies were corrupted and therefore unreliable.

I send this forth as a help to like-minded Christians, and make no apologies

for the King James Bible. I believe God has preserved His Word for the English
speaking people in this translation. For those who wish to make a scholarly and
unbiased study of the Textus Receptus and how it came to be used by the King
James 1611 translators and why the so-called most ancient texts are used by all
the modern translations to correct the King James Bible, I recommend David Otis
Fuller’s book, Which Bible. He does not attempt to change you from a modern
text by intimidation but by simply presenting the facts.

By Dr. Earl White, PhD, D.D. Mlb.

ii
 INTRODUCTION

This is an epistle of Paul written from his Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30-31;
Col. 4: 3,10,18) about A.D. 60. Wuest quotes Bishop J. B. Lightfoot as saying of
this Epistle: “The doctrine of the Person of Christ is here stated with greater pre-
cision and fullness than in any other of St. Paul’s Epistles. The reason for this is
that the Colossian heresy in its attack upon the Person of the Lord Jesus made it
imperative that the great Apostle meet it with precision and fulness in doctrine
regarding His Person as would successfully cope with the false teaching of this
system. In order to understand the full implications of the truth in Colossians,
the student must first acquaint himself with the heresy that Paul is combating.

The heresy is that of Gnosticism. The word gnostic comes from a Greek word
gnosis which means knowledge. It is the name designation of an intellectual
group who set themselves up above all others as possessing superior knowl-
edge. This school of thought was concerned with two questions:
1. How can the word of creation be explained?
2. How are we to account for the existence of evil?
These two questions posed the problem of how can one explain the fact of a
Holy God as Creator and a universe in which there is sin?

The Gnostic says a Holy God could not create a universe in which there is sin; oth-
erwise God would be the Author of sin. The Gnostic put forth the theory of some
antagonistic principle by which God’s creative energy was thwarted and limited.
The opposing principle of evil he thought to be the world of matter. Therefore,
evil is seen by him to be residing in the material universe.

The Gnostic then asks the questions: How then is creation possible? How can
God act on matter? He answers his own question in the following way:
1. God must have limited Himself in some way in the act of creation.
2. There must have been some evolution, some influence from God. There was
a germination of God.

This first germination evolved a second, and the second a third, until through
this process there was an emanation far enough away from Deity to contact mat-
ter. This is where creation took place according to the Gnostic.

Thus, the gap between a Holy Creator-God and matter, which, according to the
Gnostic is evil, is bridged by these emanations from God that are far removed
from a Deity who is holy, that matter could be created which is inherently evil,
and this act of creation could not be attributed to a holy God.

In this way, the Gnostic brushes aside the intermediate agent in creation, the
Lord Jesus; John 1:3, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made,” and the fact that God put a curse upon the perfect

iii
creation because of sin; Romans 8:20, “For the creature was made subject to van-
ity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.”

There are two opposing views of Gnosticism:

1. A rigid asceticism. All contact with matter should be reduced to a minimum.

Thus, the material part of man should be subdued and mortified. One should
live on a spare diet and abstain from marriage. The edible flesh of animals was
forbidden. Colossians 2:20-23, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the ru-
diments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordi-
nances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using)
after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a
shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in
any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” The anointing of the body with olive
oil, so necessary in hot climates, was prohibited.

2. An unrestrained license. These argued that matter is everywhere. People can-

not escape contact with it; therefore, they would cultivate an entire indifference
to the world of sense. They should not give matter any thought one way or the
other, but just follow their own impulses. The true rule of life is to treat matter as
foreign or alien to one, and as something toward which they have no duties or
obligations and can choose to use or not use. This philosophy led to unbridled
license.

The way Gnosticism entered the church was through a sect of the Jews called
the Essenes. The Essene was a mystic and a member of the brotherhood. The
characteristic feature of Essenism was mystic speculation involving rigid asceti-
cism. Some of their beliefs were:
1. A strict observance of the Mosaic ritual. They would not so much as
light a fire on the Sabbath.
2. Marriage to them was an abomination. To keep their group going,
they adopted children.
3. They drank no wine nor ate animal food. They lived on bread and
vegetables.
4. They refused to anoint their bodies with olive oil. In hot climates this
is almost a necessity to life.
5. They were sun worshipers. At daybreak they would address certain
prayers to the sun as if entreating it to rise.
6. They did not believe in the resurrection of the body. They taught that
the soul-life would continue on after death. This is in line with their teach-
ing that matter is evil.
7. They rejected the blood sacrifices of Judaism. Instead, they sent blood-
less offerings to the Temple as gifts.
8. They placed angels in the line of beings that should be worshipped.
9. They had secret doctrines. These were in the possession of the exclu-

iv
 sive few and they refused to tell except to members of their own order.

These false doctrines and practices had entered the Church at Colosse. Paul’s let-
ter to this church was designed to combat them. One of the teachings was that a
select few had a monopoly in superior wisdom. The Apostle meets this by:
1. Contending for the universality of the gospel message.
2. By presenting the fact that every believer will be presented perfect in
Christ; Colossians 1:28, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teach-
ing every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus:”
3. The word perfect was the term applied by the Gnostics to members of
the exclusive group which possessed the superior wisdom.
4. The Gnostics made much of wisdom, sophis, intelligence, sunesis, and
knowledge, epignosis. Paul takes up the language of the Gnostics and
translates it to the higher spheres of Christian thought. Against the false
wisdom of the Gnostics, the Apostle sets before them the true wisdom of
the gospel.
5. The initiatory rites of these Gnostics in which certain were inducted
into their order, were secret mysteries. Paul sets over against these the fact
that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in that compre-
hensive mystery, the knowledge of God in Christ; Colossians 1:26, “Even the
mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is
made manifest to his saints:”

Paul also had to combat the Gnostic teaching of successive emanations from
deity, the angelic mediators who were responsible for the act of creation, and
for the headship of the spiritual creation, which took the place of the Lord Jesus
as Creator of the universe and Head of the Church. He meets this in Colossians
1:15-18, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vis-
ible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things,
and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence.”

v
 CHAPTER 1
Colossians 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus
Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our
brother,”
Paul always begins his Epistles by identify-
ing himself. I understand that the letters then
written were on a scroll and it made it con-
venient to know who was writing before you
got to the end of the letter. The Lexicon says,
“Paul or Paulus = small or little. Paul was the
most famous of the apostles and wrote a good
part of the NT, the 14 Pauline epistles .”
Paul means “little” and identifies the author
of the epistle. Timothy is also mentioned in
this verse as an associate of Paul at the time of
the writing.
The word Apostle means, “one sent forth
with a commission.” This word is also used of
the Lord Jesus to describe His relation to God;
Hebrews 3:1 says, “Wherefore, holy brethren,
partakers of the heavenly calling, consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our profes-
sion, Christ Jesus;” It came to refer to a spe-
cial office with gifts and authority. The office
of Apostle was classified as one of the gifted
men to the Church. There are gifted men and
Spiritual gifts. They are not the same. This is
brought out in 1 Corinthians 12:28, “And God
hath set some in the church, first apostles, sec-
ondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, govern-
ments, diversities of tongues.” The Apostles
were gifted men especially gifted for the work
of the ministry.
The original Apostles filled an office which
will be carried over into the millennial age.
Matthew 19:27, 28, “Then answered Peter and
said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all,
and followed thee; what shall we have there-
fore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say
unto you, That ye which have followed me,
in the regeneration when the Son of man shall

sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit
upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes
of Israel.”
This does away with the theory that the
other apostles, and there were several, held the
same office as the Twelve. The Lord Jesus has
definite plans for the Twelve. The Future for
the Twelve Apostles is to sit on twelve thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The words, Of Jesus Christ, refer to Paul as
being an apostle belonging to Jesus Christ, and
representing Him. Paul’s calling finds its source
in Jesus Christ. Man had nothing to do with
Saul becoming an Apostle. He was chosen by
the Lord and personally trained. Not so with
Matthias. He was elected to take Judas’ place.
It was done by the apostles through prayer and
the guidance of the Lord. The apostles were
called the eleven after the death of Judas. Acts
1:26 says, “And they gave forth their lots; and
the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was num-
bered with the eleven apostles.”
Then the disciples were called the twelve
again before Saul was even saved. Acts 6:2,
“Then the twelve called the multitude of the
disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason
that we should leave the word of God, and
serve tables.” You say, “Who was Paul then?”
He was an apostle like the rest but did not have
the office.
Paul, in speaking of the resurrection of
Christ, identifies those who saw Jesus Christ
alive after the resurrection: 1 Corinthians
15:58, “And that he was seen of Cephas, then
of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above
five hundred brethren at once; of whom the
greater part remain unto this present, but some
are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of
James; then of all the apostles. And last of all
he was seen of me also, as of one born out of
due time.”
I do not find thirteen thrones on which thir-
teen Apostles sit judging the twelve tribes of
Israel. Paul mentions the twelve in this passage
and then mentions himself separately.
The words, by the will of God, authenticate
his call to the apostleship. Romans 11:13,
 Commentary on Colossians

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I
am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine
office:”
The preacher is one with a divine call. God
continues to call men to give their lives in the
ministry of the Gospel. The ministry is not a
vocation that one can choose. I am sure that
many have and are doing this but they are not
God-called. The calling is necessary if one is
to represent Jesus in preaching the gospel.
Colossians 1:2, “To the saints and faith-
ful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse:
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul addresses this epistle, To the saints...
Vine says, “In the plural, as used of believers,
it designates all such and is not applied merely
to persons of exceptional holiness, or to those
who, having died, were characterized by excep-

PAUL’S CALL TO PREACH

• He was saved and called on the
road to Damascus; Acts 9:15, “But
the Lord said unto him, Go thy
way: for he is a chosen vessel unto
me, to bear my name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the chil-
dren of Israel:
• It was a grace calling; Galatians
1:15, “But when it pleased God,
who separated me from my moth-
er’s womb, and called me by his
grace,”
• He was taught by the Lord after
his salvation; Galatians 1:11,12,17,
“But I certify you, brethren, that
the gospel which was preached of
me is not after man. For I neither
received it of man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of
Jesus Christ . . . Neither went I up
to Jerusalem to them which were
apostles before me; but I went
into Arabia, and returned again
unto Damascus.” Many believe
that the time Paul spent in Arabia
was a time of teaching personally
by the Lord just as He had taught
the twelve.
• His call involved suffering; Acts
9:16, “For I will shew him how
great things he must suffer for
my name’s sake.” Paul’s call was
of divine origin and his purpose
was to preach the gospel to the
nations, it would be accompanied
by intense suffering which would
end in martyrdom.
• He finished the work God called
him to do and died victoriously;
2 Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am now
ready to be offered, and the time
of my departure is at hand. I have
fought a good fight, I have finished
my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me
a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that
love his appearing.” There is not
the slightest complaint as he pens
these words, “I am now ready to be
offered . . .”

When it came time for Paul to die a martyr’s
death, and pass through skies, and through the
gates of the New Jerusalem, he had no apology
to make for his ministry. He had given it his
best; and in doing so, left us all an example to
follow in his steps. When we finish our course,
let us not act like it is dying, let us act like it is
the most glorious thing that has ever happened
to us. It is a graduation. From the death bed
to the streets of gold cannot be improved upon.
The angels still carry the saved dead like they
did in the case of Lazarus. Why do the angels
do this? Because we go through enemy terri-
tory when we go from earth to heaven.
tional acts of saintliness.” It refers to the saved
in Colosse. The mixed up carnal Christians at
Corinth are called saints, i.e., our present text.
Then he addresses this epistle to faithful
brethren. “Faithful” means to be trusted, reli-
able. “Brethren” refers to the brotherhood
of Christianity. All the saved are in the same
family even though they may be divided by
doctrinal interpretations. I heard Dr. Bob Jones
Sr., the founder of Bob Jones University say,
“It is not wrong to walk on the right road with
a man as far as you can. It is wrong to walk any
distance with any man on the wrong road.”



THE DOCTRINE OF POSITIONAL TRUTH
1. Every person in the world has
a position, either in Christ or in
Adam; 1 Corinthians 15:22, “For as
in Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive.”
2. The result of being in Christ is
life; all men by natural birth are in
Adam, and this is eternal death if
one does not accept God’s gift of
salvation through Christ.
3. The Characteristics of our posi-
tion in Christ.
• Being in Christ does not cause
some kind of emotional experi-
ence. It is what happens to all
when they are saved; 2 Corinthi-
ans 5:17, “Therefore if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new.” This
happens suddenly and perma-
nently when one receives Christ
as personal Saviour.
• It is not progressive; it cannot be
improved on; Hebrews 10:14, “For
by one offering he hath perfected
for ever them that are sanctified.”
This verse is definitely positional
truth that applies to every saved
person. The offering of Christ is
the instrument of THIS sanctifica-
tion. See 10:10. The words, He
hath perfected forever, The word
perfected translates “teleioo” and
is a perfect active indicative verb.
The perfect tense is completed
action in the past, that completed
action having present result. In
other words, what God did in the
past remains true in the present.
What He did in the past He did it • It is known only by divine revela-
perfectly and eternally and it can
never be changed by any action
on our part, and He has promised
never to leave us nor forsake us.
Are there other Scriptures that
substantiate this interpretation?
Jude 1:24, “Now unto him that is
able to keep you from falling, and
to present you faultless before the
presence of his glory with exceed-
ing joy,” Philippians 1:6, “Being
confident of this very thing, that he
which hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ:” What God has done
is perfect and cannot be improved
on. One can grow in grace after
salvation, but he cannot add to his
salvation because it is perfect and
perfection has arrived.
• It is not related to human merit. No
works are involved is this. It is a gift
of God’s grace to the guilty whose
sins are forgiven and he receives
in the place of the forgiveness of
sin, God’s perfect righteousness
imputed to his account. Romans
4:5, “But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that justifieth
the ungodly, his faith is counted
for righteousness.” 1 Corinthians
1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ
Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption:”
Romans 5:17, “For if by one man’s
offence death reigned by one;
much more they which receive
abundance of grace and of the gift
of righteousness shall reign in life
by one, Jesus Christ)”

Chapter One
tion found in God’s Word. 1 John
5:13, “These things have I writ-
ten unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God; that ye
may know that ye have eternal
life, and that ye may believe on
the name of the Son of God.” 1
Corinthians 2:14-16, “But the nat-
ural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. But he that
is spiritual judgeth all things, yet
he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of
the Lord, that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.”
• Positional is eternal in its nature;
Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the
blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood he entered in
once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption
for us.” Eternal life is not to be
received after death or at some
future judgment. Eternal life is
experienced right now on this
earth the moment we trust Christ
as personal Saviour; John 5:24,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me,
hath everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation; but is
passed from death unto life.”
• Positional truth is obtained com-
pletely at the moment of salva-
tion; Romans 5:9, “Much more
then, being now justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through him.”
Commentary on Colossians
The words, In Christ, refer to positional
truth. All the saved are in Christ. Being in
Christ has nothing to do with faithfulness or
church affiliation.
Paul says, “Grace be unto you, and peace,
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.” He identifies the only source of grace
and peace. It is to our tremendous advantage
that God does not only save us by His grace
but deals with us by grace. Grace is eternal and
irrevocable.
People are seeking peace in every direc-
tion and from every source and are not finding
it. Jesus is our peace. He is our only source.
Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace
through the blood of his cross, by him to rec-
oncile all things unto himself; by him, I say,
whether they be things in earth, or things in
heaven.” Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justi-
fied by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ:” Peace on the experi-
ential level is soul harmony. The properties
of the soul are mind, emotion, and will. God
is the only one that can bring harmony in this
area. Satan, along with worldly circumstances,
is constantly being upset. But when we allow
the Lord to move in, the peace of God is com-
plete calm.
Colossians 1:3, “We give thanks to God and
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying
always for you,”
The words, We give thanks to God, mean
that this salutation includes those who were
with Paul at the time. There are two reasons
for which Paul is thankful:
First, he is thanking God for their salvation.
Christians are constantly thanking Him for
their salvation. We know that if it were not for
God, we would never be saved. As Jonah said,
“Salvation is of the Lord.” Every time we go to
church to meet in the fellowship of the saints,
we are reminded of where we were when God
found us. I have heard a lot of people say, “I
found the Lord,” when the truth of the matter

is, “the Lord found us.” And this is something
to be thankful for.
Second, he is praying for them individually
and for the Church as a whole. The Gnostics
were after this church with their false doctrine.
The word always means that the Colossians
were continually on his mind and, as a result,
He prayed for them. Philippians 4:6, “Be care-
ful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God.” Paul prac-
ticed what he preached. He was a man given
to prayer. In all probability, the church at
Colosse survived in those early days because
of the prayers of Paul and others who did not
think that the time they spent on their knees
was wasted.
Colossians 1:4, “Since we heard of your faith
in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye
have to all the saints,”
Here Paul gives the motivating factor in his
prayers in their behalf. There are two things:
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,
The words, since we heard, translate akouo
and mean, “to understand, perceive the sense
of what is said.” The verb form is an aorist
active participle. It could be translated “having
heard.” Paul had been correctly informed about
the Church at Colosse and what he had heard
caused him to be both thankful and cautious.
He is thankful for their faith and caution know-
ing the damage the Gnostics could do to divide
the body and neutralize its effectiveness. Faith
is that by which the sinner is justified (Rom.
5:1), and without it, it is impossible to please
God (Heb.11:6). It is the principle by which
Christians live (Rom. 1:17).
The words, and of the love which ye have
to all the saints, are a cause for the Apostle’s
rejoicing. Love literally permeated the early
churches. On occasion love throws its arms out
to embrace a man who claims to be a brother,
when in reality he is an apostle of Satan. We
must love with a cautious love. Satan has his
 Chapter One

workers everywhere. 2 Corinthians 11:12-14,
“But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut
off occasion from them which desire occasion;
that wherein they glory, they may be found
even as we. For such are false apostles, deceit-
ful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan
himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
There is a great lesson to be learned here.
They were not wrong in their love for all the
saints. The only place they could be challenged
was the possibility of gullibility where they
allowed someone to come in and teach things
before they saw that false doctrine was being
taught.
Paul warned the Ephesian elders of this.
Acts 20:28-31, “Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which he hath pur-
chased with his own blood. For I know this,
that after my departing shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also
of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after
them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by
the space of three years I ceased not to warn
every one night and day with tears.”
It is hard to strike a balance between receiv-
ing a brother or sister in love and at the same
time watching the flock so that those who
slip in spreading their false doctrines can be
exposed and expelled from the fellowship.
Colossians 1:5, “For the hope which is laid
up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before
in the word of the truth of the gospel;”
The words, For the hope, are used in the
sense of “because of the hope.” The hope of
reward has been an incentive to the Colossians
in their faith in the Lord Jesus, and their love to
the saints, encouraging both and causing both
to make progress and grow more intense.

THE DOCTRINE OF HOPE

• The definition of hope is the my flesh shall rest in hope:” • A person who has hope in the
joyful anticipation of a reality.• Hope is something in which a promises of Scripture will never be
Hope in the New Testament is Christian can rejoice; Romans 5:2, ashamed; Romans 5:5, “And hope
not a weak word. “By whom also we have access maketh not ashamed; because the
• Hope that is seen is not hope. by faith into this grace wherein love of God is shed abroad in our
It is used as a synonym to faith we stand, and rejoice in hope of hearts by the Holy Ghost which is
in Romans 8:24,25, “For we are the glory of God.” given unto us.”
saved by hope: but hope that is • The Second Coming is called • It is the Scripture that gives hope;
seen is not hope: for what a man the blessed hope; Titus 2:13, Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever
seeth, why doth he yet hope for? “Looking for that blessed hope, things were written aforetime were
But if we hope for that we see and the glorious appearing of written for our learning, that we
not, then do we with patience the great God and our Saviour through patience and comfort of
wait for it.” Jesus Christ;” the scriptures might have hope.”
• Hope is something for which we • Every believer should be able • Jesus is the only hope of heaven;
wait with patience; Rom. 8:24. to give a reason for the hope he Colossians 1:27, “To whom God
• It is said that Christ rested in has; 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the would make known what is the
hope of the resurrection during Lord God in your hearts: and be riches of the glory of this mystery
His three days and three nights in ready always to give an answer among the Gentiles; which is Christ
the grave; Acts 2:26 says, “There- to every man that asketh you a in you, the hope of glory:”
fore did my heart rejoice, and my reason of the hope that is in you
tongue was glad; moreover also with meekness and fear:”


Commentary on Colossians
The words, Which is laid up for you in
heaven, specify where the Christian hope is.
Paul says, “Which is laid up,” and is the trans-
lation of apokeimai and means, “to be laid
away, laid by, reserved.” The verb is present
tense which means that it was in heaven await-
ing them when this was written. The hope
which every believer has is already set aside
for him.
The words, whereof ye heard before in the
word of the truth of the gospel, mean that their
hope was not established through the law,
or ordinances, or good works. It was estab-
lished through the preaching of the gospel. The
gospel is the answer for man’s separation from
God. The believer is reconciled to God through
believing the gospel.
The words, In the word of the truth of the
gospel, give faith’s resting place. Their hope
was not established through law or ordinances
or good works. It was established through the
preaching of the gospel. The word truth is
also associated with the gospel. There are false
gospels (2 Cor. 11:4). He also mentions a per-
verted gospel (Gal. 1:7).
Colossians 1:6, “Which is come unto you,
as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth
fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye
heard of it, and knew the grace of God in
truth:”
The words, which is come unto you, are pres-
ent tense. This is the continuous present, i.e.,
it keeps on coming to you. Wuest says, “The
Greek idea is ‘which is walking along side
you.’” The idea is that the gospel has snuggled
close up to the Colossian saints and they have
taken it into their hearts.
The words, as it is in all the world, set forth
the gospel as a worldwide message. John 3:16,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” This refers to the inhabited earth. It is
hard for some to take Paul literally. However,

