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navChapter"> <a href="/en/wol/binav/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51" class="spriteLink ellipsized"><span class="icon"></span>Colossians 1</a> </li> <li class="resultDocumentPubTitle"> New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition) </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="studyPaneToggle"><span class="icon"></span></div> <div class="chrome forwardBackNavControls resultNavControls "><ul><li class="resultNavLeft disabled"><span class="resultsNavDocumentLink"><span class="icon"></span></span></li><li class="resultNavRight "><a class="resultsNavDocumentLink" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/2"><span class="icon"></span></a></li></ul></div> <div class="navPosition hidden showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div class="scrollPositionDisplay"></div> </div> </div> <div id="playerwrapper" class="hidden headerPosition"></div> </div> <div id="regionMain" class="unified navLeft showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr hasStudyPane showStudy hasSecondaryNav" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr" > <div id="videoWrapperContainer" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="videoWrapper" class="hidden headerPosition constrainedHeight hasStudyPane showStudy hasSecondaryNav showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div class="topShadow"></div> <div class="videoNoticeContainer"> <p class="noticeText noMarkerNotice">No video available for this selection.</p> <p class="noticeText videoErrorNotice">Sorry, there was an error loading the video.</p> </div> <div id="playerShared" class="uninitialized"></div> </div> </div> <div id="study" class="clearfix activePane jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr"> <div id="studyWrapper"> <div class="navigationTabsContainer"> <ul class="navigationTabs"> <li class="active tabItem discover" data-related-content="studyDiscover" aria-label="discover"> <span class="icon"></span> </li> <li class="tabItem parallel" data-related-content="studyParallel" aria-label="parallel"> <span class="icon"></span> </li> <li class="tabItem marginal" data-related-content="studyMarginals" aria-label="marginal"> <span class="icon"></span> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="navigationContents"> <div id="studyDiscover" class="studyPane active tabContent"> <div class="section"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui"><strong>Overview of Colossians</strong></span></h3><div class="summaryOverview"><ul class="content"><li class='scalableui'><div class="overview chapterOnly"> <ul class="outline"><li class="L1 collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><p class="se title"><span class="itemLabel"><strong>A.</strong> </span><strong>INTRODUCTION (</strong><a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=2:0-6:0"><strong>1:1-12</strong></a><strong>)</strong></p><span class="icon"></span></div><ul><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Paul’s introductory greeting (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=2:0-4:0">1:1, 2</a>)</p></li><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Paul thanks God for the Colossians’ faith (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=4:0-5:0">1:3-8</a>)</p></li><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Paul prays that the Colossians grow spiritually in order to walk worthily of Jehovah (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=5:0-6:0">1:9-12</a>)</p></li></ul></li><li class="L1 collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><p class="se title"><span class="itemLabel"><strong>B.</strong> </span><strong>CHRIST’S CENTRAL ROLE IN THE OUTWORKING OF GOD’S PURPOSE (</strong><a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=6:0-8:0"><strong>1:13-23</strong></a><strong>)</strong></p><span class="icon"></span></div><ul><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Spirit-anointed Christians transferred by God into the kingdom of his beloved Son (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=6:0-6:190">1:13, 14</a>)</p></li><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Christ Jesus is the firstborn of all creation and the one God used to create all other things (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=6:190-6:628">1:15-17</a>)</p></li><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Christ is “the one who is first in all things” and through whom all things are reconciled to God (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=6:628-7:0">1:18-20</a>)</p></li><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Reconciled Christians need to continue in the faith (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=7:0-8:0">1:21-23</a>)</p></li></ul></li><li class="L1 collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><p class="se title"><span class="itemLabel"><strong>C.</strong> </span><strong>PAUL’S STEWARDSHIP TO MAKE KNOWN THE SACRED SECRET (</strong><a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=8:0-10:0"><strong>1:24–2:5</strong></a><strong>)</strong></p><span class="icon"></span></div><ul><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Paul works hard to fulfill his stewardship for the benefit of the Colossian congregation (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1#h=8:0-9:176">1:24–2:1</a>)</p></li><li class="L2"><p class="s5">The accurate knowledge about God’s sacred secret, Christ (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/2#h=9:176-9:537">2:2, 3</a>)</p></li><li class="L2"><p class="s5">Warning against deceptive teachings (<a class="outlineItem noTooltips" href="/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/2#h=9:537-10:0">2:4, 5</a>)</p></li></ul></li></ul></div> </li></ul></div></div><div class="section"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Letter to the Colossians</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="studyNote item"><span class="scalableui"><p id="p4" data-pid="4" class="s5"><strong>To the Colossians:</strong> Titles like this were apparently not part of the original text. Ancient manuscripts show that they were added later, doubtless to make it easy to identify the books.—See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/0/0">study note on 1Co Title</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-1" data-section-citation="051001001051001001"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:1</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="s5"><strong>Paul . . . and Timothy our brother:</strong> Or “From Paul . . . and Timothy our brother.” Paul is the writer of this letter to the Colossians, but he includes Timothy in the opening greeting. Timothy was with Paul in Rome when this letter was written, during Paul’s first imprisonment about 59-61 C.E. Paul calls Timothy “our brother,” referring to their spiritual relationship. It appears that like Paul, Timothy endured imprisonment in Rome sometime within this period.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/1/0" data-bid="2-1" class="b">Php 2:19;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/1/1" data-bid="2-2" class="b"> Heb 13:23</a>.</p> <p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="s5"><strong>an apostle of Christ Jesus:</strong> See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/1/0">study note on Ro 1:1</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group media"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Media</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="scalableui item hasVideo"><div class="clearfix"><a class="galleryItem" href="/en/wol/gallery/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1001072269#chapter=1"><img class="studyItemMedia" src="/en/wol/gallery/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1001072269/thumbnail" data-img-large-src="/en/wol/mp/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/2024/915" ><span class="caption"><p>Video Introduction to the Book of Colossians</p> </span></a></div></li><li class="scalableui item"><div class="clearfix"><a class="galleryItem" href="/en/wol/gallery/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1001072272#chapter=1"><img class="studyItemMedia" src="/en/wol/gallery/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1001072272/thumbnail" data-img-large-src="/en/wol/mp/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/2024/918" ><span class="caption"><p>Paul’s Letter to the Colossians</p> </span></a></div></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/0" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-1"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ac 16:1; 1Co 4:17</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-1" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-2" data-section-citation="051001002051001002"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:2</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p9" data-pid="9" class="s5"><strong>the holy ones:</strong> See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/2/0">study note on Ro 1:7</a>.</p> <p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="s5"><strong>Colossae:</strong> A city in SW Asia Minor that in Paul’s day was in the Roman province of Asia. (See Glossary, “<a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/3/0">Asia</a>”; <a class="it" href="/en/wol/tc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/1">App. B13</a>.) Its location in the Lycus River valley put it on a major trade route that connected cities on the Aegean Coast with cities to the E. By the first century C.E., neighboring Laodicea and Hierapolis had also become major cities in this region. Colossae continued to be a well-known textile center, noted for its fine wool dyed a reddish-purple, a color that was called <em>colossinus.</em> The remains of the ancient city, located 4 km (2.5 mi) from the Turkish town of Honaz, have not yet been excavated.</p> <p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="s5"><strong>May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father:</strong> See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/4/0">study note on Ro 1:7</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p2" data-pid="2" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/0/0">w82 12/15 12-13,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/0/2"> 18;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/0/4"> w64 331</a></p> <p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-3" data-section-citation="051001003051001003"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:3</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p13" data-pid="13" class="s5"><strong>We always thank God . . . when we pray for you:</strong> Or possibly, “We thank God . . . always praying for you.” Some Bibles connect “always” to “thank God,” while other Bibles connect it to “pray.” The Greek text may be understood either way.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="sx"><span class="ni">g65 3/8 7;</span><span class="ni"> g62 2/8 14</span></p> <p id="p4" data-pid="4" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-4" data-section-citation="051001004051001004"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:4</span></h3><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p4" data-pid="4" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/2/0">w73 685,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/2/2"> 691,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/2/4"> 693;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/2/6"> w65 664;</a><span class="ni"> g62 2/8 14</span></p> <p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-5" data-section-citation="051001005051001005"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:5</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/1" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-2"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 1:3, 4</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-2" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-2" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/2" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-3"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:13</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-3" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-3" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/3/0">w73 683,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/3/3"> 688,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/3/5"> 691,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/3/7"> 693;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/3/9"> w73 718-719;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/3/11"> w65 664;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/3/12"> w64 337</a></p> <p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-6" data-section-citation="051001006051001006"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:6</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/3" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-4"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Col 1:23; 1Ti 3:16</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-4" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-4" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/4/0">w73 582;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/4/2"> w73 683,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/4/5"> 688;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/4/7"> w73 718-719;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/4/9"> ka 298</a></p> <p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-7" data-section-citation="051001007051001007"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:7</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p15" data-pid="15" class="s5"><strong>Epaphras:</strong> A faithful minister in Colossae who visited the apostle Paul in Rome during Paul’s first imprisonment there. It appears that at the time of writing his letter to the Colossians, the apostle had not visited Colossae (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/5/0" data-bid="6-1" class="b">Col 2:1</a>) and that Epaphras was instrumental in establishing the congregation there (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/6/0" data-bid="7-1" class="b">Col 1:6-8;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/6/1" data-bid="7-2" class="b"> 4:12, 13</a>). The name Epaphras is an abbreviation of Epaphroditus. However, Epaphras is not to be confused with Epaphroditus from Philippi. