Col. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the sovereign will of God [the Father], and Timothy our brother,

Col. 1:2 To the saints in Colossae, particularly to the faithful brethren [those continuing to be strong in doctrine] in Christ. Grace to you and prosperity from God our Father.

Col. 1:3 We keep on giving thanks to God Who is [even] the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ at all times concerning you, offering face-to-face prayer, 

Col. 1:4 Having heard [the report] of your faith [application of doctrine] in Christ Jesus [experiential sanctification] and the virtue love which you have towards all the saints,

Col. 1:5 Because of the assurance which is reserved for you in the heavens [both eternal life & our inheritance from Christ], which you have heard before in the Word of Truth [doctrine], i.e., the gospel,

Col. 1:6 Which is in you [importance of doctrine in your soul], even as it is in all the world [by evangelistic proclamation], continually bearing fruit [correct application] and increasing [spiritual growth] even as it is in you [produced in you by the Spirit], from the day you heard [intake] and came to know fully [metabolization] the grace of God in Truth [Bible doctrine],

Col. 1:7 Just as you learned [previously] from Epaphras [functioning as your pastor-teacher], our beloved, fellow bondslave, who is a consistently faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 

Col. 1:8 Who has also reported to us [Paul’s team in Rome] concerning your virtue love in the Spirit. 

Col. 1:9 Because of this [positive report], we also from the day that we heard [from Epaphras], do not cease praying and constantly offering petitions [to the Father] on your behalf, so that you [the deficiency of your soul] might be filled to the point of overflowing with the full knowledge [from doctrine] of His sovereign will by means of all wisdom [consistently applied doctrine] and spiritual understanding [discernment between good & evil],

Col. 1:10 So that you might begin to walk [function in the sphere of divine power] worthy [with integrity, dignity, and character] of the Lord with the view of pleasing Him in all things [the supergrace life], being fruitful in every good work [divine production] and constantly receiving growth [spiritual prosperity] by means of the full knowledge from God [maximum doctrine in the soul],

Col. 1:11 Constantly being strengthened by means of every enabling power [delegated to believers when they are filled with the Spirit] according to the standard of the ruling power of His glory [divine sovereignty and omnipotence] resulting in all patience [faith rest technique] and stability through suffering [provides spiritual momentum] associated with inner happiness [supergrace happiness as a result of passing tests],

Col. 1:12 Constantly giving thanks to the Father Who qualified you [by inheritance] for a share of the assigned portion [of escrow blessings] of the saints in the sphere of light [only attained by continued residence and function inside the sphere of light], 

Col. 1:13 Who has delivered us [all believers] out from the dictatorship of the darkness [Satan’s cosmic system] and transferred us into the kingdom [the realm of royal power during the Church Age] belonging to the Son of His love, 

Col. 1:14 By means of Whom we keep on having and holding our redemption [by His paying a ransom and purchasing us out of the slave market of sin], the cancellation of our sins,  

Col. 1:15 Who [Jesus Christ] is and always was the exact image [shares the same divine essence] of the unseen [invisible] God [deity of Christ], the privileged firstborn [humanity of Christ at the virgin birth] with reference to all creation [hypostatic union],  

Col. 1:16 Because by means of Himself [Jesus Christ] all things in the heavens and upon the earth were created, the visible things [like man] and the invisible things [like the angelic host], whether they are human governments [thrones] or constituted authorities [dominions] or angelic rulers [principalities] or demon commissioned officers [potentates]; all things stand created through Him [Jesus Christ] and for Him [His divine purpose].  

Col. 1:17 Furthermore, He [Jesus Christ] was before all things [eternal existence] and all things are held together by Him [divine omnipotence sustains the universe].  

Col. 1:18 Furthermore, He [Jesus Christ] is now and always will be the Head over the Body [federal headship], the Church, Who was the beginning [eternal existence], the first [uniquely] born out from the dead [resurrection] so that He might become the One Who is pre-eminent [ultimate authority] in all things.  

Col. 1:19 (Because He [God the Father] has determined with pleasure that all the fullness [blessings & happiness] should have permanent residence and function in Him [Jesus Christ],   

Col. 1:20 And through Him [Jesus Christ] to reconcile all things [believers] to Himself [reconciliation as an accomplished fact, not a hypothetical], having concluded peace [again, an accomplished fact, not an hypothetical] through the blood [spiritual death] of His cross [definite atonement], through Him only [reconciliation is exclusively from Jesus Christ], whether things on earth [elect believers] or things in the heavens [elect angels].   

