Letter to Colossians

———– ∗ ————

New Dynamic Translation

Annotated with footnotes as well as philological,
historical and theological commentaries.

NPD Publishers
Warsaw
 This translation was completed using dynamic equivalence method based on Novum
Testamentum Graece 1975 and 1993 (German Bible Society, Stuttgart) with additions from
The Greek New Testament (United Bible Society, New York 1975). It also incorporates extracts
from selected Byzantine manuscripts.

This work is not a result of one translator’s efforts. Rather it is an editorial collaboration on
selected materials using a wide spectrum of sources which included etymological interlinear
translations and numerous Bible dictionaries or commentaries.

Edited by:
NPD Editorial Team

Translated by:
Andrzej Czopek

Text Composition:
Fixpoint Krzysztof Rudnik

Editor-in-Chief:
Piotr Wacławik

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 INTRODUCTION

Dear Reader,
We are placing into your hands a translation of the “New Testament” which is intended
for persons who are not under any pastoral care and therefore it is somewhat unusual
for the Polish culture. Although it is called “New Dynamic Translation of the Bible,”
in essence, due to the use of three different dynamic criteria (semantic, factual and
contextual) it could easily be dubbed a dynamic translation of triple nature. What’s
more, when editing the text, we employed the targumic translation style which is
absolutely unique within the field of Polish biblical translation studies. You will find
more information on this translation method, its form, and style at the end of this
publication in the section called NPD Methodological Explanations.
The concept for publishing God’s Word in this particular version came from contacts
with regular people who have expressed the desire to own a translation of the Bible that
communicates its message more clearly, one that would be understood by an average
person, and not just by biblical scholars. For many people the language and style of
contemporary Bible translations is still a serious obstacle in grasping the essence of the
Bible message. Another difficulty for many readers of traditional translations is a rather
common focus on cultivating religiosity. But, in its original form, Christianity is not a re-
ligion, and so it should not have to be burdened with the rituals and ceremonies typical
for religious systems. Worshiping God should be done in “truth and spirit,” as Jesus
taught, for “these are the worshipers the Father wants to have” (John 4:23). Christian
life should be a personal relationship with the risen Christ which is cultivated daily in
simplicity and sincerity rather than a system which caters to ritualistic ceremonialism.
In other words, it should be the kind of life in which the human spirit is submitted to
God’s Spirit of Sanctification, and the human soul is submitted to the Truth of God’s
Word which was revealed to this world in the person of Christ (cf. John 1:14). This is the
kind of life Jesus wants for us and we should pursue it to do God’s will. Being aware of
the potential dangers, we did our best to steer away from the Old Testament concept of
religiousness which could have a negative impact on the clarity of the New Testament
translation. Therefore, we made every effort to avoid interpreting the teachings of
Jesus and His Apostles through the prism of religious ceremonialism, as Jesus himself
never encouraged anyone to do that.
We hope that the New Dynamic Translation of the New Testament, which we
have called “The Good News about the Rescue in Christ,” with its rich, insightful and
non-denominational commentary given in contemporary language and modern form,
will become a great source of your personal journey to know God and His will.

NPD Editorial Team

 Letter to Colossians

Author of the Paul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul may have been around 53-55 years old
letter at the time.)

Date of the Around AD 61–62, or approximately 24–25 years after Paul’s co-
letter nversion.

Place it was Most likely in Rome during Paul’s home arrest.

written

Written to A fellowship of believers in Christ from Colossae, which is currently

an area in western Turkey.