I believe the early church got the gospel to the
known world in their day. I doubt if the church
has done that in any time period since.
The words, bringeth forth fruit, are a present
middle participle. The middle voice means that
it brought forth fruit of itself. The gospel has
built in power. Paul said in Romans 1:16, “For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek.” The words, to the Jew first, are
historically not in priority. There is no special
race that has a claim on the gospel more than
another.
The words, As it doth also in you, is Paul’s
message to the Jew and Gentile. The gospel
worked in the lives of the Colossians, and it
does the same no matter where you go in this
world.
The words, Since the day ye heard of it, mean
the gospel was confirmed in the Colossians
from the very day they heard it. The effect of the
gospel on the believing heart is instantaneous.
The starting point is salvation. Salvation is not
the fruit; it is the origin of the fruit.
The word, knew, translates epignosko,
meaning, “to know fully.” This is also an aorist
tense. The aorist tense represents a point of
time divorced from time and perpetuated for-
ever. A. T. Robertson said, “They fully appre-
hended the grace of God and should be immune
to the shallow vagaries of the Gnostics.”
The words, the grace of God in truth, mean
“a correct understanding of the grace of God.”
Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is some-
thing that man cannot add to or help. It is not a
reward for faithful service. It is God’s free gift
of salvation because of the cross. Hebrews 1:3,
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had
by himself purged our sins, sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high;”
Grace is perverted, neutralized, and robbed
of its saving power when anything is added to
the Biblical definition. Paul fought those Jews
 Chapter One

who tried to add to the gospel in the Book he rose again the third day according to the
of Galatians. Paul said in Galatians 1:6-9, “I scriptures:” We have here the definition of the
marvel that ye are so soon removed from him gospel. When something is added to this defi-
that called you into the grace of Christ unto nition, it renders it a perverted gospel that will
another gospel: Which is not another; but there not save.
be some that trouble you, and would pervert the The Colossians had learned the difference
gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel between the gospel as it is in truth and the
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you gospel that is not in truth. The gospel did not
than that which we have preached unto you, let originate with man, it originated with God. It is
him be accursed. As we said before, so say I God’s plan to save anyone who will repent and
now again, If any man preach any other gospel believe the truth that Jesus died for him on the
unto you than that ye have received, let him be cross, was buried, and was raised the third day.
accursed.” It cannot be added to or taken from, and it will
The gospel is clearly defined in 1 Corinthi- effect salvation in the one who does it.
ans 15:14, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto
you the gospel which I preached unto you, Colossians 1:7, “As ye also learned of Epa-
which also ye have received, and wherein ye phras our dear fellowservant, who is for you
stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep a faithful minister of Christ;”
in memory what I preached unto you, unless
ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear
you first of all that which I also received, how fellowservant. Epaphras was then with Paul,
that Christ died for our sins according to the Philemon 1:23. “He had probably been sent to
scriptures; And that he was buried, and that him by the church at Colosse to consult him
THE DOCTRINE OF A BONDSLAVE
• He had no will of his own; Gala- to observe all things whatsoever they toil not, neither do they spin:
tians 2:20, “I am crucified with I have commanded you: and, lo, I And yet I say unto you, That even
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not am with you alway, even unto the Solomon in all his glory was not
I, but Christ liveth in me: and the end of the world. Amen.” arrayed like one of these. Where-
life which I now live in the flesh I • He had no cares of his own; 1 fore, if God so clothe the grass of
live by the faith of the Son of God, Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care the field, which to day is, and to
who loved me, and gave himself upon him; for he careth for you.” morrow is cast into the oven, shall
for me.” Matthew 6:25-34, “Therefore I say he not much more clothe you, O
• He had no belongings of his unto you, Take no thought for your ye of little faith? Therefore take
own; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20, “What? life, what ye shall eat, or what ye no thought, saying, What shall we
know ye not that your body is the shall drink; nor yet for your body, eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
temple of the Holy Ghost which is what ye shall put on. Is not the life Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
in you, which ye have of God, and more than meat, and the body (For after all these things do the
ye are not your own? For ye are than raiment? Behold the fowls Gentiles seek) for your heavenly
bought with a price: therefore glo- of the air: for they sow not, nei- Father knoweth that ye have need
rify God in your body, and in your ther do they reap, nor gather into of all these things. But seek ye first
spirit, which are God’s.” barns; yet your heavenly Father the kingdom of God, and his righ-
feedeth them. Are ye not much teousness; and all these things shall
• He had no program of his own; be added unto you. Take therefore
Matthew 28:19,20, “Go ye there- better than they? Which of you by
taking thought can add one cubit no thought for the morrow: for the
fore, and teach all nations, bap- morrow shall take thought for the
tizing them in the name of the unto his stature? And why take ye
thought for raiment? Consider the things of itself. Sufficient unto the
Father, and of the Son, and of day is the evil thereof.”
the Holy Ghost: Teaching them lilies of the field, how they grow;

Commentary on Colossians
in reference to some matters pertaining to the
church there. It is evident from this, that Epa-
phras was a minister of the church at Colosse.
The apostle here says, that they had learned
from Epaphras the true nature of the gospel;
and he designs undoubtedly to confirm what
he had taught them, in opposition to the teach-
ings of errorists.” — Barnes Notes.
Paul commends Epaphras and calls him our
dear fellowservant, and with this comment he
acknowledges the help Epaphras is to him.
Then Paul adds, who is for you a faithful
minister of Christ. Unger’s Bible Dictionary
makes the following comment about Epaphras,
“an eminent teacher in the Church at Colosse
denominated by Paul ‘his dear fellow-servant’
and a faithful minister of Christ; Colossians
4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant
of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fer-
vently for you in prayers, that ye may stand
perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
There is no greater recommendation that one
could have than to have one like Paul make
a statement like this about you. The marty-
rologies make Epaphras to have been the first
bishop of Colosse and to have suffered martyr-
dom there.
The word fellowservant is literally fellow-
slave sundoulou.
The words who is for you, or, on behalf of
you, Paul is saying that Colosse is being well
represented in the person of Epaphras.
Colossians 1:8, “Who also declared unto us
your love in the Spirit.”
The word declared translates deloō and is an
aorist active participle which means, “to make
manifest.” The Church at Colosse wanted to
express their love for Paul.
The words, your love in the Spirit, had to be a
great moral booster for the apostle since he was
writing this from prison. Paul says that this is
the love wrought in you by the Holy Spirit. It
was not mere natural affection, but love wrought
in their hearts by the agency of the Holy Ghost.

Colossians 1:9, “For this cause we also, since
the day we heard it, do not cease to pray
for you, and to desire that ye might be filled
with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding;”
The words For this cause give the reason
for Paul’s prayer for them. The words, since
the day we heard it, state when he began to
pray in earnest for them and why.
The words, do not cease to pray for you,
Matthew Henry says, “The apostle was con-
stant in prayer, that the believers might be
filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all
wisdom. Good words will not do without good
works. He who undertakes to give strength to
his people, is a God of power, and of glori-
ous power. The blessed Spirit is the author of
this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are
not straitened, or confined in the promises, and
should not be so in our hopes and desires. The
grace of God in the hearts of believers is the
power of God; and there is glory in this power.
The special use of this strength was for suffer-
ings. There is work to be done, even when we
are suffering. Amidst all their trials they gave
thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, whose
special grace fitted them to partake of the
inheritance provided for the saints. To bring
about this change, those were made willing
subjects of Christ, who were slaves of Satan.
All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are
prepared for heaven now. Those who have the
inheritance of sons, have the education of sons,
and the disposition of sons. By faith in Christ
they enjoyed this redemption, as the pur-
chase of his atoning blood, whereby forgive-
ness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings
were bestowed. Surely then we shall deem it
a favor to be delivered from Satan’s kingdom
and brought into that of Christ, knowing that
all trials will soon end, and that every believer
will be found among those who come out of
great tribulation.”
Then Paul gives the reason for his prayers
in their behalf: that ye might be filled with

the knowledge of His will. The words that ye
might be filled translate pleroo and mean, “to
make full, to fill up completely, i.e. to fill to the
full.” This is a basic truth and the life of faith
cannot be successful unless we are filled with
the knowledge of His will. The more we know
His will, the less likely are we to be deceived
by the apostles of Satan. 2 Corinthians 11:13
says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ.”
The words, in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding, have to do with the application
of truth in one’s life. The word wisdom here
translates sophia and means, “broad and full
of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very
diverse matters.” The word spiritual translates
pneumatikos and is applied to one who is filled
with and governed by the Spirit of God.” The
word understanding translates sunesis and
means, “a running together, a flowing together
with.” Paul is praying for their spiritual growth.
He desires them to have the ability to interpret
truth and apply it with clearness of understand-
ing.
Colossians 1:10, “That ye might walk worthy
of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful
in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God;”
The words, That ye might walk worthy of
the Lord, state the result of that which is stated
in verse 9. Paul prays that their knowledge of
Christ might issue forth in a walk that is con-
sistent with His teaching. The worthy walk is a
walk of faith in Him. John Gill says, “the apos-
tle prays that their knowledge might issue in
practice; for knowledge, without practice, is of
no avail: he first asks for knowledge, and then
practice, for how should men act according to
the will of God, or Christ, unless they know it?
And when they know it, they should not rest
in their knowledge, but put it in practice.” The
saints are to see to it that their manner of life,
their conduct weighs as much as the character

Chapter One
of their Lord. That is, He is to be their example
in life and the copy must be like the example.
The words, unto all pleasing, speak of a
desire to please.
The first step in pleasing God is to walk by
faith. Hebrews 11:56, “By faith Enoch was
translated that he should not see death; and was
not found, because God had translated him: for
before his translation he had this testimony,
that he pleased God. But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is
a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
This is not something that comes easy for the
natural man.
The next step is to please those around us.
1 Peter 2:12-15, “Having your conversation
honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they
speak against you as evildoers, they may by
your good works, which they shall behold, glo-
rify God in the day of visitation. Submit your-
selves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s
sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or
unto governors, as unto them that are sent by
him for the punishment of evildoers, and for
the praise of them that do well. For so is the
will of God, that with well doing ye may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men:”
The words, being fruitful in every good
work, speak of spiritual health and that which
grows out of a healthy plant. There is no crop
failure with the Lord. He has planted us in this
world and fruit will issue forth from this rela-
tionship.
The words, and increasing in the knowledge
of God, speak of growth. The word knowl-
edge translates epignosis and means, “precise
and correct knowledge.” Our growth in the
knowledge of Him should never stop. Ephe-
sians 4:11-13, “And he gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers; For the per-
fecting of the saints, for the work of the minis-
try, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a per-
Commentary on Colossians
fect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ:”
Colossians 1:11, “Strengthened with all
might, according to his glorious power, unto
all patience and longsuffering with joyful-
ness;”
The words, strengthened with all might,
translate dunamoo, and the word might
translates the same Greek verb. It could be
translated, “in all might being made mighty
according to the power of His glory.” This
speaks of omnipotence. The word infinite
describes a condition that is without boundar-
ies. This is where faith must be the means by
which eternal truth is accepted. Hebrews 11:3,
“Through faith we understand that the worlds
were framed by the word of God, so that things
which are seen were not made of things which
do appear.”
This is still a continuation of the apostle’s
prayer for these believers; for having prayed
for an increase of spiritual knowledge, and that
this might be put into practice, he proceeds to
pray for strength for them, that they might be
enabled to practice what they had knowledge
of; to walk worthily, to please God in all things,
to bring forth fruit with patience, to persevere
in knowledge, practice, fruitfulness, and in an
increase thereof. It implies, that believers are
weak in themselves, and insufficient to do or
bear anything of themselves, but stand in need
of strength from above, even of “all might”; of
all kind of spiritual might and strength, propor-
tionate to the various kinds of services, temp-
tations, and trials unto which they are called.
They have need of every kind, degree, and
supply of strength, to enable them to resist the
temptations of Satan, to stand against them,
and bear up under them; to oppose the corrup-
tions of their own nature, that great company
which comes upon them, wars against them,
threatens to carry them captive, and destroy
them, and against which they have no power
of their own; to bear the cross, which, without
10
the presence and grace of Christ, is very heavy,
and all afflictions and adversities of every sort,
which are grievous to the flesh, and at which
it recoils. God’s expectations come with His
supply and power.
The words, according to his glorious power,
set forth His omnipotence. This is unlimited
power. We observe daily His glorious power
when we observe the green grass in the spring
and the stars and constellations by night. Not
only do we see His power in the creation but
also His power over disease.
He had power over death. Mark 5:35-42,
“While he yet spake, there came from the ruler
of the synagogue’s house certain which said,
Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the
Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the
word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler
of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
And he suffered no man to follow him, save
Peter, and James, and John the brother of
James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler
of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and
them that wept and wailed greatly. And when
he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make
ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead,
but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
But when he had put them all out, he taketh
the father and the mother of the damsel, and
them that were with him, and entereth in where
the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel
by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi;
which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto
thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose,
and walked; for she was of the age of twelve
years. And they were astonished with a great
astonishment.”
I have conducted many sad funerals over
48 years of ministry. I have watched a griev-
ing family pass by to get one more glimpse of
their dead loved one. I have heard them talk
to the dead telling them how much they loved
them and miss them. But I have never seen a
corpse talk back. When Jesus addressed the
dead, death lost it grip and had to step back
in the presence of the Resurrection and wait
another day.

Matthew 8:13, “When he was come down
from the mountain, great multitudes followed
him. And, behold, there came a leper and wor-
shipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou
canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth
his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be
thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was
cleansed.” This might be called, “A touch of
health.” Man catches disease. We are warned
to take sensible precautions to keep from catch-
ing disease. Jesus took His holy life-giving
miracle-working hand and touched the leper,
and we are told when Jesus touched him, “And
immediately his leprosy was healed.”
He calmed the sea with a word. He cast
out legions of devils who had bound and tor-
mented the maniac of Gadara. Paul spoke of
this power as glorious. There is no greater
superlative that could be given to describe the
power in operation in the Life of Christ as He
constantly helped the poor, healed their dis-
eases, and raised their dead.
The words in Colossians 1:11 Paul prays,
Strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuf-
fering with joyfulness; No one knew the need
for patience more than Paul. Most of us admit
that patience is not one of our best characteris-
tics. The old sin nature is constantly becoming
irritated with the way others do things or they
are not doing it fast enough. One of the things
I have learned, you cannot push God. He will
fulfill His promises in His time, and for us to
presume that He is not doing something fast
enough indicates a lack of surrender.
Then to top it off, Paul says that we are to
exercise patience and longsuffering with joy-
fulness. I can just hear someone say, “I just
cannot do that.” The fact is God knows you
cannot. However, if we let Him have control
it will happen in our lives and we will know
the source of the joyfulness. The Lord gets
involved with those who will trust Him and get
up by faith and go after it again when we fail.
11
Chapter One
Colossians 1:12, “Giving thanks unto the Fa-
ther, which hath made us meet to be partak-
ers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”
Giving thanks unto the Father translates a
present active indicative verb. This means that
giving thanks should be an on-going process in
the life of the believer. The active voice means
that the believer must take the initiative to do
this. This is a decision that must be made if it
happens.
The words, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light, credit the Father with this mighty work
of salvation. The words, which hath made us
meet, are translated from two words. First,
made meet is an aorist active participle form
hikanoo, meaning, to make sufficient, render
fit, to qualify.” The standing of the believer in
Christ is here in view, not his Christian char-
acter. The Father qualifies believers because of
the Cross. This is a positional truth. The Father
is the one who makes us meet (worthy through
Christ) to be a partaker. Salvation is of the
Lord.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE INHERITANCE
• God is careful to tell us who will not inherit
the kingdom of God; 1Cor 6:9; Gal. 5:21; Eph.
5:5.
• Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God; 1Cor. 15:50.
• The inheritance cannot be obtained by
keeping the law; Gal. 3:18.
• The inheritance is in Christ and believers
have already obtained it; Eph. 1:11.
• We have been given an Earnest of the inher-
itance; Eph. 1:14.
• We have been made meet (to make fit) to
be partakers of the inheritance of the saints;
Col. 1:12.
• The inheritance is called a reward; Col. 3:24
• The inheritance is called an “eternal inheri-
tance.” Heb. 9:15.
• The inheritance is incorruptible; 1 Pet. 1:4.
• The inheritance is reserved in heaven for us;
1 Pet. 1:4.
Commentary on Colossians

Partakers of the inheritance is the portion of
the lot. The inheritance is the lot. A.T. Robert-
son says, “the allotted portion or inheritance.”
Believers have a part in that lot even now. 1
Peter 1:34, “Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, to an inheritance incorrupt-
ible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you.”
The words, in light, is the region in which
the inheritance of the saints, and consequently
our share in it, is situated. The words, in light,
qualify inheritance - not saints.
Colossians 1:13, “Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness, and hath trans-
lated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
The words, Who hath delivered us, trans-
late rhuomai and mean, “to draw to oneself, to
rescue, to deliver.” This is an aorist tense middle
voice verb. The aorist tense refers to a point of
time. What point of time did this take place? It
was the cross. The cross is where God’s great
work of redemption took place. If one is saved
today, it will be because he believes that Jesus
died and rose again some 2,000 years ago. The
middle voice is where the subject acts in His
own interest, i.e., He is benefited by the action.
The Lord Jesus is taking out of this world His
bride. We are the glorious beneficiaries of His
act of love at Calvary.
The words, from the power of darkness,
translates, exousia and means, “power of
choice, liberty of doing as one pleases.” The
policeman pulls you over and writes you a
ticket. You say, “You have no right to do this.”
He simply says, “Do you see this badge? This
badge gives me the right to write you a ticket
when you break the law.” There is the power
of the president. It is this power that he has.
He was elected to this office by the people and
when he acts he acts, with the authority of his
office. Satan is a creature gone astray and has
become an authority over the darkness of this
world. Every unsaved man is in his kingdom.
He operates freely in that kingdom and there
is nothing one can do about it. However, when
one is saved, he is delivered from the power of
darkness. Satan is not free to do just anything
with those who have been born into God’s
kingdom. We have been delivered from the

THE DOCTRINE OF DARKNESS

• The plight of those who are in
darkness is brought out in Mat-
thew 4:16, “The people which sat
in darkness saw great light; and to
them which sat in the region and
shadow of death light is sprung
up.” They were sitting in darkness
and the only hope they have of
getting out is brought out in the
words, “The people which sat in
darkness saw great light. . .”
• Every man is born into the king-
dom of darkness. There is no
hope for him to escape by his own
power. God sent the light (the only
begotten Son) into the region
of darkness and the sad story is
described in John 3:19: 20, “And
this is the condemnation, that
light is come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were
evil. For every one that doeth evil
hateth the light, neither cometh
to the light, lest his deeds should
be reproved.”
• The sure way out of the darkness
is brought out in John 8:12, “Then
spake Jesus again unto them,
saying, I am the light of the world:
he that followeth me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life.”
12
• Jesus tells us here that those who
walk in darkness do not know
where they are going. They have
bought into the Devil’s lie and are
destined to go to the lake of fire
with him. John 12:35, “Then Jesus
said unto them, Yet a little while is
the light with you. Walk while ye
have the light, lest darkness come
upon you: for he that walketh in
darkness knoweth not whither
he goeth.” Another sad thing this
verse suggests is that there is a
time when the light will leave and
when He does, those in darkness
are doomed without a chance in
the future to get another chance.
Continued on next page...
 Chapter One

destiny of darkness and the rule of darkness.
We no longer have to obey Satan.
The words, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son, tell us where one goes
when the power of God’s redemption takes
place. We are taken out of the power of dark-
ness and put in the kingdom of God’s dear Son.
This is not something that is going to happen
some day. It is something that has already taken
place. We are in the kingdom of His dear Son
now. This is the reason for verses like Romans
8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemp-
tion through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins:”
The words, In whom, refer to Jesus Christ.
If you were to draw a circle and let the circle
represent Christ, and you inside that circle,
you would have an illustration of what we are
being told here. Nothing can get to us without
coming through Christ. Because He is God’s
beloved Son, so are we beloved sons. All He is
we are. 1 John 4:17, “Herein is our love made
...continued from previous page
perfect, that we may have boldness in the day
of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this
world.”
The next thing in this verse is we have
redemption through his blood. The verb “we
have” is a present tense verb. This means we
have redemption now. There are many who
believe that we will finally be redeemed when
we are gathered before God in the final judg-
ment.
John Gill explains, “In whom we have
redemption,” which is an excellent and won-
derful blessing of grace saints have in and
by Christ. Herein lies a deliverance from sin,
all sin, original and actual, under which they
are held captive, in a state of nature, and by
which they are made subject to the punishment
of death. Through the sacrifice of Christ it is
taken, put away, finished, and made an end of;
and they are freed from the damning power of
it, or any obligation to punishment for it. In
consequence of this, are we delivered from the
enslaving governing power of it by his grace
and Spirit, and will hereafter be entirely rid of
the very being of it. It consists also of a deliv-
erance from the law, the curse and bondage of
it, under which they are held on account of sin,

• The darkness blinds the eyes of
the unsaved. 2 Corinthians 4:34,
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid
to them that are lost: In whom
the god of this world hath blinded
the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image
of God, should shine unto them.”
A man that is blinded is in dark-
ness. Satan blinds the people of
his kingdom so that they walk in
darkness and in darkness they
cannot find the way.
• Psalms 107:10 says, “Such as sit
in darkness and in the shadow of
death, being bound in affliction
and iron.” The word sit suggests
that they are satisfied; therefore,
they do not look for a way out. We
are also told they are, “Bound in
affliction and iron.” No doubt, this
is a reference to the bondage they
are in.
• Satan does not limit his warfare
against those in his own king-
dom, he is the primary enemy of
the saved. Paul challenges us in
Ephesians 6:12,13, “For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may
be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand.”
The words, and having done all, to
stand, emphasizes that any battle
we encounter with Satan will take
all the energy that we can muster.
This is not fleshly energy; it is the
energy that the Lord gives. We can
praise His name that we will win
because He has won the victory
for us. But there are times when
we know He has overcome Satan,
yet as we apply the Scriptures by
faith at the end of the battle we
sometime wonder who won!!!

13
Commentary on Colossians
the transgression of it. Being delivered from
sin, they are also from the law, its accusations,
charges, menaces, curses, and condemnation;
as likewise out of the hands of Satan, by whom
they are led captive; for through the ransom
price paid by Christ they are ransomed out of
the hands of him that was stronger than they,
the prey is taken from the mighty, and the
lawful captive delivered by him that has led
captivity captive. In short, this redemption is
a deliverance out of the hands of all their ene-
mies, and from all evils and misery, the effects
of sin, from death, and hell, and wrath to come.
The author of it is Christ, the Son of God, the
Son of his love, his dear Son.”
The words, through His blood, give us the
price of redemption. 1 Peter 1:18,19, “Foras-
much as ye know that ye were not redeemed
with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradi-
tion from your fathers; But with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot:”
Peter calls the blood of Jesus “the precious
blood” because this blood has secured our sal-
vation. The price has been paid. The Father
in heaven was satisfied completely with the
sacrifice of Jesus. If Jesus had been an impos-
ter, His body would still be in the tomb. But
God!!! Romans 1:4, “And declared to be the
Son of God with power, according to the spirit
of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”
His resurrection declared that He was truly the
Son of God with power.
Then Paul gives the result of redemption in
the words, even the forgiveness of sins. The
words, forgiveness of sins, set the believer free
from any dread of future acceptance. We are
accepted now. When the believer stands before
God in the righteousness of Christ, there will
not be one single charge brought against him.
What God forgives, He forgets; (Heb. 10:17).
14
Colossians 1:15, “Who is the image of the in-
visible God, the firstborn of every creature:”
Paul says of Christ, Who is the image of
the invisible God. . . “Is” translates esti and
is a present tense verb. This means that He is
at the present time the image of the invisible
God. God cannot be seen. He is invisible. So
in order to appear to man in His exact form
,Jesus took up a body by means of the virgin
birth so that when we see Jesus we see God.
This corresponds with what Christ taught
Phillip in John 14:79, “If ye had known me,
ye should have known my Father also: and
from henceforth ye know him, and have seen
him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the
Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him,
Have I been so long time with you, and yet
hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath
seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest
thou then, Shew us the Father?” Even though
the disciples traveled with Him constantly and
heard all His teaching, it was still a problem to
believe that God was in Christ in His fulness.
Colossians 2:9 says, “For in him dwelleth all
the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
The word, image, translates, ikon, and means,
“an image, a figure, a likeness.” Hebrews 1:3,
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had
by himself purged our sins, sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high;” The words,
express image, mean, “the exact expression
(the image) of any person or thing, marked
likeness, precise reproduction in every respect,
i.e facsimile.” If one could see God in Spirit,
he would see Jesus. When you see Jesus, you
see the invisible God made visible.
The words, the first born, translate prototo-
kos and this “signifies not only priority in time
but also the primacy of rank that accrues to
Jesus with his resurrection.” -Kittel. As A.W.
Tozer says, “Christ is prior.” To be God, He
would have to be.

