The big idea
In short: God first. Christ “is before all things, and by him all things consist” (1:17). Greed counts as a false god: “covetousness, which is idolatry” (3:5).
So everyday work matters: “whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord” (3:23).
The rule underneath: Law 1 · God first
Love God with everything. You are not the owner.
Keep it: Your life has one center, and everything else finds its place.
Break it: Money, power, or people become your god, and they let you down.
Shows up in: Exodus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Matthew, Philippians
Other rules in this book: Enough, and give, Image, not tool
Live it: Playbook 01 · How to be a person
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For 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: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.Colossians 1:15-17 · KJV
At a glance
- What it is
- A letter from Paul and Timothy to the church in Colossae, a small town in what is now western Turkey. 4 chapters.
- Who wrote it
- It names Paul, in prison (4:18). Many scholars accept it as his. Others think a close follower wrote it, because of its style. debated
- When
- About AD 60–62 if Paul wrote it.
- Who started the church
- Not Paul. A local man named Epaphras did (1:7).
- Linked letters
- It shares many names with Philemon, including the slave Onesimus (4:9). It asks the church to swap letters with nearby Laodicea (4:16).
- Read it in
- About 15 minutes.
What it says
1 · Christ over all. A poem calls Christ “the image of the invisible God” (1:15). Everything was made through him, even “thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers” (1:16). Through the cross God makes peace with all things (1:20).
2 · Rules that can’t save. Watch out for ideas that are only “the tradition of men” (2:8). Don’t let anyone judge you over food or holy days (2:16). Strict rules like “Touch not; taste not; handle not” look wise but do not change the heart (2:21–23).
3–4 · The new self. Set your mind “on things above” (3:2). Put to death greed and sexual wrongs (3:5). Stop lying (3:9). In the new self there is no Greek or Jew, foreigner or slave or free: “Christ is all, and in all” (3:11). Put on kindness, humility, and patience; forgive “even as Christ forgave you” (3:13). “Above all these things put on charity,” that is, love (3:14). Then rules for the household (3:18–4:1). Let your speech be “with grace, seasoned with salt” (4:6).
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.Colossians 3:12-14 · KJV
Go deeper
- Original words. Stoicheia, “rudiments of the world” (2:8), can mean basic teachings, the elements of nature, or spirits thought to rule them. Plērōma, “fulness” (1:19; 2:9), says all of God lives in Christ, so no other source of wisdom is needed.
- Structure. Christ over all (1), warnings about false paths (2), the new life (3–4).
- What was the problem? The letter mentions food rules, holy days, worship of angels, and self-denial (2:16–23). Scholars disagree on whether it was a Jewish, pagan, or mixed movement. debated
- How the laws interlock. Law 1 is the center: nothing but God gets first place. Law 8 is 3:5, where greed is a kind of idol. Law 3 is 3:11 and 4:1: masters must give what is “just and equal.”
Hard parts
The household rules (3:18–4:1)
What it says “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands” (3:18). “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them” (3:19). “Servants, obey in all things your masters” (3:22). “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal” (4:1).
The rule underneath Power serves. The stronger one answers to “a Master in heaven” (4:1).
What people added Some readers see a lasting order for the home. Others see the letter working inside Roman household customs while adding duties for the powerful. On marriage, churches have split; this page does not settle it. On slavery, Christians today agree it is wrong.
Sabbath and food (2:16–17)
What it says “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” (2:16). They are “a shadow of things to come” (2:17).
The rule underneath Rest. The rule was a gift; Christ is what it pointed to.
What people added Most churches read this as freeing Christians from Jewish food and Sabbath laws. Seventh-day Adventists and Seventh Day Baptists keep Saturday as the Sabbath and read “sabbath days” here as other festival days. Churches have split; this page does not settle it.
Translation notes that change meaning
- 1:15 “the firstborn of every creature.” “Firstborn” can mean born first, or first in rank, like an heir. Most Christians read it as rank, since verse 16 says all things were made through him. debated
Where it leads
- 01 · How to be a person: Christ at the center, and greed as an idol (3:5).
- 05 · How to work: ordinary work done “as to the Lord” (3:23).
- 04 · How to speak and keep your word: speech “seasoned with salt” (4:6).
One thing to do
This week
One task, done heartily
Pick the job you most dislike this week: dishes, email, a report, a shift. Do it once as if for God, not your boss or family (3:23). Do it well and without complaining. Write in your journal whether it changed how the work felt.
How to read it. Read it in one sitting, then read Philemon, which was likely carried with it.