Col 1

Here’s that thankful man again – Paul is giving thanks for the churches he is writing to in Colossae. He is the most thankful writer in all antiquity, so there’s our first challenge. Be thankful! God is good.

We get to see what an apostle prays yet again at the start of this letter to the church in Colossae.

Paul thanks God for their:

• Faith in Jesus;
• Love for the saints, i.e. each other;
• Hope stored up in heaven.
• The gospel that came to then and is increasing and bearing fruit in the whole world.

Why not make a list of all that you are thankful for in your household; your life group; the church, and the rest of your life.

Then Paul turns to what he is praying for them:

1. Knowledge of God’s will – specifically that they would have the wisdom of the Spirit and understanding. The purpose of that knowledge and wisdom is that they can live out what God has done in their lives – live a life worthy of the Lord – and bear fruit in good works and knowing  God.
2. Strengthened with power – according to God’s might – the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and created the heavens and the earth. He wants them strengthened with power to endure, to have patience with joy and to be thankful!

We can be thankful that we have been qualified by Jesus to receive a wonderful inheritance, v.12, and that we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, Jesus. Praise God! Thank you Lord! More!

The next section is one of the Christological passages – a passage of high theology of who Jesus is.

• The image of the invisible God
• the firstborn of all creation – JW’s would argue this means that Jesus is not God and the first born literally of creation. As one commentator puts it ” A particularly important text for understanding this difficult phrase is Psalm 89:27: “I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” This verse appears in a section of the psalm speaking of Yahweh’s covenant with David. It is perfectly clear from the biblical accounts of David that he was not physically the firstborn of his family. In fact, he was the youngest of his brothers. This demonstrates that the term “firstborn” may be used in a figurative manner. Further, the term “firstborn” is qualified with the phrase, “the highest of the kings of the earth.” This indicates that, in the context of Psalm 89, to be made “firstborn” by God means to be exalted to the highest place. Such a reading of “firstborn” makes perfect sense in the context of Colossians 1.”
• Creator – thereby proving firstborn is figurative not literal!
• Holding all things together
• Head of the church

And so much more! It’s rich and loaded with meaning. Why not take some time to meditate on who Jesus is and what He has done.

Andy Moyle