New Testament · Book 51 of 66
Colossians
Christ is preeminent — creator and sustainer, the head of the body, the reconciler of all things. Against every philosophy and empty deceit, the full sufficiency of Christ.
- 4Chapters
- SupremacyOf Christ
- PhilosophyAgainst empty
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 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. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 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.”
The Christ Hymn at the Centre
Colossians 1:15–20 sets the centre — Christ, the image of the invisible God. Every argument in chapters 2–4 flows from it.
Vain deceit; rudiments of the world. Complete in Christ.
Chapter 1
Christ Hymn
Image of the invisible God · firstborn of creation · in him all things consist · head of the body · firstborn from the dead.
1:15–20
Risen with him; put off, put on; peace of Christ.
In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (2:9).
Structure
- 1The supremacy of ChristThanksgiving; Epaphras's report; the Christ-hymn; the mystery revealed.
- 2Completeness in Christ, against false teachingIn him all the fulness; circumcision not made with hands; beware of philosophy, ritualism, asceticism, mysticism.
- 3New life in ChristRisen with Christ; put off, put on; household relationships ordered by the Lord.
- 4Prayer and fellowshipContinue in prayer; conduct toward outsiders; final greetings and commendations.
Section pages
Each section is one focused part of Colossians — purpose, key movements, key verses, Christ-in-this-section. Roughly five minutes each.
Themes
Supremacy of Christ: Image of the invisible God; firstborn of every creature; by him all things were created and consist (ch. 1).
Philosophy warnings: Vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (ch. 2).
Fullness in Christ: In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him (2:9–10).
New life in Christ: Put off the old man; put on the new; the peace of Christ ruling in the heart (ch. 3).
If you only read a few chapters
Featured studies in this book
The gold numeral is how many passages of Colossians each study touches — the brighter the border, the deeper it reaches here.
Where Colossians leads
2,122 cross-references flow out of its 4 heaviest chapters · 8 words are distinctively its own · 1 featured study cites it.
Counted live from the reference floor (heaviest chapter pairs · tagged word floor · featured-page citations).