Colossians 1:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“To the saints in Colossae.” Colossae was a Phrygian city and, as is known, was not far from Laodicea. “And faithful brethren in Christ.” Tell me, how did you become holy? Why are you called faithful? Was it not because you were sanctified by the death of Christ? Was it not because you believe in Christ? How did you become a brother? You have not shown yourself faithful in deed, word, or struggle. Why then, tell me, have such mysteries been entrusted to you? Was it not for Christ’s sake? “And faithful brethren in Christ.”

"To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colossae." Colossae is a city of Phrygia, now called Chonae. This is clear from the fact that Laodicea is a neighboring region.

How then did you become saints? Was it not through baptism into Christ's death? Why are you called faithful? Is it not because you believe in Christ? Is it not because such mysteries have been entrusted to you by Christ?

For we are called faithful not only because we have believed, but also because mysteries have been entrusted to us by God, mysteries which even the angels did not know.

Why brethren? Is it by your own works or virtue? No, but in Christ. How then, after this, do you attribute to angels the bringing of us to God?

The words "brethren" and "Jesus" are absent from Blessed Theophylact's text.

He says, “to the saints and faithful.” He calls the baptized saints, and he names the catechumens faithful.

Since the Colossians, carried away by deceivers, had come to love life under the law, this showed that they considered the Lord’s coming insufficient for salvation. Therefore Paul necessarily called both himself and Timothy apostles of Christ and added “by the will” (διά θελήματοζ). By this he teaches that this also is pleasing to God the Father, and he again used the preposition διά when speaking of the Father.

As in all Paul's epistles, his Epistle to the Colossians has a preface (Col 1:1-11) and a conclusion with greetings (Col 4:7-18). Between these parts stand the doctrinal section (Col 1:12-2:23) and the moral section (Col 3-4:6).

In the preface, after giving grace and peace to the Colossians from himself and Timothy the brother, the Apostle Paul informs them that, since he heard from Epaphras of their faith and love for all the saints, that is, Christians, he has not ceased praying for them.

He also heard that the true word of the Gospel of Christ, proclaimed to them by Epaphras, not only abides among them, but also bears fruit and increases. From that same day he prays that they may be filled more and more with the knowledge of God's will.

He asks this in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, and that they may be strengthened according to the might of God's glory in all patience and longsuffering.

The Apostle calls the Colossian Christians saints and faithful. This is a fairly customary name for Christians in his writings (Rom 1:7; Phil 1:1). Establishing relationships of love and equality, he calls them brethren, remembering that Jesus Christ Himself calls all brethren (Heb 2:12).

Explaining these words, Saint John Chrysostom says: "How did you become holy? Why are you called faithful? Was it not because you were sanctified by the death of Christ?"

"Thus, already in the superscription of the epistle, the Apostle gives the Colossians to understand that only under the condition of closest union with Christ can they become holy and faithful.

After the superscription and greeting (verses 1-2), the Apostle gives thanks to God for the fairly favorable state of the Colossian Church. He learned of this from Epaphras, who had communicated to the Colossians correct understandings of Christianity.

The Colossians believe in Christ and perform works of Christian love, being guided by hope for future heavenly blessedness. They nourish toward one another a true love, free from fleshly impulses, en pneumati.

At the same time, the Apostle intends to set forth the greatness of Christianity and the nothingness of the heresy that threatened to invade the Colossian Church. Therefore he says that the faith of Christ, or the Gospel, has already spread throughout the whole world.

Everywhere, like a tree, it bears fruit and continually increases in the number of its confessors.

"To the saints who are in Colossae." Saints means the same as Christians. For, according to the Apostle, Christians must necessarily be holy. Those who are not holy are presumably not true Christians.

The only saints in the world are true Christians. Therefore whoever hopes to become holy apart from Christianity nourishes a vain hope.

"And faithful brethren in Christ Jesus." This means both faithful in Christ Jesus and brethren in Christ Jesus. If they are faithful, it is only by the power of Jesus Christ.

If they are brethren, it is only because they have been regenerated in the one womb of the baptismal font and by the one Spirit. They have been clothed in the one Lord Jesus Christ.