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/7/0" data-bid="8-1" class="b">Php 2:25</a>) Epaphras from Colossae is also mentioned at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/8/0" data-bid="9-1" class="b">Phm 23</a>.</p> <p id="p16" data-pid="16" class="s5"><strong>minister:</strong> See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/5/0">study notes on Mt 20:26;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/6/0"> 1Co 3:5</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/4" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-5"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Col 4:12, 13; Phm 23</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-5" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-5" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p2" data-pid="2" class="se"></p> <p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/0/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 1<em>,</em> p. 731</a></p> <div id="p4" data-pid="4"><p data-pid="4" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/1/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="4" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/1/0">5/15/1997, pp. 30-31</a></p> </div><p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p2" data-pid="2" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/0/0">it-1 731;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/0/2"> w97 5/15 30-31;</a></p> <p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="sx"></p> <p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/5/0">w73 691</a></p> <p id="p8" data-pid="8" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-8" data-section-citation="051001008051001008"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:8</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p18" data-pid="18" class="s5"><strong>in a spiritual way:</strong> Lit., “in spirit.” This expression describes the kind of love shown by the Colossian Christians. It is the unselfish, principled love that God’s holy spirit produces in people who submit to its influence.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/10/0" data-bid="11-1" class="b">Ga 5:22</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p8" data-pid="8" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/6/0">w73 685,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/6/2"> 691</a></p> <p id="p9" data-pid="9" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-9" data-section-citation="051001009051001009"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:9</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p20" data-pid="20" class="s5"><strong>the accurate knowledge:</strong> In this context, the expression “the accurate knowledge” appears twice, here and in the following verse. Paul prays that the Colossian Christians may be filled with accurate knowledge about God and His will.—For a discussion of the Greek term rendered “accurate knowledge,” see <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/7/0">study note on Eph 4:13</a>.</p> <p id="p21" data-pid="21" class="s5"><strong>spiritual comprehension:</strong> That is, an understanding of spiritual things imparted by God’s spirit. It includes “the accurate knowledge of [God’s] will.” The person with such spiritual understanding sees things as Jehovah does.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group footnote"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Footnotes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item footnote" data-extract-id="verseFootnote-1"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">*</span></span><span class="scalableui"><p id="p28" data-pid="28">Or “petitioning.”</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/5" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-6"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:15-17; Php 1:9; 1Ti 2:3, 4</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-6" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-6" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/6" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-7"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">2Ti 2:7; 1Jo 5:20</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-7" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-7" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="se"></p> <p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/2/0"><em>Enjoy Life Forever!,</em> lesson 23</a></p> <p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/3/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 2<em>,</em> pp. 181-182</a></p> <div id="p8" data-pid="8"><p data-pid="8" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/4/0"><em>The Watchtower</em> (Study)<em>,</em></a></p><p data-pid="8" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/4/0">8/2016, p. 26</a></p> </div><div id="p9" data-pid="9"><p data-pid="9" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/5/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="9" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/5/0">11/1/2001, p. 18</a></p> </div><p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/1/0">lff lessons 23,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/1/3"> 47;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/1/5"> it-2 181-182;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/1/7"> w16.08 26;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/1/9"> w01 11/1 18;</a></p> <p id="p4" data-pid="4" class="sx"></p> <p id="p9" data-pid="9" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/7/0">w85 7/15 16;</a><span class="ni"> g62 6/8 7;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/7/3"> w60 42,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/7/4"> 108;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/7/5"> w58 310;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/7/6"> w57 459;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/7/7"> w50 53</a></p> <p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-10" data-section-citation="051001010051001010"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:10</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p23" data-pid="23" class="s5"><strong>to walk worthily of Jehovah:</strong> The expression “to walk” is here used figuratively in the sense of living one’s life or conducting oneself. A number of times in his letters, Paul uses the expression “to walk” with a figurative meaning. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/0" data-bid="14-1" class="b">Ga 5:16;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/1" data-bid="14-2" class="b"> Eph 5:2;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/2" data-bid="14-3" class="b"> Php 3:17;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/3" data-bid="14-4" class="b"> Col 2:6;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/4" data-bid="14-5" class="b"> 3:7;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/5" data-bid="14-6" class="b"> 4:5;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/6" data-bid="14-7" class="b"> 1Th 2:12;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/7" data-bid="14-8" class="b"> 4:1</a>) One reference work says that in such contexts, this term refers to the “walk of life.” Such usage has its background in the Hebrew Scriptures. One example is found at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/14/0" data-bid="15-1" class="b">2Ki 20:3</a>, where King Hezekiah said: “I beg you, O Jehovah, remember, please, how I have walked before you faithfully.” So to walk worthily of Jehovah means to live in a way that reflects well on his name and is in agreement with his righteous standards. At <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/15/0" data-bid="16-1" class="b">1Th 2:12</a>, Paul uses a similar phrase.—For the use of the divine name in this verse, see <a class="it" href="/en/wol/tc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/2">App. C3 introduction;</a> <a class="it" href="/en/wol/tc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/3">Col 1:10</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/7" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-8"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 4:1</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-8" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-8" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/8" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-9"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 15:8; 2Pe 1:2, 8</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-9" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-9" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="se"></p> <p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/6/0"><em>Enjoy Life Forever!,</em> lesson 23</a></p> <div id="p12" data-pid="12"><p data-pid="12" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/7/0"><em>The Watchtower</em> (Study)<em>,</em></a></p><p data-pid="12" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/7/0">8/2016, p. 26</a></p> </div><div id="p13" data-pid="13"><p data-pid="13" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/8/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="13" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/8/0">12/1/2002, p. 16</a></p><p data-pid="13" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/9/0">11/1/2001, p. 18</a></p><p data-pid="13" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/10/0">11/1/1999, pp. 17-19</a></p><p data-pid="13" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/11/0">3/15/1986, pp. 21-23</a></p> </div><p id="p14" data-pid="14" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p4" data-pid="4" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/2/0">lff lessons 23,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/2/3"> 47;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/2/5"> w16.08 26;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/2/7"> w02 12/1 16;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/2/9"> w01 11/1 18;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/2/11"> w99 11/1 17-19;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/2/13"> w86 3/15 21-23;</a></p> <p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="sx"></p> <p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/8/0">w78 8/15 14;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/8/2"> w61 207;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/8/3"> w60 42;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/8/4"> w58 310;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/8/5"> w57 459</a></p> <p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-11" data-section-citation="051001011051001011"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:11</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/9" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-10"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:14, 16</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-10" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-10" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/10" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-11"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 5:3; Jas 1:2, 3</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-11" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-11" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p14" data-pid="14" class="se"></p> <p id="p15" data-pid="15" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/12/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 1<em>,</em> p. 725</a></p> <p id="p16" data-pid="16" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/13/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 2<em>,</em> p. 264</a></p> <div id="p17" data-pid="17"><p data-pid="17" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/14/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="17" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/14/0">11/1/2001, p. 18</a></p><p data-pid="17" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/15/0">5/15/1991, p. 20</a></p> </div><p id="p18" data-pid="18" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/3/0">it-1 725;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/3/2"> it-2 264;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/3/4"> w01 11/1 18;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/3/6"> w91 5/15 20;</a></p> <p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="sx"></p> <p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/9/0">w66 431;</a><span class="ni"> w47 215</span></p> <p id="p12" data-pid="12" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-12" data-section-citation="051001012051001012"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:12</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/11" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-12"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 8:17; Eph 1:13, 14</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-12" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-12" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p12" data-pid="12" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/10/0">w82 12/15 18-19;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/10/2"> w78 3/1 17-18</a></p> <p id="p13" data-pid="13" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-13" data-section-citation="051001013051001013"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:13</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p25" data-pid="25" class="s5"><strong>the authority of the darkness:</strong> Or “the power (domain) of darkness.” Jesus similarly spoke of “the authority of darkness” governing his opposers when he was arrested on the night before his execution. (See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/8/0">study note on Lu 22:53</a>.) Here Paul stresses the spiritual darkness that envelops the system of things under Satan’s control.