UTN uW Translation Notes:

Colossians 1 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

1. Letter Opening (1:1–12) * Greeting (1:1–2) * Prayer of Thanksgiving (1:3–8) * Prayer of Petition (1:9–12)2. Teaching Section (1:13–2:23) * Christ and His Work (1:13–20) * Christ’s Work Applied to the Colossians (1:21–23) * Paul’s Ministry (1:24–2:5)Paul begins this letter in 1:1–2 by giving his and Timothy’s names, identifying the people to whom he is writing, and offering a greeting. This is the way people typically began letters at this time.

Special Concepts in this Chapter

Mystery

Paul refers to a “mystery” for the first time in this chapter (1:26–27). This does not refer to some secret truth that is hard to understand and that only a few privileged individuals can learn about. Instead, it refers to God’s plans that once were unknown but are now known to all his people. What is the content of this mystery? It is Christ himself, his work, and his union with believers. (See: reveal)

Fullness

Paul refers to “filling” or “fullness” four times in this chapter. First, Paul prays that the Colossians are “filled” with the knowledge of God’s will (1:9). Second, Jesus has all the “fullness” of God (1:19). Third, Paul “fills up” in his flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ (1:24). Fourth, Paul makes the word of God “fully” known (1:25). It is possible that Paul uses “filling” and “fullness” so often because it was something that the false teachers promised. Paul wishes to show instead how “fullness” comes through the work of Christ and through his own work on their behalf. Christ has God’s fullness, and Paul works for Christ by “filling” the Colossians, who then are “filled” with the knowledge of God’s will.

Important Figures of Speech in this Chapter

Images for Christian living

Paul uses many different images to describe Christian living. In this chapter, he uses the images of “walking” and “bearing fruit” (1:10). These images show that Paul wants the Colossians to think about the Christian life as a life that is directed towards a goal (either a destination, if one is walking, or fruit, if one is growing). (See: fruit)

Light versus dark

Paul contrasts the “inheritance of the saints in the light” (1:12) with the “authority of the darkness” (1:12). The “light” describes what is good, desirable, and related to God’s favor. The “darkness” describes what is distant from God, opposed to him, and evil.

Head and body

In this chapter, Paul introduces an image that he will develop more fully in chapter 2: that of Christ as the head of the body, which is his church. This image identifies Christ as the source of life and direction for his church, just like the head is the source of life and direction for the body.

Other Possible Translation Difficulties in this Chapter

The lack of the afflictions of Christ

In 1:24, Paul speaks of “the lack of the afflictions of Christ,” a lack that he fills up by his sufferings. This does not mean that Christ somehow failed in his mission and work, and Paul has to fill in the missing pieces. Instead, “lack” refers to something that Christ intentionally left for this followers to complete. He has called them to suffer, just as he himself did, to continue the mission of the church.

The “Christ-Hymn”

Many scholars think that 1:15–20 is an early Christian hymn that Paul has quoted to remind the Colossians of what they believe in common with other Christians. If this is true, it does not mean that this section says something different than what Paul thinks. Instead, Paul chose to quote it because he fully affirmed it. If it would be helpful for your readers, you could format these verses in a way that shows that they are from a hymn or poem.