Colossians 1:16, “For by him were all things
created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible, whether they be
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and
for him:”
The words, For by him were all things
created, identify Christ as Creator. This is
addressed to faith, not reason. Science refuses
to accept a Creator but spends time laughing at
those who believe Genesis 1:1, “In the begin-
ning God created the heaven and the earth.”
There are believing scientists. It is to their
credit that they go against the majority to take
their stand with the Bible.
The preposition by translates the Greek
preposition en. Strong says that this is “a pri-
mary preposition denoting (fixed) position
(in place, time, or state), and (by implication)
instrumentality.” This again makes Christ the
source of all creation.
The words, that are in heaven, and that are
in earth, make Him the origin of all things.
Christ is the Uncreated Creator. There is noth-
ing that is in heaven or earth that He did not
create.
The words, visible and invisible, go a step
further. We can see the visible. The Christian
believes that Jesus created all things that are
seen and all things that can be seen but are not.
The “invisible” speak of the elements. Hebrews
11:3, “Through faith we understand that the
worlds were framed by the word of God, so
that things which are seen were not made of
things which do appear.” The things seen are
made of the invisible. It is interesting to listen
to a believing physicist (the science that deals
with matter, energy, motion, and force). He can
really put things in perspective. His explana-
tion is just great and it does shed light on the
correct view of creation. When you listen to the
Christian physicist, you are left realizing that
only God could have created. What we see and
do not see traces its origin back to God. To God
be the glory, great things He hath done!
15
Chapter One
The words, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers, iden-
tify some of the obvious things about which
we ask questions and wonder where they came
from. Well, this settles where they came from.
God made them. God did not create evil, and
He did not create Satan. He created all things
in perfection. Theistic evolution is as false as
Darwinian evolution. God created in perfec-
tion and all that one sees in the universe that
is in chaos was caused by Satan and the fallen
angels. God did not create it this way. God
does not start with imperfection, He starts with
perfection. All God had to do to create was to
speak. Psalms 33:6 confirms this, “By the word
of the LORD were the heavens made; and all
the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”
Psalms 33:9, “For he spake, and it was done;
he commanded, and it stood fast.”
Paul in this verse identifies the players in
the battle of life. Colossians 1:16, “For by him
were all things created, that are in heaven, and
that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principali-
ties, or powers: all things were created by him,
and for him:”
• Jesus is here declared the Creator of all
things.
• Then Paul reveals what Jesus created: All
that are in heaven and that are in earth. This
covers both the visible and invisible.
• Then he identifies the foes in the warfare
that we are in. There are thrones, and do-
minions, and principalities, and powers.
The purpose of Creation is stated. Paul says,
“all things were created by him, and for Him.”
Our Lord created us for Himself. He gave
opportunity in Genesis for man to function as
a free moral agent and he used his freedom to
sever his relationship from God. Adam was not
tricked into sin by Satan. He ate of the fruit
with the full knowledge that he would die in
the day he ate thereof.
Commentary on Colossians
Man truly misses the mark in this life if he
does not acknowledge God and worship Him.
He misses the whole purpose for which he is
created.
Colossians 1:17, “And he is before all things,
and by him all things consist.”
A.W. Tozer said of Christ that He is PRIOR.
He meant that Jesus is prior to anything found
in the universe. He is before all things. He is
uncreated though pro-created. What entered
the virgin womb was before all things.
The test says, And he is before all things. We
believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
The Lord would not have chosen this word
if He had not meant it. “He is” at the time of
Paul’s writing before all things. This is declar-
ing the ETERNITY OF CHRIST. He is before
all things because He created them. He is the
uncreated Creator.
The words, and by him all things consist.
The word consist means to bond together.
Our planet earth and the solar system are held
together by Him. He is not only the Creator but
also the Sustainer. Jesus made claim to eternal
timeless existence. (John 8:58). It is important
for us to have this information. Paul needs to
inform us and does in the words, “And he is
before all things.”
Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the
body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he
might have the preeminence.”
The Church on earth has a head. That head
is Christ. That might be a little hard to compre-
hend, but it is in fact the truth. Jesus identifies
with His people. He commends them when
they are right and rebukes them when they are
wrong. Jesus build the church during His per-
sonal ministry on earth. Can you imagine Him
abandoning them and turning them loose with a
great commission without a director? We have
an invisible head that is with us constantly.
16
He is here to stay because He said in Hebrews
13:5, “Let your conversation be without covet-
ousness; and be content with such things as ye
have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee.”
It is important to observe the qualifying
statement, And he is the head of the body, the
church: The church is a local visible organiza-
tion and is to be after the order of the early
Church. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “And
I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Peter was not the rock. The word for Peter
means a small rock. Peter was a faithful dis-
ciple and went on to do exploits for His Lord.
He finally died by crucifixion. Peter asked
his executioners to crucify him upside down
saying he was unworthy to be crucified in the
same way as His Lord.
Jesus was that Rock. The word rock used in
our text describes a huge rock. Paul writes the
commentary on this word. 1 Corinthians 3:11,
“For other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Jesus says, “Upon this Rock” pointing to
Himself, “I will build my Church and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it.” This means
that the gates of hell will attempt to prevail
against the Church. During the dark ages, the
Church was assaulted and over fifty million
Christian martyrs died for their faith. In the last
100 years Satan has changed his strategy. He
joined the Church. At first there was a gradual
decline. Today the decline is picking up speed
because Satan has taken the Bible away. The
sheer number of Bibles have people confused.
If we have a Bible in our day, and we do, it is
the one the Lord has blessed the use of for the
last 400 years. It is the Authorized King James
Bible.
With this statement the Lord pledges His
protection on the Church. This does not mean
that some have not gone out of existence
because of an attack of Satan. What it means

is that there will be Churches alive and well
until the coming of the Lord.
Colossians 1:19, “For it pleased the Father
that in him should all fulness dwell;”
These are words used on more than one
occasion. Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased.” He said this at His
baptism. He said this at the transfiguration.
Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a
bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold
a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;
hear ye him.” There was never a time when the
Father was not well pleased with His Son.
So we are told that the Father was pleased,
“that in him should all fulness dwell.” What
is meant by His fulness? It means that all the
perfections of God are in Christ, as eternity,
omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence,
immutability, independence, and necessary
existence, and every other, or he would not be
equal with God.
Jesus, as He heads the Church throughout
this age, will lack nothing that He will need to
accomplish the task of world evangelism. God
is full of everything good and nothing is lack-
ing in all that it takes to be in full charge of the
universe and all that is in it. The world will not
put a strain on His omniscience, or His omnipo-
tence, or His omnipresence, or His immutabil-
ity. His fulness cannot be challenged. Anyone
who tries it will find themselves as helpless
as Satan to obstruct God’s eternal purpose in
Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace
through the blood of his cross, by him to rec-
oncile all things unto himself; by him, I say,
whether they be things in earth, or things in
heaven.”
And, having made peace through the blood
of his cross, is an act of God to be merciful to
17
Chapter One
undeserving sinners. Leviticus 17:11, “For the
life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given
it to you upon the altar to make an atonement
for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh
an atonement for the soul.”
The words, And, having made peace through
the blood of his cross, declare that it has already
happened. Jesus made peace with God in behalf
of every sinner who would repent and believe
the gospel. The words having made peace are
an aorist active participle. The aorist tense is a
point of time divorced from time and perpetu-
ated forever. He (The active voice means He
did it Himself) made peace at a point of time
in the past, that point of time being the cross,
and the element that took away sin for eternity
is His blood. 1 Peter 1:18,19, “Forasmuch as
ye know that ye were not redeemed with cor-
ruptible things, as silver and gold, from your
vain conversation received by tradition from
your fathers; But with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and with-
out spot:”
Jesus had to be spotless to do what He did—
die. He had to die and shed His blood—to make
peace between a holy God and a guilty sinner.
The peace that God gives comes at the cost of
the virgin birth, the sinless life, the substitu-
tionary atonement, and the literal resurrection.
If there is any part of that we do not believe,
we are yet in our sins and one heartbeat out of
hell.
The next words of our text are: by Him to
reconcile all things unto himself. The words,
by Him, refer to Christ. He was the chosen One
in the eternal life conference in eternity past to
be the One in the Godhead to be the means of
our salvation. This salvation is a “reconcilia-
tion” that brings the believer back into fellow-
ship with God. He is completely reconciled to
God. This reconciliation is the work of Jesus
on the cross. So when we go to heaven our
standing will be perfect because His reconcili-
ation was/is perfect.
Then again Paul says, “by Him, I say,
whether they be things in earth, or things in
heaven.” The believer has been translated from
Commentary on Colossians
the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His
dear Son. Everything that is alien to God will
have been made right and the way God does
it is through the cross. It is “by Him” that this
takes place. I take it that this means the spirit
world as well as mankind. Now I am not saying
that Satan and his ungodly spirits will have a
chance to be saved. I am saying that the Son
of God will ultimately sweep every thing that
offends into the tomb of time, wrap it up and
cast it into the lake of fire, never to be heard
of again. In heaven there will be nothing that
offends. And we have to thank Jesus for that.
Colossians 1:21, “And you, that were some-
time alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.”
Paul reminds them where they were before
the gospel found them. The word, sometime,
translates pote and speaks of their former
condition before salvation. Every saved person
has a past, that at that time, they were enemies
and alienated from God. Now I’m sure they
would not agree with that conclusion. Just like
those who have a nominal faith in God feel
they are all right. If you were to suggest that
they were not saved, they would be deeply
offended. To be alienated from God means
to be shut out. The way this is described is in
Genesis 3:23,24, “Therefore the LORD God
sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till
the ground from whence he was taken. So he
drove out the man; and he placed at the east
of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flam-
ing sword which turned every way, to keep the
way of the tree of life.” The words, to drive
out, translate garash meaning, “to drive out,
expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away,
thrust away.”
Man no longer knew the Lord in the same
way he knew Him before. He died spiritually
the moment he ate of the forbidden fruit. His
spiritual death affected how he thought and
what was reasonable to him. The language here
implies that Adam did not leave the garden
voluntarily. He had to be driven out. While
18
Adam died on the spot when he took of the tree
of knowledge of good and evil, he did not die
physically. But physical death began to work
on him, and he finally died at the good old
age of 630 years. He died a middle aged man
according to the ages of some of the others in
Genesis.
Man wanted back in that garden. I’m sure
he tried until he finally realized that he was
no match for God. God kept him out of the
garden for his own personal benefit. Genesis
3:22, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the
man is become as one of us, to know good and
evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and
take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for
ever:” This statement has brought up a lot of
questions, and there are many more questions
than there are answers. I choose to believe that
God made man as an eternal being to live in a
body that would never grow old. But for man
to take of the tree of life a sinner would mean
that there would never be an end to sickness,
dying, wars, or all the other things that steal
our right relationship to God.
So God’s plan to bring man back into His
presence and have access to the tree of life is
to trust Jesus who made a way back into God’s
presence. There is the tree of life in Genesis
and does not show up again until Revelation
22:2, “In the midst of the street of it, and on
either side of the river, was there the tree of
life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and
yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of
the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
Heaven is a real place where glorified saints
will live in new bodies forever and ever. This
should warm the coldest heart.
Man has continually tried to get back into
the presence of God his own way. He has made
no progress whatsoever. Man in his natural
state must be ruled by law or he will kill his
neighbor, rape the women and little girls, and
then he finally becomes a pervert so that noth-
ing satisfies. Somewhere along the line, the
degenerate continue on a path that will self
destruct and kill the rest of the people on earth.
But before that happens, God will step in and

bring judgment to the world and set up the mil-
lennial kingdom that will have no end.
One more look at the text: “And you, that
were sometime alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath he rec-
onciled.”
What you were: alienated and enemies.
Why you were: by wicked works. What God
has done: yet now hath he reconciled. A person
reconciled to God is at peace with Him and can
walk with Him and look forward to an eternal
kingdom that will be set up when Jesus comes
again.
Colossians 1:22, “In the body of his flesh
through death, to present you holy and un-
blameable and unreproveable in his sight:”
The words, In the body of his flesh through
death, give us the reason that He took upon a
body, i.e., the virgin birth to sacrifice it on the
cross to pay for man’s sins.
Here is where reconciliation takes place.
Jesus became a man, not an angel, to make
reconciliation for man; Hebrews 2:16,17,
“For verily he took not on him the nature of
angels; but he took on him the seed of Abra-
ham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him
to be made like unto his brethren, that he might
be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for
the sins of the people.”
The words, through death, let us know that
the incarnation of God in man was not enough.
It took His death on the cross, even the shedding
of His sinless blood, to make reconciliation for
our sins. And God accepted the sacrifice that
He made for us and this turned the face of a
righteous holy God toward us to claim us as
His own and give us His quality of life which
is life without end. Reconciliation means that
God has no inhibitions in drawing close to us,
because all that separated us has been taken
away. And we, His children, learn more and
more that we can come to Him and not dread
His holiness because one cannot be more holy
than the blood of Christ makes him.
19
Chapter One
The words, to present you holy, means that
Jesus will present us holy to His Father in the
day of judgment. His holiness is our holiness.
No one could possibly ever rise to meet the
standard of holiness found in the God-head.
So Jesus is our Advocate and we are the prod-
ucts of His regeneration in His own likeness so
that He will present us in His own holiness.
The word, unblameable, translates amomos
and means, “without blemish; as a sacrifice
without spot or blemish.” There in no Chris-
tian that is without spot or blemish in our expe-
rience in this world. We know and do accept
our position in Christ and we understand that
we have been given His righteousness. This is
brought out by Paul in Romans 5:17, “For if by
one man’s offence death reigned by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace
and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by one, Jesus Christ).” What great assur-
ance we have as saved sinners! Even though
we try and fail, in the final analysis we are
going to be presented by Jesus to the Father
unblameable in His sight.
The word, unreprovable, translates, aneg-
kletos and means, “that cannot be called into
account, unreproveable, unaccused, blame-
less.” These words are close in meaning. But
since we believe in the verbal inspiration of the
Bible, we must not say they are the same. Even
a minor difference in these words is describ-
ing another facet of our total acceptance by the
Father.
The words, in His sight, mean that God takes
a look and nothing sinful or wrong gets by His
holy gaze. When a man is right “in His sight”,
he is a happy man.
No man can be justified in God’s sight by the
deeds of the law; Romans 3:20 says, “There-
fore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh
be justified in his sight: for by the law is the
knowledge of sin.”
God knows every human being and knows
everything about him. Man can do nothing
without God knowing it. Hebrews 4:13 says,
“Neither is there any creature that is not mani-
Commentary on Colossians
fest in his sight: but all things are naked and
opened unto the eyes of him with whom we
have to do.”
A believer can be well pleasing in His sight
in this life, if He will let God work through
Him to live the gospel message and preach
the gospel message. Hebrews 13:21, “Make
you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is well pleasing in
his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Answers to prayer come to those who
choose to keep His commandments. 1 John
3:22, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of
him, because we keep his commandments, and
do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
This is not a reference to the ten command-
ments. We are not under the law. This speaks
of the believer following the instructions of the
New Testament.
Colossians 1:23, “If ye continue in the faith
grounded and settled, and be not moved
away from the hope of the gospel, which ye
have heard, and which was preached to every
creature which is under heaven; whereof I
Paul am made a minister;”
“The words, If ye continue in the faith, are a
first class condition (determined as fulfilled),
with a touch of eagerness in the use of ge (at
least). Epi adds to the force of the linear action
of the present tense (continue and then some)”
-A.T. Robertson’s Word Pictures. There is no
doubt in the “if” when it is a first class condi-
tion. You can put the word since and you have
the meaning of the first class condition.
The words, in the faith, sometime refer to
the body of doctrine espoused by the Church.
Jude uses it this way in Jude 1:3, “Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of
the common salvation, it was needful for me to
write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.”
20
The word, faith, can also describe personal
faith in Christ. This is saving faith and faith
to walk by. 1 Peter 1:8 says, “Whom having
not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye
see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory:” The words, yet
believing, are the verb form of the noun faith.
God expects the believer to look and act
differently once he becomes a Christian. The
Lord Himself makes this possible. He makes
our body His temple, and as He abides in us
and we relate by faith to His indwelling pres-
ence a marvelous transformation takes place.
Another thing that this phrase implies is that
one cannot make Jesus a fire escape from hell.
Salvation is believing, in the heart. It is a life
changing decision to believe in Christ as Sav-
iour. Those who drop out, for the most part,
have never been saved to begin with.
There is a good illustration of this in John
6:63-66, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the
flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak
unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But
there are some of you that believe not. For
Jesus knew from the beginning who they were
that believed not, and who should betray him.
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no
man can come unto me, except it were given
unto him of my Father. From that time many of
his disciples went back, and walked no more
with him.” Many of those who had professed
to believe, but did not actually believe, quit
following Him once they realized they did not
have Him fooled.
The words grounded and settled speak of
stability. These are not easily changed. They
are grounded in the Word and believe it and
cannot be persuaded to abandon the faith. The
word settled speaks of one who has his mind
made up and needs no further convincing that
Jesus is who He claimed to be. I am settled on
the truth of the gospel and believe that it is the
sole reason I am saved. God’s grace reached
down and embraced me and I have never been
the same since.

The words, and be not moved away from the
hope of the gospel, are words that needed to be
said even though Paul had confidence in the
salvation of the Colossian believers.
The words, which ye have heard, translate an
aorist active indicative verb. The active voice
verb means that they responded positively to
what they heard. The aorist tense speaks of that
point of time that they heard it once for all.
The good news of the gospel is not something
that one enjoys temporarily. It is permanent, in
that when it is received, one receives eternal
life. When one has eternal life, there is never a
need for that life to be renewed. 1 John 5:11,12,
“And this is the record, that God hath given to
us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He
that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not
the Son of God hath not life.”
The words, which was preached to every
creature which is under heaven, speak of the
universality of the Gospel. The gospel is for all
men and all men in that day heard the gospel. I
know it is hard for us to accept, but the gospel
was carried to the known world in the days of
the early Church. This simply confirms it.
The words, whereof I Paul am made a
minister, set forth the part Paul had in the dis-
semination of the Gospel. He is just a minis-
ter, among others, who was in the process of
taking the gospel to every creature.
Colossians 1:24: “Who now rejoice in my
sufferings for you, and fill up that which is
behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh
for his body’s sake, which is the church:”
The words, Who now rejoice in my suffer-
ing for you, is Paul’s attitude toward his suf-
ferings that are being endured in behalf of the
Colossians. If the Church at Colosse could be
saved from the gnostic heresy, Paul could liter-
ally rejoice in his suffering in their behalf. I
think of the martyrs in recent years who gave
up their freedom and suffered, many of whom
died, in Russian prisons for the faith of Christ
and for the strengthening of the Churches.
21
Chapter One
The words, and fill up that which is behind
of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his
body’s sake, which is the church. Paul was an
apostle. Apostles were spiritual gifts (1Cor.
12:28) to the Church. Therefore, the local
churches were those for whom Paul suffered
and served. This is brought out in 2 Corinthi-
ans 11:28, “Beside those things that are with-
out, that which cometh upon me daily, the care
of all the churches.” Remember the Bible does
not teach apostolic succession and preachers
do not have this kind of authority over local
churches today. The place of the pastor’s
authority is in the local church of which he is
pastor.
Hebrews 13:7,17, “Remember them which
have the rule over you, who have spoken unto
you the word of God: whose faith follow, con-
sidering the end of their conversation... Obey
them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as
they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofit-
able for you.”
The words, and fill up that which is behind,
suggest the gleanings of the sufferings of Christ.
He is not speaking of the substitutionary sacri-
fice and sufferings of Jesus. Jesus did not leave
any sufferings behind so far as His redemptive
sufferings are concerned. But there is a suffer-
ing for righteousness sake and this is the suf-
fering that Paul is speaking of here. The words,
That which is behind, according to A.T. Robert-
son mean, “The leftovers.” One has translated
this, “I would make up the full sum of all that
Christ has to suffer in my person.” The suffer-
ing of which Paul speaks is endured because
he had identified with Christ, His Church, and
His people. And he did this publicly suffer-
ing the consequences. 1 Corinthians 9:12, “If
others be partakers of this power over you, are
not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used
this power; but suffer all things, lest we should
hinder the gospel of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 1:5, “For as the sufferings of
Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ.”
Commentary on Colossians
The words, The afflictions of Christ, do not
refer to His sufferings on the cross. The cross
of Christ had to be borne alone. Hebrews 1:3,
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high;” The afflictions
of which Paul is speaking of Christ’s sufferings
endured in His humiliation prior to that event.
This suffering refers to suffering for righteous-
ness sake, i.e., sufferings incurred through
exhausting service. It was heart sufferings due
to the opposition of sinners, sufferings which
were the result of persecution and for two rea-
sons: (1) Because the atonement was a finished
work; (2) Because the word for sufferings here,
thlipsis, is never used of the vicarious sufferings
of the Lord Jesus. This same thought is brought
out in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him,
and the power of his resurrection, and the fel-
lowship of his sufferings, being made conform-
able unto his death;”
The words, in the flesh, identify the sphere
of Paul’s sufferings. He is in prison at the time
of this writing; Acts 28:30-31; Col. 4:3, 10,
18.
The words, for His body’s sake, which
is the church, give the reason for his suffer-
ings. The body here is HIS body. It is not His
glorified body in heaven. It is referring to the
local Church which He organized while on the
earth, commissioned after His resurrection and
before His ascension, and gave it the baptism of
the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Satan
has fought the church ever since its organiza-
tion. But Jesus said, “The gates of hell will not
prevail against it” (Matt. 17:18). The church
is loved by the Lord. We are living in a time
when the church is looked down on. So-called
Christians think they can ignore it and this
sin will be overlooked in the judgment. The
excuses that people use to quit the church is so
shallow that you don’t know whether to laugh
or cry, i.e., laugh because it identifies them as
idiots and cry because of what it does to the
local church.
22
THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH
• The Church is a local assembly. It can meet in
four walls. It is not invisible. It is a body that meets,
evangelizes, takes the Lord’s Supper, and baptizes
converts.
• The Church was organized by Christ Himself. John
the Baptist prepared the material for the church.
When Jesus came on the scene, John had been
preaching in the wilderness for about six months
or more. He introduced his disciples to Jesus. John
1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:3537,
“Again the next day after John stood, and two of
his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked,
he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two dis-
ciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”
• The Church was built on Jesus Himself. Matthew
16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Though
the gates of hell have stormed the church over the
past two-thousand years, she is still standing and
will stand until Jesus comes.
• The Church has the commission to preach the
gospel to every creature. There is no way for a
church to be right and not do mission work.
• The Church has authority over its members. In 1
Corinthians 5:45, “In the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit,
with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver
such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the
flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the
Lord Jesus.”
• The Church has a living Head. Colossians 1:18,
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who
 Chapter One

is the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead; that in all things he might
have the preeminence.”
• The Church is the place where
the Word of God is preached and
the saints grow. Acts 20:28, “Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you over-
seers, to feed the church of God,
which he hath purchased with his
own blood.”
• One Church does not have
authority over another. Each
Church stands or falls before the
living Head, even the Lord Jesus
Christ. There is no place in Scrip-
ture where one church interfered
with the work of another church.
When one church goes bad, it does
not follow that another church is
taken into error with that church.
Each church is a sovereign body.
• The Church is a Theocracy run
according to democratic princi-
ples. Jesus is the Head and we are
to follow Him. But the church is His
body through which He works.
• Jesus ordained apostles and put
them in the Church; 1 Corinthians
12:27,28, “Now ye are the body of
Christ, and members in particu-
lar. And God hath set some in the
church, first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after
that miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, governments, diversities of
tongues.” When Jesus ordained
the apostles, the church was in
existence so that He could place
them in the church.
• The church has the sole right to
administer Scriptural Baptism.
When Jesus was in the temple, the
chief priests and the elders came
to Jesus and asked Him by what
authority he did these things?
He answered them in Matthew
21:24,25, “And Jesus answered
and said unto them, I also will ask
you one thing, which if ye tell me,
I in like wise will tell you by what
authority I do these things. The
baptism of John, whence was it?
from heaven, or of men? And they
reasoned with themselves, saying,
If we shall say, From heaven; he
will say unto us, Why did ye not
then believe him?” John’s bap-
tism had heaven’s authority. The
Church had heaven’s authority
because of the great commis-
sion.
• The Church has the right to
administer the Lord’s Supper.
This is an ordinance left by the
Lord for the Church to practice.
The Church also has the right
of discipline over the members
who partake. If a member is in
known sin, the church must deny
him the Lord’s Supper until he
gets right. 1 Corinthians 11:23-
33, “For I have received of the
Lord that which also I delivered
unto you, That the Lord Jesus
the same night in which he was
betrayed took bread: And when
he had given thanks, he brake
it, and said, Take, eat: this is my
body, which is broken for you: this
do in remembrance of me. After
the same manner also he took the
cup, when he had supped, saying,
This cup is the new testament in
my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye
drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread,
and drink this cup, ye do shew the
Lord’s death till he come. Where-
fore whosoever shall eat this
bread, and drink this cup of the
Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty
of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself,
and so let him eat of that bread,
and drink of that cup. For he that
eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to
himself, not discerning the Lord’s
body. For this cause many are
weak and sickly among you, and
many sleep. For if we would
judge ourselves, we should not be
judged. But when we are judged,
we are chastened of the Lord,
that we should not be condemned
with the world. Wherefore, my
brethren, when ye come together
to eat, tarry one for another.”