Context The Good News about the rescue in Christ traveled quickly to
Phrygia, a prosperous region of Asia Minor (nowadays Anatolia in
Turkey). Because these areas were situated at the crossroads of
major trade routes, people there had the most diverse worldviews
and confessed various religions. Strong pagan traditions existed
there as well. The mixture of all these influences created a society
which subscribed to the idea of religious syncretism (e.g. combining
many different beliefs into one system, one subsequent concept).
Therefore, people who had trusted Christ had to face challenges and
views coming from these numerous philosophies and religions every
day. Those who did not hold fast to God’s Word got into spiritual
trouble. Their faith was weakening and there was a clear danger that
they would be attracted by the glamor of other religions or beliefs
and leave Christ. This letter is parallel to the Letter to Ephesians.
Both of them were not only sent at the same time, but constructed
in a similar way. This is why each of these letters is a perfect
complement of the other. They are both able to explain one another’s
less clear parts. However, the goals for writing the two letters were
different. While in the Letter to Ephesians Paul presented God’s
way of salvation in Christ, in the Letter to Colossians he focused on
warning Christians against religious syncretism.
7

Goal of the To warn against religious syncretism, or combining various philoso-

letter phies and religions into one system which does not agree with the
Good News about the rescue available in Christ (cf. Col. 2:4-6). Apo-
stle Paul began to receive signals of spiritual dangers that emerged
in the region of Phrygia and that is why he decided to write a letter
reminding believers of the unique position of Christ in God’s plan of
salvation. He wanted to not only protect them from the destructive
influence of false teachers, but most of all to strengthen them in
the LORD by telling them that in Christ they will find both the
answers to all of their questions and the explanations for all of
God’s mysteries.

Subject of the Christ is the essence of God’s plan of salvation. All things come from
Letter Him and in Him all things find their sense and purpose. All of the
religions and theories which try to explain the order of this world,
its logic or supposed progress, have lacked the proper discernment
of truth and, inescapably, deal only with shadows of true reality of
which Christ is the essence.

Key verse In Him He also revealed His nature and that is why He is the only
image of the invisible God, the original cause of all the creation.
For it is in Him that all things that were created came into existen-
ce both in the Heavens and on earth; visible beings and invisible
beings, thrones, reigns, authorities and powers. All things have
been done through Him and for Him. That is why HE IS before all
things and all things have purpose, sense and place only in Him.
Col. 1:15-17 (NPD)

Plan of the I. Address, greeting and thanksgiving . . . . . . . . . . . . Col. 1:1-8

letter II. Christ, the only reconciliation
between man and God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Col. 1:9-22
III. Ministry of reconciliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Col. 1:21-29
IV. Revelation of mystery placed in Christ . . . . . . . . Col. 2:1-12
V. Freedom in Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Col. 2:13-23
VI. New life in Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Col. 3:1-4:1
VII. Counsel and final greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Col. 4:2-18
Col. 1:1 – 1:13 8

Address, greeting and thanksgiving

1
1 :1 : Rom. 1:1 1 I, Paul, by God’s will the Apostle1 of Christ Jesus, along with
1 :2 : Acts 9:3; Rom. 1:7 brother in faith Timothy2 address this letter 2 to the brothers and
sisters in Colossae, that is to those who through faithful endurance in
Christ are part of the holy peoples3 of God. May the grace and peace
from God our Father always be around you.
1 :3 : Eph. 1:15-16 3 Be aware that we constantly give thanks for you in our prayers

1 :4 : Eph. 1:15; 1 Co. 13:13
1 :5 : Eph. 1:13.18; 1 Pet. 1:4;
Gal. 1:7
1 :6 : 1 Tim. 3:16; Eph. 1:13;
Acts 20:24.32; 2 Cor. 6:1
1 :8 : 1 Cor. 13:1
to God, Father of our LORD Jesus Christ. 4 That is because we hear
about your trust in Christ Jesus and the attitude of God’s love which
you show to all the brothers and sisters in faith 5 on account of the
hope which has been laid up for you in the Heavens. It is this hope
that you have learned about from the Word of Truth or the Good
News 6 of God’s graciousness in Christ which had been proclaimed
to you. Just as in the whole world this message is bringing fruit
and growing, so it has also been bringing fruit and growing among
you from the first day you heard and received it. 7 You learned it
well from the beloved Epaphras who, just like me, is totally devoted4
to Christ.
8 It was precisely him who communicated to us that the attitude of

God’s love5 so beautifully took root in your spirit.

