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Colossians 1:24-29
Paul has laid down a standard in front of each member of the assembly in Colosse; a standard by which
each one can know if he has truly believed into Christ, and has therefore been reconciled to God.
The one who genuinely has placed his faith in Christ continues in the faith, grounded and steadfast. He is
not moved away from the hope of the gospel which he heard. Christ has become the foundation of his life,
and he is built up upon Him.
The one who truly believes would not be swayed from the reality of Christ by the winds of false doctrine,
passing through Colosse. Each one must examine their own heart, as to whether they really are in the faith.
As Paul continues, he writes of his own personal involvement, in ministering the gospel to men. Pauls
words concerning this actually began in verse 23, so well reread that verse, continuing through the end of
chapter 1.
[Read Colossians 1:23-29]
So Paul is sharing with the assembly in Colosse his personal ministry, which the Lord gave to him - both in
terms of the work itself, and the scope of the work - his particular mission field. And at the end, Paul also
indicates how it is that he accomplishes the work.
Why would Paul be disclosing this to the Colossian assembly? Because he wants to instill in them his own
sense of wonder, as to how God is carrying out His purposes for men, through men, and that He is doing so
to the inclusion of all and the exclusion of none.
And Paul wants the Colossians to see the preciousness of the gospel, which had been extended to them.
That which was so freely offered to the Colossians had come at great cost to others - and the greatest cost,
to God.
Lets look again at the last half of verse 23, where Paul began to write of his ministry. Paul said there that
the gospel which the Colossians heard was preached to every creature under heaven.
What does Paul mean by this? First of all, we can see he clearly means men here - no other creature under
heaven benefits from the gospel, but men. But in using the term creature, Paul is stressing men as a
creation of God. God created men, and He therefore has a plan for men.
What is Gods plan, for men? To become His sons. And through whom is Gods plan for men realized?
Through Jesus Christ - the One who is the subject of the gospel message, which was preached to the
Colossians.
Pauls point is that God has made that message universally available, so that all men have the opportunity
to become a son of God.
Since the time when Jesus came, men like Paul have preached the good news of the Savior. And before
Jesus came, the gospel of the Coming Christ was preached through the types and pictures of the OT. And
even before that time - from the beginning - there were the constellations of the Mazzaroth, with their Godgiven names, that tell the story of the Coming One and His work.

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The gospel has indeed been preached to all men, through all time. But Pauls thought here is more specific,
as we look at it within the context of the passage. When Paul wrote of the gospel being preached to every
creature under heaven, he was thinking of how God had made the good news of Jesus Christ available to
all peoples.
To what people had God given the Law - which leads to Christ (Gal 3:24)? To the Jews. To what people
had He given the Tabernacle - which pictured Christ, in His first coming? The Jews. And to what people
had God sent the prophets, who foretold of the Coming Christ? The Jews. These special revelations of God
were made exclusively to the nation of Israel.
But now that Jesus had come, and fulfilled what had been revealed to Israel, the revelation of Jesus Christ
in the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven - to Jew, and to Gentile - for Gods purposes are
for His entire creation of mankind.
Paul became a minister of that gospel. And how did he become a minister? Did he go to seminary? No.
Ministry is always a calling. Every believer has a ministry, but it is God who decides what that ministry is.
Turn to First Corinthians chapter 12. Paul was writing to the assembly in Corinth concerning the
spirituals - in the Greek, charismata, sometimes translated spiritual gifts. But spiritual graces would be a
more fitting translation.
When you receive a gift, who is it for? Yourself. But the charismata, graced upon you by God as an
undeserved benefit, are not for you, but for others; especially for the other members of the Body of Christ;
for their benefit.
In verse 4, Paul describes the participation of each member of the Godhead in the employment of the
spiritual graces, among the members of the Body of Christ.
[First Corinthians 12:4-7]
Now, it might seem at first that Paul is just saying the same thing, in three different ways, but he is not.
Notice in verse 4, he speaks of the Spirit. Who is that? The Holy Spirit. Then in verse 5, he says Lord;
who would that be? The Lord Jesus Christ. And in verse 6, he speaks of the same God, which refers to
the Father. Each member of the Godhead has a unique role, in the enablement of believers with these
graces.
The Holy Spirit is the One who determines which grace is given to the believer. It was at Pentecost that
the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Body of Christ - their anointing for their ministry of reconciling men
to God.
