Colossians - The Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians
http://www.humanreligions.info/colossians.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2012
Included as holy:
Protestant Bibles
Title: Colossians
Section: New Testament
Prev: Philippians
Next: 1 Thessalonians
Catholic Bible
Title: Colossians
Section: New Testament
Prev: Philippians
Next: 1 Thessalonians
Eastern Orthodox Bibles
Title: Colossians
Section: New Testament
Prev: Philippians
Next: 1 Thessalonians
Rejected by:
Jewish Tanakh
- About Colossians - A Forgery Written in the Name of St Paul
- An Introduction to St Paul
- The 4 chapters of Colossians (95 verses)
- Links
1. About Colossians - A Forgery Written in the Name of St Paul1
The author of Colossians, writing in the name of Paul, is exhorting his readers to reject false teachings, which apparently involved the worship of a hierarchy of angels, against the following of Jewish dietary laws, and against the keeping of certain festivals. Although the recipient of the letter may well have known to what teachings the author was referring to, he didn't leave enough hints for us outsiders to work out exactly which group of beliefs were bothering him. Instead of angels, the author of Colossians emphasizes the primacy of Christ. This book has many common elements with the Epistle to the Ephesians and both these books teach, unlike the Pauline epistles written by St Paul himself, that Christians were already saved (Colossians 2:12-13). They still need to observe moral laws however, and the last 2 chapters are on ethics and morals.
German scholar Walter Bujard, 40 years ago, is responsible for the most comprehensive analysis of Colossians. "Bujard analyzed all sorts of stylistic features of the letter [... to Pauline texts of the approximately same length] The differences between this letter and Paul's writings are striking and compelling [and] go on for many pages". He concludes with certainty that it was not written by St Paul. Here are a few lines of his remarks, as quoted by Prof. Ehrman:
“
How often the letter uses 'advserative conjunctions' (e.g., 'although'): Galatians, 84 times; Philippians, 52; 1 Thessalonians, 29; Colossians, only 8.
How often the letter uses casual conjunctions (e.g., 'because'): Galatians, 45 times; Philippians, 20; 1 Thessalonians, 31; Colossians, only 9.
How often the letter uses a conjunction (e.g., 'that,' 'as') to introduce a statement: Galatians, 20 times; Philippians, 19; 1 Thessalonians, 11; Colossians, only 3.”
Based on this and many other aspects of historical research, Colossians is counted amongst the pseudo-Pauline texts. That is, writings that are inspired by the writings of St Paul, and forged in his name by unknown authors.
2. An Introduction to St Paul
#bible #christianity #gnosticism #mithraism #new_testament #paul
13 of the books of the Christian New Testament are the epistles (letters) of St. Paul, which form the oldest text in the New Testament3. Seven were probably written by Paul himself and six others have been written in his name by (anonymous) followers, some up to 80 years after his death. By the time the official Bible canon was produced, no-one knew that only some were genuine. The historical Paul probably did write 1 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Philemon and Romans. Letters forged in the name of Paul are 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Ephesians, Colossians and 2 Thessalonians.4,5,6,7. Paul was born in Tarsus as "Saul" and adopted the name of Paul after converting to what is now Christianity. He was an early leader of the growing Christian churches around the Roman Empire, and the writings of St. Paul are the earliest existing Christian writings known to historians. Despite this, Paul never met Jesus and appears to rely mostly on Greek myths and legends, many of which he copied, placing Jesus at the center of them instead of their original heroes.