Christ is the only way to reconcile man with God

1 :9 : Eph. 1:8-9.15-17; 9For this reason, from the day we heard about you, we have not
Phil. 1:9; Col. 4:12; stopped asking God in our prayers to let you discover His will in the
Rom. 12:2 fullness of all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 1 0 The thing is, you
1 :1 0 : Eph. 4:1; Phil. 1:27; should learn how to live in the way worthy of the LORD, which means
1 Thess. 2:12; Eph. 1:7; that while you are trying to please Him, you would bring spiritual
Eph. 2:10 fruit6 in every situation, which is your growth in faith and a deeper
personal knowledge of God. 1 1 Looking intensely at His power and
1 :1 2 : Acts 26:18; Eph. 5:20; glory, be fruitful in your endurance and patience as well as 1 2 giving
Eph. 1:11-13.17-18; 1 Pet. 2:9 thanks with joy to the Father who enabled you to receive your share in
1 :1 3 : Eph. 2:1-2; Gal. 1:4 the promised inheritance in the light. 1 3 Be aware that it was God who
snatched us out of the power of darkness and moved us under the
1
Lit. m e s s e n g e r . chose to return to his lord and serve.
2 5
Timothy – native of Lystra, Paul’s coworker. He beca- Gr. a g a p e . This word does not refer to emotions or
me a believer thanks to the Apostle, and then accompanied feelings, but to the practical attitude of performing good
him in his missionary journeys and during imprisonments deeds even towards those who do not deserve it. More in
(see Acts 16-17, Acts 19-20 and 1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 1:1; the NPD Commentary → Love.
6
2:19; Philem. 1). Timothy was given the task to lead the In Eph. 2:10 Paul explains it in more detail, pointing
group of believers in Ephesus. Two of the NT letters are out that the good deeds that the disciples of Jesus should
addressed to him. do are not ones that other people consider good, but those
3
Lit. to th e s a in ts – this is how the early Christians that God had has prepared for them to do. Since only God
addressed each other. is good (cf. Matt. 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19), then
4
In the original the word d o u lo s → sla v e is used. This only the deeds which agree with His will and His plan
word described a slave who, having been given freedom, deserve to be called “good.”
9 Col. 1:14 – 1:18

rule1 of the beloved Son, 1 4 in whom He had achieved our redemption2 1 :1 4 : Eph. 1:6-7; Rom. 3:24
and deliverance from the power of sin3. 1 5 In Him He also revealed His 1 :1 5 : John 1:1.3.18;
nature and that is why He is the only image4 of the invisible God, the John 8:58; John 14:9
original cause of all the creation5. 1 6 For it is in Him that all things that 1 :1 6 : 1 Cor. 8:6; 1 John 1:3;
were created came into existence both in the Heavens and on earth; Heb. 1:2; John 1:3.10;
visible beings and invisible beings, thrones, reigns, authorities and Eph. 1:10.21
powers. All things have been done through Him and for Him. 1 7 That 1 :1 7 :Prov. 8:25-27;Eph. 1:22
is why HE IS6 before all things and all things have purpose, sense and
place only in Him. 1 8 And it is He who is the Head of the Church or the 1 :1 8 : Acts 1:5; Eph. 1:22-23;
living fellowship of believers which is His Body7, because He Himself Rev. 1:5; Eph. 4:15;
originated it. Because it was He who was born among spiritually dead Eph. 5:23; 1 Cor. 15:20
people and then became the first8 among those who were born of

