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Commentary
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 Colossians Chapter 1 Paul opens with an allusion to the trinity; an apostle (as of the Holy Spirit) of Jesus Christ by the will of God (The Father) with Timotheus (Timothy) (v1) as well as his usual greeting to the colossians. (v2) He gives thanks to God the Father for them, that he prays for them always (v3) since he had first heard of their faith and their love in fellowship with all saints. (v4) Their faith, which they have in the hope of receiving eternal life by the grace of God, that they have received through the spoken truth of the gospel. (v5) The same gospel which has been preached across the whole world of their day, bringing people to repentance (its fruit) as it does also in them. Their repentance being the proper response to the grace of God. (v6). Paul states that they learned the gospel not from them, but from Epaphras, a fellow labourer in the gospel (v7) who had made mention to Paul of their repentance in the Holy Spirit. (v8) For the same obedience to the Holy Spirit Paul also remembers them in his prayers that they be more completely ministered to by the same Spirit in all knowledge of the gospel and the purpose of God to His people. (v9) That they might live according to the grace shown them, with good works stood upon the knowledge of the work of Christ that they also are. (v10) Strengthened then, with all gifts from the Holy Spirit to bear all their infirmities with joy (v11) whilst giving thanks to God whom has given grace under the Holy Spirit to make us worthy of eternal life in the truth of his word. (v11) God, who has translated them from a law of the flesh under sin - from darkness into the liberty of the law of faith, into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, in whom we place our faith that through His example we may believe on Him - that due grace is extended so we may be found eventually blameless as He is also. (v14) (For Jesus is God, and mediated a new covenant, in which grace is extended our faith that we may be presented blameless before the Father) Here we see a text for the extension of Anselms argument. That Christ is the image of God, the beginning of all creation. (v15) For by him were all things made by Him and for Him (v16) (whether earthly or heavenly) He is before all things, and by him all things consist. I would equate (v15) to refer to each K4 subgroup within the octal group: that the beginning of creation might be seen to be more than merely truth, but by a principal of containment, in which the Father can be found within His Son, purposes all of creation to likewise live and move and have their being in Him; as God the Father does within His Son, and the Son in the Father. Thus we find purpose (v17) for all the things created. (v16) Made by the Father for the Son for His enjoyment, the containment spatially of the creation in the Father allows Jesus to be the root, or equivalently the reference for everything that is made. (For in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily.) Jesus is the head of the body of all believers - the beginning, the foremost heir to all eternal life - through whom all others come to the Father, for only He has known the Father after this fashion - that He truly be preeminent. (v18) For it pleased the Father to be so excellently known by His Son, that others may come to Him through Jesus (v19,v20) by His work completed on the cross. Even those who were cut off from God in their own minds by reason of wickedness are now reconciled. (v21) With Christ's completed work, as Christ offered Himself up in obedience for us to His Father, He will likewise offer us as obedient up to His Father as His body, (as broken, but blameless) justified with Christ by grace, without cause for slander or accusation. (v22) Here we see simply how based on the choosing of God, no accusation can stand against the elect of God if God truly saves. Either the fault of the accused believer is itself a fault of the accuser, the accusation being slander, or the accuser demands God be inconsistent - and with Christ perfecting faith in God and being resurrected, what possible accusation can stand against those who believed on Him? To this end Paul is made a minister (v23) who is in bonds, as in the place of Christ to fill up any deficiency (in Christ as He would suffer) for the benefit of His elect. (v24) The same elect to whom he was made minister, to preach of the grace of God to fulfill all the requirements of the gospel towards them. (v25) Even fulfilling the mystery of God which was spoken of through the prophets, but as a mystery not revealed to any man until after the resurrection of Christ. (v26) To be revealed to all that believe on Him, (including among the gentiles) which is the life of Christ in us, (the presence of the fullness of the Godhead through Him, dwelling with us.) (v27) who is preached by Paul's company to all - warning and teaching all men in all foreknowledge so that they may be presented as likewise perfect to God by Christ. (v28) With this work Paul also works by the Holy Spirit in might. (v29) Again, we see that the obedient example of Christ leads to the physical presence of the Holy Spirit with many obedient children of God, then to Christ dwelling with us and the Holy Spirit, then the Father will descend amongst us on the last day. In that knowledge, we must accept that we should strive to be perfect - for to be offered up by Christ to His Father as perfect is a strait gate indeed. |
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