| Colossians 1 | |
|---|---|
 A page showing the Greek text of Epistle to the Colossians 1:28–2:3 on Codex Claromontanus from ca. AD 550. | |
| Book | Epistle to the Colossians |
| Category | Pauline epistles |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 12 |
Colossians 1 is the first chapter of the Epistle to the Colossians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Traditionally, it is believed to have been written for the churches in Colossae and Laodicea (see Colossians 4:16) by Apostle Paul, with Timothy as his co-author, while he was in prison in Ephesus (years 53–54), although there are debatable claims that it is the work of a secondary imitator, or that it was written in Rome (in the early 60s).[1] This chapter contains the greeting, thanksgiving and prayer, followed by a "Christological Hymn" and the overall thesis of the letter.[2]
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 29 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
.jpg)
The mention of Timothy alone among the fellow believers who were with Paul at that time (Colossians 4:7–14) suggests that he was the co-author of this epistle.[5]
The location is usually known as "Colossae", but the King James Version and its "new" equivalent both use the name "Colosse".[7] J. B. Lightfoot also refers to the spelling "Colassae" in his commentary.[8]
Paul's opening greeting in his epistles normally mentions "a double source of divine benefactions: 'from God our/the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ'.[5] The omission of the second element[a] may be due to the presence of 'in Christ' in the first part of this verse.[10]
In most of his letters,[b] Paul follows the greeting with a note of thanksgiving to God for his recipients, which "carefully reflect[s] Paul's assessment of the state of the community, and reveal his concerns".[5] The information about the believers at Colossae was obtained from Epaphras (Colossians 1:4, 8),[11] who was also from Colossae (Colossians 4:12).[12]
The believers have been the object of Paul's constant concern, so he asks God to make them understand his will, do good works and persevere.[11]
This section is actually still within one unbroken sentence with the previous, but in here Paul describes the crucial conversion of the believers into the form displayed by Christ, that is "by incorporation into Christ in baptism, the structures of the world are replaced by new values".[11]
A pattern of a 'Christological Hymn' in verses 15–20 has been hinted multiple times in the past without any hypothesis getting significant support.[11] Jerome Murphy-O'Connor offers a reconstruction that shows "two four-line strophes" as follows:[11]
| Verse | Line | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 1:15a | [1] | Who is (the) image of the invisible God |
| 1:15b | [2] | Firstborn of all creation |
| 1:16a | [3] | For in him were created all things |
| 1:16b | [4] | All things through him and to him were created. |
| 1:18b | [1] | Who is (the) beginning |
| 1:18c | [2] | Firstborn from the dead |
| 1:19 | [3] | For in him was pleased all the Fullness to dwell |
| 1:20a | [4] | And through him to reconcile all things to him. |
See Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament.
The three verses in this part enunciate the major themes of the epistle: past present and future, the journey of the Colossian believers from alienation through reconciliation to perseverance.[18]
This section continues to chapter 2, dealing with Paul's sufferings which "reveal the present reality of grace" as a member of the body of Christ.[19]
