Colossa was a city of Phrygia, near Laodicea. It does not
appear that St. Paul had preached there himself, but that
the Colossians were converted by Epaphras, a disciple of
the Apostles. However, as St. Paul was the great Apostle of
the Gentiles, he wrote this Epistle to the Colossians when
he was in prison, and about the same time that he wrote to
the Ephesians and Philippians. The exhortations and
doctrine it contains are similar to that which is set forth
in his Epistle to the Ephesians.
Colossians Chapter 1
He gives thanks for the grace bestowed upon the Colossians
and prays for them. Christ is the head of the church and
the peacemaker through his blood. Paul is his minister.
1:1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God,
and Timothy, a brother:
1:2. To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus
who are at Colossa.
1:3. Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father and
from the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.
1:4. Hearing your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which
you have towards all the saints.
1:5. For the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, which
you have heard in the word of the truth of the gospel,
1:6. Which is come unto you, as also it is in the whole
world and bringeth forth fruit and groweth, even as it doth
in you, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God
in truth.
1:7. As you learned of Epaphras, our most beloved fellow
servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ
Jesus;
1:8. Who also hath manifested your love in the spirit.
1:9. Therefore we also, from the day that we heard it,
cease not to pray for you and to beg that you may be filled
with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding:
1:10. That you may walk worthy of God, in all things
pleasing; being fruitful in every good work and increasing
in the knowledge of God:
1:11. Strengthened with all might according to the power of
his glory, in all patience and longsuffering with joy,
1:12. Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us
worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light:
1:13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and
hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love,
1:14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
remission of sins:
1:15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of every creature:
The firstborn... That is, first begotten; as the Evangelist
declares, the only begotten of his Father: hence, St.
Chrisostom explains firstborn, not first created, as he was
not created at all, but born of his Father before all ages;
that is, coeval with the Father and with the Holy Ghost.
1:16. For in him were all things created in heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or
dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were
created by him and in him.
1:17. And he is before all: and by him all things consist.
1:18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all
things he may hold the primacy:
1:19. Because in him, it hath well pleased the Father that
all fulness should dwell:
1:20. And through him to reconcile all things unto himself,
making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the
things that are on earth and the things that are in heaven.
1:21. And you, whereas you were some time alienated and
enemies in mind in evil works:
1:22. Yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh
through death, to present you holy and unspotted and
blameless before him:
1:23. If so ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled,
and immoveable from the hope of the gospel which you have
heard, which is preached in all the creation that is under
heaven: whereof I Paul am made a minister.
1:24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up
those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ,
in my flesh, for his body, which is the church:
Wanting... There is no want in the sufferings of Christ in
himself as head: but many sufferings are still wanting, or
are still to come, in his body the church, and his members
the faithful.
1:25. Whereof I am made a minister according to the
dispensation of God, which is given me towards you, that I
may fulfil the word of God:
1:26. The mystery which hath been hidden from ages and
generations, but now is manifested to his saints,
1:27. To whom God would make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ, in you
the hope of glory.
1:28. Whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching
every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man
perfect in Christ Jesus.
1:29. Wherein also I labour, striving according to his
working which he worketh in me in power.
Colossians Chapter 2
He warns them against the impostures of the philosophers
and the Jewish teachers, that would withdraw them from
Christ.
2:1. For I would have you know what manner of care I have
for you and for them that are at Laodicea and whosoever
have not seen my face in the flesh:
2:2. That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed
in charity and unto all riches of fulness of understanding,
unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of
Christ Jesus:
2:3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge.
2:4. Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by
loftiness of words.
2:5. For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am
with you, rejoicing, and beholding your order and the
steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ.
2:6. As therefore you have received Jesus Christ the Lord,
walk ye in him:
2:7. Rooted and built up in him and confirmed in the faith,
as also you have learned: abounding in him in thanksgiving.
2:8. Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy and vain
deceit: according to the tradition of men according to the
elements of the world and not according to Christ.
2:9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
corporeally.
2:10. And you are filled in him, who is the head of all
principality and power.
2:11. In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision
not made by hand in despoiling of the body of the flesh:
but in the circumcision of Christ.
2:12. Buried with him in baptism: in whom also you are
risen again by the faith of the operation of God who hath
raised him up from the dead.
2:13. And you, when you were dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath quickened together
with him, forgiving you all offences:
2:14. Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was
against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the
same out of the way, fastening it to the cross.
2:15. And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath
exposed them confidently in open shew, triumphing over them
in himself.
2:16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or
in respect of a festival day or of the new moon or of the
sabbaths,
In meat, etc... He means with regard to the Jewish
observations of the distinction of clean and unclean meats;
and of their festivals, new moons, and sabbaths, as being
no longer obligatory.
2:17. Which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is
of Christ.
2:18. Let no man seduce you, willing in humility and
religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not
seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh:
Willing, etc... That is, by a self willed, self invented,
superstitious worship, falsely pretending humility, but
really proceeding from pride. Such was the worship, that
many of the philosophers (against whom St. Paul speaks,
ver. 8) paid to angels or demons, by sacrificing to them,
as carriers of intelligence betwixt God and men; pretending
humility in so doing, as if God was too great to be
addressed by men; and setting aside the mediatorship of
Jesus Christ, who is the head both of angels and men. Such
also was the worship paid by the ancient heretics,
disciples of Simon and Menander, to the angels, whom they
believed to be makers and lords of this lower world. This
is certain, that they whom the apostle here condemns, did
not hold the head, (ver. 19,) that is, Jesus Christ, and
his mediatorship; and therefore what he writes here no way
touches the Catholic doctrine and practice, of desiring our
good angels to pray to God for us, through Jesus Christ.
