The Epistle to the Colossians

© 2005 William R. Finck Jr.

For a full audio and written commentary on this epistle see The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians - Audio and Written Bible Commentary or for a simple index: Paul's Epistle to the Colossians - Podcast Index

I1 Paul, ambassador of Christ Yahshua by will of Yahweh, and Timotheos the brother, 2 to those in Kolossaia, holy and faithful brethren among the number of the Anointed: favor to you and peace from Yahweh our Father and Prince Yahshua Christ. 3 We are grateful to Yahweh, the Father of our Prince Yahshua Christ, at all times praying for you, 4 hearing of your faith in Christ Yahshua and that love which you have for all the saints, 5 by which you are storing up expectation for yourselves in the heavens, which you heard beforehand in the Word of the truth of the good message 6 which is coming to you, and just as among all the Society it is bearing fruit and growing, likewise also among you from that day in which you heard and acknowledged the favor of Yahweh in truth, 7 just as you have learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow bondman, who is a trusted servant of the Anointed on our behalf, 8 who also disclosed to us your love in Spirit.

9 For this reason we also, from the day in which we heard, do not cease from praying and requesting on your behalf that you would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 to walk worthily of the Prince in all complaisance, in every good deed bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of Yahweh, 11 with all power being strengthened according to the might of His honor for all endurance and long-suffering with joy, 12 being thankful to the Father, who qualifies us for that share of the inheritance of the saints in the light, 13 who has rescued us from the authority of darkness, and instead gave us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption: the dismissal of errors. 15 Who is the likeness of the invisible God, first born of all the creation. 16 Because by Him all things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, those visible and those invisible, whether thrones or dominions or realms or authorities, all things are created by Him and for Him; 17 and He is before all, and all things by Him endure; 18 and He is the head of the body: the assembly. He who is the beginning, first born from among the dead, that in all things He would be holding the first place. 19 Because with Himself He was pleased to have the whole complement dwell, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross, whether the things upon the earth, or the things in the heavens. 21 And you at one time being alienated and odious in thought by wicked deeds, 22 yet now He has reconciled with the body of His flesh through that death, to present you holy and blameless and void of offense before Him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, founded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the expectation of the good message which you have heard, of which is being proclaimed among all the creation which is under heaven, of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

24 Now, I rejoice in these sufferings on your behalf, and I substitute for those deficiencies of the afflictions of the Anointed with my flesh on behalf of the body itself, which is the assembly; 25 of which I have become a servant in accordance with the administration of the household of Yahweh which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of Yahweh, 26 the mystery which has been concealed from the ages and from the races, but now has been made visible to His saints, 27 to whom Yahweh did wish to make known what the riches of the honor of this mystery are among the Nations, which is the expectation of honor anointed in you, 28 whom we declare, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom in order that we may present every man perfect among the Anointed. 29 For which I also labor, striving in accordance with that same energy which is operating within me with power.

II1 For I wish you to know that as great a struggle as I have for you, and those in Laodikeia, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that they may be encouraged in their hearts, being brought together in love, and to all riches of the certainty of understanding in the knowledge of the mystery of the Anointed of Yahweh, 3 in which are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge concealed. 4 This I say, that no one would mislead you with persuasive speech. 5 For if even in the flesh I am absent, yet in the spirit I am with you, rejoicing and seeing your position and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 6 Therefore as you have received Christ, Yahshua the Prince, walk with Him. 7 Being planted and being built up by Him, and being established in the faith, just as you have been instructed, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 Watch that there be no one captivating you through philosophy and vain deceit, in accordance with the tradition of men, in accordance with the elements of the Society, and not in accordance with Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Divinity bodily, 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all sovereignty and authority, 11 by whom you also are circumcised, with a circumcision not made by hand, in the putting off of the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Anointed; 12 being buried together with Him in that immersion by which also you were raised up together through the faith of the operation of Yahweh who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in transgressions and in the foreskin of your flesh, you He made alive together with Him, forgiving us all those transgressions. 14 Having wiped out the handwriting against us in the ordinances which were opposed to us, even this He has taken out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Stripping the sovereignties and authorities which He exposed publicly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Therefore no one must judge you in food and in drink, or in respect of feast or new month or of the Sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of future things. Whereas the body is of the Anointed, 18 let no one find you unworthy of reward, being willing with humiliation even in worship of the Messengers; stepping into things which one sees, heedlessly inflated by the mind of one’s flesh, 19 and not grasping the Head, from whom the whole body, through the joints and bonds being supplied and brought together, increases with the increase of Yahweh.