Colossians 1:25, “Whereof I am made a min-
ister, according to the dispensation of God
which is given to me for you, to fulfil the
word of God;”
The word, whereof, means, “of which,” and
refers back to the church. Paul established
local churches and ministered to them by his
presence and through his inspired writings.
The words, I am made a minister, are an
aorist middle indicative from ginomai. It
means “became.” The aorist tense refers to the
point of time this took place the middle voice
is where the subject (Jesus) acted in His own

23
Commentary on Colossians
behalf and was benefitted by the action. Paul
did not choose the apostleship. The Lord chose
him and he was not disobedient to the heavenly
vision. Acts 26:19 brings this out, “Whereupon,
O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the
heavenly vision:” The word minister means, “a
servant, attendant, minister.” The word deacon
comes from the same word. A preacher’s job is
to serve and his duties are well defined in the
word of God.
The words, According to, are a preposition
that shows the relationship between the object
and the other words in the verse. Kata with the
accusative (direct object) means, “according
to, throughout, during.”
The words, dispensation of God, translate
oikonomian, made up of oikos (house) and
nomos (law). It means, “The law of the house-
hold.” It speaks of a house-steward, one to
whom is given the responsibility of administer-
ing laws regulating the proper conduct of the
affairs of the household. It could be translated,
“According to the stewardship” which gives
the sense of what the text is speaking.
The words, of God, show us where the
authority for this stewardship came from. All
the work of God done by man has to have
God’s authority behind it.
The words, which is given me for you, speak
again of Paul’s authority to carry out his work
of an apostle. The word given is an aorist tense
which refers to a point of time. This point of
time was on the road to Damascus. Paul’s call
to salvation and apostleship occurred at the
same time. The gift of apostleship was for the
purpose of serving the churches. Paul truly
fulfilled a great ministry having written 14
Epistles in the New Testament.
To fulfil the Word of God. The word, fulfil,
translates plēroo. A.T. Robertson says, “It is
a fine phrase for a God-called preacher, to fill
full or to give full scope to the Word of God.
The preacher is an expert on the word of God
by profession.”
24
Colossians 1:26, “Even the mystery which
hath been hid from ages and from gen-
erations, but now is made manifest to his
saints:”
Even the mystery, The word mystery trans-
lates musterion. The root of this word is muo
and means, “to shut the mouth.” The Lord was
silent in the Old Testament concerning the New
Testament Church and the way He would work
with it to evangelize the world. This mystery
is now opened to all by the apostle Paul. He
has more to say about the mystery than all the
other writers.
Which hath been hid from ages and from
generations, simply means that God was
closed mouthed concerning the mystery that is
now revealed. It makes one wonder if the Old
Testament prophets knew there was something
in God’s plan that He was not telling them.
But now is made manifest to his saints,
means a truth that was once hidden but is now
revealed. The Gnostics talked much of myster-
ies. Paul takes their very word and uses it for
the gospel.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE MYSTERY
• It was hidden in the Old Testament; Col. 1:26.
• Jesus told His disciples that it was given to them
to know the mystery; Mark 4:11.
• The mystery included blindness of the Jews;
Rom. 11:25. This blindness will last unto the
fulness of the Gentiles is come in.
• The preaching of Jesus Christ is the revelation
of the mystery; Rom. 16:25; Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3.
• The mystery reveals the wisdom of God;
1 Cor. 2:7.
• The mystery was revealed in detail through
Paul; Eph. 3:3-9.
• The church is a part of the mystery; Eph. 5:32.
• The mystery is Christ in us; Col. 1:27.
• We are to hold the mystery of the faith with a
pure conscience; 1 Tim 3:9.
• Godliness is a mystery beyond explanation;
1 Tim. 3:16.
• The rapture is included in the mystery;
1 Cor. 15:51.

Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make
known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory:”
To whom God would make known, is refer-
ring to the Gentiles being brought into the
family of God by the New Birth. These Gen-
tiles of whom He speaks, God would inform
them concerning His plan for them in Christ.
The words, make known, are in the aorist
tense and mean that He will do it at a point of
time. This shows that God has been working
according to a plan from eternity past.
What is the riches of the glory of the mystery
among the Gentiles, are descriptive terms mag-
nifying the word mystery. The Gentiles were
looked down upon by the covenant people (the
Jews). God had not made a covenant with the
Gentiles and it looked like they were left out.
But God’s plan included a special relationship
with the Gentiles once the time came.
Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,
This statement is one of the gems of the Bible.
“Christ in you” is almost beyond human com-
prehension. We are sinners beyond personal
rescue, i.e., we can’t rescue ourselves. One
would think that in order for the Lord to dwell
in us in any way would take a personal cleans-
ing on our part. When we got clean enough He
would move in; but it doesn’t happen that way.
When we are saved, God creates a new man
within the old and lives in the new man created
in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24).
The hope of glory, could refer to our destiny
in heaven with Him. Sometimes glory refers
to heaven. There are other times that glory
refers to the Shekinah that dwelt in the cloud
in the Old Testament wilderness or the light
that shined between the angels as they hovered
over the mercy seat in the Temple.
Christ in us is the ONLY hope of glory if
glory means heaven. Romans 8:9, “But ye are
not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that
the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none
of his.”
25
Chapter One
2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves. Know ye not your own selves, how
that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be rep-
robates?”
There are two preceding verses in this chap-
ter that suggest this is future glory:
Colossians 1:12, “Giving thanks unto the
Father, which hath made us meet to be partak-
ers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”
Colossians 1:22, “In the body of his flesh
through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”
Colossians 1:28, “Whom we preach, warn-
ing every man, and teaching every man in
all wisdom; that we may present every man
perfect in Christ Jesus:”
Whom we preach, refers to Christ and the
message of the gospel.
Preach, is a present active indicative from
katoggello meaning, “to declare, to proclaim.”
This word originally meant to denounce, but
in the New Testament it means, “to announce.”
Paul is probably announcing the gospel to
denounce the Gnostic heresy.
Warning every man, is present tense and
means, “to continually warn every man.”
“Every man” gives the scope of our calling.
And teaching every man in all wisdom,
refers to teaching doctrine. The teaching of the
Word of God is the best counsel that a person
can have. “In all wisdom” The Gnostic spoke
of the blind faith for the higher Gnoses (knowl-
edge) for the few. Paul declares that the fullest
wisdom is offered to all alike. The character of
the teaching is as free from restriction as are
the qualifications of the recipient.
That we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus, Paul preached the gospel and his
goal was to preach it to every creature. The
potential is there for the salvation of every
man. When a man puts his trust in Jesus, he
is put into Jesus, and in Christ he has Christ’s
righteousness. This is the perfection that
Commentary on Colossians
Paul is speaking of. This speaks of the same
thing as Colossians 1:22: “In the body of his
flesh through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”
Note again the three things that Christ can do
for those who trust Him: He can present you
holy, unblameable, and unreproveable.
Colossians 1:29, “Whereunto I also labour,
striving according to his working, which
worketh in me mightily.”
Whereunto I also labour, the word Where-
unto is “for which also.” Labour refers to a
strenuous work, i.e., a wearing out work. Paul
gave it all he had whether in prison or out. The
first furlough he had was when his head yielded
to the Roman ax that sent him scurrying down
the streets of gold as the angels, saints, and
Jesus met him with great joy and gladness.
Striving according to His working, The
word striving translates agonizomai, and is the
word from which we get our word agony. It
also means, “to contend.” This same word is
used in Jude 1:3, “Beloved, when I gave all
diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to write unto
you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered
unto the saints.” “According to his working”
means that what Paul was doing outwardly in
striving, the Lord was doing inside Him. So
he was laboring together with Christ. “To his
working” The word working is energeia from
which we get our word energy. The Lord was
energizing in him the energy to speak the truth
and stop the mouths of the Gnostics.
26
THE MYSTERY OF NEW TESTAMENT
FAITH
Colossians 1:26-29 “Even the mystery which
hath been hid from ages and from genera-
tions, but now is made manifest to his saints:
To whom God would make known what is
the riches of the glory of this mystery among
the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory: Whom we preach, warning every
man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labor, striv-
ing according to his working, which worketh
in me mightily.”
Paul is the apostle through whom the Lord
chose to reveal what He calls the “mystery.”
God is sovereign in what He does, why He
does it, and when He does it. There are ques-
tions that can never be answered in this life.
But how other could we expect God to be? He
is God and not limited by our knowledge of
things. When He does something that is normal
to Him it will always be miraculous to us. It
leaves us saying, “How did He do that?”
It is in man’s nature to want to have an
explanation of how things happen. So here is
how it is. God tells man He created all things.
Man is not satisfied to believe what God says.
He sets out to find out how creation came about
in complete disregard for what God said. So
man’s search and explanation is with complete
disregard for what God says.
To prove that what I have just said is true, all
you have to do is to read the approach of sci-
ence to creation, and sit in a classroom where
our children study origins. They will not even
give the Bible a hearing. Well, that won’t work
for those of us who believe the Bible. We as
Christians must continuously undermine the
teaching of a secular society. There is no way
a Bible believing Christian is going to let the
lie of so-call science be taught to our children
without our making the correction.

Now let’s look at the text.
THE MYSTERY HIDDEN
Paul says, “Even the mystery which hath
been hid from ages and from generations.” The
word, mystery, translates musterion hidden
thing, secret, mystery; generally mysteries,
religious secrets, confided only to the initiated
and not to ordinary mortals.”
The words, hath been hid, translate apok-
rupto and mean, “to hide.” It is a perfect pas-
sive participle. This means that it was hidden
in the past and remains hidden. Now this is
not a contradiction. He qualified that the mys-
tery revealed is “to his saints.” The natural
man (1Cor. 2:14) still cannot see this truth. In
other words, it is a mystery hidden in the past,
but revealed today to the believer. It remains
hidden to the unbeliever.
Faith in Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour
turns on the light of understanding. This is
the reason the gospel is so clear to us and so
hidden from them. Until we learn the truth that
is declared here, it will be a mystery to us why
the unsaved cannot understand the plain gospel
of Jesus Christ. Saved wife, this is the reason
your unsaved husband cannot understand. And
he will never be persuaded by reason. This is
the reason Peter gave instructions on how a
saved wife is to witness to her lost husband.
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to
your own husbands; that, if any obey not the
word, they also may without the word be won
by the conversation of the wives; While they
behold your chaste conversation coupled with
fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward
adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of
gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be
the hidden man of the heart, in that which is
not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of
great price.” (1 Peter 3:1-4). Note the follow-
ing:
• This is especially addressed to Christian
wives.
• Peter instructs them to subject themselves
to the men even if they “obey not the word.”
27
Chapter One
• Peter says, “they also may without the
word be won by the conversation of the wives.”
The definite article “the” is not in the Textus
Receptus from which our KJV is translated. It
is literally, “they also may without [a] word be
won by the conversation of the wives.”
Once the husband has the plan of salvation
explained to him, it will drive him away to
continue to push the gospel on him.
So, Peter says the way a saved wife is to
witness to an unsaved husband is by her con-
versation. The word, conversation, translates
anastrophe and means, “manner of life, con-
duct, behavior, deportment.” It has nothing to
do with the use of the tongue. It is the practice
of the truths of Christianity in daily living.
Then Peter describes some of the things
about a godly lifestyle. He deals with modesty
and the outward manifestation of the hidden
man of the heart. He talks about the “meek and
quiet spirit.” Peter is saying that God can use
that to reach an unsaved and rebellious hus-
band.
Paul is speaking about a mystery that has
been hidden in the past. Now he speaks of,
THE MYSTERY REVEALED
Our text says, but now is made manifest to
his saints. The words, is made manifest, trans-
late phaneroo and mean, “to make manifest
or visible or known what has been hidden or
unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or
deeds, or in any other way.” It is an aorist pas-
sive indicative verb. The aorist tense speaks
of a once-for-all act in the past. I believe that
this Greek tense gathers up Jesus in His incar-
nation, sinless life, substitutionary death, and
literal resurrection,” i.e., it is a snap shot of
the whole thing. The Old Testament Jew did
not see a Messiah in this way. The mind of the
Jew was so infested with traditions and opin-
ions that the truth shot right over their heads.
So much so that they believed that Jesus was
a blasphemer and accused Him of casting out
devils by the power of the Devil.
The mystery is now revealed to His saints.
The word saint simply refers to the believer.
Commentary on Colossians
Every believer is a saint because of the imputed
righteousness of Christ. God has given the
believer the Holy Spirit as a seal of salvation.
He secures us and sanctifies us and enlightens
us. Glory to God and the Lamb forever. Some-
one hold my mules!!! Hallelujah!!!
The mystery has been revealed. Fellow
believers, we have an understanding that the
men and women with all their degrees cannot
understand. They are completely in the DARK.
I think we frustrate them. They know some-
thing is working in our lives, that there is a joy
there that they would like to buy with money,
and we face death totally different than they. I
love what Isaiah said in Isaiah 55:1: “Ho, every
one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and
he that hath no money ; come ye, buy, and eat;
yea, come, buy wine and milk without money
and without price.” Do you not just love that?
You do not have to have money to get your
thirst quenched. If God charged, none of us
would ever have enough money to buy it. So
God fixed it where we could have it, if we are
willing, at His expense. This is what the Bible
calls GRACE. “For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The mystery was hidden, but now it is
revealed. Not only is this true but,
THE MYSTERY IS IDENTIFIED
Our text says, “To whom God would make
known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory.”
Jesus explained this to the disciples using
the parable of the Vine and branches. Then
in His great high priestly prayer He prayed:
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art
in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one
in us: that the world may believe that thou hast
sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me
I have given them; that they may be one, even
as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that
they may be made perfect in one; and that the
world may know that thou hast sent me, and
hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John
17:21-23).
28
• Jesus desired oneness with His disciples
and He came that this might be true. It is not
accomplished by human effort. It is an act
of God. Today, salvation puts Christ in the
believer and the believer in Christ.
• There is something about this union that
makes God in us visible to the unsaved world.
Jesus prayed to His Father, “that the world may
believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory
which thou gavest me I have given them.”
The glory of God resided in Jesus and set
Him apart from all others. It was a mystery
about His life that was beyond human rational-
ism.
The glory that God had given Christ, Christ
gave to us His disciples. I believe this is only
visible in the life of a yielded saint. When we
walk in the Spirit and in obedience to Him,
there will be that mystic about us as well.
The mystery identified is “Christ in you
(us).” How can God live in a man? It is a mys-
tery, but it is true.
THE MYSTERY’S POSSIBILITY
Paul says, “Whom we preach, warning every
man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ
Jesus.” The experience of this mystery is pos-
sible for every man. Paul says “warning every
man, and teaching every man in all wisdom.”
Salvation is not just limited to a few. It is pos-
sible for all men. Jesus died for all men.
God has made His existence so real and His
gospel so universal. He tells us in Romans that
men are without excuse: “For the invisible
things of him from the creation of the world
are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even his eternal power
and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
(Romans 1:20).
It is not only possible in that it has been
offered to all men, but it is possible in that God
has made faith the means of obtaining it. Paul
said, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be
by grace; to the end the promise might be sure
to all the seed; not to that only which is of the
law, but to that also which is of the faith of

Abraham; who is the father of us all.” (Romans
4:16). Paul is saying here that it is of faith “to
the end that the promise might be SURE to
all the seed; not to that only which is of the
law, but to that also which is of the faith of
Abraham.” If we had to pay a big price, many
would not be able. If one had to be educated to
receive God’s salvation, then salvation would
be out of the reach of millions. If it were the
result of deeds accomplished, people like the
thief on the cross would not stand a chance.
(Caps mine for emphasis). God has put the
experience of this mystery in the reach of all.
Then next let us notice,
THE MYSTERY PROCLAIMED
Paul says, “Whom we preach.” 1 Corinthi-
ans 1:23-24 says, “But we preach Christ cruci-
fied, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto
the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which
are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
Preaching is God’s way of getting the infor-
mation to the unsaved: 1 Corinthians 1:21 says,
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world
by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by
the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe.” Then Paul’s explanation to this is:
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than
men; and the weakness of God is stronger than
men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25). God is not fool-
ish, and nothing He says is foolish. But these
are the terms used because the unsaved world
cannot imagine God choosing the medium of
preaching to save the believer. But it is God’s
way and He is not going to change it because it
puts the intellectuals, socially prominent, and
wealthy on the same ground before God as a
poor illiterate person.
Not only is this mystery proclaimed but
finally let us look at,
THE MYSTERY WORKED OUT
This is brought out in verse 29: “Whereunto
I also labor, striving according to his working,
which worketh in me mightily.” (Colossians
1:29).
The word whereunto connects: “to pres-
29
Chapter One
ent every man perfect in Christ” of verse 28.
The words, I also labor, translate kopiaoto and
mean, “to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with
toil or burdens or grief); to labor with weari-
some effort, to toil.”
This is Paul’s personal testimony of sub-
mitting to the Lordship of Christ. It is no easy
task. It is a lot easier to lose your temper than
it is to discipline your responses to the obe-
dience of Christ. It is desirable to the flesh to
take the second and third look of something
or someone that attracts one to lust. It is a lot
easier to stay in bed of a morning rather than to
arise and spend time with God in prayer. Paul
was a normal man like us. He waged a constant
warfare in his own personal life to stay right
with God. A verse that really brings this out
is 1 Corinthians 9:27: “But I keep under my
body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by
any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway.” The words, I
keep under my body, literally mean that Paul
beat his body black and blue. Why would a
holy man do this to his body? This is the secret
to Paul’s experiential holiness. He refused to
do wrong no matter what. His body wanted to
go one direction and the Lord wanted him to
go another. Paul says, “I also labor, striving
according to his working, which worketh in
me mightily.”
The words striving according to his work-
ing translate agonizomai and mean, “to enter
a contest: contend in the gymnastic games, to
contend with adversaries, fight.” Spiritual war-
fare is what Paul is talking about. It will wear
you out.
This is not an easy warfare. It involves a
struggle with people you love, such as a saved
woman married to an unsaved man with whom
she has to struggle to even go to church or saved
young people who must obey unsaved parents.
I remember one young man who would slip out
on Sunday morning and climb over the back
fence to come to Sunday School and church. I
remember one young lady who professed faith
in Christ and was baptized into our fellowship.
Commentary on Colossians

She became convicted about being modest

in dress. And the parent blew their stack and
would not allow her to change her dress from
immodest to modest. She felt so defeated in her
Christian walk that she finally gave up and quit
even coming to Church. I have often wondered
what happened to her. Jesus said in Mark 9:42:
“And whosoever shall offend one of these little
ones that believe in me, it is better for him that
a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
he were cast into the sea.” I would hate to be
in those parents’ shoes when they stand before
God.
Then Paul says, “striving according to his
working, which worketh in me mightily.” The
words, his working, translate a word from
which we get our word energy. The Holy Spirit
energizes in us to work the works of Christ. A
man who lives out the Christian life is working
in cooperation with the Holy Spirit who has
made our body His temple. He is working in us
and we work with Him. So we have Him as our
helper. This does not mean to live the Christian
life is easy, but it does mean it is possible. The
Lord inside us enables us to slay the giants of
Satan that come up against us constantly.
The mystery worked out is the visible mani-
festation of the invisible Christ at work in and
through His saints today.
This is Paul’s explanation of the mystery of
New Testament faith.

30

CHAPTER 2
Colossians 2:1: “For I would that ye knew
what great conflict I have for you, and for
them at Laodicea, and for as many as have
not seen my face in the flesh”
The words, I would that ye knew, are the way
Paul presents himself to the Church at Colosse.
He wants them to know that he is praying fer-
vently for them.
What great conflict, can be translated, “how
great a struggle.” Paul did not take the conflict
with Gnosticism lightly. It was a struggle with
the powers of darkness. He is an example of a
mother hen when something is attacking her
young.
I have for you, is “on behalf of you.” It
means, “For I wish that you knew what a battle
I am fighting for you.” This shows that one can
carry on a battle for other Christians through
prayer.
And for them at Laodicea, Paul’s concern
reached out to all the churches; 2 Cor. 11:28.
And for as many as have not seen my face in
the flesh, It means, “to see.” Vine says, “It spe-
cifically indicates the direction of the thought
to the object seen.” It should be a comfort to
know that a man like Paul is really burdened
about your problems, especially when you
have never met him in person.
Colossians 2: 2: “That their hearts might be
comforted, being knit together in love, and
unto all riches of the full assurance of un-
derstanding, to the acknowledgement of the
mystery of God, and of the Father, and of
Christ”
That their hearts might be comforted, Vine
says of their hearts, “the word came to stand
for man’s entire mental and moral activity,
both rational and the emotional elements.” In
other words, the heart is used figuratively for
the hidden springs of the personal life.
31
Chapter Two
The words, be comforted, is an aorist pas-
sive subjunctive verb from parakaleō, mean-
ing to console, to encourage, to alleviate grief.
The aorist tense speaks of an event (point of
time). The passive voice means the subject is
acted upon. The subjunctive mood is potential.
This reveals one of the reasons Paul writes this
Epistle. One can be comforted by the Scrip-
tures when going through severe trials.
Being knit together in love, The words,
“being knit together in love” is an aorist active
participle from sumbibazō, meaning to cause
to coalesce, to join or knit together. This could
be a reference to the divisive tendencies of
the false teaching of Gnosticism. It was prob-
ably causing problems between members. The
words “in love” is the super-glue that binds
believers together in such a tight relationship it
is hard for the false teachers to penetrate.
Gill says, “as the members of an human
body are, by joints and bands; as love is the
bond of union between God and his people,
Christ and his members, so between saints and
saints; it is the cement that joins and keeps
them together, and which edifies and builds
them up, and whereby they increase with the
increase of God; it makes them to be of one
heart and one soul; it renders their communion
with one another comfortable and delightful,
and strengthens them against the common
enemy, who is for dividing, and so destroying;
and is what is the joy of Gospel ministers, and
what they labour at and strive for, and which is
another reason of the apostle’s conflict:”
And unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding, John Gill says, “for as there
is such a thing as the assurance of faith, and
the assurance of hope, so likewise of under-
standing of the Gospel, and the truths of it;
concerning which there ought to be no doubt,
being to be received upon the credit of a divine
testimony: moreover, such a knowledge and
understanding of divine things is intended, as
is large and abundant, signified by “all riches”;
for though it is not complete and perfect in this
life, yet it takes a vast compass, and reaches to
Commentary on Colossians
all the deep things of God; to whatever relates
to the person and grace of Christ; to all the
things of the Spirit of God; to all the blessings
and promises of the covenant of grace; to the
riches both of grace and glory, to the things of
time and eternity, and which is more clearly
explained by the following clause:”
The full assurance of understanding, means
that the Colossian’s best defense is to know
the Scriptures and have a full understanding of
their meaning.
To the acknowledgment of the mystery
of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.
Acknowledgment comes from a word meaning,
to observe, fully perceive, notice attentatively.
The Father, the first person, so called, in rela-
tion to his Son, which is no small part of the
mystery of the Gospel; and Christ, the second
person, who is equally God with the Father;
and the Spirit, who, though not mentioned, is
not excluded from this adorable mystery: and
which is the mystery “of Christ”, he being both
the efficient cause and the subject matter of
it; it treats of his deity and personality; of his
offices, as Mediator, prophet, priest, and King;
of his incarnation and redemption; of his grace,
righteousness, sacrifice, and satisfaction; of
justification by him, pardon through him, and
acceptance in him. Praise God from whom all
blessings flow. Hallelujah!!!
Colossians 2:3, “In whom are hid all the trea-
sures of wisdom and knowledge.”
In whom are hid, Christ in His incarnate
Person has been chosen by the Father to have
in Him all the things that pertain to God and
His plan for the ages. These things cannot be
found anywhere else. They must be found in
Christ because that is where they are hidden.
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
John Gill says, “This may be understood either
of the mystery of the Gospel, which contains
the rich mines and hidden treasures of all divine
truths; so called, because of the richness and
intrinsic value and excellency of them.” God is
infinite in knowledge. He is omniscient, i.e., all
32
knowing. This text is saying that all there is to
know about God is found in Christ. That is the
knowledge. But there is the “wisdom” which
is the ability to properly apply the knowledge.
Both of these are hidden in Christ. There is in
Christ all that there is to know about God and
His ways. Bishop Moule comments on this
verse: “He is the Father’s glorious casket, in
which are shut all the mysteries and treasures
of grace, planned and wrought by the eternal
Mind, and so “hidden” in Him that, outside
Him, “eye hath not seen them, nor have they
entered into the heart of man to conceive”;
aye, and even in Him they are hidden still,
veiled in their own glory, as to our complete
knowledge.
Dr. John Phillips says, “Knowledge! Jesus
has it all. ‘In [Him] are hid all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge.’ The cult at Colosse
claimed to have special knowledge. Non-
sense! Jesus has it all. The humblest believer
who knows the Lord Jesus has access to more
essential knowledge and wisdom than any
unsaved person, no matter how brilliant that
person might be.”
In [Him] are hid all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge. We have plenty of knowledge.
But we do not have much wisdom. Just before
He went to Calvary, the Lord said that in the
last days just before His return, there would
be perplexity of nations (Luke 21:25). W.E.
Vine suggests various ways of rendering this
phrase. He says that it can be translated at a
loss for a way or no solution to their embar-
rassments, or at their wit’s end. I suggest that
we have reached that place today. The Pales-
tinians say that they want peace, but they do
not want peace without the annihilation of the
Jews. So it does not look like peace is in view
for the Middle East. There are wars and rumors
of wars that confront us constantly.
Jesus has all the treasures of wisdom and knowl-
edge. He is the one to go to to obtain this informa-
tion. I would like to suggest that He has revealed
some of it in His Word. Some of it will stay with
Him until we reach the eternal kingdom.