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/17/0" data-bid="18-1" class="b">Eph 4:18;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/17/1" data-bid="18-2" class="b"> 6:12</a>; compare <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/18/0" data-bid="19-1" class="b">2Co 4:4</a> and <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/9/0">study note</a>.</p> <p id="p26" data-pid="26" class="s5"><strong>transferred:</strong> Paul here says that Christians were rescued from darkness and were now in a better place. He uses a Greek word that can also mean “transplanted.” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/19/0" data-bid="20-1" class="b">1Co 13:2</a> and <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/10/0">study note</a>.) The same Greek word was sometimes used by non-Biblical writers regarding the transfer of entire populations from one land to another. Paul reminds the Colossian Christians how blessed they are to have been lifted out of Satan’s dark domain and transferred to a vastly better kingdom.</p> <p id="p27" data-pid="27" class="s5"><strong>the kingdom of his beloved Son:</strong> Paul here speaks of a kingdom that was then in existence, since the verse shows that Christians had already been transferred into it. This kingdom is therefore different from the heavenly Messianic Kingdom, which the Bible shows would not be established until well after Paul’s day. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/20/0" data-bid="21-1" class="b">1Co 6:9, 10;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/20/1" data-bid="21-2" class="b"> Eph 5:5</a> and <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/11/0">study note;</a> <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/21/0" data-bid="22-1" class="b">2Pe 1:10, 11;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/21/1" data-bid="22-2" class="b"> Re 11:15;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/21/2" data-bid="22-3" class="b"> 12:10</a>; compare <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/22/0" data-bid="23-1" class="b">Lu 19:11, 12,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/22/1" data-bid="23-2" class="b"> 15</a>.) So Paul is referring to a different “kingdom,” one made up of spirit-anointed Christians who are prospective heirs of the heavenly Kingdom. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/23/0" data-bid="24-1" class="b">Jas 2:5</a>) Christ became King, or Ruler, of that kingdom at Pentecost 33 C.E. That spiritual kingdom will exist on earth until the last one of the anointed is taken to heaven. After such spirit-begotten Christians receive their heavenly reward, they will no longer be earthly subjects of the spiritual kingdom of Christ; rather, they will be kings with Christ in heaven.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/24/0" data-bid="25-1" class="b">Re 5:9, 10</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/12" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-13"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 2:1, 2</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-13" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-13" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p18" data-pid="18" class="se"></p> <p id="p19" data-pid="19" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/16/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 2<em>,</em> p. 169</a></p> <div id="p20" data-pid="20"><p data-pid="20" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/17/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="20" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/17/0">1/15/2014, p. 11</a></p><p data-pid="20" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/18/0">10/1/2002, p. 18</a></p><p data-pid="20" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/19/0">10/15/1995, p. 20</a></p><p data-pid="20" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/20/0">1/15/1992, pp. 9-10</a></p><p data-pid="20" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/21/0">3/15/1990, p. 15</a></p> </div><p id="p21" data-pid="21" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/22/0"><em>Live Forever,</em> p. 136</a></p> <p id="p22" data-pid="22" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/23/0"><em>Reasoning,</em> p. 232</a></p> <p id="p23" data-pid="23" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/4/0">it-2 169;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/4/3"> w14 1/15 11;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/4/5"> w02 10/1 18;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/4/7"> w95 10/15 20;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/4/9"> w92 1/15 9-10;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/4/11"> w90 3/15 15;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/4/13"> pe 136;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/4/15"> rs 232;</a></p> <p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="sx"></p> <p id="p13" data-pid="13" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/0">w81 6/15 26-27;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/2"> w80 10/1 26-28;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/5"> w78 3/1 17-20,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/7"> 23;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/9"> w78 4/15 31;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/11"> w73 458-459;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/13"> w73 686;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/15"> ad 1004;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/16"> w66 198;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/17"> w63 48,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/18"> 575;</a><span class="ni"> ln 20;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/20"> w62 139,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/21"> 684;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/22"> w61 102;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/23"> w60 700;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/24"> w57 362;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/11/25"> w56 461;</a><span class="ni"> nh 206;</span><span class="ni"> w47 167</span></p> <p id="p14" data-pid="14" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-14" data-section-citation="051001014051001014"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:14</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/13" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-14"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:7</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-14" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-14" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p23" data-pid="23" class="se"></p> <p id="p24" data-pid="24" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/24/0"><em>Bible Questions Answered,</em> article 120</a></p> <p id="p25" data-pid="25" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/5/0">ijwbq article 120;</a></p> <p id="p8" data-pid="8" class="sx"></p> <p id="p14" data-pid="14" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/12/0">w78 3/1 17-18;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/12/2"> w73 458-459;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/12/4"> w62 139;</a><span class="ni"> w39 153;</span><span class="ni"> s 190</span></p> <p id="p15" data-pid="15" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-15" data-section-citation="051001015051001015"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:15</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p29" data-pid="29" class="s5"><strong>the firstborn of all creation:</strong> That is, the first creation by Jehovah God. Six of the eight occurrences of the Greek term for “firstborn” (<em>pro·toʹto·kos</em>) in the Christian Greek Scriptures refer to Jesus. The usual Scriptural meaning of the term “firstborn” is the one born first in order of time, such as a firstborn child. Because Jesus was “the firstborn” child of Mary, he was presented at the temple in accordance with Jehovah’s Law. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/26/0" data-bid="27-1" class="b">Lu 2:7,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/26/1" data-bid="27-2" class="b"> 22, 23;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/26/2" data-bid="27-3" class="b"> Mt 1:25</a>) At <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/27/0" data-bid="28-1" class="b">Col 1:18</a> (see <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/12/0">study note</a>), the same Greek word is used of Jesus, “the firstborn from the dead,” that is, first in order of time. (Compare <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/28/0" data-bid="29-1" class="b">Ro 8:29</a>.) Likewise, in the Hebrew Scriptures, the expression “firstborn” is most often used in the sense of “the oldest son of a father.” The same Greek word occurs in the <em>Septuagint</em> at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/29/0" data-bid="30-1" class="b">Ge 49:3</a>, where Jacob says: “Reuben, you are my firstborn.” (See Glossary, “<a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/13/0">Firstborn</a>.”) Some who claim that Jesus was not created say that “firstborn” here means one who is preeminent in rank, not part of the creation, and they render the phrase “the firstborn over all creation.” While it is true that Jesus is preeminent in relation to all other creatures, there is no basis for the assertion that the term “firstborn” here takes on a meaning other than its usual one. A similar statement at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/30/0" data-bid="31-1" class="b">Re 3:14</a> calls Jesus “the beginning of the creation by God,” confirming that here “firstborn of all creation” is used in the sense of being the first one created by God.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/14" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-15"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 4:24; 10:30; 14:9; 1Ti 1:17; Heb 1:3</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-15" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-15" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/15" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-16"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Pr 8:22; Re 3:14</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-16" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-16" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p25" data-pid="25" class="se"></p> <p id="p26" data-pid="26" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/25/0"><em>Close to Jehovah,</em> pp. 55-56,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/26/0"> 232</a></p> <p id="p27" data-pid="27" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/27/0"><em>Enjoy Life Forever!,</em> lesson 15</a></p> <p id="p28" data-pid="28" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/28/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 1<em>,</em> pp. 320,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/29/0"> 836</a></p> <p id="p29" data-pid="29" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/30/0"><em>Teach Us,</em> p. 45</a></p> <p id="p30" data-pid="30" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/31/0"><em>Bible Teach,</em> p. 42</a></p> <div id="p31" data-pid="31"><p data-pid="31" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/32/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="31" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/32/0">7/1/2003, p. 15</a></p><p data-pid="31" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/33/0">6/1/1988, p. 13</a></p> </div><p id="p32" data-pid="32" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/34/0"><em>Knowledge,</em> pp. 39-40</a></p> <p id="p33" data-pid="33" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/35/0"><em>Reasoning,</em> pp. 408-409</a></p> <p id="p34" data-pid="34" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p8" data-pid="8" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/0">cl 55-56,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/2"> 232;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/4"> lff lesson 15;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/6"> it-1 320,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/8"> 836;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/10"> bhs 45;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/12"> bh 42;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/14"> w03 7/1 15;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/16"> kl 39-40;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/18"> rs 408;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/6/20"> w88 6/1 13;</a></p> <p id="p9" data-pid="9" class="sx"></p> <p id="p15" data-pid="15" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/13/0">g79 4/8 28-29;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/13/3"> w78 4/1 16;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/13/5"> hs 27-28;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/13/7"> w73 132;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/13/9"> w73 262-263;</a><span class="ni"> fm 188;</span><span class="ni"> im 127;</span><span class="ni"> g64 4/22 26;</span><span class="ni"> g64 9/8 28;</span><span class="ni"> g63 12/8 9;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/13/16"> w62 42;</a><span class="ni"> g62 9/22 6;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/13/18"> w61 683;</a><span class="ni"> nh 24,</span><span class="ni"> 63;</span><span class="ni"> lg 32;</span><span class="ni"> tf 48;</span><span class="ni"> wl 16</span></p> <p id="p16" data-pid="16" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-16" data-section-citation="051001016051001016"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:16</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p31" data-pid="31" class="s5"><strong>by means of him all other things were created:</strong> God used “his beloved Son” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/32/0" data-bid="33-1" class="b">Col 1:13</a>) in creating the things “in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible.” This would include the millions of other spirit sons in Jehovah God’s heavenly family, as well as the physical universe. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/33/0" data-bid="34-1" class="b">Ge 1:1;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/33/1" data-bid="34-2" class="b"> Da 7:9, 10;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/33/2" data-bid="34-3" class="b"> Joh 1:3;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/33/3" data-bid="34-4" class="b"> Re 5:11</a>) Jesus was Jehovah’s firstborn Son and the only one created directly by God. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/34/0" data-bid="35-1" class="b">Heb 1:6</a>; see <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/14/0">study notes on Joh 1:14</a> and <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/15/0">Col 1:15</a>.) Logically, it was to this firstborn Son that Jehovah said: “Let <em>us</em> make man in <em>our</em> image, according to <em>our</em> likeness.”—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/35/0" data-bid="36-1" class="b">Ge 1:26</a>.</p> <p id="p32" data-pid="32" class="s5"><strong>all other things:</strong> A literal rendering of the Greek text would be “all things.” (Compare <em>Kingdom Interlinear.</em>) However, such a rendering could give the impression that Jesus was not created but was the Creator himself. And that idea would not agree with the rest of the Bible, including the preceding verse, which calls Jesus “the firstborn of all creation.” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/36/0" data-bid="37-1" class="b">Col 1:15</a>; compare <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/37/0" data-bid="38-1" class="b">Re 3:14</a>, where Jesus is called “the beginning of the creation by God.”) Also, the Greek word for “all” can in some contexts have the meaning “all other,” as for example at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/38/0" data-bid="39-1" class="b">Lu 13:2</a> (“all other”); <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/39/0" data-bid="40-1" class="b">Lu 21:29</a> (“all the other”); <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/40/0" data-bid="41-1" class="b">Php 2:21</a> (“all the others”). This agrees with Paul’s inspired teaching found at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/41/0" data-bid="42-1" class="b">1Co 15:27</a>: “God ‘subjected all things under his [Christ’s] feet.’ But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him.” So both the Bible’s teachings as a whole and the probable meaning of the Greek word used here support the rendering “all other things.”—Compare <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/16/0">study note on Php 2:9</a>.</p> <p id="p33" data-pid="33" class="s5"><strong>thrones or lordships or governments or authorities:</strong> Here Paul refers to positions of authority within Jehovah’s administrative arrangement. Such positions exist among God’s human servants and, as indicated here, also among his perfect spirit creatures. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/42/0" data-bid="43-1" class="b">Ezr 10:15-17;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/42/1" data-bid="43-2" class="b"> Isa 6:2;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/42/2" data-bid="43-3" class="b"> 1Co 6:3;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/42/3" data-bid="43-4" class="b"> Eph 3:10;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/42/4" data-bid="43-5" class="b"> Heb 13:17;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/42/5" data-bid="43-6" class="b"> Jude 8, 9</a>) These positions were not simply permitted by Jehovah; rather, they <strong>were created</strong> by God. He is the Source of these arrangements, and his Son was the active agent in setting them up. The positions of authority mentioned in this verse were “created through him [Jesus] and for him,” and therefore they cannot refer to human governments.</p> <p id="p34" data-pid="34" class="s5"><strong>created through him and for him:</strong> Although God’s firstborn Son, Jesus, is here said to have been involved in the creation of all things, the Scriptures do not call him the Creator. The preceding verse says that he is “the firstborn of all creation,” and at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/43/0" data-bid="44-1" class="b">Re 3:14</a>, he is called “the beginning of the creation by God.” After his own creation, Jesus, personified as “wisdom” in <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/44/0" data-bid="45-1" class="b">Proverbs chapter 8</a>, became Jehovah’s “master worker.” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/45/0" data-bid="46-1" class="b">Pr 8:1,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/45/1" data-bid="46-2" class="b"> 22,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/45/2" data-bid="46-3" class="b"> 30</a>) Jesus’ involvement with creation is described at <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/46/0" data-bid="47-1" class="b">Pr 8:22-31</a>, which says that Jehovah’s master worker “rejoiced over [God’s] habitable earth, and . . . was especially fond of the sons of men [or, “mankind”].” It is in this sense that <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/47/0" data-bid="48-1" class="b">Col 1:16</a> says: “All other things have been created through him and <em>for</em> him.”</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/16" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-17"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 1:3</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-17" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-17" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/17" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-18"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 1:10; 1Co 8:6; Heb 1:2</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-18" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-18" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p34" data-pid="34" class="se"></p> <p id="p35" data-pid="35" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/36/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 2<em>,</em> pp. 14,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/37/0"> 52,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/38/0"> 897,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/39/0"> 1098</a></p> <div id="p36" data-pid="36"><p data-pid="36" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/40/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="36" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/40/0">9/1/2001, p. 31</a></p><p data-pid="36" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/41/0">6/1/1988, p. 13</a></p> </div><p id="p37" data-pid="37" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/42/0"><em>Creator,</em> pp. 86-88</a></p> <p id="p38" data-pid="38" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/43/0"><em>Live Forever,</em> p. 191</a></p> <p id="p39" data-pid="39" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/44/0"><em>Reasoning,</em> pp. 408-409</a></p> <p id="p40" data-pid="40" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p9" data-pid="9" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/0">it-2 14,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/2"> 52,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/4"> 897,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/6"> 1098;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/8"> w01 9/1 31;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/10"> ct 86-88;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/12"> pe 191;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/14"> rs 408-409;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/7/17"> w88 6/1 13;</a></p> <p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="sx"></p> <p id="p16" data-pid="16" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/0">g79 4/8 28-29;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/2"> w78 4/1 16;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/4"> hs 27-28;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/6"> w73 262;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/8"> ad 1597;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/9"> w70 255;</a><span class="ni"> qm 376;</span><span class="ni"> im 127;</span><span class="ni"> g64 9/8 28;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/14"> w63 575;</a><span class="ni"> g63 1/8 27;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/16"> w62 336,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/14/17"> 476;</a><span class="ni"> g62 8/8 28;</span><span class="ni"> nh 24,</span><span class="ni"> 63;</span><span class="ni"> rm 38;</span><span class="ni"> w48 76;</span><span class="ni"> tf 48;</span><span class="ni"> w41 12,</span><span class="ni"> 379</span></p> <p id="p17" data-pid="17" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-17" data-section-citation="051001017051001017"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:17</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/18" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-19"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 17:5</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-19" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-19" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p17" data-pid="17" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/15/0">g79 4/8 28-29;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/15/2"> w78 4/1 16;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/15/4"> w72 486;</a><span class="ni"> im 127;</span><span class="ni"> g64 9/8 28;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/15/8"> w63 575;</a><span class="ni"> nh 24;</span><span class="ni"> rm 38;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/15/11"> w50 396;</a><span class="ni"> w48 76;</span><span class="ni"> tf 48</span></p> <p id="p18" data-pid="18" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-18" data-section-citation="051001018051001018"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:18</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p36" data-pid="36" class="s5"><strong>the head of the body, the congregation:</strong> Both in his letter to the Colossians and in the one to the Ephesians, Paul likens the Christian congregation to a “body,” of which Christ is the head. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/49/0" data-bid="50-1" class="b">Eph 1:22, 23</a>) According to one reference work, this metaphor “suggests not only vital union with the Head, but that the will of the Head is exercised through the members. They are His <em>instruments.”</em> Jesus is also the head, or ruler, of the kingdom that Paul calls “the kingdom of [God’s] beloved Son.”—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/50/0" data-bid="51-1" class="b">Col 1:13</a> and <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/17/0">study note</a>.</p> <p id="p37" data-pid="37" class="s5"><strong>He is</strong> . . . <strong>the firstborn from the dead:</strong> Bible accounts tell of other humans who were resurrected prior to Jesus, but he was the first to be raised from the dead to endless life. His resurrection was “in the spirit” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/51/0" data-bid="52-1" class="b">1Pe 3:18</a>) to a higher position than the one he held in the heavens before coming to earth. He was granted immortality and incorruption, which no human of flesh and blood can have. Jesus was “exalted above the heavens,” and in all the universe, he is second only to Jehovah God. