Colosenses 1

1 Pablo, apóstol de Jesús, el Cristo, por la voluntad de Dios, y el hermano Timoteo,

2 A los santos y hermanos fieles en Cristo que están en Colosas: Gracia y paz a vosotros de Dios Padre nuestro, y del Señor Jesús, el Cristo.

3 Damos gracias al Dios y Padre del Señor nuestro Jesús, el Cristo, siempre orando por vosotros;

4 habiendo oído vuestra fe en el Cristo Jesús, y la caridad que tenéis para con todos los santos,

5 a causa de la esperanza que os está guardada en los cielos; la cual habéis oído ya por la palabra de la verdad del Evangelio;

6 el cual ha llegado hasta vosotros, como está por todo el mundo; y fructifica, como también en vosotros, desde el día que oísteis y conocisteis la gracia de Dios en verdad,

7 como lo habéis aprendido de Epafras, nuestro consiervo amado, el cual es para vosotros un fiel ministro de Cristo Jesús;

8 quien también nos ha declarado vuestra caridad en Espíritu.

9 Por lo cual también nosotros, desde el día que lo oímos, no cesamos de orar por vosotros, y de pedir a Dios que seáis llenos del conocimiento de su voluntad, en toda sabiduría y entendimiento espiritual;

10 para que andéis como es digno del Señor, agradándole en todo, fructificando en toda buena obra, y creciendo en el conocimiento de Dios.

11 Corroborados de toda fortaleza, conforme a la potencia de su gloria, para toda paciencia y tolerancia con gozo;

12 dando gracias al Padre que nos hizo dignos para participar en la herencia de los santos en luz;

13 que nos libró de la potestad de las tinieblas, y nos traspasó en el Reino de su amado Hijo,

14 en el cual tenemos redención por su sangre, la remisión de pecados.

15 El cual es la imagen del Dios invisible, el Primogénito de toda criatura.

16 Porque por él fueron creadas todas las cosas que están en los cielos, y que están en la tierra, visibles e invisibles; sean tronos, sean dominios, sean principados, sean potestades; todo fue creado por él y en él.

17 Y él es antes de todas las cosas, y todas las cosas consisten por él;

18 y él es la cabeza, del cuerpo de la Iglesia, principio y primogénito de entre los muertos, para que en todo tenga el primado.

19 Por cuanto agradó al Padre que en él habitase toda plenitud,

20 y por él reconciliar todas las cosas a sí, pacificando por la sangre de su madero, así lo que está en la tierra como lo que está en los cielos.

21 A vosotros también, que erais en otro tiempo extraños y enemigos de ánimo en malas obras, ahora empero os ha reconciliado

22 en el cuerpo de su carne por medio de la muerte, para haceros santos, y sin mancha, e irreprensibles delante de él;

23 si empero permanecéis fundados y firmes en la fe, y sin moveros de la esperanza del Evangelio que habéis oído; el cual es predicado a toda criatura que está debajo del cielo; del cual yo Pablo soy hecho ministro.

24 Que ahora me gozo en lo que padezco por vosotros, y cumplo en mi carne lo que falta de las tribulaciones del Cristo por su cuerpo, que es la Iglesia;

25 de la cual soy hecho ministro, por la dispensación de Dios la cual me es dada en vosotros, para que cumpla la palabra de Dios;

26 a saber , el misterio escondido desde los siglos y generaciones y que ahora ha sido manifestado a sus santos,

27 a los cuales quiso Dios hacer notorias las riquezas de la gloria de este misterio en los gentiles; que es Cristo en vosotros, la esperanza de gloria,

28 el cual nosotros anunciamos, amonestando a todo hombre, y enseñando en toda sabiduría, para hacer a todo hombre perfecto en el Cristo Jesús;

29 en lo cual aun trabajo, combatiendo por la operación de él, la cual él obra en mí poderosamente.

Colosenses 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

This epistle was sent because of some difficulties which arose among the Colossians, probably from false teachers, in consequence of which they sent to the apostle. The scope of the epistle is to show, that all hope of man's redemption is founded on Christ, in whom alone are all complete fulness, perfections, and sufficiency. The Colossians are cautioned against the devices of judaizing teachers, and also against the notions of carnal wisdom, and human inventions and traditions, as not consistent with full reliance on Christ. In the first two chapters the apostle tells them what they must believe, and in the two last what they must do; the doctrine of faith, and the precepts of life for salvation.

The apostle Paul salutes the Colossians, and blesses God for their faith, love, and hope. (1-8) Prays for their fruitfulness in spiritual knowledge. (9-14) Gives a glorious view of Christ. (15-23) And sets out his own character, as the apostle of the Gentiles. (24-29)

Verses 1-8 All true Christians are brethren one to another. Faithfulness runs through every character and relation of the Christian life. Faith, hope, and love, are the three principal graces in the Christian life, and proper matter for prayer and thanksgiving. The more we fix our hopes on the reward in the other world, the more free shall we be in doing good with our earthly treasure. It was treasured up for them, no enemy could deprive them of it. The gospel is the word of truth, and we may safely venture our souls upon it. And all who hear the word of the gospel, ought to bring forth the fruit of the gospel, obey it, and have their principles and lives formed according to it. Worldly love arises, either from views of interest or from likeness in manners; carnal love, from the appetite for pleasure. To these, something corrupt, selfish, and base always cleaves. But Christian love arises from the Holy Spirit, and is full of holiness.

Verses 9-14 The apostle was constant 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 glorious 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 sufferings. 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 purchase of his atoning blood, whereby forgiveness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings were bestowed. Surely then we shall deem it a favour 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.

Verses 15-23 Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were created for him; being made by his power, they were made according to his pleasure, and for his praise and glory. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of his power that they are upheld. Christ as Mediator is the Head of the body, the church; all grace and strength are from him; and the church is his body. All fulness dwells in him; a fulness of merit and righteousness, of strength and grace for us. God showed his justice in requiring full satisfaction. This mode of redeeming mankind by the death of Christ was most suitable. Here is presented to our view the method of being reconciled. And that, notwithstanding the hatred of sin on God's part, it pleased God to reconcile fallen man to himself. If convinced that we were enemies in our minds by wicked works, and that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice and death of Christ in our nature, we shall not attempt to explain away, nor yet think fully to comprehend these mysteries; but we shall see the glory of this plan of redemption, and rejoice in the hope set before us. If this be so, that God's love is so great to us, what shall we do now for God? Be frequent in prayer, and abound in holy duties; and live no more to yourselves, but to Christ. Christ died for us. But wherefore? That we should still live in sin? No; but that we should die to sin, and live henceforth not to ourselves, but to Him.

Verses 24-29 Both the sufferings of the Head and of the members are called the sufferings of Christ, and make up, as it were, one body of sufferings. But He suffered for the redemption of the church; we suffer on other accounts; for we do but slightly taste that cup of afflictions of which Christ first drank deeply. A Christian may be said to fill up that which remains of the sufferings of Christ, when he takes up his cross, and after the pattern of Christ, bears patiently the afflictions God allots to him. Let us be thankful that God has made known to us mysteries hidden from ages and generations, and has showed the riches of his glory among us. As Christ is preached among us, let us seriously inquire, whether he dwells and reigns in us; for this alone can warrant our assured hope of his glory. We must be faithful to death, through all trials, that we may receive the crown of life, and obtain the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.