Colossians 2:4: “And this I say, lest any man
should beguile you with enticing words.”
This refers to what was just said. Paul had a
purpose in writing this Epistle. It was to inform
them of the truth so that they would not be led
astray.
I say is present active indicative, meaning, to
say or speak. Robertson says, “Paul explains
why he has made this great claim for Christ at
this point in his discussion.”
Lest any man should beguile you, Lest
means, “in order that not.” The words, any
man, mean, “no one.” A right understanding of
the Scriptures will insulate us against any man
peddling any heresy. Instead of researching
what the heretics believe, we need to become
grounded in the Word of God. This will close
the door against the heretics.
Beguile, is present middle subjunctive from
paralogizomai, meaning, “to reckon wrong,
to deceive by false reasoning, delude, to lead
astray by false reasoning. The subjunctive
mood is potential. Present tense means they
were in present danger.
Enticing words, comes from one word mean-
ing, persuasive words. It is speech adapted to
persuade. It can be seen in these verses that it is
possible to be led astray by persuasive words.
There is a real danger here, so Paul is trying
to fortify the Colossians against such. We all
have an emotional make up. That and the Old
Sin Nature makes us vulnerable to slick talk
and false wisdom. Proverbs 16:25, “There is a
way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death.”
Colossians 2:5, “For though I be absent in
the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joy-
ing and beholding your order, and the sted-
fastness of your faith in Christ.”
For though I be absent in the flesh, means
that this did not diminish Paul’s concern for
them, nor did it keep them from being minis-
tered to by him.
33
Chapter Two
Yet I am with you in the spirit, This is not to
be taken lightly. Prayer and faith take us where
those are for whom we pray. Paul’s love and
concern make Him aware that he was with
them in spirit. So he makes the Colossians
aware that he is there with them in spirit. This
is not an out of body experience. The lesson we
learn is that we can be with those missionaries
that we support. As we pray for them, let us be
aware that what we do in spirit is not confined
to the geographical location where we are at
a particular time. Lightfoot’s comment is: “It
is the common antithesis of the flesh and the
spirit, or body and spirit.”
Joying and beholding your order, The word
joying means, “to be filled with joy.” It is in the
present tense. So Paul is pleased with them at
the time of this writing. The word beholding
means, “to see or to watch.” This is also in the
present tense. He is a witness of their conduct.
The word order can mean, “discipline.” Wey-
mouth translates: “and am delighted to witness
your good discipline.”
John Gill says, “By their ‘order’ is meant,
either their orderly walk and conversation,
which being as becomes the Gospel of Christ,
was very pleasing and delightful to the apostle;
or rather the order of their church discipline,
they having regular officers, pastors, and dea-
cons, ordained among them; who rightly per-
formed their offices, and had respect and sub-
jection yielded to them; the ordinances of the
Gospel were duly administered, and constantly
attended to.”
And the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
The word stedfastness means, “a solid founda-
tion.” It is like we say, “I am set in concrete on
this.” They were strong in their faith in Christ
so that false teachers could not move them.
The words, “your faith in Christ,” can mean
either of two things:
Paul could be referring to the initial faith in
Christ for salvation. He has mentioned this in
chapter 1 and verse 4: “Since we heard of your
faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye
have to all the saints,” Hebrews 3:14, “For
Commentary on Colossians

we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold
the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto
the end;” Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast
the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised)” These verses
seem to give credence to this statement. Faith
in Christ alone saves; but the faith in Christ
that saves is never alone. When Christians
were being assaulted by the Devil and his
crowd, Paul urged them to be steadfast in their
faith in Christ.
Paul could also be talking about their con-
tinued faith in Christ as the Lord of their lives.
We are to walk by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7,
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight).” If we
walk by faith, it is a continual trust in Him for
every move we make. Galatians 5:6, “For in
Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any
thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which wor-
keth by love.” We walk by sight in the natural
world. Everything has to rationalized and it has
to make sense or we do not get involved. But
the moment we are saved we enter a spiritual
world. The Spiritual is more real than the natu-
ral. The spiritual will never end and the natural
will when God has finished His plan for the
present creation.
I want to quote Tozer here: “At the root of
the Christian life lies belief in the invisible.
The object of the Christian’s faith is unseen
reality.”
Our uncorrected thinking, influenced by the
blindness of our natural hearts and the intrusive
ubiquity ( the state or capacity of being every-
where at the same time.) This tends to make
us draw a contrast between the spiritual and
the real—but actually no such contrast exists.
The antithesis lies elsewhere—between the
real and the imaginary, between the spiritual
and the material, between the temporal and the
eternal; but between the spiritual and the real,
never. The spiritual is real.
If we would rise into that region of light and
power plainly beckoning us through the Scrip-
tures of truth, we must break the evil habit of
ignoring the spiritual. We must shift out inter-
est from the seen to the unseen. For the great
unseen Reality is God. “He that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).
This is basic in the life of faith. From there
we can rise to unlimited heights. “Ye believe
in God,” said our Lord Jesus Christ, “Believe
also in me” (John 14:1). Without the first there
can be no second.”
Colossians 2:6, “As ye have therefore received
Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus
the Lord. The word, As, means, “in like
manner.” Paul lays down a profound truth
here. How had they received Christ Jesus?
They had received Him by faith as Lord and
Saviour. It was a simple faith. It was not a faith
one could brag on. It was a faith given to them
by the Lord and they made the simple choice
to believe Him. The kingdom walk is by the
same identical principle of faith as the entrance
requirement. You enter the kingdom by faith,
and then you walk by that same faith.
So walk ye in Him. This means the Christian
walk is walking by the same principle of faith
as it took to be saved. This verse reveals the
simplicity of the Christian life. The believer
is to walk by the same simple faith by which
he was saved. The place of identification with
Him which God has given us is to be carried
out in practice here. We are to walk as identi-
fied with Him.
• That means the same recognition of sin;
Rom. 7:18.
• The same recognition of mercy; Rom.
12:1.
• The same attitude of humility; Phil. 2:5.
• The same simple faith - faith that appro-
priates the promises of God that apply to
this life.

34
 Chapter Two

John Gill says, “Receiving Christ is
believing in him: faith is the eye
of the soul, that sees the beauty,
glory, fulness, and suitableness
of Christ; the foot that goes to
him, and the hand that takes
hold on him, and the arm that
receives and embraces him; so
that this is not a receiving him
into the head by notion, but into
the heart by faith; and not in part
only, but in whole: faith receives
a whole Christ, his person as God
and man; him in all his offices, as
prophet, priest, and King; partic-
ularly as a Saviour and Redeemer,
he being under that character so
exceeding suitable to the case of
a sensible sinner; and it receives all
blessings of grace along with him,
from him, and through him; as a
justifying righteousness, remis-
sion of sins, adoption of children,
grace for grace, and an inheritance
among all them that are sanctified;
and both Christ and them, as the
free grace gifts of God; which men
are altogether undeserving of, and
cannot possibly give any valuable
consideration for: so these Colos-
sians had received Christ gladly,
joyfully, willingly, and with all
readiness; and especially as “the
Lord”, on which there is a pecu-
liar emphasis in the text; they had
received him and believed in him,
as the one and only Lord and head
of the church; as the one and only
Mediator between God and man,
to the exclusion of angels, the
worship of which the false teach-
ers were introducing; they had
received the doctrines of Christ,
and not the laws of Moses, which
judaizing preachers were desir-
ous of joining with them; they had
heard and obeyed the Son, and not
the servant; they had submitted to
the authority of Christ as King of
saints, and had been subject to his
ordinances; wherefore the apostle
exhorts them to continue and go
on, believing in him, and holding
to him, the head.

Colossians 2:7, “Rooted and built up in him,
and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Rooted is a perfect passive participle in the
Greek expressing abiding result. Wuest says,
“Having been rooted with the present result
that you are firmly anchored.” Ephesians 3:17,
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”
Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in
love, may grow up into him in all things, which
is the head, even Christ:”
Built up, is a present passive participle
speaking of continuous action, being constantly
built up. Building up is not something that you
do once-and-for-all. One can regress in his
Christian life if he ceases to exercise himself
in godliness. Vincent says, “note the changing
metaphor from the solidity of military array to
walking, rooting of a tree, and then to building.
It is ever a progressive action as we engage in
the work of the Lord. We are to occupy till He
comes.
And stablished in the faith, The word, stab-
lished, means, “to make firm” like it is in con-
crete. Our faith does not need to be like a reed
shaken by the wind. Some people are open to
change when just anybody comes along with a
story that seems reasonable to them. This is an
insult to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ who
gave Him to die for us on the cross. The words,
in the faith, are both personal faith in Christ
and the doctrines believed. Jude 1:3, “Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of
the common salvation, it was needful for me to
write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.” The word faith as
used here is the doctrines believed. It is like
someone asking “What faith are you?” And the
answer being, “I am Baptist, or, I am Method-
ist, etc.
As ye have been taught, is ever as, plus the
aorist passive indicative from Didaskō mean-
ing to teach or give instructions.
Abounding means to be in abundance. This
means as their faith was constantly being estab-
lished they would have it in abundance.
Thanksgiving, is the sphere in which the
abundance is manifested. Rooted illustrates the
Christian’s source. Until a person is saved he

35
Commentary on Colossians
is rooted in Adam (self), therefore, under con-
demnation. The believer has a different source
and environment for growth. This is the same
truth about which Jesus spoke in John 15; the
vine and the branches. Once the plant has been
rooted in the proper environment (Jesus Christ),
the process (constantly being established)
of growth can take place. The instrument by
which our growth takes place is our faith; Heb.
11:6. The reason this could be said of them and
is being affected in their lives is because they
were taught. An attitude of thanksgiving must
be maintained.
Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil
you through philosophy and vain deceit, after
the tradition of men, after the rudiments of
the world, and not after Christ.”
Beware is present active indicative from
Blepō (I see). Wuest says, “Be constantly look-
ing out, keep a watchful eye ever open.” Lest
any man places a caution upon the sentence,
Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “The Form of the
sentence is a measure of the imminence of the
peril.” He is telling them to be on guard.
There shall be, is a verb totally left out of
the translation. It is estai, third person singular
future middle indicative from eimi, translated
“there shall be.” It could also be read as: “Be
ever on your guard lest there shall be someone
who leads you astray through his vain specula-
tion, even futile deceit, which is according to
the tradition of men, according to the rudimen-
tary teachings of the world, and not according
to Christ.”
Spoil is a present active participle from a
word meaning, “to carry off booty, to carry off
as a captive and slave.” John Gills says of this:
“Or despoil you; rob you of the rich treasure of
the Gospel, strip you of your spiritual armor,
take away from you the truths and doctrines of
Christ, and divest you of your spiritual privi-
leges and blessings; suggesting, that the false
teachers were thieves and robbers, and men of
prey: or drive and carry you away as spoils,
36
as the innocent harmless sheep are drove, and
carried away by wolves, and by the thief that
comes to steal, to kill, and destroy; intimating,
that such as these were the heretics of those
times; wherefore it became them to be upon
their guard, to watch, look out, and beware,
lest they should be surprised by these deceit-
ful workers, who lay in wait to deceive; were
wolves in sheep’s clothing, who transformed
themselves into the apostles of Christ; and
therefore it became them to take heed, lest any
man hurt them, be he ever so wise and learned,
or be thought ever so good, religious, and sin-
cere; since men of this cast put on such masks
and false appearances, on purpose to beguile.
The things by which they imposed upon
weak minds are as follow, and therefore to be
shunned, avoided, and rejected:”
Philosophy, is a transliteration of a word
which meant originally “the love of wisdom.”
It is used here by Paul as “vain speculation.”
The definite article is present before philoso-
phy, therefore, his philosophy. It identifies the
philosophy with the person about whom Paul
is warning the Colossians.
Vain deceit, Vain is the translation of kenos,
meaning, “empty, devoid of truth, futile, fruit-
less, without effect.” It is used of things that
will not succeed, that are to no purpose, that
are in vain. The word deceit means, “to cheat,
deceive, beguile.” When you put these two
words together you discover the emptiness and
the wickedness that identify the false teachers.
They have nothing to offer with their words
of human wisdom. No one can be helped by
obedience to what they say. They are deceivers
who cheat the unsaved out of salvation and the
saved of their reward.
Tradition, translates Paradosis, meaning
that which is handed down. Wuest quotes
Vincent: “The term is especially appropriate to
the JudaeoGnostic teachings in Colosse, which
depended for their authority, not on ancient
writings, but on tradition. The later mysti-
cal theology or metaphysic of the Jews was
called Kabbala, literally meaning reception or

received doctrines, tradition.” Tradition is an
accumulation of beliefs based on interpretation
and not on the exegesis of the Word of God
itself. God does not bless man’s interpretation
of His Word by the scholars.
After the rudiments of the world, Rudiment
is Stoicheia (rudimentary teachings) such as
“ceremonialism, meats, drinks, washing, Esse-
nic ascetism, Pagan symbolic mysteries and
initiatory rites - all belonged to a rudimentary
moral stage” (Vincent) The “world” means,
“Worldly wisdom that has no foundation in
truth.”
And not after Christ. Christ means the
person of Christ, not teaching about Christ.
The false teachers put these angels in the place
of Christ. Grant says, “Here (in this verse) he
adds one of his warnings not to be led away,
therefore, through philosophy and vain deceit;
that is, through the working of man’s mind
apart from revelation. Christ is the subject of
revelation, plainly. No human thought could
have discovered Him; none can add to Him. All
mere human teaching has upon it the essential
marks of the world itself, a world into which
He came in love, but which had no heart for
Him.”
Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the
fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
In Him speaks of location. Where is God?
The answer is, “In Him.”
Dwelleth, is third person singular present
active indicative from Katoikeō. This is a com-
bination of two words, oikeō, (to be at home),
and Kata, prefix, meaning down, thus show-
ing permanence. Wuest says, “The compound
verb was used of the permanent residents of a
town as compared with the transient commu-
nity. The verb is in the present tense, showing
durative action.”
All the fulness, The word fulness is plārōma,
and means, as we have seen before, “the sum
total of the divine power and attributes.” See
the comment on this word under Chapter 1, vs.
37
Chapter Two
19, number 4. This was a favorite word with
the gnostics. For Paul to say that in Jesus is “all
the fulness” of the Godhead bodily would be
nothing short of blasphemy. Paul laid the ax at
the root of the Gnostic’s tree of false teaching.
Godhead, Wuest says, “Paul is declaring
that in the Son there dwells all the fulness of
absolute Godhead; they were not mere rays of
divine glory which gilded Him, lighting up His
Person for a season and with splendor not His
own; but He was, and is, absolute and perfect
God; and the apostle uses theotes to express
this essential and personal Godhead of the
Son. Here the word divinity will not do, only
the word, deity.”
Bodily, makes Him our own. He has come
out of the invisible to be with us; Hebrews 2:14,
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise
took part of the same; that through death he
might destroy him that had the power of death,
that is, the devil;”
Hebrews 2:16,17, “For verily he took not on
him the nature of angels; but he took on him
the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it
behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make rec-
onciliation for the sins of the people.”He came
in that body to deliver us and make reconcili-
ation for sin;
Philippians 2:9-11, “Wherefore God also
hath highly exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name: That at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under
the earth; And that every tongue should con-
fess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.” Robertson says, “Paul here
disposes of the Docetic theory that Jesus had
no human body as well as the Cerinthian sepa-
ration between the man Jesus and the aeon
Christ. He asserts plainly the deity and the
humanity of Jesus Christ in corporeal form.”
Commentary on Colossians
Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in
him, which is the head of all principality and
power”:
Ye are, is a present active indicative verb
from eimi. It is “ye keep on being.” The linear
action is there. It represents action as going on
in the present.
Complete, is a perfect passive participle
from pleroō. For the meaning, see Chapter 1,
vs. 19. Wuest says, “It is a participle in the per-
fect tense. Literally it is, ‘And you are in Him,
having been filled full, with the present result
that you are in a state of fulness’.”
In Him, here is where completeness is found.
No one can be complete outside of Him. Dr.
John Phillips comments: “Paul is referring to
the believer as being a member of the Lord’s
mystical body, the church. Human philosophy
and the world’s religions know nothing of that.
The word for “complete” is plēroō. It means
‘to be made full.’ We are filled full in Him. Our
fulness comes from His fulness. We are mysti-
cally so united to Him that we, as members of
His body, share His life to the full. This truth
is developed more fully in Paul’s companion
letter to the Ephesians.
“The truth of all of this we can grasp only
falteringly. It is beyond all finite thought.
Gnostic notions and supposed secrets are trash
and tinsel in contrast to the vast gold mine
of truth that we have here. In a coming eter-
nity, all of that fulness and completeness that
is ours in God’s Beloved will be displayed,
‘worlds without end,’ to all the awe-struck cre-
ated beings in the universe and to the utmost
bounds of the everlasting hills throughout all
the ages yet to be.”
“The cult at Colosse was offering to ‘com-
plete’ the Christian believers by initiating them
into their secrets. ‘Nonsense!’ says Paul. We
are already complete in Him. At most, what
the Gnostics had to offer was some worthless
trivia. At worst, it offered access to the deep
thing of Satan and to forbidden secrets that are
dark, dreadful, and damning in nature, effect,
and consequence.”
38
And ye are complete in Him, which is the
head of all principality and power, What Paul
means is that in Christ they find the satisfac-
tion of every spiritual want. It, therefore, fol-
lows that they do not need the angelic powers;
that Christ is the Head of every principality and
power is a further reason why they should not
seek them. All they need they have in Christ.
This is positional truth. It has nothing to do
with feeling though feelings must ultimately
be affected. Do you feel inadequate? Then stop
it. You are adequate in His adequacy. Do you
have inferior feelings? Then you must stop.
Paul said, “Now thanks be unto God, which
always causeth us to triumph in Christ...” II
Cor. 2:14. How can a person feel inferior who
has this promise? There is only one of two rea-
sons: He either has not discovered the truth of
this verse or he is not committing himself com-
pletely to Christ and resting in its truth. Our
verse speaks of a present continuous condition.
This means that this is a state of being. It is the
very nature of his position in Christ; the word
complete is a perfect passive participle. The
perfect tense is action completed in the past
with present results. The passive voice shows
that we did not attain the fulness in Christ but
that it was a gift. We were acted upon, there-
fore, that fulness is ours. We must take it by
faith for it to become real in experience.
Which, is a nominative singular masculine
relative pronoun and should be translated
who. Which, leaves the impression of neuter
gender.
Head There is no other place for Christ. He
is first; 1:18, in time and in rank. All rule and
authority come after Christ, whether angels,
aeons, kings, etc. The fact is that He is the
Head of all.
Principality is rule. These are angels that
kept not their first estate. They are in a gov-
erning position over this world. They gained
it when they took it through Adamic sin. The
word principality suggests territorial spirits
over certain parts of this world. Jesus is the
Head over all. They can do damage but ulti-