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/52/0" data-bid="53-1" class="b">Heb 7:26;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/52/1" data-bid="53-2" class="b"> 1Co 15:27;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/52/2" data-bid="53-3" class="b"> Php 2:9-11</a>) He was resurrected by Jehovah God himself!—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/53/0" data-bid="54-1" class="b">Ac 3:15;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/53/1" data-bid="54-2" class="b"> 5:30;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/53/2" data-bid="54-3" class="b"> Ro 4:24;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/53/3" data-bid="54-4" class="b"> 10:9</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/19" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-20"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:22</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-20" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-20" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/20" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-21"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 15:23; Re 1:5</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-21" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-21" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p40" data-pid="40" class="se"></p> <p id="p41" data-pid="41" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/45/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 1<em>,</em> p. 836</a></p> <p id="p42" data-pid="42" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/46/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 2<em>,</em> pp. 785-786</a></p> <div id="p43" data-pid="43"><p data-pid="43" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/47/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="43" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/47/0">4/1/2007, p. 22</a></p> </div><p id="p44" data-pid="44" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p10" data-pid="10" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/8/0">it-1 836;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/8/2"> it-2 785-786;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/8/4"> w07 4/1 22;</a></p> <p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="sx"></p> <p id="p18" data-pid="18" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/16/0">w79 6/15 22;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/16/2"> w78 4/1 16-17;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/16/5"> w76 244;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/16/7"> g73 5/8 7;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/16/9"> w72 729;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/16/11"> w69 748;</a><span class="ni"> fm 188;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/16/13"> w61 28;</a><span class="ni"> nh 24,</span><span class="ni"> 200;</span><span class="ni"> w43 121;</span><span class="ni"> g43 9/29 18</span></p> <p id="p19" data-pid="19" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-19" data-section-citation="051001019051001019"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:19</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p39" data-pid="39" class="s5"><strong>to have all fullness to dwell in him:</strong> Jesus Christ is the key figure in the fulfilling of God’s purpose, and he occupies the foremost place in the congregation. In addition to “the blood he shed on the torture stake” to reconcile mankind (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/55/0" data-bid="56-1" class="b">Col 1:20</a>), Jesus provides everything (“all fullness”) that Christians need for guidance and instruction. Jesus is also the very embodiment of divine qualities, including wisdom. His example and teachings are perfect, lacking nothing that must be supplemented by human philosophies and traditions. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/56/0" data-bid="57-1" class="b">Col 2:8-10</a>) Hence, he is the one to whom Christians look as their Exemplar and source of instruction.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/21" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-22"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Col 2:3, 9</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-22" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-22" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p44" data-pid="44" class="se"></p> <div id="p45" data-pid="45"><p data-pid="45" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/48/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="45" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/48/0">8/15/2011, p. 24</a></p> </div><p id="p46" data-pid="46" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p11" data-pid="11" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/9/0">w11 8/15 24;</a></p> <p id="p12" data-pid="12" class="sx"></p> <p id="p19" data-pid="19" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/17/0">w78 4/1 17-18;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/17/2"> w78 4/15 31;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/17/4"> w73 263</a></p> <p id="p20" data-pid="20" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-20" data-section-citation="051001020051001020"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:20</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p41" data-pid="41" class="s5"><strong>to reconcile to himself:</strong> The Greek verb here rendered “to reconcile” has the basic meaning “to change; to exchange.” It came to mean “to change from hostility to a friendly relationship.” Paul here explains that the reconciliation is accomplished “through the blood he [Jesus] shed on the torture stake.” By this means, mankind will be brought back into harmony with God. This change will allow the relationship between God and man to be friendly again.—See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/18/0">study notes on Ro 5:10;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/19/0"> 2Co 5:18,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/20/0"> 19</a>.</p> <p id="p42" data-pid="42" class="s5"><strong>torture stake:</strong> Or “execution stake.”—See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/21/0">Glossary</a>.</p> <p id="p43" data-pid="43" class="s5"><strong>the things on the earth or the things in the heavens:</strong> Paul here describes those who are reconciled by means of the blood Christ shed on the torture stake. “The things in the heavens” are the spirit-anointed Christians, called to reign with Christ in heaven. They are “partakers of the heavenly calling” (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/58/0" data-bid="59-1" class="b">Heb 3:1</a>) and are “to rule as kings over the earth” as joint heirs with Christ in God’s Kingdom (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/59/0" data-bid="60-1" class="b">Re 5:9, 10</a>). “The things on the earth” are humans who are reconciled to God and who will live on earth as subjects of this heavenly Kingdom.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/60/0" data-bid="61-1" class="b">Ps 37:29</a>; see <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/22/0">study note on Eph 1:10</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/22" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-23"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">2Co 5:19; Eph 1:10</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-23" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-23" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/23" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-24"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Le 17:11</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-24" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-24" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p46" data-pid="46" class="se"></p> <p id="p47" data-pid="47" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/49/0"><em>Close to Jehovah,</em> pp. 146-147</a></p> <div id="p48" data-pid="48"><p data-pid="48" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/50/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="48" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/50/0">8/15/2011, p. 24</a></p><p data-pid="48" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/51/0">1/15/2009, pp. 28-29</a></p><p data-pid="48" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/52/0">1/15/1997, pp. 11-12</a></p><p data-pid="48" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/53/0">12/15/1994, pp. 11-13</a></p><p data-pid="48" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/54/0">2/15/1991, p. 18</a></p><p data-pid="48" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/55/0">3/15/1987, pp. 14-15</a></p> </div><p id="p49" data-pid="49" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p12" data-pid="12" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/10/0">cl 146-147;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/10/2"> w11 8/15 24;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/10/4"> w09 1/15 28-29;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/10/6"> w97 1/15 11-12;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/10/8"> w94 12/15 11-13;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/10/10"> w91 2/15 18;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/10/12"> w87 3/15 14-15;</a></p> <p id="p13" data-pid="13" class="sx"></p> <p id="p20" data-pid="20" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/18/0">w85 12/1 13,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/18/2"> 18;</a><span class="ni"> g64 9/8 28</span></p> <p id="p21" data-pid="21" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-21" data-section-citation="051001021051001021"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:21</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/24" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-25"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 2:12</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-25" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-25" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p49" data-pid="49" class="se"></p> <p id="p50" data-pid="50" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/56/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 2<em>,</em> p. 760</a></p> <p id="p51" data-pid="51" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p13" data-pid="13" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/11/0">it-2 760;</a></p> <p id="p14" data-pid="14" class="sx"></p> <p id="p21" data-pid="21" class="sx"><span class="ni">im 399;</span><span class="ni"> w49 199</span></p> <p id="p22" data-pid="22" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-22" data-section-citation="051001022051001022"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:22</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/25" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-26"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 5:10; Eph 2:15, 16</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-26" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-26" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/26" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-27"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 1:8; Eph 1:4</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-27" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-27" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p51" data-pid="51" class="se"></p> <p id="p52" data-pid="52" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/57/0"><em>Insight,</em> Volume 2<em>,</em> p. 760</a></p> <div id="p53" data-pid="53"><p data-pid="53" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/58/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="53" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/58/0">12/15/1994, p. 12</a></p> </div><p id="p54" data-pid="54" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p14" data-pid="14" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/12/0">it-2 760;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/12/2"> w94 12/15 12;</a></p> <p id="p15" data-pid="15" class="sx"></p> <p id="p22" data-pid="22" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/20/0">w73 470;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/20/2"> w63 306;</a><span class="ni"> w49 199</span></p> <p id="p23" data-pid="23" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-23" data-section-citation="051001023051001023"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:23</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p45" data-pid="45" class="s5"><strong>was preached in all creation under heaven:</strong> Paul is not indicating that the good news had literally reached every land around the globe. Rather, he is describing in broad terms how far the good news had spread. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/62/0" data-bid="63-1" class="b">Ro 1:8;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/62/1" data-bid="63-2" class="b"> Col 1:6</a>) By the time Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians, the Kingdom message was widely known throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. In fact, nearly 30 years before that time, Jews and proselytes who embraced Christianity at Pentecost 33 C.E. carried the message at least as far as Parthia, Elam, Media, Mesopotamia, Arabia, Asia Minor, the parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and Rome—encompassing the world known to Paul’s readers. (<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/63/0" data-bid="64-1" class="b">Ac 2:1,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/63/1" data-bid="64-2" class="b"> 8-11,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/63/2" data-bid="64-3" class="b"> 41, 42</a>) However, Paul’s own words in <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/64/0" data-bid="65-1" class="b">Romans chapter 15</a> show that his statement was not meant to be taken literally. There he stated that the good news had not yet been preached in the then “untouched territory” of Spain.