Col. 1:21 And you [Christians] who were at one time [before the new birth] settled in a state of alienation [positional residence: total inability] and were hostile [enemies] in your thinking by means of your wicked works [experiential function: total depravity],   

Col. 1:22 Yet now [at the cross] He has reconciled you by means of the body of His flesh [Jesus Christ as true humanity] through spiritual death), for the purpose of presenting you holy [positional sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] and irreproachable [experiential sanctification] in His sight,   

Col. 1:23 If indeed [assuming that] you continue to persist [daily] in doctrine, having laid a strong foundation [in the basics], both stabilized [not controlled by your emotions] and not swerving [into reversionism] from the ultimate source of the confidence of the message which you have heard [grace as opposed to legalism or works], which was publicly proclaimed to all creatures who are under heaven, of which I, Paul, have become a minister.   

Col. 1:24 I now keep on rejoicing [inner happiness] in my sufferings on behalf of you [pressures in the ministry which come from the sheep themselves], and am filling up [taking in more doctrine] the deficiency [Paul needed more truth on the launching pad of his soul] with reference to the pressures of Christ in my flesh on behalf of His Body [Paul is back in fellowship after some difficult times], which is the Church,   

Col. 1:25 Concerning which [Body of Christ] I have become a minister according to the dispensation [stewardship] of God which was given to me [as revelator of Church Age doctrine] for your benefit for the purpose of fulfilling the Word of God [completing what was hidden in the Old Testament],   

Col. 1:26 The mystery [of Church Age doctrine] having been concealed from the ages [theocratic dispensations] and from [prior] generations, but now [during the Church Age] has been revealed to His saints [Church Age believers],    

Col. 1:27 To whom God decreed [in eternity past] to make known [through pastors & teachers] what is the wealth of this mystery [Church Age doctrines] among the Gentiles [in contrast to the exclusiveness of prior Jewish dispensations], which continues to be Christ in you [indwelling of the Shekinah glory], the confidence of glory [guarantee of eternal life],

Col. 1:28 Whom [Jesus Christ] we continue to solemnly proclaim [evangelism], repeatedly warning every man [those with negative volition] and repeatedly instructing every man [those with positive volition] in all wisdom [whole realm of doctrine], so that we might render every man fully mature in Christ,    

Col. 1:29 To which [objective] I am constantly working even to the point of exhaustion, straining every muscle [like a gladiator or professional athlete], according to the standard of His [prototype] power which is supernaturally working in me on a continual basis in the sphere of [operational] power.    

Col. 2:1 For I want you to know about the great combat [intercessory prayer struggles] I continually have on your behalf and for those in Laodicea and as many as have not seen me face-to-face in my flesh [other assemblies],    

Col. 2:2 So that the mentality of your souls might be stabilized [during times of great pressure], while you are being taught inside the love complex, namely, every category of wealth [maximum doctrine in the soul] related to the full assurances which come from the source of technical knowledge [complete systematic theology], resulting in a full knowledge of the mystery of God, from the source of Christ,   

Col. 2:3 In Whom [Jesus Christ] all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are stored up [Bible doctrine is the mind of Christ].    

Col. 2:4 I am telling you this so that no one may delude you with distorted doctrines by means of plausible but false discourse [subtle, persuasive speech].     

Col. 2:5 For, as is the case, I am in fact absent [from you] in the flesh, nevertheless, I am continually with you by means of the Spirit [non-resident pastor-teacher], constantly filled with inner happiness [from doctrine] even while inspecting your steadiness in ranks [in the Christian life] and the solid front [fortification] of your doctrine in Christ [battle lines in the angelic conflict].     

Col. 2:6 Therefore, in the same manner in which you received Christ Jesus the Lord [by the grace of God in the Spirit], keep on walking in it [the sphere of divine power],      

Col. 2:7 Having been rooted [in spiritual self-esteem] and firmly anchored [in spiritual autonomy] and having been constantly built-up [construction of an edification complex in the soul] in it [spiritual maturity in the sphere of power], and having been continually established by means of doctrine [passing momentum & evidence testing], just as you were instructed [by a qualified pastor-teacher], keep on overflowing [abounding] with thanksgiving [part of ultra-supergrace life].      