mately they can only go so far as He says. This
was true with Job.
And power The word, power, translates
exousia and means, “(in the sense of ability);
privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity,
competency, freedom, or (objectively) mas-
tery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman,
potentate, token of control), delegated influ-
ence:—authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power,
right, strength. That is a lot of definition for
such a little word, but the demons that operate
under Satan are fierce. They hate us and they
are constantly working to defeat us and make
us have shipwreck of our faith. It is comforting
to know that Christ our Saviour is over them
and protects us. Amen!!!
Colossians 2:11: “In whom also ye are cir-
cumcised after the circumcision made with-
out hands, in putting off the body of the sins
of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ”:
In whom, continues the subject of positional
truth. Therefore, what is in this verse relates to
our position in Him and does not deal first with
experience. (For the meaning of positional
truth see page 8).
Ye are circumcised also. Notice the “also”
belongs to “ye are circumcised.” The verb is
aorist passive indicative. It is speaking of the
cutting away of the flesh of Christ on the cross.
What is true of Christ is also true of us; Romans
6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is cruci-
fied with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve
sin.” It is a past fact. The passive voice means
that we did not crucify ourselves but that we
were in Christ when it happened to Him. The
circumcision of which this speaks is true of
every believer.
After the circumcision made without hands,
is a reference to the work of the cross in the
crucifixion of Christ. His death dealt with the
old sin nature, i.e., the old man. It is called a
circumcision made without hands.
In putting off of the body of the sins of the
flesh, is “a putting off, or, stripping off.” The
39
Chapter Two
believer is not only forgiven of his sins, but
also the old sin nature that produces those sins
is severed from him so that it can no longer
produce condemning sins. This is done by the
crucifixion of Christ.
This is a truth addressed to faith. Our old
sin nature continues to haunt us. Paul said, “O
wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me
from the body of this death?” The truth of the
matter is that Paul was delivered but was yet to
be delivered. This sin nature was stripped off
through the crucifixion of Christ so far as any
future judgement is concerned. Yet it remained
to carry on a struggle against him as long as he
lived. Paul was not his old sin nature. He was
the new man created in Christ Jesus. He was a
new man but dragged about the old man as a
reminder of that from which he was saved.
Jesus dealt with our old man by crucifixion.
This crucifixion cut away the old man and in
the process set the believer free from condem-
nation. It did not set him free from having to
deal with the old man on a daily basis. The
old man is corrupt and try as you will to live a
perfect life by ridding the old man of sins will
leave you shouting out with Paul, “O wretched
man that I am.” No saved man who has been
created in Christ Jesus and has an inward man
that does not sin can ever be satisfied with sin
in his life. Sin damns souls to hell and put our
Saviour on the cross. The believer hates sin
just as Jesus does.
Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in bap-
tism, wherein also ye are risen with him
through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised him from the dead.”
Buried, is an aorist passive participle from
Sunthaptō, meaning to bury with, or together
(The prefix sun means “with”); is used in the
metaphorical sense only of the believer’s iden-
tification with Christ in His burial, as set forth
in baptism; Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that
like as Christ was raised up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should
Commentary on Colossians
walk in newness of life.” Baptism is a pictorial
ordinance. When one accepts the death, burial,
and resurrection of Christ for salvation, he is
put into Christ by the Holy Spirit and his life
becomes retroactive back through the crucifix-
ion, burial, and resurrection. Baptism pictures
what one believes.
The preposition attached to this word shows
identification with Him in His burial. It is lit-
erally coburied. The aorist tense refers to the
time of our profession in baptism. At the time
of our baptism, we were testifying to our faith
in Him and our identification with Him in His
burial and His resurrection.
In baptism, is literally, “in the baptism.” The
definite article is present, identifying water
baptism. There is only one baptism; Eph. 4:5.
The word baptism comes from bapto (to dip).
It means to dip, to immerse, or to submerge.
Wherein also, is literally “in whom also”.
This shows the continuous action of the identi-
fication we have with Christ. Our identification
with Him does not stop with our identification
with His death.
Ye are risen with him, is aorist passive indica-
tive from Sunegeirō, meaning, to raise together
(sun). It is used of the believer’s spiritual resur-
rection with Christ; Ephesians 2:6, “And hath
raised us up together, and made us sit together
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” The aorist
tense speaks of an event accomplished in the
past. The passive voice is where the believer is
acted upon by Christ. Through the power of the
new birth we were put into Christ on the cross,
in the grave, and in the resurrection, and in the
ascension. We are seated in Christ in the heav-
enlies right now while still on earth. John 3:13,
“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but
he that came down from heaven, even the Son
of man which is in heaven.” Jesus is in heaven
at the same time He is on earth in this verse.
That is also true of us. If we are already seated
in Christ in the heavenlies, and we die physi-
cally, how long do you think it will take for us
to get where He is? Hallelujah!!!!
Through the faith of the operation of God.
This is faith in God’s mighty operation in rais-
40
ing Jesus from the dead which is saving faith.
The operation translates, energeia from which
we get our word energy. This is God’s energy;
God’s power. This is power without limits.
Who hath raised Him from the dead, Jesus
was dead. He died a real death. Some teach
that He just swooned or went into some kind
of a coma. He died and in doing so He con-
quered death. Revelation 1:18, “I am he that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive
for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell
and of death.” When Jesus walked out of that
borrowed tomb, He had hanging at His side the
keys of death and hell. Amen and amen.
Colossians 2:13: “And you, being dead in
your sins and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, hath he quickened together with him,
having forgiven you all trespasses”;
And you being dead in your sins. Being is
a present active participle from eimi showing
a present state of being i.e., being continually
dead. This was a living death prior to salvation.
A person can be dead to God and alive to man.
Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened,
who were dead in trespasses and sins;” Paul
is speaking here about the Ephesians pre-sal-
vation days. They were dead. They were not
physically dead. They were not raised from
a grave. They were given spiritual life which
they did not have. It is called “quickened” in
this verse.
And the uncircumcision of your flesh, Wuest
quotes Lightfoot: “The paraptōma (trespasses)
are the actual definite transgressions, while the
akrobustia tes sarkas (uncircumcision of the
flesh is the impure carnal disposition which
prompts them...The external fact is mentioned,
not for its own sake, but for its symbolical
meaning. The outward uncircumcision of the
Gentiles is a type of their unchastened carnal
mind. In other words, though the literal mean-
ing is not excluded, the spiritual reference is
most prominent.”
Paul is talking about the fact that when
God saves a person, He breaks the power of

the indwelling sin nature. This is the same as
Romans 6. The Colossians, in their unsaved
state, were possessed by the sinful nature; the
power of which is not cut off until salvation,
therefore, their flesh was uncircumcised.
Hath he quickened together, is the transla-
tion of one word. It is a third person singular
aorist active indicative from Suzopōieō (to
make alive together with) someone else. Wuest
says, “This occurred when our Lord was raised
from the dead. All believers at that time in the
mind and purpose of God were identified with
Him in His resurrection, and potentially given
resurrection life, which later was actually
received by them when they placed their faith
in Him as Saviour.”
Having forgiven you, is aorist middle parti-
ciple (to bestow a favor unconditionally). The
aorist tense refers to a point of time. The point
of time is when they received God’s offer of
salvation through the gospel. The middle voice
is where the subject participates in the result
of the action. God did this and He did it for
Himself.
All trespasses, gives us the extent of the
forgiveness. Grant says of this verse, “Here
is a change of condition as well as the change
of position spoken before. We have life, a
new life, a life which has come to us through
Christ’s death, and which is the result of divine
power working towards us in Him.”
Colossians 2:14: “Blotting out the hand-
writing of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and took it out of
the way, nailing it to his cross”;
Blotting out, is an aorist active participle
from Exaleiphō (to wipe off, wipe away, to
obliterate, erase). The aorist tense refers to the
past fact (the cross) and the active voice means
God did it.
The handwriting of ordinances, refers to
the Law. God wrote the original with His own
hand. The Ten Commandments are accepted by
many as a means of salvation. If that is true, no
41
Chapter Two
one will be saved. There are reasons for this:
• One of the basic reasons is given in Romans
8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it
was weak through the flesh, God sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for
sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” The weak-
ness of human flesh to rise to meet the com-
mandments makes it impossible for one to be
saved in that way.
• Another reason that one cannot be saved
by keeping the Law is brought out in James
2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Now meditate on this verse. You live a lifetime
keeping the whole law, you never break it a
time, (which is impossible), then just before
you die you break ONE of the commandments.
What happens? James said if you break one,
you have broken the whole law. According to
that, you would go to hell.
• The next and most convincing reason is that
God says in Romans 3:19,20, “Now we know
that what things soever the law saith, it saith to
them who are under the law: that every mouth
may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of
the law there shall no flesh be justified in his
sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
This is repeated in Galatians 2:16, “Knowing
that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the
works of the law: for by the works of the law
shall no flesh be justified.”
That was against us. Our nature made it
so. Man inherited a fallen nature from Adam
and received it at birth. A child is born with a
sin nature. It does not take long to discover it.
How many of you had to train your children to
do wrong? A kid comes in from playing out-
side, and he comes out with a word that shat-
ters mama. “Where did you learn that word???
That is a nasty word. We do not talk like that
around here. Johnny, the next time you say that
word, I will spank you.” My grandmother’s
Commentary on Colossians
remedy was to wash your mouth out with soap.
The soap they had when I was a child, did not
taste as good as the perfumed soap of today.
The law of commandments was constantly
telling you that you did wrong. So there was
a problem. It was not long before you realized
that if you made it to heaven, you would have
to find some other way. The Ten Command-
ments were just too tough. You constantly had
the feeling of condemnation.
Which was contrary to us, the same word for
contrary is translated adversary in Hebrews
10:27, “But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall
devour the adversaries.” The word adversary
means, “opposed to, contrary to, an adver-
sary.” The law was not a friend to the people, it
constantly ruled against them.
And took it out of the way nailing it to His
Cross, this is easy enough to understand. But
there are those who believe that the law is still
in effect. Grace is that by which Jesus governs
His people today. A person who attempts to go
to heaven by keeping the Law is a little short on
intelligence. What he needs to do is to repent of
his error and turn to the God of all grace, and
enabling grace will be a never-ending friend to
help you the rest of your life.
Took, is third person singular perfect active
indicative from airo (hath taken). Robertson
says, “The perfect tense emphasizes the per-
manence of the removal of the bond which
has been paid and canceled and cannot be pre-
sented again.”
Nailing it to the cross, is an aorist active
participle from Preseloō (to nail to). The figure
here is the nailing of the removed things in tri-
umph to the cross. The cross is where Jesus
died and all this took place.
42
Summary Of The Law
• It was given to Israel only (Lev. 27:34; Rom. 3:12).
• It was never intended to save (Gal. 3:21).
• It was meant to stop men’s mouths and produce
guilt (Rom. 3:19,20; 5:20).
• It cannot be kept by man because of the weak-
ness of the flesh (Rom. 8:3).
• The Law is not of faith (Gal. 3:12). Noah was saved
by faith; Abraham was saved by faith; we are saved
by faith; therefore, we are not saved by the Law.
• The Law was intended to lead us to Christ
(Gal. 3:24).
• The end of the Law for righteousness is faith in
Christ (Rom. 10:4).
• The Law has been taken out of the way
(Col. 2:14).
• Colossians chapter 2, Verse 15 says: “And having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew
of them openly, triumphing after them in it.” Jesus
did not just die the death of pain though He did
suffer those things. But Jesus suffered-
• “And having spoiled” is an aorist middle partici-
ple from Apekduomai (putting off ). Middle voice:
“having Himself put off.” The battle was the Lord’s
and He won it.
• “Principalities” refer to the fallen angels. It is lit-
erally “rulers.” They were assaulting Him on the
cross. The cross was the battle ground of all battle
grounds.
• “Powers” is exousias meaning “authorities” and is
another reference to fallen angels. See Eph. 6:12;
Col. 1:13
• “He made a shew” is an aorist active indicative
from deigmatizō (to make an example of ).
• “Openly” means that He put the battle and victory
on open display so that all could see.
• “Triumphing” is an aorist active participle from
thriambeurō (to lead in triumph). It is used of a
conqueror with reference to the vanquished. His
victory over the Kingdom of Darkness was on
public display at the cross. As the sinless Saviour,
He offered Himself without spot to God as the sin
substitute so men would have a Saviour from their
sins instead of a Law of Condemnation. In doing
this, He overcame the principalities and powers of
darkness by removing the only thing (the Law) by
which they could make a claim against men.

Colossians 2:16: “Let no man therefore judge
you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sab-
bath day.”
Let judge is a present active imperative
from Krinō (I judge). The imperative mood
signifies a command. The present tense refers
to the time of the writing. We are under orders
not to allow anyone to judge us in these par-
ticular areas that are about to be mentioned.
Meat is Brōsis (the act of eating).
Drink is Pōsis (the act of drinking).
In respect means in the division or category
or could be translated in the matter of.
Holy day is heorte (a festival or feast day).
It is not a holiday, but a holy day; a sacred
day.
New moon, this is a special day observed
by the blowing of trumpets, special sacrifice,
feasting, and religious instruction. No one
worked and no national or private feasts were
permitted to take place. The authorities took
great pain to fix (accurately) the beginning of
the month devoted by the appearance of the
new moon. Messengers were placed at com-
manding heights to watch the sky, and as soon
as the new moon appeared, they hastened to
communicate it to the synod, being allowed
even to travel on the Sabbath for this purpose.
The witnesses were assembled and examined
and when the judges were satisfied, the presi-
dent pronounced the words, “It is sanctified,”
and the day was declared new moon.
Sabbath, this is the weekly festival of the
sabbath.
Colossians 2:17: “Which are a shadow of
things to come; but the body of Christ.”
Which things, refers to the things men-
tioned in vs. 16.
Are is a present active indicative from eimi
(I am). The present tense means they continue
to be.
A shadow, speaks of the image or outline
cast by an object.
43
Chapter Two
Of things to come, is literally of things
coming. “Coming” is a present active par-
ticiple. The action of the present participle
represents action as taking place at the same
time as the action of the main verb. So it is not
referring to things yet to come but to things
coming relative to the time the shadow was all
that was seen.
But the body is of Christ, Robertson says,
“The some (body) casts the skia (shadow)
and so belongs to Christ (Christou, genitive
case).”
Colossians 2:18: “Let no man beguile you
of your reward in a voluntary humility and
worshiping of angels, intruding into those
things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed
up by his fleshly mind,”:
Let beguile, is third person singular pres-
ent active imperative from Katabrabeuō. This
word means to decide against, to declare unwor-
thy of the prize. Wuest quotes Vincent: “The
attitude of the false teachers would involve
their sitting in judgment as to the future reward
of those who refused their doctrine of angelic
mediation.”
No man, is no one. This is a reference to all
who attempt to lead them astray by the use of
false doctrines.
Voluntary is Thelō (taking delight in, devot-
ing himself to). Wuest quotes Vincent: “It falls
in, in the regular participial series, with the
other declarations as to the vain enthusiasm
for their false doctrine, and their conceited
self-complacency which prompted them to sit
as judges. The worship of angels involved a
show of humility, an affectation of superior
reverence for God, as shown in the reluctance
to attempt to approach God otherwise than
indirectly: in its assumption that humanity,
debased by the contact with matter, must reach
after God through successive grades of inter-
mediate beings.”
Humility, is Tapeinophrosune (lowness of
mind). Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “Humility is
a vice with heathen moralists, but a virtue with
Commentary on Colossians
Christian apostles. Moreover, the character of
the humility in this case is further as a wor-
shiping of angels, which was altogether a per-
version of the truth.”
Worshiping, translates, threskeia, and sig-
nifies religion in its external aspect; religious
worship, especially the ceremonial service of
religion. It is used here of the worshiping of
angels which they themselves repudiate; this is
brought out in Revelation 22:8,9, “And I John
saw these things, and heard them. And when
I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship
before the feet of the angel which shewed me
these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou
do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy
brethren the prophets, and of them which keep
the sayings of this book: worship God.”
Intruding, translates, embateuō (to enter,
investigate, search into, scrutinize minutely).
These false teachers scrutinized minutely the
things which they imagined or professed to
have seen in a vision.
Vainly, translates, eike (in vain, without suc-
cess or effort).
Puffed up, translates phusioō (to inflate,
blow up, to be puffed up, bear oneself loftily,
be proud). Great pride is a characteristic of
false religion.
Fleshly mind, is literally the mind of the
flesh. Wuest quotes Vincent: “The intellec-
tual faculty in its moral aspects an determined
by the fleshly, sinful nature . . . The teachers
boasted that they were guided by the higher
reason. Paul described their higher reason
as ‘carnal’.” The false teachers cannot cause
damnation to the soul of the believer but they
can cause the loss of reward. This is taught
in 2 John 1:8,9, “Look to yourselves, that we
lose not those things which we have wrought,
but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine
of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and
the Son.” They do it through a fleshly system.
Therefore, their doctrine would be based on
empiricism and rationalism, not Divine Rev-
elation.
44
Colossians 2:19: “And not holding the Head,
from which all the body by joints and bands
having nourishment ministered, and knit to-
gether, increaseth with the increase of God.”
Holding translates, krateō (to be strong,
mighty, to prevail). There are some things
we are asked to do with strength. It is active
voice which means the subject does the acting
so volition is involved. It is also negated. It is
showing what the false teachers are not doing.
The Head refers to Christ as Head of the
Church; 1:18. Robertson says, “The Gnostics
dethroned Christ from his primacy (1:18) and
placed him below a long line of aeons or angels.
They did it with words of praise for Christ as
those do now who teach Christ as only the
noblest of men. The headship of Christ is the
keynote of this Epistle to the Colossians and
the heart of Paul’s Christology.”
The body refers to the church as in 1:24. The
Church is being effected by the apostasy today.
We hold the right doctrines but our practice is
wanting. We are immersed in a sea of profess-
ing Christendom that has sold out to the devil
for money and earthly security and it has had
its effect on the true churches of Jesus Christ.
We might as well face it.
The joints and bands. Wuest quotes Vincent:
“The word (joints) means primarily touching,
and is used in classical Greek of the touch
upon harp strings, or the grip of a wrestler, not
quite the same as joints in the sense of the parts
in contact, but the relations between the adja-
cent parts. The actual connection is expressed
by bands or ligaments.” The human body is
used as an illustration here of the relation and
coordination of the church as the body. This is
marvelous and only God could do it.
Having nourishment, is a present passive
participle from epichoregeo (to supply fully,
abundantly). It could be translated being sup-
plied. It is a continuous tense. It is passive
voice which means the body does not supply
itself but is rather supplied by the Lord.
Knit together, is a present passive partici-

ple from sumbibazō (to cause to coalesce, to
join or knit together). Wuest quotes Lightfoot:
“The discoveries of modern physiology have
invested the apostle’s language with far greater
distinctness and force than it can have worn
to his own contemporaries. Any exposition of
the nervous system more especially reads like
a commentary on his image of the relations
between the body and the head. At every turn
we meet with some fresh illustration which
kindles it with a flood of light. The volition
communicated from the brain to the limbs, the
sensations of the extremities telegraphed back
to the brain, the absolute sympathy between
the head and the members, the instantaneous
paralysis ensuing on the interruption of conti-
nuity, all these add to the completeness and life
of the image.” This truth should challenge us
to maintain an unbroken fellowship with our
Lord.
Increaseth, is a present active indicative
from auxanō (to grow or increase), of the
growth of that which lives naturally or spiritu-
ally. This is the result of God’s supply.
Of God, Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “i. e.,
which partakes of God, which belongs to God,
which has its abode in God. Thus the finite is
truly united with the Infinite; the end which
the false teachers strove in vain to compass
is attained; the gospel vindicates itself as the
true union of the human being with God, after
which the human heart is yearning and the
human intellect is feeling.”
Colossians 2:20: “Wherefore if ye be dead
with Christ from the rudiments of the world,
why, as though living in the world, are ye
subject to ordinances.”
If ye be dead, is a first class condition. Ye be
dead is aorist active indicative from apothneskō
meaning, “to die off or out.” Wuest says, “the
aorist indicative verb speaks of a past action.
It is, ‘in view of the fact that you died with
Christ, or if, as is the case, you died with
Christ.’ Death means separation. The Colos-
45
Chapter Two
sian believers died with Christ at the Cross.
Paul deals with this also in Romans 6:24,
“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to
sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not,
that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.”
They were thus separated from all such
things as are mentioned in vss. 20-23. The
death of the believer with Christ is a death to
his old relations, to sin, law, guilt, the world...
They had died with Christ to legalism, how
absurd then for ordinances to be imposed upon
them.”
With Christ, refers to identification with
Him in His death. This is positional truth. See
page 8 for a summary of the doctrine of posi-
tional truth.
Rudiments, translates stoicheia meaning
“any first thing, from which the others belong-
ing to some series or composite. Elementary
teachings and practices.”
World, is used in its ethical sense, Wuest
says, “the sum total of human life in the ordered
world, considered apart from, alienated from,
and hostile to God, and of the earthly things
which seduce from God.”
Are ye subject to ordinances, is a present
middle indicative, meaning to subject your-
selves to ordinances. It is true today when
people go into error they do it of their own
volition. To subject oneself to ordinances is an
act of the will.
Colossians 2:21: “(Touch not; taste not;
handle not”;
Paul names some of the ordinances: “Touch”
translates haptomai, and is an aorist middle
subjunctive, and means, “to fasten one’s self
to, to cling to”. It does not refer to acciden-
tal touching. It speaks of a conscious effort to
touch.
Commentary on Colossians
Taste, translates geuomai and is an aorist
middle subjunctive meaning, “to make to
taste”. This is also speaking of a conscious
effort to taste.
Handle, translates thigganō and is an aorist
active subjunctive meaning, “to handle in a
superficial or transitory way”. Wuest quotes
Lightfoot: “These prohibitions relate to defile-
ment contrasted in diverse ways by contact
with impure objects. Some were doubtless
re-enactments of the Mosaic Law, while others
would be exaggerations or additions of a rig-
orous asceticism, such as we find among the
Essene prototypes of these Colossian heretics,
e.g. the avoidance of oil, of wine, or of flesh-
meat, the shunning of contact with a stranger
or a religious inferior, and the like.”
Colossians 2:22: “Which all are to perish
with the using;) after the commandments and
doctrines of men?”
Which are to perish with the using, refers to
the meats and drinks. In other words there is no
lasting value in the touching and tasting. We do
not have such ordinances in the Church today.
The two ordinances of the Church are baptism
and the Lord’s Supper. If you touch a dead
body, you are not defiled like you were under
the law. What Paul is doing here is showing
them the liberty they have in Christ.
Commandments, translates entalma and
means, “a precept”
Doctrines, translates didaskalia and means,
“teachings, doctrinal instructions.”
0f men, refers to the origin of these com-
mandments and doctrines. The phrase, after
the commandments and doctrines of men,
describes the rudiments of vs. 20. See what
Jesus says about this in Matthew 15:9, “But in
vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men.” These men used
the Bible to teach their doctrine! It is danger-
ous to follow any man who does not follow
Scripture exposition as his method. You will
find yourself being guided in your understand-
46
ing of meanings by their interpretation. There
are those who interpret apart from exposition.
We do not need to super impose our views of
the Scripture. We need to get our views from
the Scriptures.
Colossians 2:23: “Which things have indeed
a show of wisdom in will worship, and hu-
mility, and neglecting of the body; not in any
honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
Which things have indeed a show of wisdom
in will worship, Paul gives credit to the worldly
appeal that these false teachers have. They
appear to be logical in their thinking.
Which things, translates hatina. The rela-
tive and indefinite pronoun classifies putting
these precepts and teachings and all that are
like them in one category, a class of things.
Have, translates estin, and is the third person
singular present active indicative, meaning
“are.”
Show means “a plausible reason, a show of
reason, hence, a reputation for wisdom.
Will worship, translates ethelothreskeia
and means, “a voluntary worship, a worship
which one devises and prescribes for himself,
contrary to the contents and nature of faith
which ought to be directed to Christ. Light-
foot defines it, “in volunteered, self-imposed,
officious, supererogatory service, one or both
of these two ideas, (1) excessive readiness,
officious zeal, (2) affectation, unreality, are
involved in this and similar compounds.”
Humility translates, tapeinophrosune, in
worshiping of angels, and not coming directly,
and with boldness, to God or Christ; or rather
in subjecting themselves to the yoke of the law,
and submitting to the decrees of the fathers and
doctors of the church, who were more wise,
and learned, and knowing than they, and so
had the appearance of prudence, gentleness,
and goodness:” —John Gill
Neglecting of the body, comes from two
words that mean “hard treatment of the body.”
This is a self-imposed punishment of the body.
 Chapter Two

Paul is speaking reproachfully of this volun-

tary humility.
Not in any honor, if the rites of the ceremo-
nial law itself were weak and beggarly ele-
ments, much more must these additions to it,
and corruptions of it, be such; and at most only
regarded things external.
To the satisfying of the flesh, Wuest quotes
Vincent: “To means as a remedy against... Paul
says that these ascetic observances, while they
appeal to men to be of superior wisdom and
piety, have no value as remedies against sen-
sual indulgence.” If these practices would have
an appeal to men because of a manifestation
of wisdom, then there must have been some-
thing good from a human standpoint in it. This
is where many make their mistake. There are
many good and profitable things which could
be incorporated into religion which would
have less than no value with God. His Word
is the only standard and when men go outside
His Word, it is rebellion, even in good things.
The Word of God is our only rule of faith and
practice.

