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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Colossians 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/colossians/1-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/51_Col_01_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Colossians 1:21 - The Supremacy of Christ" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/colossians/1-21.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/colossians/1-21.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/colossians/">Colossians</a> > <a href="/colossians/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 21</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/colossians/1-20.htm" title="Colossians 1:20">◄</a> Colossians 1:21 <a href="/colossians/1-22.htm" title="Colossians 1:22">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/colossians/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/colossians/1.htm">New International Version</a> Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. <a href="/nlt/colossians/1.htm">New Living Translation</a> This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. <a href="/esv/colossians/1.htm">English Standard Version</a> And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, <a href="/bsb/colossians/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. <a href="/blb/colossians/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And you, being once alienated and hostile in mind, in the evil deeds, <a href="/kjv/colossians/1.htm">King James Bible</a> And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled <a href="/nkjv/colossians/1.htm">New King James Version</a> And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled <a href="/nasb_/colossians/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, <a href="/nasb/colossians/1.htm">NASB 1995</a> And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, <a href="/nasb77/colossians/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, <a href="/lsb/colossians/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And although you were formerly alienated and enemies in mind and in evil deeds, <a href="/amp/colossians/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things, <a href="/csb/colossians/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. <a href="/hcsb/colossians/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. <a href="/asv/colossians/1.htm">American Standard Version</a> And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, <a href="/cev/colossians/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. <a href="/erv/colossians/1.htm">English Revised Version</a> And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled <a href="/gwt/colossians/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. <a href="/gnt/colossians/1.htm">Good News Translation</a> At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. <a href="/isv/colossians/1.htm">International Standard Version</a> You who were once alienated with a hostile attitude, doing evil, <a href="/msb/colossians/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. <a href="/net/colossians/1.htm">NET Bible</a> And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, <a href="/nheb/colossians/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> You, who once were alienated and were hostile in your minds, doing evil deeds, <a href="/wbt/colossians/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And you, that were formerly alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, <a href="/wey/colossians/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And you, estranged as you once were and even hostile in your minds, amidst your evil deeds, <a href="/web/colossians/1.htm">World English Bible</a> You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/colossians/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And you—once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now He reconciled, <a href="/blb/colossians/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And you, being once alienated and hostile in mind, in the evil deeds, <a href="/ylt/colossians/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And you -- once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile, <a href="/slt/colossians/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And you, once being alienated and enemies in mind by evil works, and now has he reconciled.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/colossians/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And you, whereas you were some time alienated and enemies in mind in evil works: <a href="/cpdv/colossians/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And you, though you had been, in times past, understood to be foreigners and enemies, with works of evil, <a href="/nabre/colossians/1.htm">New American Bible</a> And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds <a href="/nrsvce/colossians/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/colossians/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Even to you, who in times past were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil works, has been given peace, <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/colossians/1.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Even you from the first were aliens and enemies in your minds because of your evil works, and now he has given you peace,<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/colossians/1.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And you, who were formerly alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled <a href="/godbey/colossians/1.