Col. 2:8 Constantly be on guard [beware] so that there is not anyone who can capture [by pseudo-love fanaticism] and enslave you [in reversionism] through human speculation [human viewpoint philosophy & psychology], even through empty deceit [inane fallacies] according to the rudimentary teachings [beggarly elements] from the cosmic system and not according to the standards of Christ.      

Col. 2:9 For in Him dwells permanently [in hypostatic union] all the fullness [divine essence] of the Godhead [deity of Christ] bodily [humanity of Christ];       

Col. 2:10 Furthermore, you are in Him [positional truth], being completely filled full [by the baptism of the Holy Spirit], Who [Jesus Christ] is the Head [sovereign ruler] over every principality [angelic realm] and authority [earthly sphere],       

Col. 2:11 In Whom you were circumcised by means of a circumcision not made with hands [spiritual, not ritual circumcision], by the renunciation of the body of the flesh [essence of the old sin nature], by means of the circumcision of Christ [identification with Christ on the cross],        

Col. 2:12 Having been buried with Him [union with Christ] by means of identification [baptism of the Holy Spirit], by means of which you have also been raised up with Him through faith [promise of resurrection life] by means of the sovereign [operational] power of God, Who raised Him out from the deaths [both spiritual and physical].       

Col. 2:13 And as for you, being dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh [the old sin nature], He [God the Father], having graciously forgiven us all our transgressions, has given to you life together with Him [divine life imparted to the believer at the moment of regeneration],       

Col. 2:14 Having cancelled the IOU written against us, which kept on being hostile to us [because of the old sin nature], and He [the Father]removed it [the IOU] permanently from our midst, by nailing it to the cross,       

Col. 2:15 Having disarmed the archons [chief demon warmakers] and [demon] commissioned officers, displaying the [angelic] captives publicly, having celebrated a triumphal procession over them by means of Him [Jesus Christ],        

Col. 2:16 Consequently, stop allowing anyone [self-righteous, legalistic believers] to sit in judgment over you in the act of eating or in drinking [adult beverages] or with respect to feasts or new moons [monthly festivals] or Sabbaths [worship days],        

Col. 2:17 Which [three previously mentioned holy days] keep on being a shadow of those things which are about to come, but the substance [reality] is from Christ.         

Col. 2:18 Let no one declare you ineligible for your reward, taking pleasure in self-effacement [the false humility of asceticism] and in the worship of angels [demon religion], taking a stand on those things he has seen [dreams, trances, hallucinations], being inflated with arrogance to no avail [without cause] under the influence of the thinking from the source of his flesh [old sin nature],         

Col. 2:19 And not being occupied with the Head [authority of Jesus Christ], from Whom all the body [of believers] through joints and ligaments [daily doctrine builds strength], being provided gratuitously [doctrine should be free] and being continually taught [by well-trained pastors & teachers], keeps on growing with the growth from God.

Col. 2:20 If you have died together with Christ [retroactive positional truth] to the ultimate source of the basic principles [rudimentary elements] of the cosmic system, then why, as though living like a person in the cosmic system, are you submitting to legalism?

Col. 2:21 For instance [an example of three legalistic taboos]: You shall not have sex [celibacy], neither shall you eat certain foods [vegetarianism], nor shall you touch anything with hostility [pacifism], 

Col. 2:22 All of which [taboos] are destructive to the adherent [ruins their spiritual life], according to the ordinances and teachings of men [not from God],  

Col. 2:23 Which classification of things [taboos] currently exist, on the one hand, having a reputation [appearance] of wisdom by means of a self-made system of religion [superstition] and by means of an emotionally subjective false humility [self-effacement] and by means of a severe non-indulgence of the body [extreme asceticism], but on the other hand, which are not of any value against gratification of the flesh [taboos are unable to control the old sin nature].  

Col. 3:1 If therefore, you have been raised together with Christ [positional truth], then keep on endeavoring to obtain and possess the above things [Bible doctrine circulating in the soul brings us into the immediate presence of God], where the Christ is sitting [session] at the right hand of God [the Father].   