1
Gr. b a s ileia . This word can mean both “royal power”
and “kingdom.” Jesus clearly said that God’s Kingdom is
not only a future promise; in a spiritual way, it is already
available (cf. Luke 17:21.) It is the state of God’s reign in
people’s hearts (cf. Rom. 14:17; 1 Cor. 4:20).
2
R ed em p tio n (purchase) – a legal term which in those
times meant purchasing a slave from slavery. Here it
was used in reference to people whom Jesus purchased
from the slavery of sin and death. More in the NPD
Commentary → Redemption.
3
Redemption and deliverance from the power of sin,
which God has accomplished, is not a value in itself,
but is closely related to the person of Christ. It is not
available outside of Him. Redemption is closely related to
deliverance from the power of darkness (as in the act of
purchasing a slave). However, this fact is not final in the
process of salvation. After deliverance from the power of
sin the process of sanctification must take place. Without
it no one will see the LORD (cf. Heb. 12:14). The purpose
of this stage of the salvation process is delivering a person
from the susceptibility to sin and thus adapting him or
her to the reality of God’s Kingdom.
4
Gr. eik o n (icon, likeness, image) – this is the concept
God used in the second commandment where He forbade
making any sculptures and images that are in heaven,
on earth, in the water, or underneath the earth and
worshipping them (cf. Ex. 20:4-5 and Rom. 1:24-25).
Christ is the only likeness of the invisible God. It does
not only refer to His physical image, but also spiritual
(today we could call it “a psychological profile”). While we
study Christ’s character, His work, His decisions, and
His attitude toward others, we learn the true character
(image) of God (cf. Heb. 1:3). Insofar as men were created
in God’s image (cf. Gen. 1:26), Christ who combines
within Himself the two natures of God and man is the
most perfect image of God in a human body.
5
Gr. P ro to to k o s. Some translate it as “firstborn” which
is a literal translation, but not the only possibility. This
word is a combination of p r o to s (preceding, first) and
tik to (to bring forth, to bear, to produce). Thus, it can
mean “first fruit,” “first child” (the stem indicating
authority and precedence was reflected in the right of
primogeniture, which said that the first-born sons had
superior rights and privileges in relation to the other
siblings), as well as the ”supreme cause” and ”the source
of origin (creation).” The context clearly points to that
very meaning. This is also the broader context of the
passage in NT – e.g. John 1:1-5 or Eph. 1:3-10. Sadly, many
cults (e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons) hold on to the
literal translation drawing false conclusions and claiming
that Christ, in His divine, spiritual nature, has not always
existed but was once created by the Father. Such distortion
of the NT message is only one of the examples of literal
translations losing their essential thought. Context is
always the key to discernment. Thus, in verse 18, when
the perspective changes to earth, the context of P ro to to k o s
also changes. Here, it can be understood as the explanation
for the effects of “The Mystery of the Incarnation” (Jesus’
physical birth on earth). The eternal and infinite Christ
– the original cause of everything – when born in human
flesh (human nature, as Jesus), became the first man
who, having been born of God’s Spirit (being the first of
spiritually born beings, or the firstborn) first entered the
Kingdom of God (cf. Ps. 89:28).
6
The capitalized HE IS emphasizes the unlimited and
infinite continuity of God’s existence who has revealed
Himself in Christ (cf. John 1:1 and Heb. 13:8).
7
Gr. s o m a .
8
Gr. P r o to to k o s . Eternal God in the person of Christ,
having taken on human flesh and having been born of
a woman as Jesus, He unlocked the door for humanity to
receive a new status: kinship with the Son of God through
His Spirit. However, for a person to enter that relationship
he or she must experience not only a physical birth, but
also a spiritual one, just like Jesus (cf. John 3:3-7).
Col. 1:19 – 1:24 10

1 :1 9 : Eph. 1:23; Col. 2:9; God’s Spirit1. 1 9 It was in no one else but Him that God decided to fully
John 1:16 reveal Himself 2 0 and decided that in Him He would also reconcile
1 :2 0 : Eph. 1:7.10; everything to Himself – both what is on earth and in the Heavens
Eph. 2:13.14.16; 1 John 2:2 – sealing this peace with blood which Christ shed on the cross.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