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/65/0" data-bid="66-1" class="b">Ro 15:20,</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/65/1" data-bid="66-2" class="b"> 23, 24</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/27" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-28"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Re 2:10</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-28" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-28" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/28" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-29"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 3:11</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-29" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-29" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/29" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-30"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 15:58; Heb 3:14</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-30" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-30" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/30" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-31"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Ti 3:16</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-31" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-31" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/31" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-32"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:8</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-32" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-32" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p54" data-pid="54" class="se"></p> <p id="p55" data-pid="55" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/59/0"><em>Bearing Witness,</em> p. 217</a></p> <div id="p56" data-pid="56"><p data-pid="56" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/60/0"><em>The Watchtower</em> (Study)<em>,</em></a></p><p data-pid="56" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/60/0">4/2020, p. 7</a></p> </div><div id="p57" data-pid="57"><p data-pid="57" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/61/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="57" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/61/0">3/1/2010, p. 29</a></p><p data-pid="57" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/62/0">4/1/2001, p. 11</a></p> </div><p id="p58" data-pid="58" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/63/0"><em>Proclaimers,</em> p. 28</a></p> <p id="p59" data-pid="59" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p15" data-pid="15" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/13/0">bt 217;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/13/2"> w20.04 7;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/13/4"> w10 3/1 29;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/13/6"> w01 4/1 11;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/13/8"> jv 28;</a><span class="ni"> om 101;</span></p> <p id="p16" data-pid="16" class="sx"></p> <p id="p23" data-pid="23" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/0">w82 12/15 24;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/2"> w78 5/1 26;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/4"> yb77 33;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/6"> hs 126;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/8"> w75 721;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/10"> w74 61;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/12"> w73 582;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/14"> w73 683,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/16"> 687-688;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/18"> w73 718-719;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/20"> ka 227,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/22"> 298;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/24"> g72 4/22 21;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/26"> g72 11/22 8;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/28"> yb71 324;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/30"> w70 45;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/32"> w70 715-716,</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/34"> 756;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/21/36"> w63 306;</a><span class="ni"> w44 326</span></p> <p id="p24" data-pid="24" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-24" data-section-citation="051001024051001024"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:24</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p47" data-pid="47" class="s5"><strong>his body, which is the congregation:</strong> See <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/23/0">study note on Col 1:18</a>.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/32" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-33"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:1</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-33" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-33" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/33" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-34"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ac 9:16; Php 3:10</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-34" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-34" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/34" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-35"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:22, 23</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-35" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-35" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p24" data-pid="24" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/22/0">w57 599;</a><span class="ni"> w43 72</span></p> <p id="p25" data-pid="25" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-25" data-section-citation="051001025051001025"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:25</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/35" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-36"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 9:16, 17</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-36" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-36" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p25" data-pid="25" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/23/0">w75 721;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/23/2"> po 166-167;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/23/4"> w73 692-693;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/23/6"> w71 457;</a><span class="ni"> w48 87;</span><span class="ni"> w44 326</span></p> <p id="p26" data-pid="26" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-26" data-section-citation="051001026051001026"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:26</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p49" data-pid="49" class="s5"><strong>the sacred secret:</strong> The term “sacred secret” is mentioned several times in Paul’s letter to the Colossians.—<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/68/0" data-bid="69-1" class="b">Col 1:27;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/68/1" data-bid="69-2" class="b"> 2:2;</a><a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/68/2" data-bid="69-3" class="b"> 4:3</a>; see <a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/24/0">study notes on Mt 13:11;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/25/0"> 1Co 2:7;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/26/0"> Eph 1:9</a>.</p> <p id="p50" data-pid="50" class="s5"><strong>the past systems of things:</strong> Or “the past ages.”—See Glossary, “<a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/27/0">System(s) of things</a>.”</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/36" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-37"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:5-7; 5:32</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-37" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-37" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/37" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-38"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Lu 8:10; 1Co 2:7</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-38" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-38" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/38" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-39"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 16:25, 26</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-39" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-39" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p59" data-pid="59" class="se"></p> <div id="p60" data-pid="60"><p data-pid="60" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/64/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="60" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/64/0">12/15/1994, pp. 12-13</a></p> </div><p id="p61" data-pid="61" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p16" data-pid="16" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/14/0">w94 12/15 12-13;</a></p> <p id="p17" data-pid="17" class="sx"></p> <p id="p26" data-pid="26" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/24/0">po 166-167;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/24/2"> w73 692-693;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/24/4"> w66 124;</a><span class="ni"> g64 11/22 27;</span><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/24/6"> w55 614;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/24/7"> w50 408;</a><span class="ni"> w48 188;</span><span class="ni"> g48 10/8 25;</span><span class="ni"> w45 137;</span><span class="ni"> rw 43</span></p> <p id="p27" data-pid="27" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-27" data-section-citation="051001027051001027"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:27</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/39" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-40"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:8, 9</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-40" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-40" class="extract"></div></div></li><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/40" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-41"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 8:18</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-41" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-41" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p27" data-pid="27" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/25/0">po 167;</a><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200020051/25/2"> w73 692-693;</a><span class="ni"> rm 265;</span><span class="ni"> g48 10/8 25;</span><span class="ni"> w45 137;</span><span class="ni"> rw 43</span></p> <p id="p28" data-pid="28" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-28" data-section-citation="051001028051001028"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:28</span></h3><div class="studyNoteGroup"><ul class="content"><li class="item studyNote" data-extract-id=""><span class="scalableui"><p id="p52" data-pid="52" class="s5"><strong>complete:</strong> Or “mature; perfect.”—Compare <a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070779/70/0" data-bid="71-1" class="b">1Co 2:6</a> and ftn.</p> </span></li></ul></div><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/41" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-42"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 4:13</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-42" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-42" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p28" data-pid="28" class="sx"><span class="ni">g64 7/22 28</span></p> <p id="p29" data-pid="29" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div><div class="section" data-key="51-1-29" data-section-citation="051001029051001029"><h3 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Colossians 1:29</span></h3><div class="group marginal"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Marginal References</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item collapsible marginal marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/42" data-extract-id="verseMarginal-43"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="scalableui">+</span></span><span class="icon"></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Php 4:13</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-43" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="verseMarginal-43" class="extract"></div></div></li></ul></div><div class="group index collapsible collapsed"><div class="header"><span class="marker"><span class="icon"></span></span><span class="icon"></span><h4 class="title"><span class="scalableui">Indexes</span></h4></div><ul class="content"><li class="item ref-rsg" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Research Guide</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p61" data-pid="61" class="se"></p> <div id="p62" data-pid="62"><p data-pid="62" class="su"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/65/0"><em>The Watchtower,</em></a></p><p data-pid="62" class="sk"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1204441/65/0">12/15/1994, p. 13</a></p> </div><p id="p63" data-pid="63" class="se"></p> </span></li><li class="item ref-dx" data-extract-id=""><div class="subtitle">Publications Index</div><span class="scalableui"><p id="p17" data-pid="17" class="sx"><a href="/en/wol/pc/r1/lp-e/1200270051/15/0">w94 12/15 13</a></p> <p id="p18" data-pid="18" class="sx"></p> </span></li></ul></div></div> </div> <div id="studyParallel" class="studyPane tabContent"> <div class="section"> <h3 class="title">Parallel Translations</h3> <div class="helpText">Click a verse number to display parallel Bible verses.