For more, see:
3. The 4 chapters of Colossians (95 verses)
Colossians 1 (29 verses)
| KJV | YLT | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, | Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timotheus the brother, | Colossians 1:5-7 is referenced on Acts (The Acts of the Apostles): 1. A Forgery Colossians 1:15 comments: Arian Christianity (the Father is Greater than the Son): A Precursor to Modern Christianity: 5. Biblical References |
| 2 | To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | to the saints in Colossae, and to the faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ! | |
| 3 | We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, | We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you, | |
| 4 | Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, | having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that `is' to all the saints, | |
| 5 | For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; | because of the hope that is laid up for you in the heavens, which ye heard of before in the word of the truth of the good news, | |
| 6 | Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: | which is present to you, as also in all the world, and is bearing fruit, as also in you, from the day in which ye heard, and knew the grace of God in truth; | |
| 7 | As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; | as ye also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful ministrant of the Christ, | |
| 8 | Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. | who also did declare to us your love in the Spirit. | |
| 9 | For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; | Because of this, we also, from the day in which we heard, do not cease praying for you, and asking that ye may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, | |
| 10 | That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; | to your walking worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, in every good work being fruitful, and increasing to the knowledge of God, | |
| 11 | Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; | in all might being made mighty according to the power of His glory, to all endurance and long-suffering with joy. | |
| 12 | Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: | Giving thanks to the Father who did make us meet for the participation of the inheritance of the saints in the light, | |
| 13 | Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: | who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate `us' into the reign of the Son of His love, | |
| 14 | In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: | in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of the sins, | |
| 15 | Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: | who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation, | |
| 16 | For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: | because in him were the all things created, those in the heavens, and those upon the earth, those visible, and those invisible, whether thrones, whether lordships, whether principalities, whether authorities; all things through him, and for him, have been created, | |
| 17 | And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. | and himself is before all, and the all things in him have consisted. | |
| 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 might have the preeminence. | And himself is the head of the body -- the assembly -- who is a beginning, a first-born out of the dead, that he might become in all `things' -- himself -- first, | |
| 19 | For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; | because in him it did please all the fulness to tabernacle, | |
| 20 | And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. | and through him to reconcile the all things to himself -- having made peace through the blood of his cross -- through him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens. | |
| 21 | And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled | And you -- once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile, | |
| 22 | In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: | in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself, | |
| 23 | If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; | if also ye remain in the faith, being founded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the good news, which ye heard, which was preached in all the creation that `is' under the heaven, of which I became -- I Paul -- a ministrant. | |
| 24 | Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: | I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly, | |
| 25 | Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; | of which I -- I did become a ministrant according to the dispensation of God, that was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God, | |
| 26 | Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: | the secret that hath been hid from the ages and from the generations, but now was manifested to his saints, | |
| 27 | To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: | to whom God did will to make known what `is' the riches of the glory of this secret among the nations -- which is Christ in you, the hope of the glory, | |
| 28 | Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: | whom we proclaim, warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, | |
| 29 | Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. | for which also I labour, striving according to his working that is working in me in power. |
Colossians 2 (23 verses)
| KJV | YLT | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; | For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, | Colossians 2:12-13 is discussed on this page in 1. About Colossians - A Forgery Written in the Name of St Paul Colossians 2:14 is referenced on SAB: Are the laws of the Old Testament still binding? Some Bible Verses Say Yes, Others Say No Colossians 2:14 is referenced on Biblical Dress Codes: God's Laws on Clothes: 3. All Laws of the Bible Must be Followed, Both Old and New Colossians 2:14 comments: The Old Testament Versus the New Testament: Do Christians Still Have to Observe OT Law?: 1. The Old Testament Versus the New Testament: Do Christians Still Have to Observe OT Law? Colossians 2:14 is referenced on The Gradual Instruction of Humankind by a Series of Prophets from God: 3.2. Christianity: Does the New Testament Represent a New Revelation Which Overrides the Jewish Scriptures? Colossians 2:14 is referenced on The Gospel According to Saint Luke: 2. Contradictions and Mistakes Colossians 2:14 is discussed on Ephesians - The Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians: 5.3. Ephesians 6:1-2 (Obey and Honour Your Parents) Contradictions |
| 2 | That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; | that their hearts may be comforted, being united in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, to the full knowledge of the secret of the God and Father, and of the Christ, | |
| 3 | In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | in whom are all the treasures of the wisdom and the knowledge hid, | |
| 4 | And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. | and this I say, that no one may beguile you in enticing words, | |
| 5 | For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. | for if even in the flesh I am absent -- yet in the spirit I am with you, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in regard to Christ; | |
| 6 | As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: | as, then, ye did receive Christ Jesus the Lord, in him walk ye, | |
| 7 | Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. | being rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as ye were taught -- abounding in it in thanksgiving. | |
| 8 | Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. | See that no one shall be carrying you away as spoil through the philosophy and vain deceit, according to the deliverance of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ, | |
| 9 | For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. | because in him doth tabernacle all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, | |