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And you, being at one time aliens and enemies in your minds on account of wicked works, nevertheless he has now reconciled <a href="/haweis/colossians/1.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And you who in time past were all aliens, and enemies in mind by wicked works, hath he now reconciled, <a href="/mace/colossians/1.htm">Mace New Testament</a> You then that formerly were alienated from God, and were enemies by your imaginations and wicked practices, even you has Jesus Christ now reconciled to the body of his church, <a href="/wey/colossians/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And you, estranged as you once were and even hostile in your minds, amidst your evil deeds, <a href="/worrell/colossians/1.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in evil works, <a href="/worsley/colossians/1.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And you that were formerly alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, <a href="/parallel/colossians/1-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7q-K-qsfihQ?start=183" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/colossians/1.htm">The Supremacy of Christ</a> …20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross. 21<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: Kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/4218.htm" title="4218: pote (Prtcl) -- At one time or other, at some time, formerly. From the base of pou and te; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever.">Once</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymas (PPro-A2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ontas (V-PPA-AMP) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">were</a> <a href="/greek/526.htm" title="526: apēllotriōmenous (V-RPM/P-AMP) -- From apo and a derivative of allotrios; to estrange away, i.e. to be non-participant.">alienated from God</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/2190.htm" title="2190: echthrous (Adj-AMP) -- Hated, hostile; subst: an enemy. From a primary echtho; hateful; usually as a noun, an adversary.">were hostile</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tē (Art-DFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">in</a> <a href="/greek/1271.htm" title="1271: dianoia (N-DFS) -- From dia and nous; deep thought, properly, the faculty, by implication, its exercise.">your minds</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">because of</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">your</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4190.htm" title="4190: ponērois (Adj-DNP) -- Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. ">evil</a> <a href="/greek/2041.htm" title="2041: ergois (N-DNP) -- From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.">deeds.</a> 22But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/ephesians/2-12.htm">Ephesians 2:12-13</a> remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. / But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. <a href="/romans/5-10.htm">Romans 5:10</a> For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18</a> They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. <a href="/romans/8-7.htm">Romans 8:7</a> because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. <a href="/2_corinthians/5-18.htm">2 Corinthians 5:18-19</a> All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: / that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. <a href="/romans/5-8.htm">Romans 5:8</a> But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. <a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm">Ephesians 2:1-3</a> And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, / in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. / All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. <a href="/titus/3-3.htm">Titus 3:3</a> For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. <a href="/1_peter/2-10.htm">1 Peter 2:10</a> Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. <a href="/isaiah/59-2.htm">Isaiah 59:2</a> But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. <a href="/isaiah/53-6.htm">Isaiah 53:6</a> We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. <a href="/jeremiah/17-9.htm">Jeremiah 17:9</a> The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? <a href="/genesis/6-5.htm">Genesis 6:5</a> Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. <a href="/psalms/58-3.htm">Psalm 58:3</a> The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth. <a href="/ezekiel/36-26.htm">Ezekiel 36:26-27</a> I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div> And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciledsometime.<a href="/romans/1-30.htm">Romans 1:30</a> Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,<a href="/romans/5-9.htm">Romans 5:9,10</a> Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him… <a href="/romans/8-7.htm">Romans 8:7,8</a> Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be… in your mind by.<a href="/titus/1-15.htm">Titus 1:15,16</a> Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">Alienated</a> <a href="/philippians/4-10.htm">Although</a> <a href="/luke/8-7.htm">Amidst</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-12.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-11.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/philippians/3-18.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/philippians/1-30.htm">Engaged</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">Estranged</a> <a href="/colossians/1-13.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-8.htm">Formerly</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-14.htm">Hostile</a> <a href="/philippians/4-2.