Colossians 1:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 1:1-2

I. The inscription of this epistle is much the same with the rest; only it is observable that, 1. He calls himself an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. An apostle is a prime-minister in the kingdom of Christ, immediately called by Christ, and extraordinarily qualified; his work was peculiarly to plant the Christian church, and confirm the Christian doctrine. He attributes this not to his own merit, strength, or sufficiency; but to the free grace and good-will of God. He thought... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 1:1

1:1 This is a letter from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and from Timothy, the brother, to the dedicated people of God and faithful brothers in Christ who are in Colosse. A dedicated Christian cannot write a single sentence without making clear the great beliefs which underlie all his thought. Paul had never actually been in Colosse and so he has to begin by making clear what right he has to send a letter to the Colossians. He does that in one word; he is an apostle.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 1:2-8

1:2-8 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you in our prayers; for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love you have to all God's dedicated people, because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven. Of that hope you have already heard in the true word of the gospel, which has come to you, just as in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as it did among you too, from that day on... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 1:2-8

Colossians 1:6-8 are a kind of summary of what the gospel is and does. Paul has much to say of the hope, to which the Colossians have already listened and which they have already accepted. (i) The gospel is good news of God. Its message is of a God who is a Friend and Lover of the souls of men. First and foremost, the gospel sets us in a right relationship with God. (ii) The gospel is truth. All previous religions could be entitled "guesses about God." The Christian gospel gives a man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ ,.... The apostle puts his name to this epistle, by which he was known in the Gentile world, as he usually does in all his epistles; and styles himself "an apostle", as he was, having seen Christ in person, and received his commission, doctrine, and qualifications immediately from him, with a power of doing miracles to confirm the truth of his mission. This he chose to make mention of, partly because the false teachers everywhere insinuated that he was not an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:2

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ ,.... This is the inscription of the epistle, in which the persons wrote unto are described as "saints", or holy men; not by birth, for all are unholy and unclean by nature; nor by baptism, for that neither takes away sin, nor gives grace; nor merely externally, by an outward reformation; but by separation, being by an act of eternal election set apart for God, for holiness, and happiness; and by imputation, Christ being made sanctification to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:1

Paul, an apostle - by the will of God - As the word αποστολος , apostle, signifies one sent, an envoy or messenger, any person or persons may be the senders: but the word is particularly restrained to the messengers of the everlasting Gospel, sent immediately from God himself; and this is what St. Paul particularly remarks here when he calls himself an apostle by the will of God; signifying that he had derived his commission from an express volition or purpose of the Almighty. And... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:2

To the saints - Those who professed Christianity. See the note on Ephesians 1:1 . Which are at Colosse - Instead of εν Κολοσσαις , at Colosse, or among the Colossians, ABC, and many other excellent MSS., with both the Syriac, Coptic, Slavonic, Origen, Gregory Nyssen, Amphilochus, Theodoret, Damascenus, Theophylact, and others, read εν Κολασσαις in Colassa, or among the Colassians; and this is most probably the true reading. That this city perished by an earthquake, a short time... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:1

Verse 1 1Paul an Apostle. I have already, in repeated instances, explained the design of such inscriptions. As, however, the Colossians had never seen him, and on that account his authority was not as yet so firmly established among them as to make his private name (278) by itself sufficient, he premises that he is an Apostle of Christ set apart by the will of God. From this it followed, that he did not act rashly in writing to persons that were not known by him, inasmuch as he was discharging... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 1:1

Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus through God's will, and Timothy the brother ( Ephesians 1:1 ; 2 Corinthians 1:1 ). The apostle designates himself by his office, as always, except in the Macedonian Epistles and the letter of private friendship to Philemon. Timothy shares also in the greeting of the Epistle to Philemon, probably a leading member of the Colossian Church (comp. Colossians 4:9 , Colossians 4:17 with Philemon 1:2 , Philemon 1:10-12 ). During St. Paul's long residence... read more

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