Col 1:17 And he is before all things,
 and by him all things consist.
 
Christ existed before before all things ,
 and in union with Him all

 things have their proper place .


Col 1:18 And he is the head of
 the body, the church: who is
 the beginning,

 the  firstborn from the dead;
 that in all things he might have
 the 

 preeminence.

Christ is the head of His body ,
 the church .He is the source of
 the body's

 life .He is the first-born Son ,
who was raised from death , so 
that in all

 things he might have first place .


Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father
 that in him should all fullness 
dwell;


God the Father is pleased that
 the Son has in himself the full
 nature of God .
        
Col 1:20 And, having made peace
 through the blood of his cross,
 by him to

  reconcile all things unto himself;
 by him, I say, whether they be 
things in earth, or things in heaven. 

 
God made peace through His Son's
 sacrificial death on the cross .

 God , by Christ Jesus , brought 
back to Himself all things , both
 on earth  and in heaven .


Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime
 alienated and enemies in your 
mind by  wicked works, yet now
 hath he reconciled .

At one time you were far away 
from God .And you were His
 enemies because  of the evil
 works you did and thought .
Yet now he has brought you
 back as  His friends.


Col 1:22 In the body of his
 flesh through death, to present
 you holy and  unblameable and 
unreproveable in his sight: 

He has done this through  his 
sacrificial death on the cross .
 As the result Christ has brought
 you into the presence of God 
to present you  holy and unblameable
 and pure and faultless in His
 sight .


Col 1:23 If ye continue in the
 faith grounded and settled, and
 be not  moved  away from the hope
 of the gospel, which ye have
 heard, and which was  preached
 to every creature which is under
 heaven;

 whereof I Paul am made  a minister; 


You must continue faithful on a
 firm and sure foundation , and
 must not  allow yourselves  
to be moved away from the hope
 of the gospel , which you

 have heard . It is this
 Good News that has been preached
 to everybody in  the world .And
 Paul has the joy of telling it
 to others.

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in 
my sufferings for you, and fill 
up that  which is behind of 
the afflictions of Christ in
 my flesh for his body's

 sake,   which is the church:
 
Part of Paul's work is to 
suffer for them ;and he is glad ,
 for he is

 helping to finish the remainder 
of Christ's sufferings for His 
body, the Church .


Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a 
minister, according to the 

dispensation of God which is
 given to me for you, to fulfil
 the word of God;


God has sent Paul to help the
 Church  and tell God's secret
 plan to them.

Col 1:26 Even the mystery 
which hath been hid from ages
 and from generations, but now
 is made manifest to his saints:

God has kept this secret for
 centuries and generations  ,
 but now at last it has  pleased
 Him to tell it to those who 
love him .

Col 1:27 To whom God would 
make known what is the riches of
 the glory  of this  mystery among
 the Gentiles; which is Christ in
 you, the hope of glory:

And the riches and glory of His
 plan are for the Gentiles, too .
 This is the secret  : Christ in
 you is your only hope of glory.


Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning
 every man, and teaching every man
 in all  wisdom; that we may present
 every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
 
Everywhere we go we talk about Christ
 to all who will listen , warning

 them , and teaching them in all 
wisdom . We want to be able present
 each one to God , perfect because 
of what God has done for them .

Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour,
 striving according to his working,

 which   worketh in me mightily. 
This is my work , and I can do it
 only according to Christ's mighty
 energy that works in me mightily .


           
CHAPTER 2



Col 2:1 For I would that ye knew
 what great conflict I have for
 you, and  for  them at Laodicea,
 and for as many as have not 
seen my face in the flesh;
 

Paul has wished they could know
 how much he has struggled in 
prayer for  them and for the
 believers at Laodicea , and
 for his many other  friends
 who have never known him
 personally .


Col 2:2 That their hearts might 
be comforted, being knit together 
in love, and  unto all riches
 of the full assurance of 
understanding, to the  acknowledgement
 of the mystery of God, and of 
the Father, and of Christ; 

Paul prayed that their hearts might
 be comforted , and that they will

 be encouraged and knit together 
in love .He also prayed that they 
.
will have the rich experience of 
knowing Christ with full assurance
 of understanding. In this way they
 will know God's secret plan which 
is  Christ himself .

Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the
 treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Christ is the key that opens all
 the hidden treasures of God's wisdom

 and knowledge.

Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any
 man should beguile you with 

enticing words.

Do not let anyone deceive you with
 false arguments , no matter how

 good they seem to be .
    
Col 2:5 For though I be absent in
 the flesh, yet am I with you in

 the spirit,   joying and beholding
 your order, and the stedfastness 

of your faith in  Christ.


Though he was absent in body , Paul
 was with them in the spirit .

 He was glad as he saw the firmness
 which they stood together in

 their faith in Christ .


Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received
 Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk

 ye in  him:

Since you have accepted Christ 
 Jesus the Lord , live in union with

 Him.

Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him,
 and stablished in the faith,

 as ye have   been taught, abounding
 therein with thanksgiving.

Keep your roots deep in Christ. Build
 your life on Christ , and become

 stronger in your faith , as you
 have been taught .Be filled with

 thanksgiving .


Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil
 you through philosophy and vain

 deceit, after the tradition of men,
 after the rudiments of the world,

 and not  after Christ.
 
See to it , then , that no one 
destroys you by means of the worthless

 deceit of human wisdom , which 
comes from the teachings

handed down by men and vanity of
 the world and not from Christ .


Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all 
the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
 
For the fulness of divine nature 
is in Christ , in his humanity .

In beginning was the Word,and the
 Word was with God , and the Word

 was God .The Same was in the 
beginning with God. All things were

 made by him ; and without him
 was not any thing made that was made

(John 1:1-3)

And the Word was made flesh ,
 and dwelt among us ,(and we beheld

 his glory , the glory of the only
 begotten of the Father ,)

full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

The fulness of God is in Christ 
in ever present eternity. The

 fullness dwells in Christ. 
He is not made full. Christ is full .

 The saints are not full .They 
are made full.


Col 2:10 And ye are complete in
 him, which is the head of all

 principality and  power: 

You have given full life in union
 with Christ , who is supreme

 over all ruler and power .


Col 2:11 In whom also ye are 
circumcised with the circumcision made

 without  hands, in putting off 
the body of the sins of the flesh by

 the circumcision of Christ: 

When you came to Christ , He set
 you free from your evil desires  ,

 by a spiritual operation , the
 baptism of your soul by

 the Holy Spirit .


Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism,
 wherein also ye are risen with 

him through the faith of the 
operation of God, who hath raised him

 from the dead.

When you were baptized, you were 
buried with Christ.  And in baptism

 you are risen with Christ through
 faith of the work of God, who has

 raised Jesus from the dead .
 

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in 
your sins and the uncircumcision of 

your flesh, hath he quickened
 together with him, having forgiven

 you all trespasses; 

And you were at one time spiritual
 dead because of your sins and 

because you were Gentiles . But 
God has now brought you to 
life with

 Christ .God has forgiven all
 our sins . God has adopted you
 as a  child of God. God has 
accepted us as His children.


Col 2:14 Blotting out the
 handwriting of ordinances that
 was against  us, which  was
 contrary to us, and took it
 out of the way, nailing it

 to his cross;

God canceled the unfavorable record
 of our debts with its binding rules.

 God took it out of the way , by
 nailing it to his cross .


Col 2:15 And having spoiled
 principalities and powers, he made

a shew of them openly, triumphing
 over them in it. 

And on the cross Christ freed
 himself from spiritual rulers and
 
authorities .He made a public 
spectacle of them , triumphing 
over them.


Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge
 you in meat, or in drink, or in 

respect of   an holyday, or of the 
new moon, or of the sabbath days: 

Let no one make rules about what you
 eat or drink  or about holy days 

or the Sabbath .

If you have died with Christ from 
the world , you are not to subject

 yourselves to ordinances of men .
 They are only matters of human

 opinion , and have no spiritual 
values.