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/philippians/4-7.htm">Minds</a> <a href="/philippians/4-16.htm">Once</a> <a href="/philippians/3-13.htm">Past</a> <a href="/colossians/1-20.htm">Reconcile</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/5-20.htm">Reconciled</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-8.htm">Sometime</a> <a href="/colossians/1-3.htm">Times</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-11.htm">War</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-16.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/philippians/2-13.htm">Works</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/19-13.htm">Alienated</a> <a href="/colossians/2-5.htm">Although</a> <a href="/2_peter/3-5.htm">Amidst</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-37.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/colossians/3-9.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-15.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/colossians/2-1.htm">Engaged</a> <a href="/job/19-13.htm">Estranged</a> <a href="/colossians/1-22.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/colossians/3-7.htm">Formerly</a> <a href="/colossians/2-14.htm">Hostile</a> <a href="/colossians/2-18.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/colossians/3-2.htm">Minds</a> <a href="/colossians/2-13.htm">Once</a> <a href="/colossians/1-26.htm">Past</a> <a href="/leviticus/6-30.htm">Reconcile</a> <a href="/colossians/1-22.htm">Reconciled</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-20.htm">Sometime</a> <a href="/colossians/1-26.htm">Times</a> <a href="/1_timothy/1-18.htm">War</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-8.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/colossians/1-29.htm">Works</a><div class="vheading2">Colossians 1</div>1. <a href="/colossians/1-1.htm">After salutation Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith;</a> 7. <a href="/colossians/1-7.htm">confirms the doctrine of Epaphras;</a> 9. <a href="/colossians/1-9.htm">prays further for their increase in grace;</a> 14. <a href="/colossians/1-14.htm">describes the supremacy of Christ;</a> 21. <a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/colossians/1.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>Once you were alienated from God The phrase "Once you were alienated" speaks to a past condition, emphasizing a separation or estrangement from God. The Greek word for "alienated" is "ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι" (apēllotriōmenoi), which conveys a sense of being estranged or excluded from fellowship. This alienation is not merely a physical separation but a spiritual and relational one. Historically, this reflects the state of humanity after the Fall, where sin created a chasm between God and man. Theologically, it underscores the need for reconciliation through Christ, as humanity was once in a state of separation due to sin.and were hostile in your minds The term "hostile" in Greek is "ἐχθροὺς" (echthrous), meaning enemies or adversaries. This hostility is not just an emotional or mental state but a deep-seated opposition to God's will and purposes. The "minds" here refer to the inner thoughts and attitudes that govern behavior. This phrase highlights the internal rebellion against God, which is a result of sin. In a historical context, this enmity can be seen in the way humanity has often resisted God's commands and chosen its own path, leading to moral and spiritual decay.because of your evil deeds "Evil deeds" translates from the Greek "ἔργοις πονηροῖς" (ergois ponērois), indicating actions that are morally corrupt or wicked. These deeds are the outward manifestation of the inner hostility and alienation from God. Theologically, this phrase points to the fruit of a life lived apart from God, where actions are driven by selfish desires rather than divine guidance. In the broader scriptural context, evil deeds are what separate humanity from the holiness of God, necessitating the redemptive work of Christ to cleanse and restore.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/colossians/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21) Alienated.--Not naturally aliens, but estranged. (See Note on <a href="/ephesians/2-12.htm" title="That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:">Ephesians 2:12</a>.)By wicked works.--Properly, in your wicked works. The enmity of heart is not properly caused by wicked works, but shown in them, and probably intensified by reflex action through them.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/colossians/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 21. - And you, at one time being (men) alienated, and enemies in your thought, (engaged) in your wicked works, yet now did he reconcile; or, were ye reconciled [so Meyer, Lightfoot, Westcott and Hort, and R.V. margin, following Codex B] (<a href="/colossians/2-11.htm">Colossians 2:11</a>; <a href="/colossians/3-7.htm">Colossians 3:7</a>; <a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm">Ephesians 2:1-3, 11, 12</a>; <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18</a>; <a href="/ephesians/5-5.htm">Ephesians 5:5-8</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/6-4.htm">1 Corinthians 6:4</a>; <a href="/romans/6-21.htm">Romans 6:21</a>; <a href="/1_peter/1-11.htm">1 Peter 1:11</a>; <a href="/1_peter/4-3.htm">1 Peter 4:3</a>). The combination of ὄντες ("being") with perfect passive participle ("having been alienated") implies a fixed condition, that has become as a part of one's nature (so in <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18</a>, Revised Text). As the opposite of "reconciled," "alienated" is strictly passive, and denotes, not a subjective feeling on