1 :2 1 : Rom. 5:10;
Eph. 2:1.3.12; Eph. 4:18-19
1 :2 2 : 1 Cor. 1:8; Rom. 7:4;
Eph. 1:4; Eph. 5:27;
Eph. 2:11.14-16
1 :2 3 : Eph. 3:17; Mark 16:15;
Heb. 3:14; Col. 1:5-6
1 :2 4 : 2Tim. 1:8; 2 Cor. 7:4;
21 God personally had decided that this would be the way in which
everyone - including you all, who at one point were strangers to Him
and His enemies because of the wickedness of your thoughts and deeds
– 2 2 could be reconciled with Him again. And He Himself accomplished
it through death which Jesus experienced in His human body2, so that
in Him you could become holy, blameless and faultless3, 2 3 as long as you
continue4 trusting Him, who is the immovable foundation of your faith5,
and don’t allow yourselves to be robbed of the hope which brought
you the Good News about the rescue in Christ! And you have heard
it because it has been spread all over the world to all creation! That is
the very task to which also I, Paul, have completely committed myself.
2 4 Be aware of the fact, dear brothers and sisters, that although

Phil. 2:17 I experience persecutions because of the ministry that I carry out
among you, I am filled with great joy as I know that by doing this,
despite many shortcomings, I follow in Jesus’ footsteps in my temporal
nature6. It is Him that I pattern7 myself on when it comes to patient
suffering for the benefit of all believers – that is, for His Body8.

1
Compare: John 3:3-7.
2
Gr. to s o m a ti te s s a r k o s – a very interesting phrase
containing two different nouns: s o m a and s a r k s . Mostly
translators render both of them as “body.” The NPD
editorial team tried to better convey the sense of the-
se words. And so, s a r k s is usually translated as “sinful
(earthly, human) nature,” and so m a as “body” (meaning
the physical shell, tissue or even meat) as that is its
actual meaning. NT makes a clear distinction between
these two concepts. While s a r k s is essentially associated
with the sinful nature of man, s o m a defines the living
tissue of Christ’s Body, or the church understood as
a community of believers which answered God’s call
(Gr. e k k le s ia ).
3
If anyone has any doubts as to why Jesus died for
them, this verse explains it explicitly. Jesus’ main purpose
is to bring people to God’s holiness and not just to give
them a pass to Heaven. More in the NPD commentary
→ Sanctification.
4
Salvation (rescue) of a person is a process which
begins at the time of new birth (by God’s Spirit), and is
continued by God in the sanctifying process of a given
person (Heb. 12:14) until the end of that person’s earthly
life. This process does not end until a person is glorified
in Christ (after his or her name has been read from
Christ’s Book of Life).
5
Here, Paul is not only talking about a situation which
takes place at the time of new birth (birth by God’s
Spirit which Jesus taught in John 3:3-7 – also compare
Eph. 1:12), but also about perseverance in the attitude of
trusting in Christ. This perseverance is what shows the
true value of one’s faith.
6
Gr. s a r k s .
7
Lit. I tr y to s ta y lev el w ith – The Greek word a n ta n a -
p le r o used here refers to aligning two levels, being on
equal levels, or attaining or reaching a certain level.
8
“(…) for His Body” is an expression referring to
the community of God’s people (Gr. e k k le s ia = church).
Unwillingness to suffer for the sake of others has always
been the reason for most of the problems related to
discords and disarray in the living, visible Body of Christ,
which is formed by local churches and fellowships. Christ,
and later His Apostles, kept teaching that concern for
the good of others in the local fellowship should be more
important than caring for one’s own matters. This is the
a g a p e a ttitu d e. This is the very word that describes God’s
attitude of doing good even to those who do not deserve it.
11 Col. 1:25 – 2:8