We are to take our commands from
our living Lord Jesus Christ. We
 must  not allow anyone to 
interfere between the Lord and
 us. 


Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of 
things to come; but the body is of

 Christ.

All this is a shadow of things 
to come . The reality is the

 Lord Jesus Christ . 
         
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile 
you of your reward in a voluntary

 humility and  worshipping of angels,
 intruding into those things

 which he hath not  seen, vainly 
puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Let no one condemn you because of
 your refusal to worship angels,as

 they day you must . Do not allow
 any one to cheat you of your

 heavenly reward. Do not listen to
 false prophets who claim to be 

superior because of special visions
 and who insist on false humility

 and the worship of angels .


Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, 
from which all the body by

 joints and bands   having nourishment
 ministered, and knit together,

 increaseth with the   increase of God. 

But they are not connected to Christ,
the Head to which  all of us

 who are his body are joined . Under
 Christ the whole body is

 nourished And Christ holds the 
joints and ligaments together.

 And its grows as God wants it
 to grow.

Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be
 dead with Christ from the rudiments

 of the world, why, as though
 living in the world, are ye 
subject to ordinances,

Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not;
 handle not;
 
Since you died with Christ ,
this has set you free from the 
world's idea of how to be saved .
Doing good and obeying various
 rules will not save any one .
 Why are you still bound by 
such worldly rules as not 
eating , tasting or touching a
 certain food . 
        
Col 2:22 Which all are to
 perish with the using;) after
 the commandments and doctrines
 of men?
 
Such rules are mere human teachings.
 All these false teaching are 

making folks perish with the using .
 Food was made to be eaten .

Give thanks to God for giving you 
the good food. Eat the good food 

with a thankful heart toward God ,
 who has blessed you with the

 good food.

Col 2:23 Which things have
 indeed a shew of wisdom in will 
worship, and humility, and neglecting 
of the body; not in any honour to the

satisfying of the flesh. 

These things may seem to show good
 because these rules require strong

 devotion , and are humiliating and
 hard on the body. But they can not

 conquer a person's evil thoughts and
 desires. They have no spiritual values.



             
 CHAPTER 3



Col 3:1 If ye then be risen
 with Christ, seek those things
 which are  above, where Christ 
sitteth on the right hand of God.
 
If you then be risen with Christ,
 seek those rich treasures and joys 

of heaven where Christ sits on the
 right hand of God .

Set your sight on Christ .


Col 3:2 Set your affection on things
 above, not on things on the

 earth.
 

Set your affections on heavenly
 spiritual things . Don't waste your

 thoughts worrying about the things
 on the earth .


Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your 
life is hid with Christ in God.
 
You are dead to the world . Worldly
 things are useless to you .
 
Your real life is hid with Christ
 in God.


Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our
 life, shall appear, then shall ye 

also appear   with him in glory.

When Christ who is our real life,
shall appear , then you will shine

 with him and share in all his glories.


Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members
 which are upon the earth;
 
fornication,  uncleanness, inordinate
 affection, evil concupiscence,

 and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Put to death the earthly desires at
 work in you , such as sexual

 immorality , indecency, lust , evil
 passions , and greed ,which is 

a form of idolatry.

Col 3:6 For which things' sake the
 wrath of God cometh on the

 children of disobedience: 

God's anger comes on the children of 
disobedience . God's punishment

 comes down upon those who do
 such things .

Col 3:7 In the which ye also
 walked some time, when ye lived in

 them.
 
You used to do them when your life
 was still part of world .

Col 3:8 But now ye also put off
 all these; anger, wrath, malice,

 blasphemy,  filthy communication out of
 your mouth.

But now you throw away all these rotten
 garments of anger,hatred,
 malice, cursing , and dirty language .


Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing 
that ye have put off the old

 man with  his deeds;
 
Don't tell lies to each other.
See that you have put away the old life

 with all its wicked deeds .

