Colossians 1:2 - Exposition

To those in Colossae £ (which are) saints and faithful brethren in Christ ( Ephesians 1:1 ; Philippians 1:1 ; Romans 1:7 ; 1 Corinthians 1:2 ; 2 Corinthians 1:1 ). "Saints" in respect of their Divine calling and character ( Colossians 3:12 ; 1 Corinthians 1:1-31 , 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 , where this title is formally introduced); "faithful brethren in Christ" ( Ephesians 1:1 ) in view of the errors and consequent divisions threatening them as a Church ( Colossians 1:23 ; Colossians 2:5 , Colossians 2:18 , Colossians 2:19 ; Colossians 3:15 ; Ephesians 4:14-16 ; Ephesians 6:10-18 ; Philippians 1:27 : 2 Timothy 2:19 ). Grace to yon, and peace: "as in all his Epistles." This Pauline formula of greeting combines the Greek and Hebrew, Western and Eastern, forms of salutation (comp. "Abba, Father," Romans 8:15 ). χάρις is a modification of the everyday χαίρειν , hail! ( Acts 15:23 ; James 1:1 ; 2 John 1:10 ); and εἰρήνη reproduces the Hebrew shalom ( salam ) . Grace is the source of all blessing as bestowed by God ( Colossians 1:6 ; Ephesians 1:3-6 ; Ephesians 2:5 ; Romans 5:2 , Romans 5:17 , Romans 5:21 ; Titus 2:11 ); and peace, in the large sense of its Hebrew original, of all blessing as experienced by man ( Ephesians 2:16 , Ephesians 2:17 ; Luke 2:14 ; Acts 10:36 ; Romans 5:1 ; Romans 8:6 ; 2 Thessalonians 3:16 ). From God our Father. Among the apostle's salutations this alone fails to add "and from our Lord Jesus Christ"—a defect which copyists were tempted to remedy. The omission is well established (see Revised Text, and critical editors generally), and cannot surely be accidental. In this and the twin Ephesian letter, devoted as they are to the glory of Christ, the name of the Father stands out with a peculiar prominence and dignity, much as in St. John's Gospel: "honouring the Son," they must needs "honour the Father" also (verses 12, 13; Colossians 3:17 ; Ephesians 1:17 ; Ephesians 2:18 ; Ephesians 3:14 ; Ephesians 4:6 ; Ephesians 5:20 ).