2 5 This is the very community whose servant I have become according 1 :2 5 : Eph. 3:2.7-8; 2 Cor. 3:6
to the task given to me by God, so that I can reveal to all His decree
– 2 6 that great mystery, which had been veiled for ages and generations, 1 :2 6 : Rom. 16:25-26;
and was revealed only now to the people who belong to Him 1. 2 7 Because Eph. 3:3.5-9; Eph. 5:9-10
God wanted to finally make known this mystery of His immeasurable 1 :2 7 : Rom. 8:10; Eph. 3:9-11;
abundance of His glory, also among non-Jews. And that is Christ in Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:18;
you2 - the only hope of the future glory!3 2 8 It is Him that we proclaim Col. 3:4
persuading everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom to 1 :2 8 : Eph. 4:13; 1 Cor. 2:6
become mature4 in Christ. 2 9 This is why I work hard and struggle 1 :2 9 : Eph. 1:19; Eph. 3:7.20;
using His power, which works through me in a mighty way. Phil. 4:13; Phil. 2:13;
2 Thess. 1:11
Revealing the Mystery Given in Christ

2 Dear brothers and sisters, I would like you to know that the
1 2 :1 : Col. 4:12-13
battle I am fighting is not only for you and the community of
believers in Laodicea, but for all the people, whether or not I have
had the chance to meet them personally. 2 That is because I want 2 :2 : Matt. 11:25-27;
everyone’s heart to experience the full encouragement and unity in the Eph. 3:18-19; Rom. 16:25
attitude of God’s love5, in the course of studying and understanding
more deeply the richness of God’s mystery which had been given in
Christ. 3 For in Him are contained all of the treasures of God’s wisdom 2 :3 : Isa. 11:2; Rom. 11:33;
and the knowledge of the Highest. 4 I am writing this so that no one Prov. 2:3-5; 1 Cor. 1:24.30
– with their seemingly wise, but essentially deceptive speeches – takes 2 :4 : Rom. 16:18; Eph. 4:17;
away your reason! 5 For though I am not present among you in person, Eph. 5:6
my spirit is always with you, and I rejoice hearing of the orderliness
you keep among yourselves and of the fact that you are strengthening
your trust in Christ!
6 And since you have submitted yourselves to Christ Jesus as your 2 :6 : Col. 1:10; Eph. 4:17.21;
LORD, act accordingly! 7 Let your roots grow down into Him and build 1 Thess. 2:13
on His foundation, strengthening your faith in Him according to 2 :7 : Eph. 3:17; Eph. 2:20.22
the received instruction – that is, in the fullness of thanksgiving!
8 Always be cautious and pay attention, so that no one deceives6 you 2 :8 : Col. 2:4; 1 Tim. 6:20;
through some crafty philosophy and seemingly wise reasoning! You Eph. 5:6
will recognize this kind of deception by the fact that it is based on
human traditions or the worldly way of thinking7 rather than Christ
1 4
Lit. H is s a in ts . Gr. te le io n – this word describes perfection in the
2
C h rist in y o u – Paul indicates here a major element of context of a completed task to which one is destined.
God’s mystery which had been revealed in Christ. More on Compare also: Eph. 4:13 which says more on the subject
the subject in Col. 3:11 and the commentary to that verse. of assessing spiritual maturity.
3 5
This is the shortest way to describe Good News about Gr. a g a p e – this word describes an attitude of giving
the rescue in Christ. It is not any human efforts or rather than an emotional condition. It’s about an attitude
satisfying some religious rules, but the only true and of doing good also to those who don’t deserve it. God
living relationship with Christ that is the foundation of shows this very attitude towards all men through Christ.
6
Christian hope of partaking in God’s glory. The fruit of Lit. d o e s n o t m a k e y o u th e ir p r e y.
7
that relationship is an observable development of Christ’s Gr. sto ich eia – this word has two meanings: (1) “to ar-
character within a person’s life. range in a line; in a row” (as in the letters of the alphabet).
Col. 2:9 – 2:14 12

2 :9 : John 1:14.16; Col. 1:19 9 in whose human flesh all the fullness of God had taken residence1.
2 :1 0 : Eph. 1:13.21-22; 1 0 For it is in Him that the inexhaustible abundance of everything 2 that

