Catholic Commentary on Colossians 1

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible." (Colossians 1:15-16)

The Letter from Prison

Colossians, written from prison, addresses a community Paul has not visited but which was founded by his co-worker Epaphras. A false teaching has appeared there, possibly a proto-Gnostic system combining Jewish legal observance with speculation about angelic powers and cosmic hierarchies. Paul's response is the highest Christology in the entire Pauline corpus: whatever powers and hierarchies these teachers exalt, Christ is above them all, because he is the one through whom all of them were created. The letter is a sustained argument for the absolute supremacy of Christ over every power, visible and invisible, human and cosmic.

After thanksgiving and prayer, Paul breaks into the great Christ hymn: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile all things to himself. The Catechism identifies this as the scriptural foundation of the Church's understanding of Christ as both fully divine and the one through whom creation has its being and coherence (CCC 291).

Paul's Ministry

Paul has become a servant of the Gospel to present everyone fully mature in Christ. This is the goal of all his teaching and admonishing: to present everyone complete in Christ. He proclaims the mystery hidden for ages but now disclosed: Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, in him all things hold together. The coherence of the universe, the stability of every atom, the order of every galaxy, is held in place by the one who chose to hold the nails in his hands on Calvary. The Christ who died for you is the Christ who sustains the cosmos. He is not a figure from religious history. He is the present ground of everything that exists. Worship him with the awe that belongs to the one in whom all things hold together.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, image of the invisible God, firstborn over all creation, in whom all things hold together: we worship you. Let your fullness dwell in us as it dwelt in you. Present us fully mature before the Father, complete in you, Christ in us, the hope of glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Colossians
1
Greetings from Paul and Timothy
(Philippians 1:1–2; Philemon 1:1–3)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
 
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
 
Grace and peace to you from God our Father.* 1:2 BYZ and TR God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Thanksgiving and Prayer
(1 Corinthians 1:4–9; Philippians 1:3–11)
 
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints— 5 the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you.
 
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our † 1:7 NE, NA, BYZ, and TR your behalf, 8 and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
 
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you ‡ 1:12 BYZ and TR us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
 
13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption,§ 1:14 TR redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
The Supremacy of the Son
(Hebrews 1:1–14)
 
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in Him all things were created, things 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 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 and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. 19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
 
21 Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. 22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— 23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature * 1:23 Or in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Paul’s Suffering for the Church
(2 Corinthians 11:16–33)
 
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. 25 I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, 26 the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
 
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect † 1:28 Or fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

*1:2 1:2 BYZ and TR God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

†1:7 1:7 NE, NA, BYZ, and TR your

‡1:12 1:12 BYZ and TR us

§1:14 1:14 TR redemption through His blood,

*1:23 1:23 Or in all creation

†1:28 1:28 Or fully mature

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