47
Commentary on Colossians
CHAPTER 3
Colossians 3:1: “If ye then be risen with
Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of
God.”
If, is a first class condition and could be
translated “since.” It is if and it is true. It is a
fulfilled condition.
Ye be risen, translates sunegeirō and is an
aorist passive indicative meaning to raise
together. Some translate it co-raised. The aorist
tense refers to the point of time in which this
took place which was on resurrection morning.
The passive voice means that we did not raise
ourselves but were raised by God. It is not an
experience to be sought but a fact to be reck-
oned upon: Romans 6:11, “Likewise reckon
ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our
Lord.”
Seek, is present active imperative. The pres-
ent tense means to constantly seek. The imper-
ative mood is a command to be obeyed. Obe-
dience to this command would automatically
separate the Christians in Colosse from the
Gnostics who placed the emphasis on earthly
things.
Things which are above, refers to heav-
enly things. Laying up rewards in heaven; Mt.
6:19,20. Study the Word. Win the lost. Give,
etc. Things above would be heaven’s interests.
Where Christ sitteth, is a present middle
participle. Christ sitting at the right hand of
God always speaks of finished work. All the
work that had to be done in order to obtain sal-
vation, He finished when on the cross. Now
He sits. He does not need to do anything else.
When He saves, it is always based upon what
He did at the cross. The Colossians are to rest
in Him. Christianity in not a touch not, taste
not, religion. It is a resting by faith in His fin-
ished work. What a refutation of the Gnostic
heresy!
48
Colossians 3:2: “Set your affection on things
above, not on things on the earth.”
Set your affection, is one word and is a pres-
ent active imperative from Phroneō, meaning
to direct one’s mind to a thing. We must think
heaven. It is a command. A man cannot think
on things on this earth and act heavenly. The
more we think of Christ on the throne making
intercession for us, the more like Christ one
becomes.
Not on things on the earth, is the contrast.
The man of the world thinks worldly. When
our citizenship is in heaven, we should think on
heavenly things. Abraham was saved and lived
as a pilgrim on this earth because he looked for
a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker is God; Hebrews 11:10, “For he
looked for a city which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God.”
Colossians 3:3: “For ye are dead, and your
life is hid with Christ in God.”
For is a connector and is about to reveal
something that will give purpose to the last
statement.
Ye are dead is an aorist active indicative
from Apothnēskō, meaning to die off or out.
The aorist tense means it is referring to a past
fact. It is ye died. The time is with Christ at the
cross.
Hid is a perfect passive indicative from
Kruptō, meaning to cover, conceal, keep secret.
It is has been hidden. The perfect tense repre-
sents action as having reached its completion or
termination and existing in its finished results.
The passive voice is where the subject is acted
upon. The subject is the Colossian believers.
God is the One Who is the actor. So we arrive
at two conclusions:
The believer’s life (spiritual life) has been
perfectly hidden. It is out of the reach of Satan.
This is security.
The act of hiding was done by the Lord so
that this places salvation wholly in His hands.
With Christ refers to our identification with

Him and our position in Him. The believer can
never think of His salvation or glorification
apart from Him.
In God tells us where the life is hidden. This
reminds one of the song.
“A Mighty Fortress.”
A mighty fortress is our God
A Bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus it is He;
Lord Saboath is His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
A mighty fortress is our God, and being hidden
in Him is perfect protection. Praise the Lord!
Colossians 3:4: “When Christ, who is our
life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear
with him in glory.”
Who is our life, identifies the eternal life of
the believer. Life is not a feeling or a religious
act, it is Jesus Himself. This is brought out in 1
John 5:11,12, “And this is the record, that God
hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in
his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
Shall appear, is aorist passive subjunctive
from Phaneroō meaning, “to make manifest
or visible.” The reference is to the Second
Coming. The believer is in present possession
49
Chapter Three
of eternal life; John 5:24. That life has not yet
been fully manifested but will be at the Second
Coming of Christ.
Ye shall also appear, is future passive indic-
ative from the same word. It refers to the time
when the believer’s life will be manifested.
The more a believer enters by faith into the
blessed truths mentioned in these four verses,
the more will the things above be for him the
great attraction and the things on earth lose
their attractiveness. What we need as Chris-
tians is an increasing realization in faith of our
position in Christ and then be energized by the
indwelling Spirit to seek those things which
are above and not the things on the earth. Such
a life would mean joy and peace. But until we
lay hold of these truths, any service to Him
will seem a sacrifice and any parting with the
things of the world will seem a sacrificial loss.
Colossians 3:5 “Mortify therefore your
members which are upon the earth; fornica-
tion, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is
idolatry.”
Mortify is aorist active imperative from
nekroō, meaning to put to death. Robertson
says, “to treat as dead.” - A. T. Robertson,
Word Pictures of The New Testament, Vol. IV.
The active voice means that the subject does
the acting. So this is a task that is to be done
by the believer after salvation. This proves that
the old sin nature is not eradicated at salvation.
The aorist tense speaks of this as an act. It is
looking at it as an event. It is in the imperative
mood which means it is commanded express-
ing urgency. Note these lessons:
• This mortification follows salvation. It also
follows a change of mind.
• It is something that is definitely expected;
imperative mood.
• It is something that the believer must do;
active voice.
• It happens when the believer comes to the
realization of this truth and surrenders to it.
Commentary on Colossians
Therefore, connects the thoughts of the past,
vss. 1-4, to the present. Followed out to its
necessary conclusion our death with Christ at
the cross finds its proof in the mortification of
fleshly lusts.
Members, are the fleshly instruments of lust.
We are to habitually repress the members of
our flesh as the temptation comes to violate the
law of holiness. This is a higher law than this
world knows about. Instead of refraining from
fornication, the believer will not tolerate the
though of adultery.
Which are upon the earth. There is a part
of us in heaven; vss. 1-4. Ephesians 2:5,6
says, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace
ye are saved) And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus:” There is also a part of us on
earth i.e., the body in which the old sin nature
dwells.
Fornication, means illicit sexual intercourse.
It refers to sexual sin in general and can cover
homosexuality and sodomy and such sins.
Adultery is sexual intercourse with a married
person.
Uncleanness. This is uncleanness in the
moral sense. There are many moral sins that
come under this one word such as lustful, lux-
urious profligate living.
Inordinate affection, means, “depraved pas-
sion.” These men who kidnap and rape little
girls have inordinate affection.
Evil concupiscence means “evil, wicked
cravings; a feeling which the mind suffers.”
Covetousness, means, “a greedy desire to
have more.”
Idolatry, translates eidolatreia (the wor-
ship of false gods), used here as the worship
of mammon. Mortify therefore your members
does not mean that we are to fight the flesh. If
this could be done successfully, the Law would
save. It means to keep them in the place of
death where they have been put by the death of
Christ. We are to take the position of victory
50
by faith; Rom. 6:11, and walk in the Spirit; Gal.
5:16. The Spirit is the power in the believer for
victory, including victory over the flesh.
Colossians 3:6: “For which things’ sake
the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience”:
For which things, is “because of which.” It
sets the stage for a reason.
The wrath of God. The word wrath is orgē
and means, “anger.” “Of God” means that God
can and does get mad.
Cometh, is present middle indicative from
erchomai meaning, “to come.” The present
tense means that God is already exercising His
wrath upon the children of disobedience. This
is not just speaking of the final judgment. It
means that God will also deal with the disobe-
dient now.
Colossians 3:7: “In the which ye also walked
some time, when ye lived in them.”
In the which, is literally in which indeed.
This pictures the sins mentioned in verse 5 as
being something like a house in which a person
would live. The idea is that this was their life-
style.
Ye walked, is aorist indicative from peripateō.
The aorist tense refers to the past fact. Active
voice refers to their volition. It refers to behav-
ior. They had conducted themselves in the
sphere of these evil things.
Ye lived, is imperfect active indicative from
zaō. The imperfect tense is linear action or con-
tinuous action in time past. It was their continu-
ous way of life before salvation. Repentance is
clearly seen in this verse. Paul speaks of their
habit of life in time past. But the aorist tense
of “ye walked” shows that it is not in progress
now. This same thing can be said of any Chris-
tian.

Colossians 3:8: “But now ye also put off all
these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
communication out of your mouth.”
But now, says in effect, “Now that you have
passed from that life of sinful conduct, see that
you strip yourselves of these sins.”
Put off, is an aorist middle imperative from
apotithēmi. “Put off” in the middle voice means
to put off from oneself. Also, see Eph. 4:22.
It is also a command expressing urgency. It is
urgent that the believer put off these sins.
Anger, is orgē is an abiding, settled habitual
anger that includes in its scope the purpose of
revenge.
Wrath, is thumos and means, “the boiling
agitation of the feelings, a sudden violent burst
of anger.”
Malice, translates kabia and means, “malig-
nity, ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness,
depravity.”
Blasphemy, translates blasphēmia and
means, “slander, detraction, speech injurious
to another’s good name.”
Filthy communication, translates airchro-
logia and means, “foul speaking, low and
obscene speech.”
Born again believers have received a new
nature that gives them the ability to want the
right thing; 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new.”
And a new power that enables them to do the
right thing; Romans 8:11-13, “But if the Spirit
of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell
in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his
Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren,
we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the
flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall
die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the
deeds of the body, ye shall live.” There is no
need for a man to live in bondage to the things
just mentioned. More than that, it is sinful if
he does.
51
Chapter Three
Colossians 3:9: “Lie not one to another see-
ing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds;”
Lie, is second person plural present middle
imperative from pseudomai, meaning, “false,
that which is not true.” We get our word Pseudo
from this word and Webster defines it as sham,
feigned, spurious. It serves as a prefix to many
of our words: pseudoclassic means pretend-
ing to be; pseudonym means a fictitious name;
pseudospiritually means a false spirituality.
The present imperative is a command forbid-
ding the continuance of an action already going
on. It also expresses that it is urgent that they
do so. These people had carried over into the
new life the sin of lying.
Seeing that ye have put off, is an aorist
middle participle from apekduomai meaning
a putting off, a stripping off. The aorist tense
means it has been done. It means, “wholly
put off; utterly renounced.” Robertson says,
“having stripped clean off.” The aorist tense
probably also refers to a climatic experience at
a point of time in the past.
The old man, refers to the unregenerate man;
what he was in Adam; Ephesians 4:22 says,
“That ye put off concerning the former conver-
sation the old man, which is corrupt according
to the deceitful lusts;” After a man is converted,
it is often said that he is not the same man.
Deeds, refer to the actual practices before
conversion.
The Doctrine Of The Old Man
• The old man is what we are in Adam; Romans
5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
All are guilty. We are born that way.
• The old man cannot inherit the kingdom of
God; 1 Corinthians 15:50, “Now this I say, breth-
ren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption.”
• The old man is corrupt according to the deceit-
Commentary on Colossians
ful lusts; Ephesians 4:22, “That ye put off concern-
ing the former conversation the old man, which
is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”
• For the believer, the old man was crucified with
Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed;
Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is
crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve
sin.”
• The believer is to reckon himself dead to sin and
alive unto God through Jesus Christ in the light
of this truth; Romans 6:11, “Likewise reckon ye
also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• The practice of sin will not be maintained in the
life of one who has put off the old man with his
deeds; Colossians 3:9, “Lie not one to another,
seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds;”
Colossians 3:10: “And have put on the new
man, which is renewed in knowledge after
the image of him that created him”:
Have put on, is an aorist middle participle
from enduo meaning, “to put on, like a gar-
ment.” The aorist tense refers to the fact of its
having been done. This happened when they
were saved. Paul is acknowledging that this
has happened to them personally.
The new man, means, “recently born,
young” Paul is discipling a group of new
believers. They received their new nature, i.e.,
the inward man. It is the believer’s responsibil-
ity to let that new man out to where he can be
seen.
Which is renewed, is a present passive par-
ticiple from anakainō, meaning, which is ever
being renewed. The present tense is something
that continues to go on. The passive voice is
where the believer receives the action. He does
not perform the act of renewing but receives
the renewing from the Lord.
In knowledge, translates epignosin and this
word means, “full knowledge.” This gives us
the way or method God uses for renewal.
After the image of him that created him, The
52
new creation is analogous to the first creation.
As a man was made in the image of God natu-
rally, so now spiritually.”
Christ is the type of the new man. The Holy
Spirit is within trying to bring the life of Christ
from within to the surface of our lives. Com-
pare with Gal. 2:20; 4:19.
The Doctrine Of The New Man
• The new man is created by God; 2 Corinthians
5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new.”
• The new man is equivalent to the new birth; John
3:5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
• The new man is what counts with God; Galatians
6:15, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avai-
leth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new crea-
ture.”
• The new man is created after God in true holiness;
Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness.”
• The new man is to be put on by believers; (Eph.
4:24).
• The new covenant is made with the new man
(Heb. 8:8-13).
• The new man is empowered by the Holy Spirit;
(Rom. 8:11-17).
Colossians 3:11: “Where there is neither
Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumci-
sion, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but
Christ is all, and in all.”
Where there, is followed by a list which for
the mind of the people in that day included
some way-out people. This is something we
need to get into our thinking. There is no such
thing as a difference in race or class in Christ.
This simply shows that we all have a position
in Christ and in that sphere there is no distinc-
tion.
Christ in all. To the renewed man this is a
fact. He is in all. In Colossians, He is the One

who delivered us from the power of darkness,
1:13; the Image of the Invisible God, 1:15;
Creator, 1:16; Ruler of all invisible power,
1:16; before all things, 1:17; the Sustainer of
all things, 1:17; Head of the Church, 1:18;
the Preeminent One, 1:18; One in Whom all
fulness dwells, 1:19; the Indweller and Hope
of all believers, 1:27, etc. HE IS ALL, NOT
PART.
And in all, Every saved person has Christ
dwelling in him. Christ in us is our assurance.
It is our power to live a godly life. He is there
to comfort and to strengthen us when we are
weak. Christ is in all.
Colossians 3:12: “Put on therefore, as the
elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of
mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meek-
ness, longsuffering”;
Put on, is an aorist middle imperative from
enduo, meaning, “to envelope in, clothe with.”
The figure here is to be clothed with. The
imperative mood means it is a command.
Elect, means, “chosen ones.” Every believer
is a chosen one and should live in the light of
this. How does this choosing take place? God
chooses the believer. Until you believe, you
are not chosen.
Holy, does not suggest sinless perfection
when applied to man, but it does speak of sepa-
ration from the world and a spotless life. Our
holiness is Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of
him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sancti-
fication, and redemption:” 2 Cor. 5:21, “For he
hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him.” Being made the righteousness
of God in Him is the believer’s holiness.
Beloved, is a perfect passive participle from
agapaō, meaning having been loved. The per-
fect tense is used to show the far reaching and
the abiding character of that love. The saints
are those who have been loved by God with
the present result that they are the objects of
His love.
53
Chapter Three
Bowels, referred to, in that day, as the seat
of the tender affections, especially kindness,
benevolence, compassion, and tender mercies.
Mercies, means compassion, pity, mercy. It
means to have compassion to the undeserving.
Kindness, speaks of a gentle, gracious dispo-
sition. We say, “That person is a kind person.”
Humbleness of mind, comes from one word
meaning to have a humble opinion of oneself,
a deep sense of one’s moral littleness, modesty,
lowliness of mind.
Meekness, Wuest says, “is an inwrought
grace of the soul, that temper of spirit in which
we accept God’s dealings with us as good, and
therefore without disputing or resisting. It is
the humble heart which is also the meek; and
which, as such, does not fight against God, and
more or less struggle and contend with Him.
This meekness, however, being first of all a
meekness before God, is also such in the face
of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that
these, with the insults and injuries which they
may inflict, are permitted and employed by
God for the chastening and purifying of His
elect.”
Longsuffering, speaks of the man, who
having to do with injurious persons, does not
suffer himself easily to be provoked by them,
or to blaze up in anger. The word expresses
patience under the ill treatment of others.
Colossians 3:13: “Forbearing one another,
and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave
you, so also do ye.”
Forbearing one another, is a present middle
participle from anechomai meaning, “to bear
with, endure.” The Word of God assumes that
we will have problems with other believers. To
preserve the unity, forbearance is the key.
Forgiving one another, is a present middle
participle from charizomai meaning, “to show
one’s self gracious, kind, benevolent, to grant
forgiveness.”
Commentary on Colossians
Quarrel, means, “cause of blame, matter of
complaint.” It is where you blame someone
for something. Sometime people are to blame.
Then, at other times we blame people who are
not to blame. Regardless, the believer is to for-
give just as the Lord has forgiven us.
Colossians 3:14: “And above all these things
put on charity, which is the bond of perfect-
ness.”
And above all these things, “that which is
just about to be mentioned is to be regarded
more than what has just been mentioned.” Paul
is about to make a great point and he sets them
up in this verse to receive the importance of
it.
Put on charity, The words, put on, are not in
the Greek text. The words are in italics in the
A.V. indicating this. The word charity is liter-
ally love. The words, put on, are justified and
the translator put them there to show that this
is a continuation of what he said in verse 12.
Berry’s literal translation puts it, “in addition
to these things.”
Which is the bond of perfectness, means,
“that which binds together. Wuest quotes
Thayer on the expression: “that in which all
the virtues are so bound together that perfec-
tion is the result, and not one of them is want-
ing to that perfection.”
Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace of God
rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
And let the peace of God, This verse tells us
how to act while the other things are put on.
Peace is tranquility of heart which Jesus left as
a legacy to His disciples; Jn. 14:27.
Rule, translates brabeuō, and is a present
active imperative meaning “to umpire.” Wuest
quotes Lightfoot: “wherever there is a conflict
of motives or impulses or reasons, the peace
of Christ must step in and decide which is to
prevail.”
54
In your hearts. This is the sphere where
the peace is to act as umpire. The heart is
put for the seat of the emotions. The victori-
ous believer must guard his heart. If he is led
astray in his heart, it will come out in bad con-
duct. We have a good illustration of what can
happen in the case of Ananias and Sapphira in
Acts 5:13, “But a certain man named Ananias,
with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And
kept back part of the price, his wife also being
privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid
it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias,
why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the
Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price
of the land?”
To the which also ye are called. The verb
is an aorist passive indicative from Kaleō. The
aorist tense refers to the time of their salvation
and the purpose of their salvation. Salvation
is God’s call for man’s response. Those who
respond are called “the called.”
In one body, refers to the local church at
Colosse. Peace in the local church, which is
the body, was the sphere in which this peace
was to be manifested. Wuest says, “Disunion
in the body is incompatible with the peace of
the individual members.”
Be ye thankful, is present middle imperative
from ginomai. The present tense means to con-
tinue to be thankful, and the imperative mood
is a command expressing urgency. It is urgent
that the believer exhibit a spirit of thanksgiv-
ing. The eternal souls of men, women, boys
and girls depend on it. Unless Christianity is
put on display in our lives, then Christianity
appears just another religion among many.

The Doctrine Of Peace
• It is not known to the unsaved. This is brought
out in Romans 3:17; “And the way of peace have
they not known:”
• It is based on reconciliation; Ephesians 2:14-18,
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of parti-
tion between us; Having abolished in his flesh
the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of
twain one new man, so making peace; And that
he might reconcile both unto God in one body
by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And came and preached peace to you which
were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For
through him we both have access by one Spirit
unto the Father.”
• It comes to the believer through Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1; “Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ:”
• The Gospel produces peace; Romans 10:15,
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad
tidings of good things!”
Faith is necessary; Romans 15:13, “Now the God
of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believ-
ing, that ye may abound in hope, through the
power of the Holy Ghost.”
Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teach-
ing and admonishing one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
The Word refers to the Bible. It is the Word
of Christ. There is nothing more important for
the believer than to spend time in the Word of
God.
Let dwell, translates, enoikeō, and is a pres-
ent active imperative verb. This word comes
from oikos, which means a home. It is com-
pounded by the preposition “in.” It means
55
Chapter Three
that the Word of God is to find a home in the
believer. The present tense means that this is
to be the continual practice of the believer and
the imperative mood means if the Word of God
is not at home in the believer, he is disobedient
to a Divine command. Is the Word of God at
home in you?
Richly, is an adverb and is used in the sense
of abundance. One of the best ways for this to
happen is to memorize great portions of Scrip-
ture.
In wisdom, wisdom is the proper applica-
tion of knowledge. We are not to beat people
over the head with the Word of God. We are
to handle the Word delicately and the ones to
whom we teach or preach the same way.
Teaching and admonishing one another,
refers to instruction in the Word. It is present
active participle which refers to a continuous
process. We are to continually help our fellow
believers in their understanding of the Word
and the right application of it.
In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
the word psalms refers to the Old Testament
psalms. The W. E. Vine Expository Diction-
ary of New Testament words explains it, “pri-
marily denoted a striking or twitching with the
fingers on strings; then a sacred song, sung to
musical accompaniment.”
Hymns, Vine says is, “A song of praise
addressed to God.” The hymns are songs, not
necessarily inspired like the Book of Palms,
but written with Scriptural doctrinal messages.
These are sung sometimes in direct praise to
God, and other hymns are testimonials of the
singers singing to one another. The hymns
teach and admonish one another.
Spiritual songs, are always used in the New
Testament in praise of God or Christ. It is the
same word used in Rev. 15:3 where the song
of Moses celebrates the deliverance from sin.
The reason spiritual is used with songs is
because the word for songs can mean any kind
of song.
Singing with grace in your hearts, Singing
is a present active participle. It comes from a
Commentary on Colossians
verb that is used for lyrical emotion in devout
souls. The present tense suggest that the
psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are to be a
part of our regular worship. Emotion is always
involved in singing. It is a release of gratitude,
thanksgiving, and gratitude to God.
Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in
word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father
by him.”
And whatsoever ye do, is literally, “and
everything whatever ye do.” This clause covers
everything. We are to do nothing independent
of our Lord. This is not bondage, but it is free-
dom to submit to the service of Christ.
In word has to do with what we have to say.
The overflow and fulness of the Holy Spirit
should be evident in the speech of the believer.
When kindness flows in the words of the
believer, it will not go unnoticed.
Or deed, means, “work, employment.” The
Christian faith is to bleed through every work
that the believer does. The Christian should be
one of the best employees on the job where he
works. It is a sad thing that this is not the way
it is in many places. A lot of unsaved people
would be surprised if they found out we claim
to be a follower of Christ.
Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. To this
Gaebelein says, “This consciousness of rela-
tionship with Christ, in the life which is of Him
in us, applies to everything. Nothing is done
without Him. If He is the life, all which that
life does has Him for its end and object, as far
as the heart in concerned. He is present as that
which in the governing motive, and gives its
character to our actions, and which preoccu-
pies our heart in performing them... There in
the sense of His presence; the consciousness
that everything relates to Him, that We can
do nothing - unless carnally - without Him,
because the life which we have of Him acts
with Him and in Him, does not separate from
Him, and has Him for its aim in all things,
56
even as water rises to the height from which it
descended. This is what characterizes the life
of the Christian.”
Giving thanks to God and the Father by
him. Even our giving of thanks to the Father
must be through Him. Just as no one can come
to God in salvation apart from Christ; John
14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.” No one can worship God
apart from Christ. Some think all that is neces-
sary to salvation or worship is sincerity. They
should read this verse and others like it. No
matter how sincere a person is, if he attempts
to approach God apart from Christ, he is unac-
ceptable. We much worship God in Spirit and
in TRUTH.
Sermon Thoughts
There are three guidelines Paul gives the
Christians at Colosse:
• Let the peace of God act as an umpire
• Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
• Do all that we do in the name of the Lord
Colossians 3:18: “Wives, submit yourselves
unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the
Lord.”
Wives submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, The verb “submit: is present middle
imperative from hupotassō. It is a military
term and means to rank under, therefore to be
in subjection. This is the order in which God
built the home. And the man who refuses to be
head and the wife who refuses to place herself
under his headship is in for trouble. There are
a lot of troubled marriages in the world today
because both men and women are not assum-
ing the roles that God has placed them in.
As is fit, is imperfect active indicative from
anēkō. The word refers to actions that are due
someone. It has to do with moral obligation.
Imperfect tense could be translated as “keeps
on being fit.” This is not a rule that the Lord
will change in this life. This is the rule that