Col. 3:2 Keep on thinking objectively about [concentrate on] the above things [Bible doctrine as divine viewpoint], not the things [human viewpoint] upon the earth [cosmic thinking],   

Col. 3:3 For you have died [separated from your former life], and the function of your life has been hidden together with Christ by means of the God [the veil which now shrouds your higher life from others will one day be withdrawn].   

Col. 3:4 On the occasion [at the rapture] when the Christ, our life, shall appear [when the Groom returns for His bride], at that time you also shall be made manifest with Him in the sphere of glory.   

Col. 3:5 Start rendering impotent [put to death], therefore, the members [of the old sin nature], the things upon the earth [specifically]: heterosexual immorality [fornication], homosexuality [perverted sex], abnormal passion [pathos], evil [demonically inspired] lusts and the frantic search for happiness [avarice], which category of things keeps on being [ a form of] idolatry,   

Col. 3:6 Because of which things the wrath of God [divine discipline] comes upon the sons of disobedience [sexual reversionists],   

Col. 3:7 In the sphere of which things [reversionism] you also walked as a pattern of life [modus operandi] when you once functioned in them [residence and function in Satan’s cosmic system].    

Col. 3:8 But now [as believers] you should also begin to lay aside all these [other categories of reversionism]: vicious anger, emotional tantrums, using an inconsequential person to hurt someone you love, slandering, and foul language from your mouth.    

Col. 3:9 Stop lying to one another of the same kind [particularly to fellow Christians], having disarmed the old man [old sin nature] together with his modus operandi [cosmic activity],    

Col. 3:10 And having put on the new in point of time [clothed the soul of the new man with an edifying doctrinal structure], being renewed [because the doctrine you once knew was destroyed by reversionistic lifestyle] by the full knowledge [metabolized Bible doctrine] which is according to the image of the One [Jesus Christ] Who created him [the believer],

Col. 3:11 In which place [union with Christ] there no longer exists Greek or Jew [no racial inferiority], circumcision or uncircumcision [rituals and religious background is irrelevant], Barbarian, Scythian [cultural background is irrelevant], slavery, state of freedom [social status is irrelevant], but Christ is all things [the grace source of all we have] and the cause of all things [divine sovereignty and omnipotence].

Col. 3:12 Keep on clothing yourself [dressing your soul with doctrine], therefore, as chosen ones of God [elect in eternity past], (having been loved in the past with the result that you will be loved forever), with affections of grace compassion [capacity for love & life], a gracious disposition [inner happiness & kindness], a relaxed mental attitude [grace orientation], an inwrought meekness of the soul [genuine humility], longsuffering steadfastness [patience from mastery of the details of life],

Col. 3:13 Putting up with one another of the same kind [mental separation from obnoxious believers] and graciously forgiving others [unbelievers]. If anyone has a complaint against anyone else, even as the Lord graciously forgave you, in this way also you [forgive];

Col. 3:14 And upon [above & between] all these [floors of the edification complex], impersonal [virtue] love, which is the binding agent [cement] of maturity [leads to supergrace status].

Col. 3:15 And the [spiritual] prosperity from Christ, let that continually umpire [control] the mentality of your soul, into which [supergrace status] you were called [the purpose of your election] into one body [the corporate church]; therefore, keep on becoming thankful ones [gratitude: capacity for life].

Col. 3:16 Let the doctrine from Christ keep on dwelling inside you abundantly [doctrine must saturate your inner life] in the sphere of all wisdom [doctrine on the launching pad]. You [pastors & teachers], be teaching with authority and be applying doctrine to yourself and other believers [pastors aren’t exempt from application] by means of psalms [David’s experiential theology], hymns, odes [stories & poems], and [congregational] singing by means of grace in the mentality of your soul [songs that originate from thinking, not emotional subjectivity] to God,

Col. 3:17 And whatever you habitually do in the sphere of words [conversation] or deeds [behavior], do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus [self-motivation from occupation with Christ], continually giving thanks to God the Father [expression of gratitude in spiritual autonomy] through Him [Jesus Christ].

Col. 3:18 Wives, always submit to the authority of your husbands, as it should be protocol to do in the Lord.

Col. 3:19 Husbands, always love your wives [impersonal love as a problem solving device] and stop being bitter against them.

Col. 3:20 Children, always obey your parents in everything, for this [authority orientation] is pleasing to the Lord.

