Chapter 1

theme: The Superiority of Christ And reconciliation in him, walking worthy

• Paul opens the letter in thanksgiving and prayer, highlighting the Colossians' faith in Christ Jesus and the love that they have for all the saints. (v.4)

• Paul shifts the focus onto Christ, emphasizing his superiority over all:

– He is the image of the invisible God (v. 15)

– By him, all things were created (v. 16)

– He is before all things, and all things hold

together in him (v. 17)

– … that in everything, he might be preeminent

(v. 18)

– He is all the fullness of God (v. 19)

• He encourages them with his prayers for them that they may be filled with the knowledge of God's will so that they may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and bear fruit in every good work. (v. 9-11)

• Reconciliation lies in Christ, and he reconciles to himself all things, “making peace by the blood of his cross” (v. 20)

“And you, who were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death… in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (v. 21-22)

• He rejoices in his suffering for the sake of the church, for fellow believers (v. 24), for he became a minister of God’s word, which he strives to make known (v. 25) that everyone may be presented as mature in Christ. (v. 28)

key verses: