Colossians 1:20 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
Colossians 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
to be a peace-maker · verb — aorist active participle, nominative singular masculine
through
δι᾽di᾽
G1223
through (in very wide applications · preposition
blood
αἵματοςaimatos
G129
blood · noun — genitive singular neuter
his
αὐτοῦautou
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — genitive singular masculine
cross
σταυροῦstaurou
G4716
a stake or post (as set upright) · noun — genitive singular masculine
by
διὰdia
G1223
through (in very wide applications · preposition
him
αὐτόν,auton
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — accusative singular masculine
reconcile
ἀποκαταλλάξαιapokatallaxai
G604
to reconcile fully · verb — aorist active infinitive
things
πάνταpanta
G3956
all · adjective — accusative plural neuter
unto
εἰςeis
G1519
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered) · preposition
himself
αὐτοῦ,autou
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — genitive singular masculine
by
δι᾽di᾽
G1223
through (in very wide applications · preposition
him
αὐτοῦautou
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — genitive singular masculine
whether
εἴτεeite
G1535
if too · conditional particle
things
τὰta
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied · article — accusative plural neuter
in
ἐπὶepi
G1909
properly · preposition
earth
γῆςgēs
G1093
soil · noun — genitive singular feminine
or
εἴτεeite
G1535
if too · conditional particle
things
τοῦtou
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied · article — genitive singular neuter
in
ἐνen
G1722
"in · preposition
heaven
οὐρανοῖς·ouranois
G3772
the sky · noun — dative plural masculine
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which a…
1 John 4:9-10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him…
Ephesians 2:13-17 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Colossians 1:21-22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,…
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things per…
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Colossians 1:12–end
Here is a summary of the doctrine of the gospel concerning the great work of our redemption by Christ. It comes in here not as the matter of a sermon, but as the matter of a thanksgiving; for our salvation by Christ furnishes us with abundant matter of thanksgiving in every view of it: Giving thanks unto the Father, Col 1:12. He does not discourse of the work of redemption in the natural order of it; for then he would speak of the purchase of it first, and afterwards of the application of it. But here he inverts the order, because, in our sense and feeling of it, the application goes before the purchase. We first find the benefits of redemption in our hearts, and then are led by those stream…
The Greek order is, "And through Him (Christ) to reconcile again completely (see on Eph 2:16) all things (Greek, 'the whole universe of things') unto Himself (unto God the Father, Co2 5:19), having made peace (God the Father having made peace) through the blood of His (Christ's) cross," that is, shed by Christ on the cross: the price and pledge of our reconciliation with God. The Scripture phrase, "God reconciles man to Himself," implies that He takes away by the blood of Jesus the barrier which God's justice interposes against man's being in union with God (compare Note, see on Rom 5:10; Co2 5:18). So the Septuagint, Sa1 29:4, "Wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master," that is…
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross - Peace between God and man; for man being in a sinful state, and there being no peace to the wicked, it required a reconciliation to be made to restore peace between heaven and earth; but peace could not be made without an atonement for sin, and the consequence shows that the blood of Christ shed on the cross was necessary to make this atonement.
To reconcile all things unto himself - The enmity was on the part of the creature; though God is angry with the wicked every day, yet he is never unwilling to be reconciled. But man, whose carnal mind is enmity to God, is naturally averse from this reconciliation; it requires, therefore, the blo…
The Church Fathers
Thus, as peace began to be [established], the angels proclaimed, "Glory in the highest and peace on earth." When lower beings received [peace] from superior beings, "they cried, Glory on earth and peace in the heavens." At that time when the divinity came down [and] was clothed in humanity, the angels cried, "Peace on earth." And at the time when that humanity ascended in order to be absorbed into the divinity and sit on the right—"Peace in heaven"—the infants were crying forth before him, "Hosanna in the highest." Hence, the apostle also learned that one should say, "He made peace by the blood of his cross [for] that which is in heaven and on earth."
And why do I speak of the patriarchs? Following the authority of the Scriptures, I will boldly ascend to higher things, since the presence of the Lord Jesus and his dispensation profited not only things earthly but also things heavenly. Whence the Apostle also says: "making peace through the blood of his cross, whether upon the earth or in the heavens". But if in heaven and on earth the presence of the Lord was of profit, why should you be afraid to say that his coming profited even the greater ones, so that this might be fulfilled which is said: "to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham our father"?
For the true peace is above. Yet, as long as we were bound to the flesh, we were yoked to many things which troubled us. Seek, then, after peace, a release from the troubles of this world. Possess a calm mind, a tranquil and unconfused state of soul, which is neither agitated by the passions nor drawn aside by false doctrines that challenge by their persuasiveness to an assent, in order that you may obtain "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding and guards your heart." He who seeks after peace, seeks Christ, because "he himself is our peace," who has made two men into one new man, making peace, and "making peace through the blood of his cross, whether on earth or in the heavens."
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Dictionary and topics
Ephesians, Epistle to — Was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that to the Colossians, which in many points it resembles. Contents of. The Epistle to the Colossians is mainly polemical, designed to refute…
Philippians, Epistle to — Was written by Paul during the two years when he was “in bonds” in Rome (Phil. 1:7-13), probably early in the year A.D. 62 or in the end of 61. The Philippians had sent Epaphroditus, their messenger,…
Anger Of God, The · Averted by Christ — Averted by Christ
Atonement, The · Reconciliation to God effected by — Reconciliation to God effected by
Cross · 2:23,36;4:10; — 2:23,36;4:10;
Peace · SPIRITUAL — SPIRITUAL
Peace, Spiritual · Is through the atonement of Christ — Is through the atonement of Christ
Propitiation · 5:18,19; — 5:18,19;
Reconciliation · BETWEEN GOD AND MAN — BETWEEN GOD AND MAN
Reconciliation With God · Effected for men: By the blood of Christ — Effected for men: By the blood of Christ
Redemption · 2:38; — 2:38;
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
And by him to reconcile all things to himself,.... This depends upon the preceding verse, and is to be connected with that phrase in it, it pleased the Father, Colossians 1:19; and the sense is, that it was the good will and pleasure of God from all eternity, as to lay up all fulness in Christ for his chosen people, so to reconcile them to himself by him; and which is another reason why Christ is, and ought to be considered as the head of the church, whose reconciliation he has procured, and why he ought to have the chief place in all things, and among all persons. Reconciliation supposes a former state of amity and friendship, and in such an one man was originally with God; and a breach of…
Colossians 1:18-20
18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence:
18. Et ipse est caput corporis Ecclesiae, ipse principium, primogenitus mortuis, ut sit in omnibus ipse primas tenens:
19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
19. Quoniam in ipso placuit omnem plenitudinem inhabitare.
20. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
20. Et per ipsum reconciliare omnia sibi, pacificando per sanguinem crucis eius, per ipsum, tam quae sunt s…
Through Christ, God has reconciled everything to himself, reestablishing his rule over all creation, including both the spiritual and the earthly realms.