the part of the sinner, but an objective determination on the part of God, an exclusion from the Divine favour, from "the kingdom of the Son" and "the lot of the saints" (vers. 12, 13; <a href="/ephesians/5-9.htm">Ephesians 5:9</a>; <a href="/ephesians/2-3.htm">Ephesians 2:3, 11-13</a>; <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18</a>; <a href="/romans/1-18.htm">Romans 1:18</a>: comp. usage of LXX in <a href="/psalms/68-9.htm">Psalm 68:9; 1</a> Esdr. 9:4; Sir. 11:34). "Enemies in your thought" sets forth the disposition of the sinner towards God (<a href="/romans/8-7.htm">Romans 8:7</a>; <a href="/philippians/3-18.htm">Philippians 3:18</a>: so Alford,Ellicott, Lightfoot). Meyer maintains the passive sense of "enemies," as found in <a href="/romans/5-10.htm">Romans 5:10</a>; <a href="/romans/11-28.htm">Romans 11:28</a>; <a href="/galatians/4-16.htm">Galatians 4:16</a>. On the latter view, σῇ διανοίᾳ is instrumental dative, "by," "in virtue of your state of mind;" on the former, it is dative of reference or definition. Διανοία (here only and <a href="/ephesians/2-3.htm">Ephesians 2:3</a> and Ephesians 4:18 in St. Paul) has possibly a polemical reference. It denotes in Greek philosophy, the faculty of thought, as opposed to the bodily powers. In Philo's teaching it signifies the higher part of human nature, akin to God, and opposed to evil which belongs to the senses: "Thought (διανοία) is the best thing in us" ('On Fugitives,' § 26); "Every man in regard to his intellect (διανοία) is united to the Divine Word, being an impression or fragment or ray of that blessed nature; but in respect of his body he belongs to the entire world" ('On the Creation of the World,' § 51). But here sin is associated With the intellect in man, and redemption with "the body of Christ's flesh" (ver. 22): comp. notes on "reason," <a href="/colossians/2-18.htm">Colossians 2:18</a>, and "body," <a href="/colossians/2-23.htm">Colossians 2:23</a>; also <a href="/ephesians/4-18.htm">Ephesians 4:18</a>, where the reason is vain, the intellect darkened. "Wicked [emphasized by its position in the Greek, denoting active evil; see Trench's 'Synonyms,' on πονηρός] works" is a phrase common in St. John, only used here by St. Paul (comp. <a href="/colossians/3-7.htm">Colossians 3:7</a>; <a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm">Ephesians 2:1-3</a>; <a href="/romans/6-19.htm">Romans 6:19, 20</a>; <a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19</a>; <a href="/hebrews/9-14.htm">Hebrews 9:14</a>). These works are the practices of life in which the sinner is abidingly excluded from "the kingdom of Christ and God" (<a href="/ephesians/5-5.htm">Ephesians 5:5</a>), and manifests the radical antipathy of his mind toward God. "Yet [or, 'but'] now:" comp. ver. 26; <a href="/colossians/3-8.htm">Colossians 3:8</a>; <a href="/ephesians/2-13.htm">Ephesians 2:13</a>; <a href="/romans/3-21.htm">Romans 3:21</a>, etc. - a lively form of transition characteristic of St. Paul, primarily temporal, then also logical in sense. "Were ye reconciled" breaks through the grammatical structure of the sentence, as in vers. 26, 27 (see Lightfoot, and Winer's 'N. T. Grammar,' p. 717). If "did he reconcile" (or, "hath he reconciled") be the correct reading, "Christ" is still subject of the verb, as in vers. 19-22, and consistently with <a href="/ephesians/2-15.htm">Ephesians 2:15, 16</a>. (On "reconcile," see ver. 20.) <a href="/commentaries/colossians/1-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Once ποτε (pote) Particle <a href="/greek/strongs_4218.htm">Strong's 4218: </a> At one time or other, at some time, formerly. From the base of pou and te; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever. you ὑμᾶς (hymas) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. were ὄντας (ontas) Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. alienated [ from God ] ἀπηλλοτριωμένους (apēllotriōmenous) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_526.htm">Strong's 526: </a> From apo and a derivative of allotrios; to estrange away, i.e. to be non-participant. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. were hostile ἐχθροὺς (echthrous) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2190.htm">Strong's 2190: </a> Hated, hostile; subst: an enemy. From a primary echtho; hateful; usually as a noun, an adversary. in τῇ (tē) Article - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. your minds διανοίᾳ (dianoia) Noun - Dative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1271.htm">Strong's 1271: </a> From dia and nous; deep thought, properly, the faculty, by implication, its exercise. because of ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. [your] τοῖς (tois) Article - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. evil πονηροῖς (ponērois) Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4190.htm">Strong's 4190: </a> Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful. deeds. ἔργοις (ergois) Noun - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2041.htm">Strong's 2041: </a> From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/colossians/1-21.htm">Colossians 1:21 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">NT Letters: Colossians 1:21 You being in past times alienated (Coloss. Col Co) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/colossians/1-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Colossians 1:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Colossians 1:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/colossians/1-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Colossians 1:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Colossians 1:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>