Colossians 1:1–2
The Colossians are defined by God’s calling and Christ-union, and they are sustained by grace and peace from the Father.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Colossians are defined by God’s calling and Christ-union, and they are sustained by grace and peace from the Father.
To establish apostolic authority rooted in God’s will and to define the church’s identity and blessing as grounded in Christ and sourced in God the Father.
Colossians begins with the standard epistolary opening, but the greeting already carries the weight of the whole letter. Paul’s authority, the believers’ union with Christ, and the divine source of grace and peace prepare the reader for the letter’s central concern: the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ over every rival claim.
The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation
Because Christ is supreme over creation, head of the church, and reconciler through his blood, the church must remain rooted in the gospel and pursue maturity in him.