</div> <div class="parallel"> <div class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div> <div class="extract"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="studyMarginals" class="studyPane tabContent"> <div class="section marginalsGeneral"><h3 class="title"><span class="sectionIcon"></span><span class="scalableui">General</span></h3><div class="content categorizedMarginal"><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/0/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-1-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:1</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ac 16:1; 1Co 4:17</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-1-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-1-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/1/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-2-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:5</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 1:3, 4</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-2-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-2-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/2/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-3-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:5</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:13</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-3-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-3-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/3/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-4-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:6</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Col 1:23; 1Ti 3:16</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-4-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-4-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/4/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-5-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:7</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Col 4:12, 13; Phm 23</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-5-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-5-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/5/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-6-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:9</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:15-17; Php 1:9; 1Ti 2:3, 4</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-6-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-6-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/6/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-7-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:9</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">2Ti 2:7; 1Jo 5:20</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-7-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-7-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/7/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-8-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:10</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 4:1</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-8-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-8-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/8/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-9-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:10</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 15:8; 2Pe 1:2, 8</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-9-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-9-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/10/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-11-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:11</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 5:3; Jas 1:2, 3</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-11-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-11-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/9/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-10-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:11</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:14, 16</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-10-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-10-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/11/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-12-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:12</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 8:17; Eph 1:13, 14</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-12-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-12-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/12/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-13-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:13</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 2:1, 2</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-13-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-13-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/13/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-14-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:14</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:7</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-14-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-14-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/14/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-15-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:15</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 4:24; 10:30; 14:9; 1Ti 1:17; Heb 1:3</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-15-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-15-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/15/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-16-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:15</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Pr 8:22; Re 3:14</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-16-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-16-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/16/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-17-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:16</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 1:3</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-17-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-17-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/17/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-18-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:16</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 1:10; 1Co 8:6; Heb 1:2</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-18-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-18-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/18/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-19-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:17</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Joh 17:5</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-19-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-19-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/19/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-20-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:18</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:22</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-20-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-20-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/20/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-21-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:18</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 15:23; Re 1:5</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-21-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-21-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/21/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-22-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:19</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Col 2:3, 9</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-22-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-22-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/22/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-23-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:20</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">2Co 5:19; Eph 1:10</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-23-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-23-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/23/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-24-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:20</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Le 17:11</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-24-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-24-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/24/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-25-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:21</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 2:12</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-25-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-25-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/25/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-26-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:22</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 5:10; Eph 2:15, 16</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-26-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-26-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/26/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-27-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:22</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 1:8; Eph 1:4</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-27-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-27-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/27/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-28-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:23</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Re 2:10</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-28-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-28-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/28/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-29-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:23</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 3:11</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-29-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-29-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/29/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-30-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:23</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 15:58; Heb 3:14</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-30-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-30-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/30/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-31-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:23</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Ti 3:16</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-31-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-31-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/31/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-32-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:23</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:8</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-32-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-32-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/32/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-33-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:24</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:1</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-33-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-33-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/33/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-34-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:24</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ac 9:16; Php 3:10</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-34-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-34-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/34/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-35-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:24</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 1:22, 23</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-35-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-35-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/35/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-36-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:25</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">1Co 9:16, 