At that time, all of the graces of the Spirit - the charismata - were given to the Body of Christ; but the
Spirit then distributes to each member of the Body the specific grace that will be used through him; often
more than one grace, made manifest within the believer when it is needed. For instance, in the case of Paul,
his ability to preach the gospel was immediately apparent; his ability to teach became evident later.
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who determines the specific domain or office in which the spiritual grace will
be used.

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For example, the Lords special calling of Paul came on the road to Damascus, at which time the Lord
chose Paul to the office of apostle (Acts 9:15). Pauls preaching and teaching was on a mostly itinerant
basis; he was predominantly a missionary. But at times, the Lord had Paul stay in one place, and minister for instance, he pastored the church in Corinth for a year and a half, and the church in Ephesus for three
years.
The Father is the One who specifically determines how and when the spiritual grace is employed, within
the believer. It is used in accordance with His will, moment by moment. Paul was currently teaching the
Colossian believers long-distance, through written letter, the words of which were inspired by the Holy
Spirit, as He revealed to Paul the Fathers mind on the situation in Colosse.
Through the spiritual graces, the Body of Christ is edified; its members grow in the grace and truth of their
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; and the Body itself grows, in numbers, as the Lord adds to His church daily
those who are being saved. So ultimately, these manifestations of the Spirit, given to each member of the
Body, are for Gods profit; for His glory, through His many sons of glory.
[Return to Colossians]
Paul now discloses some personal details concerning his ministry.
v. 24-25 Again Paul speaks of having become a minister, referring to ministering the word of God; the
gospel. But in verse 25, he speaks of it as a stewardship that God has given to him. What does that mean?
In Pauls day, a steward was a slave who managed his masters household, dispensing its resources, and
handling its affairs.
The church is the household of God (1 Tim 3:15); of Christ (Heb 3:6). Paul, as the bondslave of Christ, had
been entrusted by God as steward over particular members of the household of Christ. Which members?
The Gentiles.
Paul had been appointed by Jesus Christ as the apostle to the Gentiles. It was primarily through Paul that
the salvation of God was sent to them. And to Paul was entrusted the care of the churches, which came into
being through his preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles (2 Cor 11:28).
That is what Paul is talking about when he writes of the stewardship which God gave to him for you; he
means you Colossians, but especially as a Gentile assembly. Even though Paul did not preach the gospel
to the Colossians directly, one of his converts did - Epaphras. And because Paul was apostle to the
Gentiles, he recognizes the Colossians to be part of his stewardship.
Paul sees this as a fulfilling of the Word of God. Gods Word never returns to Him void; it accomplishes
what He purposes (Is 55:11). Here we see the accomplishment of the gospel - sons, for Gods kingdom through the ministry of Paul.
And thats why Paul rejoices; despite his sufferings. What sufferings? He had so many! There were the
physical hardships, of being in an itinerant ministry - deprivation; exposure; danger. There was the
persecution, for preaching the gospel, from both unbelieving Jews, and Gentiles - stonings; beatings;
imprisonment (2 Cor 11:23-28).

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As Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians, he was currently chained to a soldier under house arrest in
Rome, having already been imprisoned for two years in Caesarea, after the Jews in Jerusalem had beaten
him within an inch of his life. How many things Paul had to suffer, for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts
9:16).
And Paul indicates that his sufferings are for them - the Colossians, and all of those Paul ministered to. He
endured what he did for their sake - for the sake of the Body of Christ, the church. And Paul did so, with
joy.
How could he have joy, in suffering? Because the suffering was for a wonderful purpose; like the labor of a
woman, in order to bring forth her child. She is suffering, but she has joy in it, knowing that the end result
will be life - glorious life.
It was in this way that Paul entered into the sufferings of Jesus - who, for the joy that was set before Him the prospect of bringing many sons to glory - endured the cross, despising the shame (Heb 12:2, 2:10).
This is the fellowship of Christs sufferings - the labor for souls - which is our joy, as well.
And that is the key to what Paul means when he says, I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions
of Christ, for the sake of His Body, which is the church. Paul is certainly not saying that the sufferings of
Christ were in any way lacking or inadequate. In this very letter, Paul has been stressing the point that the
work of Christ on the cross was a complete work; completely efficacious; and that nothing can be added to
it.
So what does Paul mean? Christ alone could suffer in the stead of men on the cross, to reconcile them to
God, and no one can share in that suffering; it was His alone.
