Bible Study - Colossians 1
S – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15–20 ESV
O - Commentary:
The sixth description of the exalted Christ is that all God’s fullness dwell[s] in Him. Later Paul wrote, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (2:9). Colossians 1:19 is one of the most powerful descriptions of Christ’s deity in the New Testament (cf. Heb. 1:3). “Fullness” (plērōma), a key word in Colossians, is used in 1:19 and 2:9. (The verb plēroō is used in 1:9, 25; 2:10; and 4:17.) The noun means “completeness” and is used of a wide range of things including God’s being (Eph. 3:19), time (Gal. 4:4), and grace in Christ (John 1:16). This full and complete Deity is said to “dwell” (katoikēsai, “abide lastingly or permanently”) in Christ.
The seventh feature of Christ is that He is the Reconciler. Through Christ God will reconcile to Himself all things...It is important to note that people are reconciled to God (“to Himself”) not that God is reconciled to people. For mankind has left God and needs to be brought back to Him. In 2 Corinthians 5:19 “reconciliation” was used by Paul in a judicial (vs. an actual) sense in which the whole “world” is made savable through Christ’s death. Paul spoke of “the many” (i.e., “those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace”) being “made righteous” through the Cross (Rom. 5:19
Norman L. Geisler, “Colossians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 673–674.
A – What a description of Jesus.
All the fullness of God, His character, His heart, His will, lived in Jesus. Not part of God. All of God. Fully God, wrapped in human flesh.
Why? So we could know Him. So we could have a relationship with Him. Then He paid for that relationship at the cross.
It's hard to read this and not be moved to gratitude and humility. His love did this. That should deepen our reverence and draw us closer.
Here's the beautiful part. Paul uses the same word a chapter later: "you have been filled in him." In Christ, we're already complete. But we're still growing into what He's already made us. Every step toward Him, our heart and character look a little more like His.
And when life feels like it's coming apart, remember that in Him, all things hold together. That includes you.
So what step can you take today to show your love for God and your desire to be more like Him?
R – Heavenly Father, we worship You and surrender to You. Thank You for Jesus. Thank You for loving us so much that You came as a man, paid the price for our sin, and opened the way to know You. Hold us together today. Empower us to walk with You in humility, reverence, and peace. In Jesus' name, amen.