St. Jerome [Epist. ad Algas.] understands by the religion
or service of angels, the Jewish teachers, who sought to
subject the new Christians to the observance of the Mosaic
law.
2:19. And not holding the head, from which the whole body,
by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and
compacted, groweth into the increase of God.
2:20. If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of
this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the
world?
2:21. Touch not: taste not: handle not.
Touch not, etc... The meaning is, that Christians should
not subject themselves, either to the ordinances of the old
law, forbidding touching or tasting things unclean; or to
the superstitious invention of heretics, imposing such
restraints, under pretence of wisdom, humility, or
mortification.
2:22. Which all are unto destruction by the very use,
according to the precepts and doctrines of men.
2:23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in
superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in
any honour to the filling of the flesh.
Colossians Chapter 3
He exhorts them to put off the old man, and to put on the
new. The duties of wives and husbands, children and
servants.
3:1. Therefore if you be risen with Christ, seek the things
that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand
of God.
3:2. Mind the things that are above, not the things that
are upon the earth.
3:3. For you are dead: and your life is hid with Christ in
God.
3:4. When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you
also shall appear with him in glory.
3:5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the
earth: fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence
and covetousness, which is the service of idols.
3:6. For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the
children of unbelief.
3:7. In which you also walked some time, when you lived in
them.
3:8. But now put you also all away: anger, indignation,
malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth.
3:9. Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the
old man with his deeds,
3:10. And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto
knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.
3:11. Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision
nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free.
But Christ is all and in all.
3:12. Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty,
patience:
3:13. Bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord
hath forgiven you, so do you also.
3:14. But above all these things have charity, which is the
bond of perfection.
3:15. And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts,
wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye
thankful.
3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly: in
all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms,
hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your
hearts to God.
3:17. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and
the Father by him.
3:18. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in
the Lord.
3:19. Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter towards
them.
3:20. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this
is well pleasing to the Lord.
3:21. Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation,
lest they be discouraged.
3:22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according
to the flesh: not serving to the eye, as pleasing men: but
in simplicity of heart, fearing God.
3:23. Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as to the
Lord, and not to men:
3:24. Knowing that you shall receive of the Lord the reward
of inheritance. Serve ye the Lord Christ.
3:25. For he that doth wrong shall receive for that which
he hath done wrongfully. And there is no respect of persons
with God.
Colossians Chapter 4
He recommends constant prayer and wisdom. Various
salutations.
4:1. Masters, do to your servants that which is just and
equal: knowing that you also have a master in heaven.
4:2. Be instant in prayer: watching in it with
thanksgiving.
4:3. Praying withal for us also, that God may open unto us
a door of speech to speak the mystery of Christ (for which
also I am bound):
4:4. That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.
4:5. Walk with wisdom towards them that are without,
redeeming the time.
4:6. Let your speech be always in grace seasoned with salt:
that you may know how you ought to answer every man.
4:7. All the things that concern me, Tychicus, our dearest
brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the
Lord, will make known to you.
4:8. What I have sent to you for this same purpose, that he
may know the things that concern you and comfort your
hearts:
4:9. With Onesimus, a most beloved and faithful brother,
who is one of you. All things that are done here, they
shall make known to you.
4:10. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, saluteth you: and
Mark, the cousin german of Barnabas, touching whom you have
received commandments. If he come unto you, receive him.
4:11. And Jesus that is called Justus: who are of the
circumcision. These only are my helpers, in the kingdom of
God: who have been a comfort to me.
4:12. Epaphras saluteth you, who is one of you, a servant
of Christ Jesus, who is always solicitous for you in
prayers, that you may stand perfect and full in all the
will of God.
4:13. For I bear him testimony that he hath much labour for
you and for them that are at Laodicea and them at
Hierapolis.
4:14. Luke, the most dear physician, saluteth you: and
Demas.
4:15. Salute the brethren who are at Laodicea: and Nymphas
and the church that is in his house.
4:16. And when this epistle shall have been read with you,
cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans:
and that you read that which is of the Laodiceans.
And that you read that which is of the Laodiceans... What
this epistle was is uncertain, and annotators have given
different opinions concerning it. Some expound these words
of an epistle which St. Paul wrote to the Laodiceans, and
is since lost, for that now extant is no more than a
collection of sentences out of the other epistles of St.
Paul; therefore it cannot be considered even as a part of
that epistle. Others explain that the text means a letter
sent to St. Paul by the Laodiceans, which he sends to the
Colossians to be read by them. However, this opinion does
not seem well founded. Hence it is more probable that St.
Paul wrote an epistle from Rome to the Laodiceans, about
the same time that he wrote to the Colossians, as he had
them both equally at heart, and that he ordered that
epistle to be read by the Colossians for their
instructions; and being neighbouring cities, they might
communicate to each other what they had received from him;
as one epistle might contain some matters not related in
the other, and would be equally useful for their concern;
and more particularly as they were equally disturbed by
intruders and false teachers, against which the apostle was
anxious to warn them, lest they should be infected by their
pernicious doctrine.
4:17. And say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which
thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
4:18. The salutation of Paul with my own hand. Be mindful
of my bands. Grace be with you. Amen.
The text in this file was taken with permission from Catholic Software's Douay Bible program, a complete multimedia Bible for the PC. The complete product description follows:
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