But as members of Christs Body, we are ambassadors for Christ. We implore men on Christs behalf, to be
reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20). And these men, that we are imploring, are at enmity with God.
As ministers of reconciliation, like Paul, we go out into a hostile world, to hostile men, and we share the
gospel with them - the royal priesthood of Christ, laying before men Gods peace terms - the cross.
And in doing so, we suffer the afflictions of Christ; each one of us, filling up in our flesh what is lacking of
those afflictions, until our cup is full. For some, it may be just ridicule, or rebuff. For others, it may be
ostracism; severed relationships; and so, isolation. It can lead to loss of work, and other hardships. In other
lands, the afflictions are more severe; and their intensity is growing even in our country, by the day.
But what does Paul say, of such afflictions? That they are light; and that they are just for a moment. And
meanwhile, they are working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Cor 4:17).
And besides this personal gain, there is the profit for God - labor pains, yes, but labor that is productive,
because it brings forth Life. And above all, there is the joy of fellowship with the Lord, through the
suffering; the joy of participating with Him in the work, as Paul did. Here is the satisfaction from the peace
offering, which was shared in fellowship between God and man.
Paul then qualifies the fulfillment of Gods Word among the Gentiles as something that was a mystery.

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v. 26-27 Mystery would have a very particular connotation, to the Colossians - and most pagan Gentiles.
Mystery was the knowledge of the hidden things of the Infinite Mind; their imagined concept of God.
This knowledge was made known only to a select few, who had been initiated into the mysteries.
It is Paul who uses this word mystery the most by far in Scripture, predominantly in his letters to the
Gentile churches. And he uses it with this familiar meaning - to indicate something of the true God which
is hidden, which cannot be known by human reason, and must be revealed by God.
But there is a significant difference - besides the genuineness of the knowledge, of course. Where the socalled pagan mysteries were only revealed to an exclusive few, Paul elsewhere indicates Gods desire to
reveal His mysteries to all who know Him (1 Cor 2:12). The mysteries of God are revealed by the Holy
Spirit, and so can be understood by everyone who has placed his faith in Christ.
Paul, as steward in Gods household to the Gentiles, was entrusted with this mystery by God, to disclose it
to all the saints; to every believer. It was Gods desire that all of His children should know the truth.
So what is the mystery here? Paul spells it out for us, in verse 27. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
But what does he mean by that?
There have been countless thoughts on the subject, which both personalize it, and generalize it; but Paul
didnt mean countless things, by what he said. I think we will see that Pauls meaning is quite clear, as we
consider the context.
Christ in you. Who is the you, in this passage? It is the Colossian believers; but more pertinently, the
Colossian believers as Gentiles. Note that Paul says in verse 27, this mystery among the Gentiles.
It is to the Gentiles that Paul had been appointed by God as steward, among whom the Word of God was
now being fulfilled - bringing in a rich and glorious harvest of souls. The mystery that God had revealed to
Paul through the Spirit, that Paul was sharing with the Colossians here, was Christ in YOU GENTILES - by
whom they had the hope of glory.
But we might say, that was no mystery. The OT discloses in several places that the God intended to save
the Gentiles (Is 42:6-7, 49:6; Jer 16:19-21, Mal 1:11). And thats correct. The LORD revealed that, to the
prophets.
But what the LORD did not reveal was the full inclusion of the Gentiles, as the people of God. Paul
discloses this mystery in more detail in the Ephesians encyclical, which was written at the same time as this
letter. Turn to Ephesians chapter 3. Paul had been writing to the churches in Asia of the unity of Jewish
and Gentile believers, in Christ. Now he writes specifically to the Gentiles.
[Ephesians 3:1-7]
v. 1-2 Dispensation is the same Greek word we find in the letter to the Colossians, translated
stewardship. Paul is writing in this letter also of his God-given stewardship with the Gentiles, to share
the gospel with them.
v. 3-5 Paul is likely referring here to his mention in chapter 1 of the mystery of the Fathers will (Eph 1:9),
which Paul disclosed to be the realization of the Fathers purposes for a kingdom of sons; the gathering
together in one of all things, in Christ.

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Now Paul will reveal a specific facet of that mystery, which he calls here the mystery of Christ - meaning, a
mystery revealed in Christ. This mystery has previously been hidden from men, but once Christ had come,
it was revealed by the Holy Spirit, not only to Paul but to all the apostles and prophets - the ministers of
Gods word - so that they could then share it with the rest of the Body of Christ.
