Colossians 1:1
New International Version
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

New Living Translation
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.

English Standard Version
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Berean Standard Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Berean Literal Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,

King James Bible
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

New King James Version
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

New American Standard Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

NASB 1995
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

NASB 1977
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Legacy Standard Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Amplified Bible
Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Christian Standard Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

American Standard Version
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Contemporary English Version
From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.

English Revised Version
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and from our brother Timothy.

Good News Translation
From Paul, who by God's will is an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy--

International Standard Version
From: Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.

Majority Standard Bible
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

NET Bible
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

New Heart English Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Webster's Bible Translation
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Weymouth New Testament
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God--and Timothy our brother:

World English Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timotheus the brother,

Berean Literal Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,

Young's Literal Translation
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Timotheus the brother,

Smith's Literal Translation
Paul, sent of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy the brother,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy, a brother,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy, a brother,

New American Bible
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

New Revised Standard Version
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Ti-mo’the-us our brother,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Paul, an Apostle of Yeshua The Messiah by the will of God, and brother Timotheus,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, I and Timothy my brother,

Godbey New Testament
Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and brother Timothy,

Haweis New Testament
PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy a brother,

Mace New Testament
Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the divine appointment, and Timothy our brother,

Weymouth New Testament
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God--and Timothy our brother:

Worrell New Testament
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy, the brother,

Worsley New Testament
Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Greetings from Paul and Timothy
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.…

Cross References
Acts 9:15
“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

Galatians 1:1
Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—

1 Corinthians 1:1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 Corinthians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

Ephesians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

1 Timothy 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2 Timothy 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

Titus 1:1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,

Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—

1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

2 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Philemon 1:1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,

Acts 13:2
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 22:21
Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

an.

Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

1 Corinthians 1:1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 Corinthians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Timotheus.

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

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Apostle Christ God's Jesus Paul Purpose Timotheus Timothy
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Apostle Christ God's Jesus Paul Purpose Timotheus Timothy
Colossians 1
1. After salutation Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith;
7. confirms the doctrine of Epaphras;
9. prays further for their increase in grace;
14. describes the supremacy of Christ;
21. encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry.














Paul
The opening of Colossians 1:1 begins with "Paul," identifying the author of the letter. Paul, originally named Saul, was a Pharisee and a zealous persecutor of Christians before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). His transformation into a devoted apostle of Christ is a testament to the power of God's grace. The name "Paul" itself, meaning "small" or "humble" in Latin, reflects his humility and servant leadership. As an apostle, Paul was instrumental in spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles, and his letters form a significant portion of the New Testament, providing theological insights and practical guidance for the early church.

an apostle of Christ Jesus
This phrase establishes Paul's authority and mission. The term "apostle" comes from the Greek word "apostolos," meaning "one who is sent out." Paul was not self-appointed; he was chosen by Christ Jesus Himself, as recounted in Galatians 1:1, where he emphasizes that his apostleship is "not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father." This divine commissioning underscores the authenticity and authority of his message. "Christ Jesus" highlights the messianic role of Jesus, affirming His anointed position as the Savior and Lord.

by the will of God
Here, Paul acknowledges that his apostleship is not of his own making but is ordained by God's sovereign will. The Greek word for "will" is "thelēma," which implies a deliberate and purposeful choice. This phrase emphasizes the divine initiative in Paul's calling and mission, reminding readers that God's plans and purposes are paramount. It serves as a reminder that all believers are called to align their lives with God's will, seeking His guidance and direction in all things.

and Timothy our brother
Paul includes Timothy in his greeting, referring to him as "our brother." Timothy was a close companion and co-worker of Paul, known for his sincere faith and dedication to the Gospel (Philippians 2:19-22). The term "brother" signifies the familial bond shared among believers, united by their faith in Christ. This inclusion highlights the collaborative nature of ministry and the importance of fellowship and partnership in the Christian journey. Timothy's presence also lends additional credibility and support to the letter, as he was well-respected in the early church.

(1) Timotheus our brother.--Except in the mention of Timotheus (as in the other Epistles of the captivity; see Philippians 1:1; Philemon 1:1), the salutation is almost verbally coincident with the opening of the Epistle to the Ephesians (where see Note). The mention of Timotheus here, and the omission of his name there, mark the difference in character between the two Epistles. In a special Epistle like this Timotheus would be joined with St. Paul as usual. In a general Epistle to the churches of Asia, the Apostle alone could rightly speak.

Verse 1. - Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus through God's will, and Timothy the brother (Ephesians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1). The apostle designates himself by his office, as always, except in the Macedonian Epistles and the letter of private friendship to Philemon. Timothy shares also in the greeting of the Epistle to Philemon, probably a leading member of the Colossian Church (comp. Colossians 4:9, 17 with Philemon 1:2, 10-12). During St. Paul's long residence at Ephesus Timothy was with him (Acts 19:22), and there, probably, Philemon had come under his influence (see Introduction, § 2), and made Timothy's acquaintance. There was, therefore, at least one link of acquaintance between "Timothy the brother" and "the saints in Colossae" (comp. Philippians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1, where his name appears in the same way). The honourable prominence thus given to Timothy marked him out for future leadership in the Church (1 Timothy 1:3, 18; 2 Timothy 2:2; 2 Timothy 4:2, 5, 6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Paul,
Παῦλος (Paulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

an apostle
ἀπόστολος (apostolos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

of Christ
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

by
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

[the] will
θελήματος (thelēmatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2307: An act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires. From the prolonged form of ethelo; a determination, i.e. choice or inclination.

of God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Timothy
Τιμόθεος (Timotheos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5095: Timothy, a Christian of Lystra, helper of Paul. From time and theos; dear to God; Timotheus, a Christian.

[our]
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

brother,
ἀδελφὸς (adelphos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.


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NT Letters: Colossians 1:1 Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus through (Coloss. Col Co)
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