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man,
 which is renewed in knowledge

 after the  image of him that 
created him: ,br>
You are living a brand new life.
You have put on the new man ,
 which is continually learning more
 and more of what is right , and 
trying to be more like Christ who
 created this new life within you .


Col 3:11 Where there is neither 
Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor

uncircumcision , Barbarian, Scythian,
 bond nor free: but Christ is all,

 and in all.
 
In this new life  one's nationality
 or race or social position is not

 important . Whether a person has 
Christ is what matters . And Christ
is all , and in all .

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as 
the elect of God, holy and beloved,

 bowels of  mercies, kindness, humbleness
 of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

You have been chosen by God , Who 
loves you and has given you a new 

life. Clothe yourselves with compassion ,
 kindness , humility ,

 gentleness, and patience .
        
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another,
 and forgiving one another, if any

 man have a  quarrel against any: even 
as Christ forgave you, so also

 do ye.

Be tolerant with one another , and
 forgive one another ,if any one

 have a quarrel against any one . 
You must forgive one another just

 as the Lord has forgiven you.
          
Col 3:14 And above all these 
things put on charity, which is the

 bond of perfectness.
 
And above all these let love guide
 your life . Love is the bond of 

perfectness .Love bonds the church 
together in perfect harmony .

Col 3:15 And let the peace of
 God rule in your hearts, to the

 which also ye are called in one body;
 and be ye thankful. 

Let the peace of God rule in
 your hearts , to the which also
 you  are called in one body ;
 And be thankful .

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ
 dwell in you richly in all 

wisdom; teaching   and admonishing
 one another in psalms and hymns

 and spiritual songs, singing with
 grace in your hearts to the Lord.
 
Let Christ's message live richly in
 your heart . Teach and instruct

 one another  in all wisdom .
Remember the word of Christ and let

 His word enrich your lives and
 make you wise.  Teach the word of

 Christ to each other .Sing them
 out in psalms and hymns and 

spiritual songs, singing to the
 Lord with thankful hearts.

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do
 in word or deed, do all in the

 name of the Lord  Jesus, giving
 thanks to God and the Father
 by him.

You are a representative of the
 Lord Jesus Christ .

Whatever you do in deed or word ,
 do it all in the name of the

 Lord Jesus Christ ,as you give
 thanks through  him to God the

 Father. 

Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves
 unto your own husbands, as it

 is fit in the  Lord.
 
A believer is motivated by his
 relationship to Christ and his

 responsibility to God.

Submission is the duty of the wife.
 Wives need not to submit

 themselves to severe tyrants or
 cruel dictators. Wives submit

 themselves to their husbands , according
 to the will of the Lord.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives,
 and be not bitter against them.
 
Husbands , love your wives , and do not
 be harsh with them.

Love your wife , according to the
 commandment of the Lord. 

Love is more than mere affection. A
 husband's love is a going 

concern for the wife's whole being.

Let us not love with just
 word or tongue, but in deed 
and truth.

The Holy Spirit working in our lives
 can produce such fruit of love.

 The Holy Spirit reveals only what
 is in Christ. 

Jesus is our pattern to love. Jesus
 is the way, the truth , and the

 life . Only Jesus can show us the
 true way to love that will be

 pleasing to God.

Such love is a testimony to the world .
 Love glorify God because

 God is love. Such love points and
 shows people to Christ. Such love

 frees you from fear , anger , lust,
 greed , selfishness , and

 sorrow . Such love frees you from 
pride. Such love draws unsaved 

folks to Christ , when we lift up 
Christ as our Lord. Unsaved folks

 will recognize our blessings from 
the Lord.

Such love comes from Christ because
 Christ shines brightly in the

 darkness of the world.

Such love brightens people's lives.

God has given you freedom , not 
freedom to do evil , but freedom

 to love one another. If a person
 plants seeds of love , he shall

 receive love during harvest time. 

The Lord wants you to live in 
the spirit of love and peace .

 Therefore let love be your greatest
 aim when you serve the

 Lord Jesus Christ.

Love is very patient. Love is kind.
 Love is not selfish .