20 If you have died with Christ from the elements of the Society, why as if alive in the Society are you subject to ordinances? 21 One should not hold, nor should one taste, nor should one touch, 22 (things which are all for corruption in their misuse,) according to the commands and instructions of men? 23 Things which are a statement indeed, holding wisdom in submissive worship and in humiliation and disregard of the body, not in any esteem for satisfaction of the flesh.

III1 Therefore if you are raised together with Christ, you seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of Yahweh. 2 Mind the things above, not the things upon the earth. 3 You have died, and your life has been hidden with Christ by Yahweh. 4 When Christ your life is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in honor. 5 Therefore make as dead these members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness - which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things comes the wrath of Yahweh upon the sons of disobedience, 7 among whom you once also walked when you had lived in these things. 8 And now you should also put off all these things: wrath, anger, malice, blasphemy, abusive language from out of your mouth, 9 do not lie to one another, putting off from yourselves the old man with his practices, 10 and putting on the new which is being renewed in knowledge in accordance with the image of He who is creating him. 11 Where one is not Greek and Judaean, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but altogether and in all ways Anointed. 12 Therefore you put on (as elect of Yahweh, holy and beloved,) affections of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, forbearance, 13 being patient with one another and being forgiving to each other. If one should have a cause for complaint against anyone, then just as the Prince has forgiven you, so also you do. 14 And in addition to all these: love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And the peace of Christ must be the judge in your hearts, for which you are also called in one body, and you should be thankful. 16 The word of Christ must dwell in you abundantly, with all wisdom, teaching and advising each other with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to Yahweh. 17 And everything, whatever you would do in word or in deed, all in the name of Prince Yahshua, being thankful to Yahweh the Father through Him.

18 Wives, subject yourselves to the husbands, as is proper with the Prince. 19 Husbands, love the wives and have no bitter feelings towards them. 20 Children, you obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing with the Prince. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, that they are not disheartened. 22 Bondmen, you be obedient in all respects to fleshly masters, not with lip-service as men-pleasers, but with simplicity of heart, fearing the Prince. 23 Whatever you would do, work heartily, as for the Prince and not for men. 24 Knowing that from the Prince you shall recover the return of the inheritance, the Anointed Prince you serve. 25 But he doing wrong is provided for that which he has done wrong, and there is not respect of the stature of persons. IV1Masters, give to the bondmen that which is just and that which is fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 You persist firmly in prayer, being alert in it with thanksgiving, 3 at the same time praying also for us, in order that Yahweh would create an opportunity for the Word, for us to speak of the mystery of the Anointed, for which I also have been bound, 4 that I may make it known as it is necessary for me to speak. 5 In reference to those outside, you walk in wisdom, buying the time, 6 your speech always with goodwill, seasoned with salt. It is necessary for you to know in what manner to answer every single one.

7 All of the things concerning me Tuchikos, the beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bondman among the number of the Prince, will make known to you; 8 whom I have sent to you for this very thing, that you would know of the things concerning us and your hearts would be encouraged, 9 with Onasimos, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yours. All things they will make known to you then. 10 Aristarchos my fellow prisoner greets you, and Markos - the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions, if he should come to you, receive him), 11 and Iasous who is called Ioustos. These are the only fellow-workers for the Kingdom of Yahweh who are of the circumcision who have been a consolation to me. 12 Epaphras, a bondman of Christ Yahshua, who is one of yours, greets you, always striving on your behalf in prayers, that you would stand perfect and be fully assured in every purpose of Yahweh; 13 for I testify for him that he has much labor for you and those in Laodikeia and those in Hierapolis. 14 Loukas the beloved physician greets you, and Damas.

15 Greet the brethren in Laodikeia, and Numpha and the assembly at her house, 16 and when the letter is read among you, ensure also that it is read in the assembly of the Laodikeians, and that from Laodikeia, that also you should read. 17 Also tell Archippos: “Watch the ministry which you have received by the Prince, that you would fulfill it.” 18 This salutation of Paul is by my own hand. Remember my bonds. Favor be with you.