| 10 | And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: | and ye are in him made full, who is the head of all principality and authority, | |
| 11 | In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: | in whom also ye were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of the Christ, | |
| 12 | Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. | being buried with him in the baptism, in which also ye rose with `him' through the faith of the working of God, who did raise him out of the dead. | |
| 13 | And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; | And you -- being dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh -- He made alive together with him, having forgiven you all the trespasses, | |
| 14 | Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; | having blotted out the handwriting in the ordinances that is against us, that was contrary to us, and he hath taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross; | |
| 15 | And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. | having stripped the principalities and the authorities, he made a shew of them openly -- having triumphed over them in it. | |
| 16 | Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: | Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths, | |
| 17 | Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. | which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body `is' of the Christ; | |
| 18 | Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, | let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and `in' worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh, | |
| 19 | And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. | and not holding the head, from which all the body -- through the joints and bands gathering supply, and being knit together -- may increase with the increase of God. | |
| 20 | Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, | If, then, ye did die with the Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances? | |
| 21 | (Touch not; taste not; handle not; | -- thou mayest not touch, nor taste, nor handle -- | |
| 22 | Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? | which are all for destruction with the using, after the commands and teachings of men, | |
| 23 | Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. | which are, indeed, having a matter of wisdom in will-worship, and humble-mindedness, and neglecting of body -- not in any honour, unto a satisfying of the flesh. |
Colossians 3 (25 verses) - Be good people. Be honest in marriage. Everyone must do what they're told
| KJV | YLT | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. | If, then, ye were raised with the Christ, the things above seek ye, where the Christ is, on the right hand of God seated, | Colossians 3:5-6 is mentioned on Marriage: Its Diversity and Character: 5.3. Christianity and Marriage Colossians 3:5-6 comments: Christianity and Sexuality: The Damaging Results of Faulty Teachings: 2. Christianity and Marriage Colossians 3:5-6 is referenced on Christianity and Marriage For more on Colossians 3:5-6 see Christianity and Marriage: 2. The Bible's Demands No Sex Without Marriage (Mostly) Colossians 3:18 is discussed on St Paul - History, Biblical Epistles, Gnosticism and Mithraism: 6. Women are to Submit, to be Quiet, to Stay at Home Colossians 3:18 is mentioned on Marriage: Its Diversity and Character: 5.3. Christianity and Marriage Colossians 3:18 is mentioned on Christianity and Sexuality: The Damaging Results of Faulty Teachings: 2. Christianity and Marriage Colossians 3:18 comments: Christianity and Sexuality: The Damaging Results of Faulty Teachings: 6. Male Dominance Over Women Colossians 3:18: See Christianity and Marriage Colossians 3:18 is referenced on Christianity and Marriage: 4. Christianity and Women: Biblical Misogyny and Male Dominance Some comments on Colossians 3:18 are on Religion Versus Womankind: 5. Christianity Colossians 3:18: See Christianity and Women: Biblical Misogyny and Male Dominance Colossians 3:18 is mentioned on Christianity and Women: Biblical Misogyny and Male Dominance: 1.2. The Epistles of St Paul: Women are to Submit, to be Quiet, to Stay at Home Colossians 3:20: See Is the Christian God Evil? Evidence from Scripture and Nature: 3.1. Rebellious and Stubborn Sons Colossians 3:20 is referenced on Christian Moral Theory and Morality in Action: Biblical Morals and Social Disaster: 4.2. Rebellious and Stubborn Sons |
| 2 | Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. | the things above mind ye, not the things upon the earth, | |
| 3 | For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. | for ye did die, and your life hath been hid with the Christ in God; | |
| 4 | When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. | when the Christ -- our life -- may be manifested, then also we with him shall be manifested in glory. | |
| 5 | Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: | Put to death, then, your members that `are' upon the earth -- whoredom, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and the covetousness, which is idolatry -- | |
| 6 | For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: | because of which things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience, | |
| 7 | In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. | in which also ye -- ye did walk once, when ye lived in them; | |
| 8 | But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. | but now put off, even ye, the whole -- anger, wrath, malice, evil-speaking, filthy talking -- out of your mouth. | |
| 9 | Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; | Lie not one to another, having put off the old man with his practices, | |
| 10 | And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: | and having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create him; | |
| 11 | Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. | where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, servant, freeman -- but the all and in all -- Christ. | |
| 12 | Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; | Put on, therefore, as choice ones of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humble-mindedness, meekness, long-suffering, | |
| 13 | Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. | forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any one with any one may have a quarrel, as also the Christ did forgive you -- so also ye; | |
| 14 | And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. | and above all these things, `have' love, which is a bond of the perfection, | |
| 15 | And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. | and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye were called in one body, and become thankful. | |
| 16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing each other, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord; | |
| 17 | And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. | and all, whatever ye may do in word or in work, `do' all things in the name of the Lord Jesus -- giving thanks to the God and Father, through him. | |
| 18 | Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. | The wives! be subject to your own husbands, as is fit in the Lord; | |
| 19 | Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. | the husbands! love your wives, and be not bitter with them; | |
| 20 | Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. | the children! obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord; | |
| 21 | Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. | the fathers! vex not your children, lest they be discouraged. | |
| 22 | Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; | The servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God; | |
| 23 | And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; | and all, whatever ye may do -- out of soul work -- as to the Lord, and not to men, | |
| 24 | Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. | having known that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance -- for the Lord Christ ye serve; | |
| 25 | But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. | and he who is doing unrighteously shall receive what he did unrighteously, and there is no acceptance of persons. |