 Love is not irritable. Love is 
unselfish. Love Love is not happy

 with evil. Love is happy with the
 truth of God. Love never gives up ,

 and its faith, hope , and patience
 never fail. 

Love does not hold grudges and hardly
 notice when others do it wrong .

 Love hungers and thirsts after the
 righteousness of god. Love is pure

 in heart. Love is not puffed up .
 Love does not behave itself

 unseemingly . Love seeks not her own .
 Love is not easily provoked .

 Love thinks no evil . Love rejoices
 not in iniquity, but rejoices in

 truth. Love bears all things , 
believes all things , hopes all things,

 endures all things. Love never fails.

Love is humble .Love is meek and gentle .
 Love is extremely kind .

 Love is not glad about injustice.
 Love comes from the Lord .

 Love is everlasting . God is love.
Without God's love you are

 nothing . Without God in your lives ,
 you have no purpose in

 your lives. We are Christ's . We
 belong to the Lord. In Christ ,

 for today , for tommorrow , forever ,
 we are filled with the

 Holy Spirit.In Christ , we are filled
 with love , peace , and joy.

Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents
 in all things: for this is well

 pleasing    unto the Lord.

Children , it is your duties to obey
 your parents in all things ; 

because this is what pleases God.

Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not
 your children to anger,

 lest they be    discouraged.
 
Fathers ,do not irritate your children
  or they will become discouraged.

 Do not be harsh with your children.
 Don't push them too hard .

Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all 
things your masters according to the

 flesh; not  with eyeservice, as
 menpleasers; but in singleness of heart,

 fearing   God:
 
Servants , obey your human masters
 in all things , not only when they

 are watching  you because you want 
to win their approval .Obey your boss.

 Don't be menpleasers . Do your job
 with a sincere heart 

because your love for God. And
 you want to please God .

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do,
 do it heartily, as to the Lord, 

and not unto  men;
 
And whatever you do , do it
 heartily and cheerfully , as if
 you are working  for the Lord ,
 and not for  men.

Col 3:24 Knowing that of the
 Lord ye shall receive the reward of the

inheritance: for ye serve
 the Lord Christ. 

Remember that it is the Lord who is 
going to pay you , giving you your 

full portion of all He owns .  

Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong
 shall receive for the wrong which he

 hath  done: and there is no respect
 of persons.
 
The wrongdoer will be paid for 
the wrong things he has done because

 God judges everyone by the same standard .

         

CHAPTER 4



Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your 
servants that which is just and equal;

 knowing that ye also have a Master
 in heaven.

Employers and bosses , be fair 
and just in the way you treat
 your employees. Masters, be 
fair and just in the way your
 treat your servants.

 Remember that you too have
 a Master in heaven.

What a person believes determines
 how he will act.

Employers are required not only
 to be just , but also be kind .
Let them deal with employees as
 they expect God should deal with
 themselves.
Col 4:2 Continue in prayer,
 and watch in the same with 
thanksgiving;
 
Continue in prayer. Don't be weary 
in prayer . Keep at it. Keep on
 praying .

 Watch for God's answers . Keep
 alert as you pray , giving thanks 
to God .
 
Col 4:3 Withal praying also 
for us, that God would open unto 
us a door of  utterance, to speak
 the mystery of Christ, for which 
I am also in bonds: 

Paul asked the Colossians to pray
 for them ,so that God will
 give them  a good opportunity to
 speak about the secret of Christ .
 Paul was in  prison because he 
has spoken about the Good News 
of Jesus Christ.

Col 4:4 That I may make it 
manifest, as I ought to speak.
 
A person ought to speak boldly 
of the Good News.Tell it plainly .

 Tell it freely and fully.

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward
 them that are without,

 redeeming the time.

Make the most of your opportunities
 to tell the Good News to those who

 are without knowledge of the Good News.
 Be wise in how you use your time.

Be diligent in redeeming time. Be
 careful in all your talks , to
 do good , and recommend the 
Good News by all means.