17</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-36-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-36-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/36/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-37-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:26</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:5-7; 5:32</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-37-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-37-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/37/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-38-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:26</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Lu 8:10; 1Co 2:7</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-38-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-38-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/38/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-39-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:26</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 16:25, 26</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-39-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-39-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/39/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-40-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:27</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 3:8, 9</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-40-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-40-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/40/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-41-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:27</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Ro 8:18</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-41-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-41-1" class="extract"></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="item collapsible marginalExpander collapsed" data-src="/en/wol/marginalreference/r1/lp-e/nwtsty/51/1/41/1" data-extract-id="categorizedMarginal-42-1"><div class="header"><span class="icon"></span><span class="source"><span class="scalableui">Col. 1:28</span></span><span class="marginal title"><span class="scalableui">Eph 4:13</span></span></div><div class="content"><div data-extract-target-id="categorizedMarginal-42-1" class="loading hidden"><span class="icon"></span></div><div 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class="content"> <div class="articlePositioner" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> <div id="banner" class="documentBanner showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr"> </div> <article id="article" class="article bible html5 pub-nwtsty jwac showRuby ml-E ms-ROMAN dir-ltr includeSecondaryNav" lang="en" data-lang="E" dir="ltr" role="article"> <div class="scalableui"> <header> <h1>Letter to the Colossians</h1> </header> <p id="p2" data-pid="2" class="sb"><span id="v51-1-1-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29558" class="cl vx vp study"><strong>1</strong> </a>Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through God’s will, and Timothy<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/0" data-bid="1-1" class="b">+</a> our brother, </span><span id="v51-1-2-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29559" class="vl vx vp study">2 </a>to the holy ones and faithful brothers in union with Christ at Co·losʹsae:</span></p> <p id="p3" data-pid="3" class="sb"><span id="v51-1-2-2" class="v">May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father.</span></p> <p id="p4" data-pid="4" class="sb"><span id="v51-1-3-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29560" class="vl vx vp study">3 </a>We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, </span><span id="v51-1-4-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29561" class="vl vx vp">4 </a>since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all the holy ones </span><span id="v51-1-5-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29562" class="vl vx vp">5 </a>because of the hope that is being reserved for you in the heavens.<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/1" data-bid="2-1" class="b">+</a> You previously heard about this hope through the message of truth of the good news<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/2" data-bid="3-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-6-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29563" class="vl vx vp">6 </a>that has come to you. Just as the good news is bearing fruit and increasing in all the world,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/3" data-bid="4-1" class="b">+</a> so it is also doing among you from the day you heard and accurately knew the undeserved kindness of God in truth. </span><span id="v51-1-7-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29564" class="vl vx vp study">7 </a>That is what you have learned from our beloved fellow slave Epʹa·phras,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/4" data-bid="5-1" class="b">+</a> who is a faithful minister of the Christ on our behalf. </span><span id="v51-1-8-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29565" class="vl vx vp study">8 </a>He also made known to us your love in a spiritual way.</span></p> <p id="p5" data-pid="5" class="sb"><span id="v51-1-9-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29566" class="vl vx vp study">9 </a>That is also why from the day we heard of it, we have never stopped praying for you and asking<a id="footnotesource1" data-fnid="1" class="fn" href="/en/wol/fn/r1/lp-e/1001070155/0">*</a> that you may be filled with the accurate knowledge<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/5" data-bid="6-1" class="b">+</a> of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/6" data-bid="7-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-10-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29567" class="vl vx vp study">10 </a>so as to walk worthily of Jehovah<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/7" data-bid="8-1" class="b">+</a> in order to please him fully as you go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God;<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/8" data-bid="9-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-11-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29568" class="vl vx vp">11 </a>and may you be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/9" data-bid="10-1" class="b">+</a> so that you may endure fully with patience and joy,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/10" data-bid="11-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-12-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29569" class="vl vx vp">12 </a>as you thank the Father, who made you qualify to share in the inheritance of the holy ones<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/11" data-bid="12-1" class="b">+</a> in the light.</span></p> <p id="p6" data-pid="6" class="sb"><span id="v51-1-13-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29570" class="vl vx vp study">13 </a>He rescued us from the authority of the darkness<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/12" data-bid="13-1" class="b">+</a> and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, </span><span id="v51-1-14-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29571" class="vl vx vp">14 </a>by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins.<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/13" data-bid="14-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-15-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29572" class="vl vx vp study">15 </a>He is the image of the invisible God,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/14" data-bid="15-1" class="b">+</a> the firstborn of all creation;<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/15" data-bid="16-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-16-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29573" class="vl vx vp study">16 </a>because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/16" data-bid="17-1" class="b">+</a> whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/17" data-bid="18-1" class="b">+</a> and for him. </span><span id="v51-1-17-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29574" class="vl vx vp">17 </a>Also, he is before all other things,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/18" data-bid="19-1" class="b">+</a> and by means of him all other things were made to exist, </span><span id="v51-1-18-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29575" class="vl vx vp study">18 </a>and he is the head of the body, the congregation.<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/19" data-bid="20-1" class="b">+</a> He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/20" data-bid="21-1" class="b">+</a> so that he might become the one who is first in all things; </span><span id="v51-1-19-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29576" class="vl vx vp study">19 </a>because God was pleased to have all fullness to dwell in him,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/21" data-bid="22-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-20-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29577" class="vl vx vp study">20 </a>and through him to reconcile to himself all other things<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/22" data-bid="23-1" class="b">+</a> by making peace through the blood<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/23" data-bid="24-1" class="b">+</a> he shed on the torture stake, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.</span></p> <p id="p7" data-pid="7" class="sb"><span id="v51-1-21-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29578" class="vl vx vp">21 </a>Indeed, you who were once alienated and enemies<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/24" data-bid="25-1" class="b">+</a> because your minds were on the works that were wicked, </span><span id="v51-1-22-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29579" class="vl vx vp">22 </a>he has now reconciled by means of that one’s fleshly body through his death,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/25" data-bid="26-1" class="b">+</a> in order to present you holy and unblemished and open to no accusation before him<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/26" data-bid="27-1" class="b">+</a>— </span><span id="v51-1-23-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29580" class="vl vx vp study">23 </a>provided, of course, that you continue in the faith,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/27" data-bid="28-1" class="b">+</a> established on the foundation<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/28" data-bid="29-1" class="b">+</a> and steadfast,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29" data-bid="30-1" class="b">+</a> not being shifted away from the hope of that good news that you heard and that was preached in all creation under heaven.<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/30" data-bid="31-1" class="b">+</a> Of this good news I, Paul, became a minister.<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/31" data-bid="32-1" class="b">+</a></span></p> <p id="p8" data-pid="8" class="sb"><span id="v51-1-24-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29581" class="vl vx vp study">24 </a>I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/32" data-bid="33-1" class="b">+</a> and I am undergoing the tribulations of the Christ that are yet lacking in my flesh in behalf of his body,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/33" data-bid="34-1" class="b">+</a> which is the congregation.<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/34" data-bid="35-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-25-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29582" class="vl vx vp">25 </a>I became a minister of this congregation in accord with the stewardship<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/35" data-bid="36-1" class="b">+</a> from God that was given to me in your behalf to preach the word of God fully, </span><span id="v51-1-26-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29583" class="vl vx vp study">26 </a>the sacred secret<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/36" data-bid="37-1" class="b">+</a> that was hidden from the past systems of things<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/37" data-bid="38-1" class="b">+</a> and from the past generations. But now it has been revealed to his holy ones,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/38" data-bid="39-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-27-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29584" class="vl vx vp">27 </a>to whom God has been pleased to make known among the nations the glorious riches of this sacred secret,<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/39" data-bid="40-1" class="b">+</a> which is Christ in union with you, the hope of his glory.<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/40" data-bid="41-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-28-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29585" class="vl vx vp study">28 </a>He is the one we are proclaiming, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in union with Christ.<a href="/en/wol/bc/r1/lp-e/1001070155/41" data-bid="42-1" class="b">+</a> </span><span id="v51-1-29-1" class="v"><a href="/en/wol/dx/r1/lp-e/1001070155/29586" class="vl vx vp">29 </a>To 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