Colossians
"In Him all things hold together"
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Read
What does it say?
This is a plain-language guide, not a translation. Check it against the Bible text any time.
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole chapter, in shortThe main points of the whole chapter, in a few sentences.
Paul wrote to Christians in Colossae, who were hearing that they needed more than Jesus. He told them that Jesus is the image of the invisible God: all things were created through him, and in him all things hold together. God forgave all our sins, cancelling the debt against us and nailing it to the cross. So set your minds on things above, where your life is hidden with Christ, and clothe yourselves with compassion and kindness: "Forgive as the Lord forgave you," and over all these put on love.
Where it is in the Bible: Colossians 1 to 3
All the sections at a glanceA map of the chapter, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Letter
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bearing Fruit | 1:1-14 | Paul thanks God and prays for them |
| 2. Christ Above All | 1:15-20 | Everything was made through him and holds together in him |
| 3. Christ in You | 1:21-29 | The mystery is Christ living in his people |
| 4. Rooted in Him | 2:6-15 | Our debt is nailed to the cross |
| 5. Things Above | 3:1-11 | Your life is hidden with Christ |
| 6. Clothe Yourselves | 3:12-17 | Put on love |
Before You Read
Who wrote it. Paul, writing from prison with his coworker Timothy (1:1, 4:18).
Who it was for. Christians in Colossae, a small town in what is now Turkey. Paul had never visited. They heard the good news from Epaphras, a man from their own town (1:7).
What was happening. Some teachers were telling the Colossians they needed more than Jesus: special knowledge, strict rules, and the worship of angels (2:16-18). Paul answers by showing how big Jesus really is.
How to read it. This page walks through the first three chapters, where Paul's main message is. Watch how often he says "all."
Section by Section
Section 1 of 6Bearing Fruit
Paul and Timothy thank God for the Colossians' faith and love.
The good news is "bearing fruit and growing" all over the world, just as it is among them (1:6).
Paul keeps praying that they will know God's will and live in a way that pleases him.
He prays they will be strong, patient, and thankful.
"He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (1:13-14).
Section 2 of 6Christ Above All
Then Paul writes what may be an early Christian hymn about Jesus.
"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation" (1:15).
No one can see God. But look at Jesus, and you see what God is like.
"All things were created through Him and for Him" (1:16).
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (1:17).
He is the head of the church, and the first to rise from the dead.
God was pleased to live fully in him, and through him to make peace with everything, "by making peace through the blood of His cross" (1:20).
Section 3 of 6Christ in You
Once they were far from God. Now God has made peace with them through Jesus's death.
Paul suffers gladly for the church.
There is a mystery, hidden for ages and now revealed: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (1:27).
That's why Paul works so hard, with the energy God gives him.
Section 4 of 6Rooted in Him
"Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him" (2:6-7).
Don't let anyone take you captive with empty ideas.
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form" (2:9). Deity means God. Jesus is fully God.
In baptism you were buried with him and raised with him.
God forgave all our sins. Paul pictures a list of everything we owe God, a debt we could never pay.
"He took it away, nailing it to the cross!" (2:14).
At the cross, Jesus beat every power against us.
Section 5 of 6Things Above
"Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God" (3:1).
"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (3:2).
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (3:3).
When Jesus appears, you will appear with him in glory.
So get rid of the old ways: greed, anger, rage, nasty talk, lying.
Put on the new self that God keeps renewing.
In this new life, all the walls between people fall. "Christ is all and is in all" (3:11).
Section 6 of 6Clothe Yourselves
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (3:12).
Elect means chosen.
"Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (3:13).
"And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity" (3:14).
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (3:15).
Let the word of Christ live in you richly. Teach each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (3:17).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "The image of the invisible God" (1:15) | Jesus shows us what God is like. |
| "In Him all things hold together" (1:17) | Jesus keeps the whole universe going. |
| "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (1:27) | Jesus lives in believers, and that's our hope. |
| "Rooted and built up in Him" (2:7) | Grow deep in Jesus, like a tree. |
| "Nailing it to the cross" (2:14) | Our debt to God is cancelled. |
| "Your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (3:3) | You are safe with Jesus. |
| "Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (3:13) | God's forgiveness shapes how we forgive. |
| "Put on love" (3:14) | Love holds all the other good things together. |
Back Then
Colossae was once an important town, but by Paul's time it was small. An earthquake around AD 60 damaged the area.
Scythians (3:11) were people from far north of the Black Sea, thought of as wild outsiders.
Debts were often written on a document. When a debt was cancelled, it could be crossed out or nailed up as public notice.
Literal Reader Alert
Does "firstborn over all creation" mean Jesus was created? No. "Firstborn" here means first in rank, like the heir. Paul says everything was created through him (1:16).
Should Christians ignore life on earth? No. "Setting your mind on things above" changes how we live here: with kindness, forgiveness, and love.
Is singing in church in the Bible? Yes! Paul tells them to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (3:16).
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Paul | Thankful | He heard about their faith and love (1:3-4) |
| Paul | Joyful in suffering | He suffers for the church (1:24) |
| The Colossians | Unsure | Teachers said Jesus wasn't enough (2:8) |
| Believers | Thankful | Christ forgave them everything (3:15-17) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which line do you need today? Tap one.
Everything feels like it's falling apart
In Christ, all things hold together.
I owe so much
Your debt was nailed to the cross.
Someone wronged me
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
I feel shaky
Your life is hidden with Christ in God.
You Might Have Heard
"Jesus was a good teacher, one of many."
What's true: Jesus was a great teacher.
What the passage is mainly about: Jesus is far more. "The Son is the image of the invisible God" (1:15). All things were made through him, and in him all things hold together.
Where Jesus is: Above all things, holding the world together, and living in his people.
Good News
We owed God a debt we could never pay.
"He took it away, nailing it to the cross!" (2:14).
Jesus holds all things together, and he holds you. Your life is hidden with him in God.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and in him all things hold together. He nailed our debt to the cross, and now Christ lives in us, the hope of glory.
Big Idea
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. All things were made through him and hold together in him. He nailed our debt to the cross, and we live a new life hidden with him in God.
If this chapter brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther often said that if you want to know God, look at Jesus. Apart from Christ, he said, God is hidden, but in Christ we see God's heart.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year C, it reads through Colossians 1 to 3 on four Sundays in July (Lectionary 15 to 18), and Colossians 1:11-20 on Christ the King. Colossians 3:12-17 is read on the First Sunday of Christmas in Year C, and Colossians 3:1-4 on Easter Day in Year A.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- First Sunday of Christmas Year CSecond reading, Colossians 3:12-17
- Lectionary 15 Year CSecond reading, Colossians 1:1-14
- Lectionary 16 Year CSecond reading, Colossians 1:15-28
- Lectionary 17 Year CSecond reading, Colossians 2:6-15 [16-19]
- Lectionary 18 Year CSecond reading, Colossians 3:1-11
- Christ the King Year CSecond reading, Colossians 1:11-20
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Colossians, explained in plain words. Some said Jesus wasn't enough. Paul shows how big Jesus really is. About 10 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/colossians/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church