Let all your talks be discreet and
 seasonable . Let our talks be 

with grace. Though our talks be
 that is common , yet it must be 

in a Christian manner. 

Col 4:6 Let your speech be
 alway with grace, seasoned with salt,

 that ye may  know how ye ought to
 answer every man. 

Let your conversation always be 
graceful ,seasoned with the wisdom

 of God , that you may know how you
 ought to answer everyone .

Col 4:7 All my state shall 
Tychicus declare unto you, who is

 a beloved brother, and a faithful
 minister and fellowservant

 in the Lord:
 
Tychicus, a beloved brother ,
 tells them how Paul is getting
 along .He is a hard worker and
 serves the Lord with Paul .

Col 4:8 Whom I have sent unto 
you for the same purpose, that

 he might know  your estate, and 
comfort your hearts;

Paul  sent him to see how they
 were doing , and to comfort and 

encourage them .

Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful
 and beloved brother, who

 is one of you. They  shall make
 known unto you all things which 

are done here.
 
Onesimus , a faithful and beloved
 brother was one of the Colossians.
  
He and Tychicus was going to give
 the latest news to them. 

Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellow 
prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus,

 sister's son    to Barnabas, (touching
 whom ye received commandments: 

if he come unto    you, receive him;) 

Aristarchus , a fellowprisoner of Paul ,
 sent his love to them .

So did Mark , a relative of Barnabas.
Paul urged them to give Mark

 a hearty welcome . 

Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is 
called Justus, who are of the 

circumcision. These   only are my
 fellowworkers unto the kingdom of
 
God, which have been a comfort
 unto me.

Jesus Justus also sent his love.
These were the only Jewish Christians

 working with Paul .What a comfort
 they have been . 

Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one
 of you, a servant of Christ,

 saluteth you, always labouring fervently
 for you in prayers, that ye may stand
perfect and complete in all the 
will of God. 

Epaphras ,who was also a Colossian,
 was a servant of Christ .

 He sent his love to them .
 He was always earnestly praying
 for them , asking God to make
 them stand firm , as mature
 believers ,in complete

 obedience to God's will .

Col 4:13 For I bear him record,
 that he hath a great zeal for you,

 and them   that are in Laodicea,
 and them in Hierapolis. 

Paul could assured that Epaphras
 had worked hard for the Colossians
 
and the Christians in Laodicea 
and Hierapolis .

Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved 
physician, and Demas, greet you.
 
Luke , the much loved physician ,
 and Demas sent their love to you .

Col 4:15 Salute the brethren
 which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas,

 and the  church which is in 
his house. 

Paul asked them to please give
 his love to the Christian friends

 who are in Laodicea , and to
 Nymphas , and to those who meet in

 his house.

Col 4:16 And when this epistle
 is read among you,

 cause that it be read also in the
 church of the Laodiceans;

 and that ye likewise read the 
epistle from Laodicea. 

Paul requested that after this
 epistle was read among the Colossians,

let this same epistle be passed
 on to the church at Laodiceans.

Col 4:17 And say to Archippus,
 Take heed to the ministry which
 thou  hast received in the Lord,
 that thou fulfil it. 

Take heed to the ministry which 
you have received in the Lord ,

that you fulfil it .

Col 4:18 The salutation by
 the hand of me Paul.

 Remember my bonds. Grace be
  with you. Amen. 

Paul dictated most of his letters.
 Now Paul gives his signature to

 the letter  which he has dictated.

Paul tells the readers to pray for
 him , by remembering his bonds.

 Ask the Lord to free him.
 
Paul wrote to the Colossian church 
which he had never visited ,

 but Paul knew many of the folks
 in the church. Paul has led many

 of the folks to the knowledge of
 the Lord Jesus Christ. 


----------------------------------------------------------

Title                 Colossians
Author                Anthony Ing
Publisher             Good News Publishing  
paperback  1997 ISBN 10 0-921947-27-5
                ISBN 13 0-921947-27-1 
Digitized  2014
ISBN 10 0-921947-96-8 
ISBN 13 978-0-921947-96-7