keeps on being the way it should be done.
In the Lord, Christian wives are the ones
addressed here. Those who are saved have the
obligation to obey God in this matter.
Colossians 3:19: “Husbands, love your wives,
and be not bitter against them.”
Husbands love your wives, Love is present
active imperative from Agapaō. It is a com-
mand and an obligation. This also carries with
it the sense of urgency. It is urgent that the
husbands love their wives. If a man does not
love his wife, he will have to give an account
to God for it.
Be not bitter against them, “Be not bitter” is
a present passive imperative verb from a word
meaning, “to embitter, exasperate, irritate.”
Wuest says, “show no bitterness, behave not
harshly. The fact that the husband is the head
of the wife does not give him the right to act in
a harsh manner toward her. He is commanded
to love her. If his position as head goes to his
head and he does not act in love toward her, he
is out of the will of God and God will deal with
him in chastening. A preacher who had a good
marriage said, “I believe that the Lord will let
husband and wife be together in heaven.” A
lady popped up and said, “If that is true, I don’t
want to go. I’ve had to put up with him down
here and I sure don’t want to up there.”
Colossians 3:20: “Children, obey your parents
in all things: for this is well pleasing unto
the Lord.”
Children, obey your parents in all things:
This is a present active imperative verb from
hupakouō, meaning, “to listen, attend, and so,
to submit, to obey.” The child is to listen to
his parents and give heed to what they say. “In
all things” means, “in all respects.” There is
absolutely no room for disobedience in chil-
dren. Saved children have, as a Christian duty,
obedience to parents.
For this is well pleasing unto the Lord,
“well pleasing” means, “commendable.” That
57
Chapter Three
which God is pleased with. God said of His
Son, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am
well pleased.” He will also say the same thing
of those who take the role God put them in
seriously and do what He says.
Colossians 3:21: “Fathers, provoke not your
children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger,
is present active imperative from erathizō. It
means to provoke or irritate. Irritation is the
first consequence of being too exacting with
children, and irritation leads to anger. By per-
petual fault-finding, children are discouraged.
This is speaking of abuse to a child, not normal
correction.
Lest they be discouraged, is present active
subjunctive meaning, “to be disheartened,
dispirited, broken in spirit, lose heart.” The life
can be ruined when the incentive is broken.
Colossians 3:22: “Servants, obey in all things
your masters according to the flesh; not with
eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness
of heart, fearing God”:
Servants, is doulos meaning slaves. Wuest
says, “The case of slaves is treated at greater
length than that of the other family relations,
probably on account of Onesimus.” Gaebelein
says, “The servants exhorted were slaves, who
had believed and become in Christ true freed-
men. Not a word in said about the wrong of
slavery. Sin is responsible for it. But these
Christian slaves are exhorted to obey their
masters according to the flesh in all things.”
There is no word in the Bible against slavery. I
mention this to make the point that the purpose
of Christianity has never been to change social
order; Ephesians 6:5, “Servants, be obedient
to them that are your masters according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of
your heart, as unto Christ;”
Obey, is the same word that is used of chil-
dren; vs. 20. It is very surprising that the Bible
does not say a word about freeing slaves. It
Commentary on Colossians
tells the Masters to treat their slaves right and
tells the slaves to be obedient to their masters.
In all things, is also the same as vs. 20.
Masters according to the flesh, The word mas-
ters is literally lords. According to the flesh dis-
tinguishes these lords from the slaves’ One Lord
in Heaven. Ephesians 6:9, “And, ye masters, do
the same things unto them, forbearing threaten-
ing: knowing that your Master also is in heaven;
neither is there respect of persons with him.”
Not with eyeservice, speaks of service per-
formed under the master’s eye or just when the
master is watching.
Menpleasers, The Christian’s first duty is
to please the Lord. If our motive is to please
men, we lose sight of our primary purpose to
please the Lord.
Singleness of heart, is an exhortation against
the double dealing of eyeservice.
Fearing God, is in contrast to fearing man.
The fear of man bringeth a snare.
Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do,
do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto
men”;
And whatsoever ye do, is not without quali-
fications. The remainder of the sentence quali-
fies it. 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore
ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to
the glory of God.”
Do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto
men, Heartily means to put your heart into it.
Do it with enthusiasm. Do it as unto the Lord.
Our service to man and one another is a service
to the Lord. We do not want to be sloppy. For
the Lord we need to turn out good work. The
words “and not unto men” mean do not serve
men as men serve men. Men serve for a pay-
check. We serve God for eternal reward.
Colossians 3:24: “Knowing that of the Lord
ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:
for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive...
Knowing is a perfect active participle from
58
oida meaning to have seen or perceived; to
know from observation.
The reward of the inheritance, means that
which is paid back. The Lord has an inheritance
for the Saints. 1 Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in heaven for you,”
For ye serve the Lord Christ, The real ser-
vice is to the greater Lord, the Lord Christ. J.
F. Brown says, “Knowing that it is from the
Lord (the ultimate source of reward), ye shall
receive the compensation (or recompense,
which will make ample amends for your having
no earthly possession, as slaves now) consist-
ing of the inheritance.”
Colossians 3:25: “But he that doeth wrong
shall receive for the wrong which he hath
done: and there is no respect of persons.”
But he that doeth wrong, is a present active
participle. It means to do wrong. This doesn’t
mean do wrong in Church but also on the job.
Shall receive for the wrong which he hath
done, There is a payday someday. God holds
His children responsible for their actions. He
tells us to pray for our persecutors. That does
not mean that the persecutors will go off scot
free. God will bring every man into account
for the things done in this life. There is one
way out. Get forgiveness.
And there is no respect of persons. The ref-
erence here is to masters and slaves. When a
master violates God’s rules and does wrong, he
will be judged for it. Being a master does not
enter God’s thoughts. If a slave does wrong, God
will judge him. He does not respect the person
of men when it comes to judging for wrong.
Sermon Suggestions on verses 23-25
The Labors Of The Christian
The Universality Of Our Good Works; “And
Whatsoever Ye Do”
The Dynamics Of The Doing; “Do It Heartily.”
The Focus Of Our Action; “As To The Lord.”

CHAPTER 4
Colossians 4:1: “Masters, give unto your
servants that which is just and equal; know-
ing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”
Masters, The thought is not broken between
chapters 3 and 4. He has given instructions to
slaves and now he gives instructions to mas-
ters. Masters is literally lords.
Just and equal, means, “to treat them right,
be just to them.” The word equal means, “to
treat all alike.” Since God is no respecter of
persons, the earthly lord should not be.
Knowing that ye also have a Master in
Heaven. In other words, the masters have a
Master to whom they must give an account.
This is probably a veiled warning to the mas-
ters. The Master in heaven can cause crop fail-
ures. The Lord is not passive to His children
who treat one another badly
. Hence the additional charge that the heart must
THE DOCTRINE OF MASTERS AND
SERVANTS
• Definition: “A man who rules, governs or
directs; a possessor, owner.”
• Servants to be obedient and respect their
masters (Eph. 6:5)
• Masters were masters according to the flesh
(Eph. 6:5).
• Masters were not to threaten their slaves
(Eph. 6.:9).
• Masters were to recognize that they them-
selves were serving God Who is no respecter
of persons (Eph. 6:9).
• Slaves were to serve their masters heartily
“as unto the Lord” (Col. 3:23). This means they
did it in obedience unto the Lord.
• The slaves were promised a reward for their
obedience (Col. 3:24).
• Masters were to treat their slaves with equal-
ity (Col. 4:1).
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Chapter Four
Colossians 4:2: “Continue in prayer, and
watch in the same with thanksgiving;”
Continue, is a present active imperative
from Proskartereō, meaning to give constant
attention to a thing, to give unremitting care to
a thing, to persevere, to wait continually upon,
to be in constant readiness for.
Prayer, is an important subject for anyone.
It is especially true in the place of leadership.
There are a very few things settled in prayer.
Most take action on the basis of how they feel
about it. Well, our feelings can lead us very far
astray.
Watch, is a present active participle from
grēgoreō meaning, “to give strict attention con-
tinuously to, to be continuously active, to take
heed lest through remissness and indolence
some destructive calamity suddenly overtake
one.” Wuest quotes Lightfoot:, “Long continu-
ance in prayer is apt to product listlessness.
be awake, if the prayer is to have any value.”
Thanksgiving, is an attitude which the
Christian is to constantly possess. This would
be especially true of a master. If the master
on earth is constantly thankful to the Master
in Heaven for His mercy, it will help him to
maintain an attitude of mercy and understand-
ing toward the slave.
A message from this passage:
PRAYER AND PRAYER REQUESTS
Col. 4:2-4 “Continue in prayer, and watch in
the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying
also for us, that God would open unto us a
door of utterance, to speak the mystery of
Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I
may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
There are several things I want us to look at
in these verses about prayer.
Commentary on Colossians
THE INTENSITY OF PRAYER
We see in Paul’s exhortation to the Colos-
sians a vital key to answered prayer. The word
Continue means, “to adhere to one, be his
adherent, to be devoted or constant to one; to
be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremit-
ting care to a thing.” This verb is a present
active imperative. The present tense repre-
sents a continuous action in the present tense.
The active voice is where the subject does the
acting. In this case, I believe Paul is referring
to the entire body of believers in Colosse. The
imperative mood is a command that expresses
urgency. Putting this verb in the imperative
mood will have the effect of urgency on the
believers there.
John Gill comments: “This is not said par-
ticularly to masters, as in the foregoing verse,
but to all the members of the church in general;
for the apostle having taken notice of some spe-
cial duties relating to persons in different sta-
tions of life, returns to such as were common
to them all; as this of prayer to God is, for such
prayer is intended; for though the object is not
expressed here, he is in the following verse,
and the Mediator Christ is supposed, and also
the Holy Spirit, whose assistance is necessary
to it.”
We should pray fervently. James 5:16 says,
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray
one for another, that ye may be healed. The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.”
We have an example of this kind of praying
in Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of
you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always
labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye
may stand perfect and complete in all the will
of God.”
THE ALERTNESS IN PRAYER
This is brought out in the words, of verse 4,
“...and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”
The word watch means “to give strict atten-
tion to.” It is easy for the Christian to see the
need for prayer but difficult for him to believe
that prayer really changes things.
60
The man who prays fervently will stay at it
until the answer comes. I cannot pass judgment
upon those who do not practice in the Christian
lives the thing taught by Paul in this verse. It is
not for us to pass judgment. Even Christ did not
come to pass judgment. John 3:17, “For God
sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might
be saved.”
Our lack of convictions concerning the out-
come of prayer is measured by the lack of tes-
timony to answered prayer. Next,
THANKSGIVING IN PRAYER
Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and
watch in the same with thanksgiving;” Is
thanksgiving to be offered in gratitude for past
answers to prayer, or, is thanksgiving to be
offered in faith that what we are praying for is
already on the way?
One of the things that is absolutely neces-
sary in our relationship to God is thanksgiv-
ing. Luke 17:12-18, “And as he entered into
a certain village, there met him ten men that
were lepers, which stood afar off: And they
lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master,
have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he
said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the
priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went,
they were cleansed. And one of them, when he
saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a
loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his
face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was
a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were
there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
There are not found that returned to give glory
to God, save this stranger.” Jesus commented
on the Samaritan’s attitude of gratitude. We
take so many things for granted. Next,
PERSONAL REQUESTS IN PRAYER
Paul requested that they pray for him that
God would grant him an open door of utter-
ance to speak the Mystery of Christ. If Paul
did not strongly believe that prayer makes a
difference, you can be sure he would not have
requested prayer. So this makes prayer a vital
part of preaching. If God grants utterance the

message will be effective. If He does not,
then there will be an absence of power and an
absence of Scriptural results.
Paul requested in Colossians 4:4, “That I
may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
To make it manifest, there must be simplic-
ity of speech. There must be skill and wisdom
in the presentation of the message if they are
to believe. Paul did not have the pride of an
outstanding orator. He was a sinner saved by
grace, and regardless of the amount of public
speaking skills, sinners will be left in their
unsaved state if he is not given utterance.
Colossians 4:3: “Withal praying also for us,
that God would open unto us a door of ut-
terance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for
which I am also in bonds :”
Praying, is a present middle participle from
Proseuchomai. It is the ordinary word for
prayer. It means to keep on making requests.
Withal, is homa and means, “at the same
time.”
For us, is “concerning us.” Paul is here
making a personal request.
That is “in order that” and starts a purpose
clause.
God would open unto us a door of utter-
ance, God is the only One that can do that.
And Paul does teach us to pray for “a door of
utterance.”
To speak the mystery of Christ, is the spe-
cific request. 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without
controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the
Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gen-
tiles, believed on in the world, received up
into glory.” This is a big dose of knowledge to
lay on a bunch of heathen Gentiles. Only God
can open their hearts to understand enough to
believe.
This is also brought out in Colossians 1:27,
“To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory:”
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Chapter Four
For which I am also in bonds. Paul was in
prison for preaching the Gospel of Christ. This
was during his Roman imprisonment, probably
about A.D. 62.
Colossians 4:4: “That I may make it mani-
fest, as I ought to speak.”
That I may make it manifest, shows the pur-
pose for which Paul is requesting prayer. The
door speaks of opportunity. Paul wanted this
opportunity to preach because it was his whole
life.
I ought to speak, Here is a word of respon-
sibility. Even though Paul had been through
much for the Gospel, and was now in prison
for preaching it, the responsibility still weighs
heavy upon him. He said, “I ought.” Here
is a passage that will shed some light on the
meaning: 1 Corinthians 2:15, “And I, breth-
ren, when I came to you, came not with excel-
lency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto
you the testimony of God. For I determined
not to know any thing among you, save Jesus
Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you
in weakness, and in fear, and in much trem-
bling. And my speech and my preaching was
not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but
in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom
of men, but in the power of God.”
This passage of Scripture limits how the
message of the gospel is presented. If you do
not believe it, read and meditate on the verses
above. I praise the Lord for every soul that is
saved under any condition if the conversion
is genuine. Paul said, “And I, brethren, when
I came to you, came to you, came not with
excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring
unto you the testimony of God.” And he says
I came this way, “That your faith should not
stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power
of God.”
I understand Paul to be saying that the mes-
sage could be presented in such a way that men
would put their trust in the “wisdom of men”
rather than “The power of God.” We need to be
Commentary on Colossians
careful that we do not violate the principle that
Paul presents here.
Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward
them that are without, redeeming the time .”
Walk, is a present active imperative. It
means, “to keep on walking.” There is urgency
in Paul’s command to walk. If we do not live
the life, people will not hear the message.
In wisdom, This is something that comes
from God (James 1:5). Wisdom is the right
application of knowledge.
Them that are without, refers to those who
are without the church. See I Cor. 5:12,13.
The believer in the Church has an obligation
to those outside the church to demonstrate the
joy and assurance of salvation. There is noth-
ing that will attract the unsaved more than to
be able to observe one who is a committed
Christian. I’m talking about a Christian with a
smile on his face, a spring in his step, and an
overflow of joy that is contagious.
Redeeming the time, means buying up
the time. Ephesians 5:15,16, “See then that
ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as
wise, Redeeming the time, because the days
are evil.” Redeeming the time means to take
advantage of every opportunity to witness to
the unsaved.
Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech be alway
with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may
know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Grace is what God is free to do for the sinner
because of the cross. It is God’s only way of
salvation. Grace and works are contrasted in
the Scripture. Paul is the master teacher on the
subject of grace. Romans 11:5,6 says, “Even so
then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace. And if by
grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise
grace is no more grace. But if it be of works,
then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no
more work.” The idea of works destroys the
idea of grace, and the idea of grace destroys
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the idea of works. Salvation is not by grace and
works. It is by grace alone.
Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness.” Man in
his pride wants to interpret the Bible so that
he will have some credit for salvation. This is
heresy according to this present verse.
Let your speech be alway with grace, means
that the believer’s speech should be like Christ.
It should not issue forth with condemnation.
John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into
the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through him might be saved.” Jesus did
not have a condemning ministry. 1 Peter 2:23
says, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not
again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but
committed himself to him that judgeth righ-
teously:”
Seasoned with salt, Salt, among the Greeks,
was the emblem of wit. Here the meaning
seems to be, that our conversation should be
seasoned with piety or grace in a way similar
to that in which we employ salt in our food.
It makes it wholesome and palatable. There
should be something mixed in our witness-
ing that makes the message palatable. I do not
speak of irreverence. I speak of words carried
on the wings of joy.
That ye may know how ye ought to answer
every man, seems to suggest that in the frame
of mind suggested in this passage that a wise
answer will come to us. There are many ques-
tions. Many of them are difficult. It is important
that we know HOW...TO ANSWER EVERY
MAN.
Colossians 4:7: “All my state shall Tychicus
declare unto you, who is a beloved brother,
and a faithful minister and fellowservant in
the Lord” :
All my state, speaks of details. Why did God
not let Paul speak of details concerning his per-
sonal state? Could it be that we are not to think
of man more highly than we should think?

Tychicus, is mentioned on Paul’s third mis-
sionary journey. Acts 20:4, “And there accom-
panied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of
the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus;
and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of
Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.”
A beloved brother and faithful minister, is
Paul’s description of this man of God. When
you say a man is faithful, you do not speak of a
man who periodically attends church or gives a
little money. A faithful man is a man consistent
in his faith. He is always there and ready to
serve.
Fellowservant, is literally fellowslave. Paul
considered himself a slave of Jesus Christ. He
also thought of others who were sold out to the
service of the Lord to be a slave of Christ.
In the Lord is the sphere of the slavery.
Colossians 4:8: “Whom I have sent unto you
for the same purpose, that he might know
your estate, and comfort your hearts” ;
Whom I have sent, is Paul’s messenger or
ambassador.
The same purpose, refers to a faithful minis-
ter and fellowservant.
Estate, is literally things concerning you.
Comfort, is to encourage. This was to be
done by the tidings and exhortations.
Colossians 4:9: “With Onesimus, a faithful
and beloved brother, who is one of you. They
shall make known unto you all things which
are done here.”
Onesimus, was from Colosse. This is the
same Onesimus about whom the letter to Phi-
lemon is written.
A faithful, speaks of his reliability.
Beloved, is a term of endearment.
Brother, shows the relationship between
believers. Here we have a highborn educated
Jew calling a lowborn slave brother. Only
Christianity could do this.
They shall make known all the things which
are done here. There were some things hap-
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Chapter Four
pening to Paul in Rome that did. not need to be
in the inspired Word of God. Therefore, we see
God in wisdom and providence leading Paul to
put in this letter what belonged and to leave out
what did not belong. Colossians was written
from his Roman imprisonment; Acts 28:30.
Colossians 4:10: “Aristarchus my fellow-
prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s
son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received
commandments: if he come unto you, receive
him; )”
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner. Many believe
this man voluntarily stayed with Paul in prison
to minister to his needs. In the early church,
sacrifices such as this were common.
Saluteth, means to greet, wish well.
Marcus, is John Mark, the writer of the
Gospel.
Sister’s son, means cousin. Wuest quotes
Expositors: “Paul may have feared that Mark’s
defection from him, which led to the sharp
quarrel between him and Barnabas, might prej-
udice the Colossians against him. The mention
of his relationship to Barnabas was probably
intended as a recommendation to their kind-
ness. He seems to have been unknown to the
Colossians.
Colossians 4:11: “And Jesus, which is called
Justus, who are of the circumcision. These
only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom
of God, which have been a comfort unto me.”
Jesus, is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew
Joshua and was a common name in those
days.
Who are of the circumcision, means they
were Jews. Circumcision came to stand for
Jewish religion; Rom.3:12.
These only, are words both to be rejoiced in
and a reason for sadness. It is a joy to know that
there are those too would identify with Paul in
his imprisonment. They were there to encour-
age and help. It is sad when you consider that
Commentary on Colossians
in that day of enthusiasm and fervor there were
those who were unwilling to sacrifice. There
were those who would not get involved.
Fellowworkers unto the Kingdom of God,
is a statement of joint effort and cooperation.
Christians are to exert a joint effort to promote
the Kingdom of God.
Comfort, means solace, relief, alleviation,
consolation, encouragement. The Greek word
is Parēgoria, from which we get our word Par-
egoric.
Colossians 4:12: “Epaphras, who is one of
you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, al-
ways labouring fervently for you in prayers,
that ye may stand perfect and complete in all
the will of God .”
Epaphras, as we mentioned at the beginning
of the study, was probably the founder of the
Church of Colosse.
Who is one of you, words such as this are
so important to us today. It helps us to further
identify this man. This shows God’s wisdom
in inspiration.
A servant of Christ, is a slave belonging to
Christ.
Laboring, is a present middle participle from
the same word we get our word agonize.
Colossians 4:13: “For I bear him record, that
he hath a great zeal for you, and them that
are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.”
For I bear him record, is literally, “I bear
witness.”
Zeal, is from a word from which we get our
word zealot. This speaks of his attitude toward
them in prayer and speech.
Laodicea, is the same as in Rev. 3.
Hierapolis, is a city that was an important
center of Christian influence and was situated
near Colosse and Laodicea in the Lycus River
Valley of Phrygia. The city was a wealthy,
dying center. Extensive ruins, including two
theaters, a gymnasium and baths have been
excavated.
64
Colossians 4:14: “Luke, the beloved physi-
cian, and Demas, greet you .”
Luke, is the author of the Gospel, the Book
of Acts, and Paul’s traveling companion.
Physician, comes from a word that means
“to heal or to cure.” He was a Gentile, which
is shown by his Greek name, and the fact that
Paul does not include with those of the cir-
cumcision in vs. 11. He shows a knowledge of
medical terms in his Gospel.
The beloved, speaks of Paul’s gratitude for
his services.
Demas. Wuest quotes Lightfoot: “Luke is
described with a special tenderness as the Phy-
sician, the beloved one, Demas alone is dis-
missed with a bare mention and without any
epithet of commendation.” This is the Demas
who let Paul down during his second Roman
imprisonment; II Tim. 4:10.
Colossians 4:15: “Salute the brethren which
are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the
church which is in his house .”
Salute, means “greet.”
The church which is in his house. There is
no record of a separate building set apart for
worship within the Roman Empire before the
third century. This is an illustration of what
was done. They met in private homes, which is
just another fact that demonstrates the church
is local.
Colossians 4:16: “And when this epistle is
read among you, cause that it be read also
in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye
likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”
And when this epistle is read. The reading
of the Word was an important function in the
church. It did not need as much explanation as
it does with us. The customs and illustrations
taken from Oriental life were already under-
stood.
Cause, is an aorist active imperative which
means that this is commanded.
 Chapter Four

In the church of the Laodiceans. Why read it Remember my bonds, shows that he wrote
in this church? It was written to Colosse. The from imprisonment. As he signed this letter,
reason is because Paul understood that he was the chain that was fastened to his hand would
writing the Word of God under the inspiration impress him to remind them to pray for him.
of the Holy Spirit. While he was writing it spe- This should remind us to pray for our brethren
cifically to Colosse, it was an application to all who are in bondage for their faith.
Christians.
Likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. THE END
What epistle is this? First, some believe it is
a lost epistle. Second, others believe it was
an epistle from the Laodiceans to Paul, con-
veyed by Epaphras, to be read in the Church
of Colosse, together with Paul’s epistle to the
Colossians themselves. Third, that it is the
same as the epistle to the Ephesians.

Colossians 4:17: “And say to Archippus,

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast
received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.”
Archippus, Paul calls a man’s name not only
from the pulpit but in an epistle for Christians
through the ages to see.
Take heed, is a present active imperative. It
is active voice which means Paul is calling him
to take his place of responsibility. It is impera-
tive which means it is a command.
The ministry, refers to the ministry of the
Word of preaching.
Thou hast received, is an aorist active indic-
ative. The aorist tense refers to the fact of his
call. The active voice speaks of the willingness
with which he received God’s call. God called
him and he willingly received it.
Fulfil it, means to discharge fully.

Colossians 4:18: “The salutation by the hand

of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be
with you. Amen.”
The salutation, or greeting was written by
Paul’s own hand. The rest of the epistle was
written by a secretary at the dictation of Paul.
Romans 16:22 lets us know that this was Paul’s
practice.

65