Col. 3:21 Fathers, do not embitter [provoke indignation] your children, so that they may not become discouraged [from too much system testing]. 

Col. 3:22 Labor, always obey management according to the flesh [excludes spiritual matters] in everything [on the job], not with eye service as men-pleasers [not as brown-nosing, patronizing politicians], but with a virtuous mentality of the soul [from doctrinal thinking], always respecting the Lord. 

Col. 3:23 Whatever you do, keep functioning from your soul [in spiritual autonomy] as to the Lord and not to man,  

Col. 3:24 Since you [growing Christians] know that you will receive the reward of your inheritance [wages for work done, not a free gift] from the Lord [your ultimate reward comes from the Lord, not the human organization you work for]: Always be serving the Lord Christ,   

Col. 3:25 For anyone who habitually does wrong [injury or injustice] will receive the consequences of his wrongdoing [self-induced misery & divine discipline], since there is no partiality [under the law of volitional responsibility].    

Col. 4:1 Management, always pay from your own resources just [fair] and equitable [no favoritism] wages to your employees, knowing that you also have management in heaven.    

Col. 4:2 Be continually devoted to [vigilant in] prayer, constantly being alert by means of the same [prayer] in the sphere of thanksgiving [gratitude].    

Col. 4:3 At the same time [simultaneously] be continually praying also for us [teamwork], so that God might open a door for doctrine to us, for the purpose of communicating the mystery [Church Age doctrine] of Christ, because of which I also have been chained [to soldiers of the Praetorian Guard],     

Col. 4:4 In order that I might make known by teaching the same [Church Age doctrine] as it is necessary for me [my responsibility] to communicate.      

Col. 4:5 Be continually walking in the sphere of wisdom towards the ones on the outside [unbelievers], continually purchasing [redeeming, logging] the time,      

Col. 4:6 Your word always in the sphere of grace [divine viewpoint], having been seasoned with salt [mature application of doctrine], so that you may know [having studied beforehand] how each one [questions from every quarter] should be answered by you.      

Col. 4:7 All things pertaining to me [my current circumstances] Tychicus shall declare unto you, a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord [Paul’s 3-fold introduction and commendation],      

Col. 4:8 Whom I have sent face-to-face to you for this same purpose, in order that you might come to know our situation [things concerning us], and that he might encourage the mentality of your soul [comfort your thinking],      

Col. 4:9 Along with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is from among you [from Colossae]; they will report to you the entire situation here.      

Col. 4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, salutes you, also Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have already received orders: if he comes face-to-face to you, welcome him with open arms),      

Col. 4:11 Also Jesus who is called the just [Paul’s lawyer]; these who are out from the circumcision [Jews] are my only co-workers with reference to the Kingdom of God, who are of such a character [supergrace believers] as to have become a comfort [refreshment from friends] to me.      

Col. 4:12 Epaphrus, who is from among you [from Colossae], a slave of Christ Jesus, salutes you, who is always struggling on your behalf by means of his prayers [he is their absent pastor-teacher who is visiting Paul in prison], in order that you mature ones [supergrace believers] may hold your ground [stand firm while he is away] and be completely filled up [saturated] with all things [every category of doctrine] in the will of God;      

Col. 4:13 For I solemnly testify with reference to this same one [Epaphrus], that he keeps having great distress on your behalf and for those in Laodicea [who are constantly in trouble] and those in Hierapolis [the local hot springs medical center].      

Col. 4:14 Luke, the [my] beloved physician, and Demas [who later becomes a reversionist], also salute you.      

Col. 4:15 Salute the brethren in Laodicea, especially Nymphas and the assembly of believers which meets at her house [one of Paul’s six non-resident congregations].      

Col. 4:16 And when this letter [Epistle to the Colossians] has been read and taught in your presence, do it thoroughly [verse-by-verse exegesis] and make sure that it may also be read and taught in the church of the Laodiceans and that you [Colossian believers] likewise read and teach the one from the Laodiceans [Epistle to the Ephesians].      

Col. 4:17 Also tell Archippus: Pay attention [see to it] to the ministry which you received from the Lord, in order that you might fulfill it [he was failing in his responsibility to discipline the wild members of his Laodicean congregation].      

Col. 4:18 This salutation is by my hand: Paul. Keep remembering my chains. Grace be with you.