This is how Paul describes the disclosed mystery.
v. 6-7 The mystery was not that the Gentiles should be saved; it was that the Gentiles should be fellow
heirs; that is, that they would receive the same inheritance, in the kingdom, as a full son of God, as the
Jews.
Also, that the Gentiles would be of the same body; fellow members of the Body of Christ, and so equal and
one with the Jews, in Christ.
And finally, that the Gentiles would be partakers of Gods promise in Christ - for Eternal Life, in a body of
glory. Through the gospel, the Gentiles were being included as the people of God.
Now, we might say to that, okay, so thats the mystery being revealed, which was unknown before; but so
what? Whats the big deal about that? That would be our perspective, from our vantage point in history.
The church has been in existence for almost 2000 years. And it is overwhelmingly Gentile. It is a rarity to
meet a Jewish believer, isnt it?
But in Pauls day, this thought - of the Gentiles being included, as the people of God, equal and one with
the Jewish believers - was positively revolutionary. Paul devoted no less than three chapters in Romans, to
explaining it.
In that letter, Paul borrowed an OT prophecy which has yet to be fulfilled for the Jews, and he applied it to
what he saw that God was doing with the Gentiles: I will call them My people, who were not My people,
and her beloved, who was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
You are not My people, there they shall be called sons of the living God. (Rm 9:25-26).
Why was this such a radical thought? Because from the time that the nations rejected the LORD at Babel,
they had to be set aside by Him; for they would not have Him.
God had to give the Gentiles over to their uncleanness; to their vile passions; to their debased minds, as
they pursued the lawlessness that was in their hearts (Rm 1:24, 26, 28). They were alienated from the life of
God; blind to Him, as they had hardened their hearts against Him (Eph 4:18).
After the nations rebelled at Babel, the LORD made a nation for Himself, a people for His name - the nation
Israel. For two thousand years, the Jews were identified as the people of God - of Jehovah - His privileged
nation (Rm 9:4-5).
The Gentile nations appeared to be utterly peripheral to the plans and purposes of God. Besides the
occasional mention in the OT Scriptures, it would seem that the LORDs plans pertained mostly to Israel;
even as Israel manifested its own lawless heart, against the LORD.
Things are not always as they seem, are they? For Israel was never the center of Gods plan; the center of
Gods plan was always Christ. And once Christ had come, Gods purposes which had been hidden from
ages and from generations, were brought to light.

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God had plans for both the Jews and the Gentiles - to be born again, as Gods children, into the same family
(Eph 2:19); to be joined, in one Body, in equality and unity (Eph 2:13-18). And it would all be realized
through uniting themselves to Christ, by faith - the same basis, for both.
That the Gentiles were being included by God on an equal basis with the Jews was first revealed to the
apostle Peter. Turn to Acts chapter 11.
If you had a chance to review chapter 10, you could see how the Lord began to open Peters understanding
to the inclusion of the Gentiles through a series of visions. Then, following the instruction of the
indwelling Spirit, Peter went to see Cornelius, a Gentile who was drawn to the God of Israel, and to a house
packed with Gentiles, Peter preached the gospel of Christ.
Those who were listening believed, and God poured out His Spirit upon them, as evidenced by their
speaking in tongues - languages that were unknown to them. This was a powerful testimony to Peter and
the Jewish believers who had come with him, that God was receiving the Gentiles on the same basis as the
Jews - by faith in Christ.
Peter related this account to the Jewish brethren in Jerusalem, who were initially horrified to think that
Peter had defiled himself with some Gentiles. In chapter 11, we see Peters conclusion of the matter; and
their response.
[Acts 11:17-18]
v. 17 Peter is speaking of the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was evidence to Peter that the Lord was
including the Gentiles as His people, for by one Spirit, they were all baptized into one Body (1 Cor 12:13) the Body of Christ.
v. 18 Once the Jewish brethren recognized the significance of what Peter was saying, they found no cause
to fight; instead they saw in it a reason to praise God. The Gentiles were also being received by God,
through Christ, and given His Life - Eternal Life. After recognizing Gods hand in it, the Jewish brethren
chose to receive the Gentiles, as well.
Pauls letters to the churches show evidence of the underlying tension between Jewish and Gentile
believers, who had never before associated with one another, let alone fellowshipped together.
