Bible Commentary: Colossians 1:1

Here, we have Paul introducing himself as the originator of this letter, with the specific description of an apostle, which means a specially sent one, not from man, nor by human arrangement, but by divine ordination.

It was clear to him that God had set him apart ¹.

He was not looking for Christ, but Christ was looking for him and stopped him in his tracks while he was on his persecution rampage against the church ².

He was not an apostle of Christ Jesus by his own will. He did not pay money to be appointed an apostle, nor did he join the right group, gain the right connections, or hire the right branding agent.

In another place, he said "first apostles" ³. 

Therefore, by stating that he is an apostle, Paul highlighted the importance of what he had to say regarding the church.

Whatever he had to say trumps whatever anyone in the church in Colossae had to say; it highlights the priority that his words must be given.

His words as an apostle were not up for debate; they were not open for argument. While Paul in another place, said that prophets can speak and others evaluate ⁴, Paul’s writings, as they invoke the authority of Christ himself, are not up for judgment.

They are scriptures ⁵; they are divine writings, and they are to be regarded as such.

It is essential to understand that Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles ⁶.

That means if you are a Gentile, i.e., non-Jew, and you are not prioritizing the words of Paul, you are in darkness without question.

He defines what his authority is about; he said it is to build up ⁷.

Jesus said, "I will build my church" ⁸, and a central part of how he does that is through the writings of Paul.

Listening to, learning from, and embracing what Paul has to say is central to how you get built up. Built up into what? Built up into Christ ⁹.

Paul also introduced Timothy to the recipients of the letter.

And what was Paul’s instruction to Timothy before he departed from the world?

He said he should commit what he has learned from him to many witnesses ¹⁰.

That’s it.

Paul was the school; his knowledge and what he had taught Timothy were enough.

He does not need to seek other knowledge from anywhere else.

He should just repeat what he has heard from Paul again and again and get others to repeat it again and again.

Why?

Because he said there is a time coming when people would “not tolerate sound teaching ¹¹.” People would turn to myths. They will prioritize preachers who would tickle them with good stories, both real and imagined.

They will gravitate to teachers who will appeal to their peculiar preferences.

But Paul is different. He describes himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus.

In another place, he said that he is meant to be “a light for the Gentiles ¹².”

Paul is not just an apostle; he is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.

Why is Paul an apostle?

Because that is what God has decided, and that is the end of it.

He is an apostle because that is what God has determined.

It is not up for debate or deliberation; it is not dependent on a committee.

To not receive Paul as an apostle of Jesus Christ is to reject the will of God, to be in rebellion, and nothing good would come out of that.

What would be the result?

The soul would be famished; the result would be darkness and deception.

To not pay attention to the word of Paul is to be open to deception, lies, and confusion.

Pay careful attention to what Paul has written as he writes about Jesus, the implications of His death and resurrection, His identity, His primacy, His preeminence, and total dominance.

He does not just tell you how to feel about Jesus but how to think.

He said that the words he used are “taught by the Spirit ¹³.”

They are not mere words used to convey concepts; they are like divine lines defining the “new creation ¹⁴. “

The words enable you to become who you are meant to be in thoughts, deeds, and being.

He said his apostleship is to bring about the obedience of faith among the Gentiles ¹⁵, which is the obedience of Christ with the totality of your being.

Announcement

1  Galatians 1:15

2  Acts 9:1-16

3  1 Corinthians 12:28

4  1 Corinthians 14:29

5  2 Peter 3:16

6  Romans 11:13

7  2 Corinthians 10:8

8  Matthew 16:18

9  Ephesians 4:11-12

10  2 Timothy 2:2

11  2 Timothy 4:3-4 , NET

12  Acts 13:47, NET

13  1 Corinthians 2:13

14  Galatians 6:15, NET

15  Romans 1:5