Eph. 3:19; Eph. 4:12-13 is needed for Life is found, because He is the One who rules over all
2 :1 1 : Rom. 2:25-29; Phil. 3:3; authority and every sovereignty. 1 1 In Him also your true circumcision
Jer. 4:4 takes place, the spiritual one rather than the one done by hand on
a physical body3. Because Christ’s circumcision is an act which is
carried out on the heart, it is about rejecting sinful desires of the old,
2 :1 2 : Rom. 6:4-5; fleshly nature4. 1 2 It is fulfilled at the time when – being immersed5 in
Eph. 1:19-20; Eph. 2:6; Him 6 – with Him we bury our old, sinful nature7, trusting that in the
Col. 3:1; Rom. 8:11; same way we will be raised to Life8 again with Him 9, by God’s power1 0
1 Pet. 3:21 which He revealed during His resurrection1 1.

Freedom in Christ
2 :1 3 : Eph. 2:1.5 13Brothers and sisters, in Him we have been called to eternal and
everlasting Life. And though before – when we were under the power
of Death – our unclean, sinful nature1 2 kept us in bondage of its
unbridled desires, God in Christ freed us from the punishment for
2 :1 4 : Eph. 2:14-16; all of our offences and sins!1 3. 1 4 In Him, our debt1 4 ordinance which
1 Pet. 2:24

It was typically a scientific symbol for explaining vario-
us matters; (2) “the worldly way of thinking” – which
generally means a deceptive value system, unbiblical
“spirituality” and philosophy which tries to place human
thought above God’s wisdom. This can be observed quite
often in the deceptive trends within science, economy or
politics as attempts are made to remove God’s Word from
everyday life.
1 9
Apostle Paul develops this great truth in other letters
of his where he points out that since God’s fullness has
been revealed in Christ, then it is also being revealed in
the universal Church, which is the living Body of Christ
(cf. Eph. 1:10; Eph. 4:12-16; 1 Cor. 12:27).
2
T h e in e x h a u s tib le a b u n d a n ce o f e v e r y th in g is a dyna-
mic equivalent of the word p ler o m a used in this passage.
It contains the meaning of fulfillment that is absolute-
ly complete, totally sufficient and requiring no other
supplementation or replenishment.
3
Compare: Lev. 26:40-41; Deu. 10:16; Deu. 30:6;
Jer. 9:25; Ezek. 44:7; Acts 7:51; Rom. 2:28-29; Phil. 3:2-3.
Among other things, Paul demonstrates here the worth-
lessness of the Mosaic Law’s rituals.
4 13
F lesh ly n a tu re – Paul, in a significant way, again uses
here the two words: so m a and sa rk s, combining them into
one collocation.
5
Gr. b a p tis m o s .
6
More in the NPD Commentary → Immersion in
Christ.
7
Other translations show this sentence in the past
perfect tense, however the aorist tense used here means
a past and finished action only when used in the indicative
form. According to the renowned Greek scholar, Rev.
Popowski SDB, in other modes and forms, the aorist tense
does not necessarily mean that the action happened as
a point in time. It only means that the action began, i.e.,
a process was initiated and it may not have been finished
yet, but its results remain and can be observed.
8
I.e. bonded with Him in spiritual union.
Getting to know Jesus personally (delving into His
nature) is a process in which sanctification is accomplished.
This process begins with leaving behind the old life (old
nature). To picture this truth, Paul uses (in verses 11
and 12) two images which should be evident for both
Christians of Jewish origin and non-Jewish Christians.
10
Gr. en erg eia . This word means “power for productive
work, activity.”
11
Others translate: “because of faith in God who raised
Him from the dead.” However, the verb eg eiro (“raising”)
was used here in active voice, and the personal pronoun
a u to s can be translated as not only “Him,” but also “on
his own,” “by himself,” “personally,” etc.
12
Gr. s a r k s .
The key to understanding Apostle Paul’s argument
is to realize that the pardon available in Christ is a
“systemic” solution of sorts. It is available to those who
are in Christ and unavailable to the others. In Christ,
every person can personally experience the forgiveness of
sins, but not because they are special, chosen or beloved.
It’s because Christ is special, chosen, and beloved. All
those who immerse themselves in Him and absorb His