It wasnt natural for them to regard each other as equal, to consider themselves as one people, after 2000
years of exclusiveness. But they had a new Life - in Christ - a Life they shared together. And as they
learned to live that Life, they found in it a source of unity with one another - the love of God, which shows
no partiality.
Its not natural, today, for those who are different not to see, and act, on their differences. Different
cultures. Different experiences. Different educations. Different lives. There are always differences among
the members of the Body of Christ.
But instead of those differences causing us to DIFFER, we should see in them the opportunity to allow the
love of God to unite us - to the different one. Differences keep things interesting! And they cause us to
grow - together - if we will love. Were one Body - and when the world can see us as one, in love, it is a
wondrous thing.
[Return to Colossians 1]

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Paul is speaking of the same mystery that he disclosed in Ephesians, but with full emphasis on the Gentiles
here - as this is a Gentile assembly. Paul is seeking to evoke a sense of wonder here - wonder, on the part
of the Colossians.
Christ, in you Gentiles - you, who had no hope and were without God in the world (Eph 2:12). Now you
have a hope - the hope of glory. You can be absolutely certain that one day, your body of flesh will be
conformed to the glorious body of your Lord (Phil 3:21).
Christ is in you; you have already received His Life, and you have received His Spirit, who is the
assurance of the redemption of your bodies from death (Eph 1:14). And it is your new body that will fit
you for your heavenly home, where you will be with your Lord - forever.
Some of the Colossians had deceived themselves into believing that only through a mystical spiritual quest,
which few could make, was there any hope of obtaining the hidden knowledge that they needed to
experience God, in His fullness. But the hidden knowledge that they sought access to was a sham.
Instead, Paul shows them that God has already revealed the true knowledge of what was once a mystery,
through Christ - and that it is available to all of His saints, freely. The particular knowledge that Paul
discloses here to the Colossians is that they already possess the Life of Christ, within them; Eternal Life,
that will one day be realized in its fullness in a glorified body. Therefore, there is nothing they lack except what? Understanding.
If the Gentile believers in Colosse will allow the eyes of their understanding to be enlightened, they will see
that they are fully, equally included as the people of God, with Jewish believers - they already possess the
same Life, and have the same inheritance.
For those in Colosse who were holding the Jewish mysticism that they were hearing about in such high
regard, this might help them to regain their perspective. As Paul said to the Romans, Is He the God of the
Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also (Rm 3:29). The Jews did not
have a corner on God - as many of the Gentiles tended to believe.
Paul then concludes his statement, concerning his special ministry.
v. 28 Paul includes Timothy and Epaphras in his statement - all those who minister the gospel. He is
contrasting their teaching, to what the Colossians have been hearing. They preach Christ. Not philosophy;
not legalism; not mysticism; not asceticism; Christ - the power of God, and the wisdom of God (1 Cor
1:24). It is a complete message; a full revelation of God.
The repetition of every man gives emphasis to the fact that the message is universal, and non-partial;
there are no spiritual elite, in the Body of Christ.
The warning comes through the preaching of the gospel: Be saved, from the wrath that is to come. The
teaching in all wisdom is instruction in the Word of God, built up on the foundation of Christ. It is
through the preaching of the gospel and the teaching of the Word that the goal is reached; to present men
perfect, that is, complete, in Christ Jesus.
This ties back to what Paul had said, in verse 22 - that they may be presented holy, and blameless, and
above reproach, in Gods sight. God sees it as already done; and through the ministry of Paul, Timothy and
Epaphras, it was being realized, in time.

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v. 29 Paul returns to a personal statement, here. Laboring in the Greek is working to the point of
exhaustion. Striving here means special pains and toils. The idea is that Paul gives it his all; he dedicates
all of his energy, to accomplish his ministry. Yet at the same time, Paul indicates that it is God, who is
working in him - the power of God. Which is it? It is both.
God is the source of the wisdom, direction, and strength for the work; and we must yield ourselves to Him our minds, our bodies - in order for the work to be accomplished, through us.
In sharing his ministry in this way, Paul was intent on showing the Colossians the love of God for them.
God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him to death, for their sake.
And Gods ministers, filled with His love, did not spare themselves, but spent their all to ensure that every
man had the opportunity to know the Lord; and to grow in Him, to completion. As love is the impetus to
walk in righteousness, we see that Paul has given the Colossians just what they need.
Reading: Col 2; Eph 3:14-21, Gal 4:8-20