Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 15

Paul Declares his Ministry to these Gentile Colossians Part 3

Colossians 1:28-29 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. KJV

As we shed light upon in the previous study/commentary by virtue of Paul’s last verse, it was Jesus Christ that Paul exalted, exemplified, and expounded to all who would here of this Gospel of Grace as the One and Only way for someone to be right with God. Paul concludes this first Chapter of his letter to these Colossian believers by continuing to pound home this point and fact in order that he would discredit every false teacher that would come to these new believers in Colosse with another view of God or another way to God as we will see him in the very next Chapter condemning angel worship, therefore, he declares here that is only Christ, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” (Colossians 1:28) (KJV). Paul uses the English word ‘warning’ here which is translated by the Greek word noutheteo meaning to call someone’s attention to; to put in mind, that is, (by implication) to caution or reprove gently. In other words, Paul wanted to tell every human creature he encountered that he and they have a debt owed to God that cannot be paid by any man no matter how much he engages himself in doing good deeds or good works because all of our good things done before God are in his sight like a woman’s tampon after it has been used during her menstrual cycle (Isaiah 64:6), therefore, this could never satisfy the Wrath of God against man’s sin and so Paul warns every man against trying anything or any way to get to or appease God outside of Jesus Christ.

So, then part of the Apostle Paul’s mandate from God the Father was ‘teaching’ every man and this English word is translated by the Greek word didasko a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao simply meaning (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application): - teach. This Paul did in all ‘wisdom’ and this English word is translated by the Greek word sophia meaning (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual): - wisdom. In other words, the Apostle Paul taught man that true worldly and spiritual wisdom comes only from the understanding of man being enlightened by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus. The purpose of Paul’s warning and teaching was that every man would be presented for acceptance to God the Father as ‘perfect’ and this English word is translated by the Greek word teleios meaning to set out for a definite point or goal; the conclusion or the result of an act or state or its purpose; to be made complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.). In other words, just like there is zero acceptance of any human efforts made by man that will please God, in contrast, Paul is declaring that every man that comes to Christ Jesus our Lord and learns from Him will grow up in grace and knowledge of Him as a baby grows into an adolescent, then a young adult, then a full grown man or woman, so in like manner Paul teaches and warns with all divinely inspired wisdom from above in order that ‘babes in Christ’ would grow up to be full grown mature spiritual adults in Christ as Paul explained to the Hebrew believers with these words, “Therefore, let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings {and} doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness {and} perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance {and} abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God, With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment {and} punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.] If indeed God permits, we will [now] proceed [to advanced teaching].” (Hebrews 6:1-3) (Amplified Bible). See also (1 Corinthians 2:6-16).

Paul concludes this Chapter by declaring to these Colossian believers how much the true Gospel of Christ meant to him personally and also how much he wanted every sinner to know its redeeming power, therefore, he says, “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:29) (KJV). Paul uses the two English words ‘labor’ and ‘striving’ to describe his efforts exuded in the proclamation of the Gospel of Grace to every man. The first word ‘labor’ is translated by the Greek word kopiao meaning to feel fatigue; by implication to work hard: - to toil, be wearied. The second word ‘striving’ is translated by the Greek word agonizomai (which is where we get our English words agony and agonize) meaning to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something): - fight, labor fervently, strive. In other words, the Apostle Paul worked and toiled in the study of the Word of God (the Old Testament at that time) and prayer in order that his teaching of it would be in line with the Holy Spirit of God as he fought spiritually (not physically) with his adversary and our adversary (the devil and his principalities and powers) in order that every man would be warned and taught the truth of God, not fables (2 Peter 1:16) so that he could present every man perfect in Christ alone as he declared with these words to the Corinthian believers, “For I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness {and} a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted {and} seduced from wholehearted {and} sincere {and} pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2-3) (Amplified Bible). Paul’s eagerness, earnestness, and energy to declare the whole truth of God and of the Gospel of Christ was not something he worked up within himself or pumped himself up for, but it was a result of God the Holy Spirit working in him with force or miraculous power in his study of the Word of God, his preaching of the Word of God, his teaching of the Word of God, and his writing of the Word of God just also as he declared to the Corinthian believers with these words, “For I am the least [worthy] of the Apostles, who am not fit {or} deserving to be called an Apostle, because I once wronged {and} pursued {and} molested the Church of God [oppressing it with cruelty and violence]. But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the Apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10) (Amplified Bible).

“Paul was not one to debate others over the truth of the Word of God, but instead he just presented it in its uncut, unadulterated, and uncompromised form (which was his only mission) and allowed God the Holy Spirit to convict, convince, and then convert sinful men and women to Christ Jesus our Lord.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

“This does not mean warning of danger, but ‘admonishing all of the claims of the Gospel to attention.’ Our word warn is commonly used in the sense of cautioning against danger. The Greek word here means to put in mind; to admonish; to exhort. The idea of the Apostle is, that he made it his great business to bring the offers of the Gospel fairly before the mind of every man. As it had the same claims on all; as it might be freely offered to all, and as it furnished the only hope of glory, he made it the object of his life to apprize every man of it, as far as he could.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…